January 24, 2015
A Message to Unbelievers
Galatians 6:1
[ We Harvest What We Plant ] Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.
This passage of Scripture has so many answers for the unbeliever.
Unbelievers mistakenly assume that we Believers think we think we are perfect and don’t sin. That’s why the world has such a high double standard for high profile Christians who don’t practice what they preach. And there should be a high standard for Christians who are following Christ; we shouldn’t misrepresent our namesake. However, the only difference between me and my non-believing neighbor is that God is choosing not to hold my sins against me anymore since I believe in his Son, Jesus. It is God who is removing my sin not me. If another Believer can be overcome by some sin like this verse suggests, then Believers sin. Anyone who hangs out with me for 5 minutes will easily notice most of my flaws. The Good News isn’t that we don’t sin anymore, the Good News is that we are not going to be punished for our sins (although everyone must keep in mind there are always consequences to sin). Romans 3:23-24 describes how the penalty for my sin is gone not how I was magically turned into a perfect person.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
Another thing people should know about Believers is that we take the gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path bit very seriously. We aren’t a group of judgmental hypocrites. We are saddened by sin. And when someone “falls off the wagon,” we help them get back on not kick up dust on them as we run over them by said “wagon.” Everyone struggles with sin. Everyone. Otherwise this passage wouldn’t conclude with these words: And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
It’s not that Believers don’t sin anymore, it’s just that we’ve been given a new protocol to follow when we do.
James 5:13-15
Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
Dear God,
Thank you for this good system you have for your children to be cautious how we live and to gently encourage others who struggle. Thank you that you are not holding my sins against me anymore. That is the most freeing feeling a person could have and you’ve made it so accessible to me, and I am truly grateful. I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
A Message to Unbelievers
Galatians 6:1
[ We Harvest What We Plant ] Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.
This passage of Scripture has so many answers for the unbeliever.
Unbelievers mistakenly assume that we Believers think we think we are perfect and don’t sin. That’s why the world has such a high double standard for high profile Christians who don’t practice what they preach. And there should be a high standard for Christians who are following Christ; we shouldn’t misrepresent our namesake. However, the only difference between me and my non-believing neighbor is that God is choosing not to hold my sins against me anymore since I believe in his Son, Jesus. It is God who is removing my sin not me. If another Believer can be overcome by some sin like this verse suggests, then Believers sin. Anyone who hangs out with me for 5 minutes will easily notice most of my flaws. The Good News isn’t that we don’t sin anymore, the Good News is that we are not going to be punished for our sins (although everyone must keep in mind there are always consequences to sin). Romans 3:23-24 describes how the penalty for my sin is gone not how I was magically turned into a perfect person.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
Another thing people should know about Believers is that we take the gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path bit very seriously. We aren’t a group of judgmental hypocrites. We are saddened by sin. And when someone “falls off the wagon,” we help them get back on not kick up dust on them as we run over them by said “wagon.” Everyone struggles with sin. Everyone. Otherwise this passage wouldn’t conclude with these words: And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
It’s not that Believers don’t sin anymore, it’s just that we’ve been given a new protocol to follow when we do.
James 5:13-15
Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
Dear God,
Thank you for this good system you have for your children to be cautious how we live and to gently encourage others who struggle. Thank you that you are not holding my sins against me anymore. That is the most freeing feeling a person could have and you’ve made it so accessible to me, and I am truly grateful. I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
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