I have been doing an online Bible Study this past month and I am really enjoying it. It has not replaced my quiet time, but it has been helping me to focus more on some specifics in my own life and walk with Christ.
Here is an excerpt from today.
"All New Testament churches had one thing in common: they had problems! In 1 Corinthians 1-4, Paul deals with divisions in the church. Now he focuses on serious moral problems in Corinth. Sexual immorality and drunkenness (chapter 5) during communion are not something we hope to find in church. But growing churches are not usually filled with mature Christians—they're a collection of sinners being saved.
Paul warns against deception because we're so easily deceived about this. After all, salvation is by grace, not by works, and Jesus came to save sinners. What does it matter if sinners keep on sinning? But such thinking overlooks the fact that a new life in Christ results in a new lifestyle (verse 11). Genuine salvation results in actually being saved from ongoing, habitual sin.
The sins listed referred to continuous lifestyles and practices, not to one-time mistakes. Paul's list is similar to the list of "works of the flesh" in Galatians 5:19-21 (and see also Ephesians 5:5). Both passages imply a persistence in fleshly living.
Today's teaching is that Christians are no longer who they used to be. Consider how the following passages confirm this truth:
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. — Galatians 2:20
How does this passage confirm the truth that Christians are no longer who they used to be?
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. — Colossians 3:3-4
How does this passage confirm the truth that Christians are no longer who they used to be?
Amanda, let's look at the practical application of this teaching. We behave according to our nature. If we're sinners who are trying to be good, we will inevitably fall. But if we are saints who occasionally stumble and sin, then our nature is such that we hate sin, and our habitual pattern of life will be to walk in righteousness. Do you see the distinction?
Here are a few writings to help illustrate and solidify this truth. Please provide your comments about each:
The previous character of those who seem to have been converted was various. I could name many who have been turned from the paths of open sin and profligacy, and have found pardon and purity in the blood of the Lamb, and by the Spirit of our God; so that we can say to them, as Paul said to the Corinthians, "Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified." I often think, when conversing with some of these, that the change they have undergone might be enough to convince an atheist that there is a God, or an infidel that there is a Savior. — memoirs of McCheyne
What are your thoughts about this quote?
He puts them in mind what a change the gospel and grace of God had made in them: Such were some of you (verse 11), such notorious sinners as he had been reckoning up. The Greek word is tauta—such things were some of you, very monsters rather than men. Note, some that are eminently good after their conversion have been as remarkably wicked before. How glorious a change does grace make! It changes the vilest of men into saints and children of God. Such were some of you, but you are not what you were. You are washed, you are sanctified; you are justified in the name of Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Note, the wickedness of men before conversion is no bar to their regeneration and reconciliation to God. The blood of Christ, and the washing of regeneration, can purge away all guilt and defilement. Note, none are cleansed from the guilt of sin, and reconciled to God through Christ, but those who are also sanctified by His Spirit. All who are made righteous in the sight of God are made holy by the grace of God.
— Matthew Henry commentary
What are your thoughts about this quote?
Here are some scripture passages to consider
For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And they praised God because of me. — Galatians 1:13-24
I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 6:19-23"
What is restoration of the believer - well, in Sunday School 101 we learned that this means Christ regenerates Christians into new Creations - yep - that is part of it.
But what about a Christian who sins - what about a really big, ugly sin like adultery, homosexuality, abuse, lust, idolatry - does this passage also apply to these people? or are they forever the fallen, the exiled, the "sinners" among us? Can a Christian commit these sins? As a new creation is it possible that they could fall into this?
In a word - Yes, even a Christian can be deluded, misled and fooled by the devil and fall into some pretty bad sin. What is the difference? They won't be happy in it, it will tear them up inside - they will either learn to break free of this sin or they will live miserably - and that is where other Christians come into the picture.
Just as Christ restores us - and we ALL have our share of sins - We are to help to restore other believers, believers can have sin in their lives - in fact a believer who says they don't is a liar and suffering from the sin of pride ( so be sure to help them out by knocking them down a few pegs - he he he he - just kidding.)
My job, my mission in Christ's kingdom is to win souls to Christ - but then to work together with other believers to help them (and help me) to be restored.
I have rarely heard this taught in churches - more often I have been confronted with perfect facade believers - you never know anything is wrong until their kid runs away from home, they file for divorce, they drink/drug/gamble/lust/eat away everything good in their lives, - and then their lives are scarred - forever? They might think so because their false way of life is accepted and even condoned in many churches.
But no- not forever - because the same God who purchased them, refuses to let them go - and refuses to let them stay in misery - they are changed - many times it is the very tragedy they think will never pass that leads to a deeper understanding and relationship with Christ - and in the end "your joy will overflow." Does God remove the consequences of sin? No - but he removes the sting and stigma of rejection, and he molds even the worst of us into a beautiful new creature.
