I am sitting down this morning preparing the first phases my Sunday message on Matthew 18:1-20...the famous "If your brother sins, go reprove him in private"...and if he doesn't listen to you take two or three witnesses, and if that doesn't work, that it to the church. You know the one. I pulled out a commentary by a well known writer, pastor whose exegesis I respect. But his opening lines on the text bothered me. Here is what he said:
"God's desire for His children on earth is purity of life. It is impossible to study scripture attentively and not be overwhelmingly convinced that God seeks above all else for His people to be holy and that He is grieved by sin of every kind. Directly quoting God's command to His Old covenant people Israel, Peter wrote the same command to Christ's church; 'You shall be holy, for I am holy' (1 Peter 1:16 cf Lev 11:44).
I agree that Holiness is important to God. There is, in my understanding of scripture, no way for unholiness to stand before a holy God. But isn't that what Jesus came to do? Didn't His death on the cross make us holy? I understand the words of Peter but aren't his words a glorious declaration of truth rather than a challenge to live up to? Aren't we holy because He is holy? Isn't a definition of justification "Just as if I never sinned"? Isn't it a spiritually unhealthy, potentially crippling and a wrong definition to believe justification means "I will in actuality never sin again?"
Don't misunderstand me. I am not making a case for "sloppy agape" or "cheap grace". I believe firmly that when a person is regenerated, or the Holy Spirit takes up residency in a life, that that person will desire holiness and pursue it fervently because they want to live a life that is pleasing to God. The Holy Spirit is always bringing people to God, and nothing changes when he moves into our hearts. But to say God's desire for his children here on earth is purity bothers me. First, because there is only one thing God can expect me to do in this life and it's not purity, or loving Him, or even doing the best I can.The only thing God knows I will do with any consistency or regularity is fail. Or, to use another term "sin".
I think what God desires from His children here on earth is not purity but relationship. I think the issue of sin and purity was dealt with once and for all on the cross. Sin is a burden. It destroys relationships, and causes devastation to me and hinders my relating to God. But purity is something God has given me by his grace and His mercy, and is something I can never attain or seek to attain my self.
Yes, I think God desires purity for his children here on earth, but it doesn't square with God's gift of Justification. "Therefore being justified by faith we hav e peace with God THRU our Lord Jesus Christ in whom also we have access by faith onto this grace in which we STAND
Do we "continue in sin that grace may about?" No. But the walk of purity is something we get to do being loosed from the shackles and handcuffs of sin and in live with our Lord. It is not the fine print at the bottom of the contract that says. "Now that you are a Christian you'd better walk in purity or else". We walk in purity because we "get to" and because God has made us pure by the blood of His Son. It not something we've "got to".
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Be ye Holy For I am Holy--or Else!
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21 comments:
Steve,
I really enjoy your thoughts on all things Christ and His Church.
I think you've landed in a solid and balanced place when it comes to the newer innovations of the Emerging church and the strong foundations of the Evangelical community.
Keep up the good work, dear brother!
Thanks PJ.
I hear you are doing well in your new "digs". We both had a teacher who taught us to embrace new things while still holding on to the old truths. Keep up the good work!
I agree very much with what you've said. I think the distinction ought to be made between what God "expects" of us and what He "hopes" of us. We have all grown up in a culture where we are expected things on a daily basis. Our parents, school, work, the government, and sometimes even our friends, siblings, and spouses expect things from us, or seem to at least. It is natural for us to want to put God on that same list and to see Him as one more thing in our lives to satisfy. One scripture that has always intrigued me is found in Hosea 2:2-13. At first it just sounds like that typical "judgement and wrath" God that we picture whenever the Old Testament comes to mind. However, if you read closely to the tone of His voice, and pay close attention to the closing phrase "She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, and went after her lovers; but Me she forgot,' says the LORD." I think it's apparent that God is not concerned with the black and the white here so much as He is with not being with whom He loves the most. That's why He sent His Son--so He could restore a relationship with us. It was for "the joy set before Him." I've seen in my life a few rulebooks and signs posted with rules and the Bible is not like any of them. I don't think God gave us the Bible to be used as a rulebook for us to prove that we are right. Ever notice that Christians today are tearing the Bible apart desperately trying to find New Testament verses to prove that things like alcohol and homosexuality are evil and condemnable? They have difficulty finding them because God wasn't worried about those things so much when He wrote that book. He knew His Son had already paid the price for sin to be overlooked. I think God gave us the Bible because He is madly in love with us and longs for that daily phone call and loves to talk to us and to listen to us. Anyway, those are some of my thoughts.
Nature boy
Good thoughts especially on how many in cuture today are looking for a NT scripture to justify their sinful actions.
On anotheor note, I chose the word "expect" when it comes to sin because I used to think God expected me to be holy,and righteous and good all the time. but that was impossible, and maintianing a relationship with Christ was difficult. If I let a swear word slip out, or I'd do something not quite right. I thiught I some hjow fialed and disappointed God. . But when I realized He knew I was going to blow it but loved me any way and was there to help me, my relationship flourished.
