God Will Forgive » Paul's Ponderings

No one likes to admit that they have made a mistake. The bigger the mistake the more motivation we have to try to cover it up and act like nothing ever happened.

Since that is how many of us respond to making a mistake, it is no wonder that we have a difficult time confessing our sin, even to God. The result is that many of us carry around the baggage of guilt for past sins, and the chains of habit for present sins. This dual threat of guilt and addiction makes life complicated as we try to keep the masks we have created in place, so no one can see untidy parts of our lives.

One of the reasons I find it hard to confess my sins to God is because I am embarrassed about the weakness that I have in my life. “After all,” I think, “I should know better! If I truly had faith I wouldn’t do such things.” Like Adam and Eve, I try to hide from God because I don’t want admit my foolish choice.

There are other reasons why people hide from God, rather than confessing their sins to Him. I think another big one is fear. You know God is the law-giver, and fear tells you that if you confess your sin, then He will punish you. “After all God is holy,” fear has you rationalize, “and that means He has to punish those who break His law.” With a thought like this, it is easy to understand why people have a difficult time confessing sin.

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The Commitment of Our Hearts

One of the amazing promises of the Gospel is that new life is available in Jesus Christ.

This is the life that God created us to live. In John 10:10, the very passage Jesus declared his purpose to give people abundant life, Jesus called Satan a thief who steals, kills, and destroys the life God has given to people. Through Jesus, God gives life, but Satan is out there to make sure that life is not enjoyed.

 One of the ways Satan robs us of life is to convince us of lies about who we are. When we believe these lies we are prevented from taking the next step forward, we are held down with oppressive guilt, and we are impeded from developing relationships that bring accountability and encouragement into our lives. It is hard to step out in faith when you believe that you are fatally flawed in your character.

 The reason these lies are believable is because we know our weaknesses. Each one of us have sin in our lives that we have struggled with for years, and yet have not overcome.

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The Slavery of Sin

Take a moment and think about what John Maxwell and Jim Dornan wrote in their book Becoming a Person of Influence; “Slaves is the right term to describe people who lack integrity because they often find themselves at the whim of their own and others’ changing desires” (p. 32)

The movie version of The Lord of the Rings has made J. R. R. Tolkien’s story accessible to thousands of people who would never bother with actually reading the story. One of the characters that people seem to identify with is the character Gollum. Gollum is a pitiful creature because he has been corrupted by the power of the One Ring. The Ring consumes Gollum’s life, and there is nothing he can do to break free from its power.

This is how Colin Duriez describes Gollum in The J.R.R. Tolkien Handbook:

“In The Lord of the Rings a once-hobbit who bore the marks of long centuries underground guarding yet possessed by the One Ring which he called ‚ ‘my precious’, and which he had deluded himself into thinking was a birthday present to him” (p. 106).

The possession of the Ring had changed Smeagol to Gollum, from a Stoor Hobbit to a pitiful creature. The Ring may have granted Gollum unnatural long life, but it also physically changed him. Worse than the physical change was the control the Ring had on Gollum’s desires and dreams. They were twisted and corrupted so much that all Gollum could think about was to regain possession of his “precious”.

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Freedom From the Slavery of Sin

When sin holds us in its grip we become slaves.

Take a moment and think about what John Maxwell and Jim Dornan wrote in their book Becoming a Person of Influence; “Slaves is the right term to describe people who lack integrity because they often find themselves at the whim of their own and others’ changing desires” (p. 32)

The movie version of The Lord of the Rings has made J. R. R. Tolkien’s story accessible to thousands of people who would never bother with actually reading the story. One of the characters that people seem to identify with is the character Gollum. Gollum is a pitiful creature because he has been corrupted by the power of the One Ring. The Ring consumes Gollum’s life, and there is nothing he can do to break free from its power.

This is how Colin Duriez describes Gollum in The J.R.R. Tolkien Handbook:

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Linkage: Bigger Issue than Same-Sex Attraction?

Followers of Jesus, if we are not careful, can make being a Christian about morality.  When we do this we begin to weigh our sins, and usually the other person's sin weighs more than mine.  I think that is especially true when it comes to homosexuality.  Christians like to condemn and criticize homosexuals for their sin, because it something that majority of us don't struggle with.  Yet another sin, like gluttony, we overlook and make excuses for because it is an issue with which we struggle.

