Your 9-year old comes home from school a bit sullen and downcast. When you inquire as to what is wrong, they tell you everyone in the class got marched down to the principal’s office for a ‘paddling’. (Yeah…not as common these days as it use to be, but hang with me for this illustration.)
Turns out, the teacher had to step out of the classroom for a few minutes and made it clear that if anyone got up from his or her desk and caused any disruptions, there would be consequences…as in a paddling.
Upon her return to the classroom, she heard and saw the entire class involved with a paper wad war of sorts. Utter chaos and noise. True to her word, the kids were brought back under control, then lined up and marched down to the office for the ‘penalty’ to be carried out. Lesson learned.
But….you find out later from another parent that not ‘every’ child in the class got the ‘lick’. The teacher’s own child who was in that same class somehow escaped the wrath and were made to just stay in the room while everyone else received their due. Further investigation reveals that some extreme favoritism was shown and the teacher quickly dismissed any criticism saying that ‘she’d take care of it at home’ meaning…nothing happened.
I have a feeling this would not set well with most parents. There would be cries of : “That’s Not Fair” …or grumblings of “How unjust was that!?”
Yet…how many self professing ‘believers’ today are convinced that is how a ‘just’ God deals with ‘His kids’ and it’s all those ‘sinners’ who will experience the ‘wrath of God’ but they…because of their ‘profession’ of faith’ are immune or exempt from the same penalty of sin?
This posting today is going to challenge some of your theology that has been engrained in so many people. All I ask is that you hear me out, examine scripture for yourself and consider the possibility that maybe we have been in the dark on some things.
The first misconception that so many have been taught to believe and ‘threatened with’ was this idea that “God was gonna get you” if you sinned. Or how many were raised in churches where illustrative sermons were delivered painting a picture of a fiery hell that awaited all sinners. There was this angry deity in the heavens that was constantly looking to ‘take anyone out that sinned’. Honestly, that is a bit skewed.
Remember, God made it clear that He did not send Jesus into this world to condemn anyone…rather He came to save and deliver us. (John 3:17) We were ALREADY under condemnation.
And do you know what He came to deliver us from? SIN.
Sin was and always has been the source of man’s problem. It is what has kept humanity in bondage, serving another ‘master’.
Jesus tells us in John 8:34: “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” If a person is a ‘slave’, that means they have a ‘master’. Want to take a guess who that is/was? (Acts 26:18; 2 Tim 2:25-26; 1 John 5:19)
So when a person hears the truth and turns to Christ, they are set free. (John 8:32, 36) … Provided they continue….following Him. What do you think happened to those folks in John 6:66?
We love to sing that old hymn about how ‘Jesus set us free’…but have you ever given any thought to just what He set you free from? And IF…you answered ‘sin’ and admittedly still continue to ‘sin’…just how ‘free’ are you? Because scripture is very clear as to how a believer or follower of Christ will live. I have written on this recently and will again offer up these verses for you to look up, read, chew on and pray over: (1 John 2:6; 1 John 3:4-10; Romans 6:1-2,6-7,12, 17-18; and John 5:14)
Yes…as a believing child of God, we have the assurance that ‘IF” we sin, (notice it doesn’t say ‘when’) that we have an advocate with the Father and we can come to the cross and receive mercy and forgiveness. But the idea was that we would ‘turn’ from sin and not do it any more. ( I know, I know, some are hyperventilating right now and I wish I could visit with you in person to discuss this more)
But the reason Jesus came to lead us out of darkness, and ‘set captives free’ is so that we would ‘abide in Him’ and walk in the light as He is in the light, because this world is crawling with evil spirits, fallen angels, demons…that are all under the canopy of Satan’s domain. And you know what they have ‘permission’ to go after and devour? - Sins that evolve from the flesh.
It doesn’t matter if you are a sinner on the street, or a choir member in the church or a preacher or a deacon or the Pope.
Paul wrote this very straightforward warning in the 5th chapter of Ephesians. He was addressing…’church folks’. You might just open it up and read the first 7 verses there. He admonishes us as to how we should be walking and then lists a few things that should not even be named among professing believers like fornication and foolish talking, or coarse joking to name just a few. He even mentions in verse 5 that people who do these things have NO inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Gal 5:19-21 is an eye-full as well)
But it’s verse 6 that should grab your attention. “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” You might take a quick look at Colossians 3:6 as well.
May I remind you what the wrath of God actually is? Psalms 78:49-50 will explain it quite clearly. God uses the powers of darkness to carry out His wrath on sin.
Why do you think Paul warns us to ‘give NO PLACE to the devil’! (Eph 4:27)
Why do you think Peter warns us to be ‘sober, vigilant; because your enemy, the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” ( 1 Pet 5:8) He goes on to instruct us to ‘Resist Him’…Not ignore him or pretend he does not exist.
Do you agree that Satan is our enemy? Peter just stated that. Paul backs this up in Ephesians 6:12.
Have I not made the case that this Christian faith-walk not only suggest, but demands that we follow…we obey…we are led by His Spirit. And when we submit to His leading (go read Psalm 23:1-3), there are many benefits that come with it.
Probably one of the most overlooked ones is found in Proverbs 16:7- “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Do you know why many people today are NOT walking in peace…and rest…and are struggling with so many…of the powers of darkness; that thief, who comes to steal, kill, and destroy? (John 10:10)
Go back and re-read that last verse from Prov 16:7.
I’m telling you…letting God deal with this flesh nature is so much more serious and important than what we’ve been led to believe. The enemy longs…for your flesh nature…smells it…devours it…and is constantly tempting it with sin. Part of that reason is found in Gen 3:14 where he was cursed and he would ‘eat dust’ all the days of his life.
You do know what man’s ‘flesh’ is made of, yes? (Holy Spirit moment here- Gen 3:19)
For those of you who have done backwoods camping or even have visited many of the national parks around the country…let me ask you…what is the Number 1 rule concerning food storage while you are camping? You better put it up out of reach. You better not keep it in your tent.
Why is that?
Care to connect some more dots here?
God is not out to ‘get you’. The enemy is. God sent Jesus to rescue you. And the number one ‘fix’ may seem impossible to you…you know, that part about ‘go and sin nor more or something bad/worse may happen to you’.
Impossible to you, but with God, all things are what? Possible. He has the ‘fix’ for that sin issue. Turn to Him.
Comments
Post a Comment