Читать книгу Walking in God's Grace - Inc World Prayr - Страница 11

What happens if I go on sinning?

Count on it! As you do, you will join the rest of us who continue to do so on a daily basis. As John said, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

You may hear other people say, “Be careful of teaching grace in such a way that it encourages others to keep on sinning.”

Paul was afraid of encountering this same fear, which is why he wrote Romans 6:1-14. Like Paul, we encourage you now to offer your bodies as instruments of God’s glory. It is important to understand that those warning you about this gift of grace have created their own list of little laws, their lists of acceptable or not acceptable sins. The problem with this is that God’s standard is the ultimate standard and God’s standard is perfection. “But you must always act like your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:48). None of us, no matter how hard we try, will ever be perfect and we will always sin. This is why salvation must be 100% a complete work of God’s to which we can contribute nothing.

When someone who claims to be a disciple of Christ continues to do things that are not glorifying to God, well-intentioned Christians will correct them with a law or instruction on how they should be living or what God’s Word says about what they are doing. There is only one issue with this and that is it rarely corrects the long-term, under-lying problem, “for the letter (law) kills but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). Our problem which brings us to sin is not always a habit that needs correcting but an identity issue. We need reminding of our true identity, our new identity in Christ and what it cost for us to have that identity. Without a deep understanding of that cost and our lives without Christ no instructions on how to live will ever be lasting.

We see an example of Paul doing this with a church full of “those sanctified in Christ Jesus” who are living in ways that do not glorify God (1 Corinthians). The whole church of Corinth was affected as a result of these individuals. However Paul does not begin the letter of Corinthians dealing with these issues but by first reminding them of the gospel. The gospel is that while we were distanced from God because of our sin, God chased us and brought us near through Christ’s sacrifice (Ephesians 2:11). If he pointed out where they were failing without reminding them of who they are, more rebellion could occur. The best way to help our brothers and sisters live in a way that shows a heart of gratitude for God loving us even when we were unlovable is not always giving them a lesson in “How To” first. Sometimes depending on the severity of the sin it is better to start with reminding them who they are first and God’s love for them. Then once they are reminded, they will often admit “Yes, I’m not doing what I should be doing.” Then a better opportunity comes to talk to them about how to make better choices.

Stop just for a minute and picture what Christ must have seen in the garden which caused Him to be shaken to His very core that His sweat became drops of blood. Then, because it glorified God to exhibit love towards us, Jesus marched forward. Pondering that it was our condition in sin that Christ saw, the wrath of God that was aimed at us, this is what kept Christ on the cross with the need to satisfy God’s judgment of sin, which is our failure to live in a way that would please God or reveal God’s character. The emptied tomb should be the chief motivation to “doing all things to God’s glory” (1 Corinthians 10:31) and living a life of as a vessel reflecting His character.

Focusing on this cannot but help increase our heart of gratitude. As this increases so does our desire to focus more on Christ and say “I love You” through obedience to the Father. In doing this, our view, our sight line, begins to create a type of tunnel vision on the majesty of the Father and the awesomeness of Christ. When this occurs, we see a life that reveals less of the effects of sin and more of the changes brought about through the beauty of grace. That is called living to our identity in Christ.

As you choose to make decisions on who you are now in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, rather than who you were before Christ you will find yourself making choices that reflect that new identity. The more of these choices you make the less you will sin. Though sometimes it will still feel like your making more of the wrong choices than the right ones. God understands, has forgiveness waiting when you repent (change your mind) and opens arms wide to reveal His Love.

May we ask God to surround us instead with friends who may speak the truth and encourage us on how to get it right, but more importantly, they are willing to do an emotional fireman’s carry to the One who already got it right, and hold us there until we can imitate Him.