James Engelbrecht has this article at Christian Standard addressing this very topic:

Individuals with same-sex attraction make up as much as 6 percent of the male population and 4.5 percent of females (though some studies estimate half that). Those are not insignificant numbers, especially when same-sex attraction involves you or someone you love. 

Thus began Mark Moore’s February 12, 2012, column, “How Should the Church Relate to Those with Same-Sex Attraction?” Here’s the rub. As a follower of Christ, I hear Christians say: 

“Keep your nose out of my private life.”
“It’s my body.”
“Christians aren’t called to be judgmental.”
“It’s not a sin. I’m this way due to a complex interaction of biology, my family, and societal factors.”
“I’m not sure how God feels about this. God made me and loves me the way I am.” 

I have family and friends dealing with same-sex attraction, but I’ve never heard them say these things. Instead, these comments came from overweight Christians.

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A Powerful Weapon Against Sin

Evil and sin were not part of our original design.  We may equate sin with human nature, but the reality is that God did not create us to rebel against Him.  Sin is not our natural state. 

We were created to glorify God and live in fellowship with Him. I believe that sin becomes part of our lives when we lose sight of God's purpose for our lives. Purpose is one of the ways God helps us to remain on the narrow road that leads to Life. Erwin McManus wrote; “Sin is what happens when we have too much time on our hands and too little purpose in our lives” (Uprising; p. 186).

When we begin to really live out our purpose what we discover is that sin becomes an obstacle to what accomplishing what God has called us to do. When we are surrendered to God's purpose then we discover that we will reject things that are detrimental to accomplishing that purpose. On the other hand if we are not dedicated to God and His purpose for our lives we will be easily persuaded by things that will take us farther and farther away from where God wants us to be.

Yet it is not always easy to understand your purpose. Part of the problem, I believe, is that purpose comes in a couple different forms. The type of purpose we ultimately want is our grand life purpose.  The type of purpose which will define our lives. Abraham’s purpose was to become the father of a great nation; Moses’ purpose was to lead Israel out of Egypt; and Paul’s purpose was to be the apostle to the Gentiles. We long to have that type of life defining purpose for our lives.

Before we arrive at our life defining purpose we must first live a life of faithfulness. This is the second form of purpose: the everyday purpose. It is through a life of faith that God prepares us for the grand purpose of our lives. It builds the character we need to accomplish the purpose God has given to us. Our grand purpose in life demands that we have a Christ-like character. Without this type of character we will fail.

While waiting around for our grand purpose to show up we often neglect the everyday purpose that every Christian has: to live by faith. The result is that rather  than being prepared to live out the grand purpose of our lives we get distracted by the things of this world. We are not good stewards of the gracious gift of time God has given to us.

Think about what the apostle Paul wrote:

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,  making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:15-17; ESV).

To  make the "best use of the time" (literally as we "redeem the time") means that we live faithful lives in whatever situation we find ourselves in .  We do this by seeking and doing God's will.  It is through understanding God's will, that we begin to catch a glimpse of God's ultimate purpose for our lives.

Purpose does two things when in comes to combating sin in our lives.  First, it gives us a motivation to fight against any obstacle that might get in our way of completing God's will.  Second it fills our time with activity so we have less to waste on sin.  Purpose is a powerful weapon in our fight against sin.

Daily Thought: Past Sin and Present Good

There is nothing which so frustrates good resolutions and paralyzes noble efforts as the dead weight of past sins...What is it that mocks the generous thought rising in our minds, that silences the noble word on our lips, that paralyzes the forming energy of our actions? Is it not the internal whisper, Remember how you have failed before? This is the curse of past sin: it will not let us do the good we would.

Stalker, James (2011-03-30). The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ: A Devotional History of our Lord's Passion (p. 49).  . Kindle Edition.

Daily Thought: Bring Sin into the Light

However deeply rooted the sin may appear, rooted in constitution and habit, we must cleanse ourselves of it if we would be holy. 'If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin.' As we bring out every sin from the inner part of the house into the light of God and walk in the light, the precious blood that justifies will work mightily to cleanse too: the blood brings into living contact with the life and the love of God. Let us come into the light with the sin: the blood will prove its mighty power. Let us cleanse ourselves in yielding ourselves to the light to reveal and condemn, to the blood to cleanse and sanctify.

