Sometimes I hear people that say something to the effect of “well, Jesus forgives me, so it’s all good.” What? No. Jesus does forgive us and cleanse us of all sin… But God is also just and unchanging and there is always a consequence for sin. In the Old Testament, people had to make both sacrifice offerings AND atonement offerings. If somebody stole from their neighbor, they were to make reparation and give back sometimes even twofold. There were rules based on what kind of thing was stolen and how to make up for it. When David sinned to the point of having Bathsheba’s husband killed, even though he fully repented, he still had to lose his firstborn son. Maybe you’re thinking “well, that’s the Old Testament so it doesn’t apply now.” However, Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. In the New Testament it says to leave your offering if you remember your brother has something against you, go settle it with them, and then come back and make your offering to God. Otherwise be prepared to spend your time in jail. A natural consequence in a law-driven world.
God also has standards and our works will be tried as if through fire. Not in Purgatory, but here while we’re alive. It also says that it is better for you to go to heaven without your hand than to enter into “Gehenna” intact. That part doesn’t literally mean chop your hand off and pluck your eye out, but it is showing the seriousness of sin and its consequences. If Jesus took care of the consequence of sin as well, then why do we need to apologize to each other? Return what was stolen? Say excuse me if we bump into someone? With that attitude, we are not loving our neighbor which is the second major commandment we were given and from which all the others follow. Jesus died for us and opened the way to salvation with his final sacrifice for all. The wages of sin is death and He conquered it for us. It is finished. We can be saved if we believe in Him and our faith is a gift from God. However, that doesn’t give us a license to sin. If we do sin, though we have an Advocate, we also must still love our neighbor and make up for it in some way or our just God will try us and our works as if through fire. We can get burnt, but we won’t perish. If we say we love God but don’t love our neighbor, how can we say we love what we can’t see but not what we can? We are to love everyone, even people that have put it on their hearts to be our “enemies.” God is calling some of them to Himself too. Just look at Paul before his Jesus encounter. Don’t confuse the consequences of sin as having to do works to get saved. Our works are as dirty rags to God. None of us can add anything to what Jesus did on the cross. If we believe, we can be saved. But even the demons believe in Jesus. We must follow God’s commandments. Jesus said if you love me, keep my commandments. And God’s commandments are not burdensome. We are to love God above everything else and then love our neighbor. Someone who loves their neighbor doesn’t seek their harm and thinks about others besides themselves. If we believe, then we obey. Works are the fruit and evidence of our repentance and salvation. They are not the CAUSE of it, but the effect. Nobody should think they have to stop sinning and be perfect before they can come to Christ. He came to save sinners. If you believe, come to Him now and the Holy Spirit will help get rid of the sin in your life if you ask God to help you. Nobody is perfect. Anybody who says they don’t sin is lying, whether intentionally or ignorantly. All have fallen short and we ALL need a savior. But when we do sin, if we love God and our neighbor we won’t just sit back and do nothing. We show we love God through loving our neighbor because God loved us and expects us to share it. You knocked somebody down? Help them up. You robbed a bank before you found Christ in prison? Go and share him with the world and other inmates and I’m sure your testimony will reach countless others to bring them to Christ. That is way more valuable and priceless than a bunch of missing bills that you don’t have anymore. If you embezzled money and are still rich, then yes by all means go ahead and pay those people back! But the way that people make up for sins isn’t always exactly the way they sinned. All things work together for the good of them that love God. While the devil may have rejoiced when you fell into sin, don’t give him the satisfaction of holding it over you. He can accuse us all he wants, but not if you use it for God’s glory! Yes, even Christians fall. Yes, we sin. But don’t let that stop you from having that relationship with God and your neighbor. Repent and DO something about it. The devil would like to separate us and close us off in either anger, anxiety, depression, or what have you. But don’t listen! Share the hope we have in Jesus with others. Love covers a multitude of sins. Comments are closed.
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DisclaimerWhile I love open discussions, not all internet users are kind. I'd like to build people up, not have others cut people down. Therefore, no comments, but feel free to email me if there's something you'd like to share with me. Archives
July 2020
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