Thanks for your insights. Good thoughts
Steve,
I agree with your assessment. Having grown up in an extemely legalistic denomination I have struggled most of my Christian life with this need to be "perfect" all the time or I am in sin. I wrestle with it today even though I know better. I believe that all we can do is "abide" as talked about in John 15:4-5. I want first of all to be totally surrendered to the Holy Spirit and then just to abide in Christ and allow him to change me from within and live through me.
Hey Steve,
Interesting comments. I understand the dilemma of what you write about, but here are some other thoughts to add to this. This may get a bit lengthy but hopefully it will add to the discussion.
I think the Bible teaches that Holiness is both a state of being AND a way of life. The Lord has justified us, but also desires that we continue to live out that which he has bestowed upon us.
You wrote, "I think that what God wants from us here is not purity but relationship." I am not sure it's an either/or, but a both. We have been adopted as heirs into the Kingdom. As a Father any children I adopt are part of my family, but that doesn't mean that I will approve of any behavior in my new children. I want my adopted to children to learn what it means to be in the family. As much as Jesus has provided for me positionally I still should desire to be like him practically, or else I may not have any real desire to be in the family in the first place. Purity works it's way out my life as I understand my position, just as an adopted son starts to live like the new family he is now a part of. What Jesus has done is pay not only for my entrance into the family, but also for the "mistakes" that I make as I struggle with my new position.
However saying that, I think that what some people in the church define as purity may not be what the Lord had in mind. Often "purity" or "holiness" is limited to certain actions, and I think that is what irritates people or least me. Holiness is as much about compassion as it is not committing certain types of sins. It is about the attitude of my heart as much as it is the manner of my life. It seems that is what is missing in many "legalistic" churches. They seem to be legalistic about only some things. Anyway, it's a big topic and very important.
Bob
I appreciate your contribution tothis discussion. The only thing I have trouble with is when Holiness becomes the fine print.It's like God loves me unconditionally, and saves me by grace but now I have to act holy and if I don't then God, is staring at me down his nose with his arms crossed. If that's the case, I am better off not being a follower of Christ because at least he loves me!
Holiness and purity are essential to the Christian life. But these things come not by pursing them, but by pursing the Lord personally.
That's the key. We can not have purity apart from our relationship with christ. Otherwise it becomes a works thing. Purity and holkiness to me are an outflowing of the work of Christ in a persons heart
Steve,
In light of the above discussion that we are completely justifed in Christ and that our sins are forgiven past,present, and future, what is your take on the meaning of 1 John 1:9? I know some say that our sins may cause us to fall out of fellowship with God and that confession restores that. I just don't see that verse saying that.
Joe Good question
First off,I think we often Cristianity to salvation. Christ died to take us on into eternity to be sure but more importantly, He came to restore relationship that was broken in the garden by Adam. I/we were designed to live in poximity to God. In other words, we function best when we are dependent on Him. Sin blocks the flow of dependency just as cholesterol blows the flow of blood in an artery. Therefore, we are forgiven of all sins past present and future, but I continually need cleansing.
I think this is pictured in John 13 when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples. Jesus came to Peter who balked and said "Then wash all of me". Jesus said you are already clean (forgiven) but you've picked up some dirt along the way and I want to clean you.
That's what confession does. It is a cleansing agent that keeps open of the artery of dependency with God.
That's my take. Maybe some one else has a different take..what about you Joe?
The problem with John 13 is that the cross had not yet occurred and they were still under the old covenant. I believe that sin quenches the Spirit and therefore hinders communication with Him. I don't believe that we can actually fall out of fellowship though I guess the practical effect is the same. I certainly believe that if I sin that I need to agree with God that I have done so and even apologize to Him for offending Him.
The problem with 1 John 1:9, it seems to be talking about forgiveness and being "cleansed from all unrighteousness" which seems to me to have already been accomplished for the believer. Maybe I'm reading too much into it. There are some teachers out there who say the believer should never ask for forgiveness. I'm not part of that crowd but I'm not sure what that verse really means
Joe
I think the confession has all to do with us and not God. In other words, it cleanses us. Apologizing to God...I don't get that
Hi Steve I have been reading your thoughts on holiness the last few days and love your insight. I hope that the following is not to long of a post if so just delete it.
As a believer… As one who is in Christ…
When God sees you, he doesn’t simply see you as his cherished child, but he sees you as a perfect cherished child…
I love to put it this way. He looks at you through a Jesus filter.
The very righteousness of Christ is placed on your account.
.Colossians 1 verse 21.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight-- 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard,
If you are one who has placed his or her faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ and you are trusting in what He did for you, God sees you as holy, blameless, and above reproach.
The Greek word translated as holy: means most holy thing.
In other words you can’t get any holier in God’s sight than the way He sees you as a believer in Jesus Christ…
Because of what Jesus did for you on the cross, when God looks at you…He says, “You are holy.”
The word translated as “holy” is the word hagios.