Andrew Murray, Holy in Christ, Olive Tree Bible Software Edition

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Daily Thought: The Habits of Sin are Hard to Kill

Old habits of sin are hard to kill. We seem to have killed and buried them; but do you not sometimes hear a knocking beneath the ground? do you not feel the dead thing turning in its coffin, and see the earth moving above its grave? This is the penalty of the days given to the flesh. Till his dying day the man who has been a drunkard or a fornicator, a liar or a swearer, will have to keep watch and ward over the graveyard in which he has buried the past.

Stalker, James (2011-03-30). The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ: A Devotional History of our Lord's Passion (p. 17).  . Kindle Edition.

Daily Thought: Praise and Temptation

It is Christ who alone breaks the curse of sin.  It is he who gives the struggle meaning--for he is the purpose and the goal of all our striving.  Therefore Augustine writes, ”Let us sing alleluias here on earth...even here amidst trials and temptations and anxiety...not in order to enjoy a life of leisure, but in order to lighten our labors.” It is by praising God in the midst of temptation that we will be freed of heaviness within our souls.

 J. Heinrich Arnold, Freedom from Sinful Thoughts, Plough Publishing House e-book edition (2007)

Daily Thought: Being Dead to Sin

To be dead to sin with Christ is not to be lacking in these natural desires, but to have a real alternative to sin and the world's sin system as the orientation and motivation for our natural impulses. In our new life, we are capable of standing beyond sin's reach as we choose what we will do and in that sense we are unattached from it, we are dead to it.  It is still possible in the abstract for us to sin, but we see it as the uninteresting or the disgusting thing it is.  The psychological condition established in us by the influx of Christ's life—a psychological reality—allows us to rise above our "old person" for the motivation, organization, and direction of our physical existence.

Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines, HarperOne (1991), p. 115

Daily Thought: Sin is Expensive

Daily Thought: We are not Competent to Combat Sin

God 'gives his Holy Spirit to them who ask him," according to his revealed will; and without this gift no one could be saved or ultimately triumph over all opposition.  He know but little of the deceitfulness of sin, or the combating of temptation, who this himself competent to wrestle against the allied forces of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Alexander Campbell, The Christian System, Gospel Advocate Company (2001), p. 50

Daily Thought: Remember God's Grace

"When rains come and the flood waters rise, remember your position in God's grace.  Your sin is not too dark, your failures not too great, your mistakes not too overwhelming for God's grace.  Reach out to him.  No matter how big the waves or how furious the wind, God will support you." ~ Jud Wilhite, Faith that Goes the Distance, p. 82

Daily Thought: The Creation of Sinful People

"Sinful people create sinful structures, which may then take on a life of their own.  Human rebellion has spread across the planet so that every human institution—government, family, church—has been soiled.  In some ways a structure or group of people is more inclined to evil than an individual and less inclined to love." ~ Philip Yancey, Rumours of Another World, p. 107

Daily Thought: The Source of our Woe

"Our woes began when God was forced out of His central shrine and 'things' were allowed to enter.  Within the human heart 'things' have taken over.  Men have now by nature no peace within their hearts, for God is crowned there no longer, but there in the moral dusk stubborn and aggressive usurpers fight among themselves for first place on the throne." ~ A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, p. 11

Linkage: Our Besetting Sin

As a scholar I appreciate what Dr. Ben Witherington has to say.  His commentary on Galatians, Grace in Galatia, proved to be a real guide to me as I preached through that Pauline Epistle.  His political commentary I find very frustrating since he writes it from a more left wing perspective.  With that being said I think this post, Our Besetting Sin, which deals with the Occupy Wall Street and the issues surrounding that movement is worth reading.  This thought, which is found towards the end, is the essential point that we need to remember: "The only cure for narcissism is a real conversion. Not just a change of direction, or a change of a few ideas, a real conversion which allows one to give up the self-centeredness and actually love God and neighbor."  Ultimately this isn't about a change in politics, it is a transformation of the heart, and that can only happen when we surrender our lives to Jesus and learn to love God and those around us.

I was watching the television interviews of some of the Occupy Wall Street young people. In this particular segment they seemed to only be able to find 22 year olds. That is, those just out of college who have not been able to find a job. The latter is understandable since the unemployment rate of 18-22 year olds is somewhere in the neighbor- hood of 25% or worse. They are angry. They feel they have been sold a bill of goods. They have been told, ‘get a good education and you will find your job and place in life’. Only that isn’t so much happening these days. There are a lot of unemployed college graduates, and the number of unemployed high school graduates who did not go on to college is astronomical. Your odds at least are better if you have a college degree. Looking around for someone to blame for this mess, the Occupy Wall Street crowd has fixed on Wall Street, on the Bernie Madoffs in our world (as in made off with our cash). And of course there is some truth to the rumor that greedy people on Wall Street caused the crash of 2008. But it is not the root of the problem. Nor is the root of the problem laziness. Nor is the root of the problem a lack of hard work. Americans still by and large are very hard workers, compared for example to the Greeks. No, none of this gets at the root of the problem.

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Daily Thought: The Fruit of Sin

"What is the fruit of sin?  Step into the briar patch of humanity and feel a few thistles.  Shame.  Fear.  Disgrace.  Discouragement.  Anxiety.  Haven't our hearts been caught in these brambles?

"The heart of Jesus, however, had not.  He had never been cut by the thorns of sin.  What you and I face daily, he never knew.  Anxiety?  He never worried!  Guilt?  He was never guilty! Fear?  He never left the presence of God!  Jesus never knew the fruits of sin...until he became sin for us." ~ Max Lucado, He Chose the Nails, p. 26

We Are Rescued

Galatians 1:3-5; NLT

May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. That is why all glory belongs to God through all the ages of eternity. Amen. 

The Millennium Falcon and her passengers and crew are trapped aboard the Empire's deadly new battle station the Death Star. As the old Jedi Obi Wan Kenobi left the others to deactivate the tractor beam; the astro droid R2-D2 discovers that Princess Leia Organa is a prisoner on the battle station.

Luke Skywalker convinces the two pirates, Han Solo and Chewbacca, to join him in attempting to rescue the princess. Luke quickly formulates a plan that has him and Han, disguised as Stormtroopers, marching the large Wookie into the detention area. While things don't go smoothly, eventually the trio is able to rescue the Princess and escape the dreaded Death Star with the two droids and make it to the Rebel Alliance's secret base.

Every rescue attempt must first begin with a plan. A plan gives direction, clarifies goals, and it assigns responsibilities. A plan is essential to the success of the mission. Even God had a plan to rescue us from sin.

Galatians 1:3-5 tells us that God had a plan to rescue us from the evil world in which we live. God is not winging it when it comes to rescuing His creation from the grip of sin and death.  From the very beginning He had a plan of action in place. History contains the story of God unfolding His plan to save us.

The key figure in this rescue mission is Jesus. He is the hero, the warrior, the one who faces the enemy, and the one who rescues us from evil. Perhaps we should rethink the image we have of Jesus. He is the good teacher, but He is also the Captain of the Heavenly Armies. He is the sacrificial Lamb of God, but He is also the Lion from the tribe of Judah. Jesus in not only the Way, but He is also the Deliverer. Jesus has gone to battle for us and has emerged victorious!

It is for this; Jesus' victory over Satan, sin, and death; that we praise Him. We may debate the different theories of atonement or the necessity of baptism, but we can know for certain that our salvation and freedom come from the power and majesty of Jesus. He fought for us when we were powerless to fight for ourselves. He invaded the kingdom of darkness and secured our release even when we had sided with His enemies.

Why did Jesus do this? Because God loves us and it was His plan that we be saved. Jesus committed Himself to carrying out His responsibility because of love. Jesus' choice to rescue us demonstrates His obedience to the two great commitments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. We are rescued because of God's love. For that all glory and honor belong to Him.

Daily Thought: Enemies of God

"The incidental reference to the death of sinners shows us something of God's hostility to evil as well as something of the way he procured forgiveness of sin.  If men are to be forgiven, something must be done about this hostility.  There can be no fellowship between God and man as long as God is persisting in a demand to which men are indifferent.  That is simply to perpetuate the enmity." ~ Leon Morris, The Atonement, p. 138