It’s the same word that is used in the book of Revelation when a song is sung to the LORD.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God almighty!
Holy is a word that’s used to describe Jesus.
And it’s the word used to describe how God sees you as a believer.
That is how Jesus presents you to the Father…washed and cleansed by His blood shed upon the cross of Calvary.
God also sees you as blameless and above reproach…
You are clean and your record is clean.
You are a child of God…
All of this is given to you freely as a gift when you believe upon the finished work of Jesus Christ.
You are saved by grace…. And your salvation is maintained by grace. Your part is to simply believe upon the finished work of Jesus Christ…and to abide in Him day by day…knowing that He will never leave you nor forsake you and you are His…
That is salvation. It’s all grace…
Here is a quote from one of my favorite teachers of grace ( yes he is a Calvinist but he is a brother)
“I don’t know why every time someone starts talking about the gospel, some detractor yells, “Cheap grace! Cheap grace!” Listen, if it weren’t cheap, you and I couldn’t afford it. If it cost us one thing – our commitment, our obedience, our religious actions, or anything else – it would remain in the store and on the shelf.
“God granted us his grace because of the cross of Christ. It was a gift, given to us with a card attached, the message written in the blood of God’s own Son. If is a gift that makes us righteous – and it has not come cheap. Nevertheless, it must be “cheap” to us – free, actually – or it would never be ours.
“My friend Charlie Jones ... reminded me once, when I was teaching on grace, of the time people asked Martin Luther about works of penance – works that naturally flow from genuine faith and trust in Christ. Luther replied that he supposed that was OK, but then questioned what kind of arrogance would make Christians think that anything they could do would ever be more sufficient than “the blood of God’s own Son.”
“What kind, indeed?”
Steve Brown, A Scandalous Freedom, p. 87
Gary
Ain't no way I'm deletin' your comment. It's to rich!
I couldn't agree more, Steve. I think that's what Paul was after when he wrote that if we walk in the Spirit we will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Walking in the Spirit is relational. The more we enjoy our relationship with God the more we will become like Him. Let's focus on relating to God and let Him do the holiness part in us!
Pastor Tom's Blog
Hi Steve,
I hope this is as much of a blessing to you as it was to me the first time I read it.
THE FREEDOM OF GRACE
Won't some people take it to an extreme? Doesn't a minister run the risk that some in his flock may take unfair liberties if he presents the message of grace. Couldn't an awakening of grace lead to an abusing of grace?
Martyn Lloyd-Jones states that preaching grace is not only risky, but the fact that some take it to an unwise extreme is proof that a minister is indeed preaching the true grace of God. Some people will take advantage of it. They will misrepresent it. They will go to such an extreme that they will promote the erroneous idea that you can go on sinning as much as you like. If you claim to be a messenger of grace, if you think you are really preaching grace, yet no one is taking advantage of it, maybe you haven't preached it hard enough or strong enough. I can assure you of this: Grace killing ministers will never have that charge brought against them. They make sure of that! This issue of grace is indeed controversial. It brings grace abusers as well as grace killers out from under the rocks!
All who embrace grace become "free indeed." Free from what? Free from oneself. Free from guilt and shame. Free from the tyranny of others' opinions, expectations, and demands. Free to obey. Free to love. Free to forgive others as well as myself. Free to allow others to be who they are different from me! Free to live beyond the limitations of human effort. Free to serve and glorify Christ.
Because of grace we have been freed from sin, from its slavery, its bondage in our attitude, in our urges, and in our actions. But having been freed and now living by grace, we can actually go too far, set aside all self-control, and take our liberty to such an extreme that we again serve sin. But that isn't liberty at all, that's license. And knowing of that possibility, many opt for legalism lest they be tempted to live irresponsibly. Bad choice!
Freedom is frightening. There are people who want to be told what to do and when how to believe and why. And the result is tragic perpetual adolescence.
You can't be afraid of the heights if you're going to walk on the tightrope of grace. But at the same time you have to watch out for the strong gusts of wind that will occasionally blow like mad.
From: "The Grace Awakening" by Charles Swindoll
Gary
I read your post several years ago when I read Swindoll's book. His thughts on the subject have challenged and helped shaped this pastor's thoughts on the subject of Grace. Thanks for the reference.
Steve,
I now am so taken back by what God has done in my life and has yet to do. I now notice what God sees in us, His children. My son Gabe is no doubt Holy and in all ways perfect... IN MY EYES. He Just started to smile. It blew me away, how do they pick that up... me? At first I came into this wondering how to prevent my son from picking up my down-falls. I think i figured it out though, do what my boy does... Watch his dad(Our Heavinly Dad). So many times I have become a tempered toddler wondering off looking for the cookie jar. If we just keep our focus on our dad we stay the Holy Sinnles Children he sees. So dont sin by grace rather dont grow up watching the world and taking forganted what we have, A perfect example to study and fallow.
-Conehead Cody-
Wow ..............this is ust what I was searching for.
Anon
I hope this was a help to you. It is very freeing for me!
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