The heart of the gospel…

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:12–21)

One OT verse describes sin this way: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)

Christian martyr Watchman Nee helps me understand the nature of sin. He describes humans as spirit, soul, and body. The inner spirit is what enables me to connect with God. The soul is my faculties of intellect, emotions, and will power. The body is the physical connection to the elements around me. Adam was created to communicate with God through his spirit, with the soul saying yes to what God says and his body responding in obedience.

Adam was given one command that he disobeyed. This broke the spiritual connection with God. He was left with a soul that confused or ignored what God wanted because he became spiritually dead to it. Not only would he die physically, but he would die without hope of being with the One that gave him his spirit. This broken condition is what is called sin.

The only cure for this condition is receiving new life to the spirit from the only One who can give it. However, many rely on the power of their soul to live and some do a fine job of what looks like an obedient-to-God life. They fill their minds with their ideas influenced by their peers, false teachers, etc. and train their desires to choose ‘good’ things, choices that bring them assurance they are righteous and okay with God. Yet without the life of Christ, these efforts do not awaken a dead spirit. Only Jesus can do that.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Body facilities cannot think God's thoughts, experience His emotions, or will themselves into true spirituality and more than I can become an opera singer by positive thinking, or being at peace if my house is on fire, or be the next mayor of our city by wanting it to happen. Reading the rules informs my soul, but my soul is only able to fool myself into thinking how I think, feel, or act is what God wants. 

Confessing sin is an important step toward a renewed spirit yet that also involves listening to God. Any other voice, inside or outside might choose for self-pity or self-promotion rather than true humility. How desperately Jesus and God's Spirit is needed to get us out of sin’s trap.

Lord, even as a redeemed person, my ideas, feelings, and wants can strive for obedience rather than listen to You or even admit that inner war is trying to trip me up. Satan told Adam and Eve that if they just said no to God and yes to their desires, they would be like God, but they already were! At that, evil won — until You came, died, and defeated death for us and because You obeyed Father God rather than give in to Your perfect will. It is still a wonder and even a mystery, yet You are the way, the truth, and the only life that brings me out of sin’s bondage to live the way You intended.

 

Jesus is the Hand in this glove

 

When a person is drafted into military service, they begin that life by being taught how to live it. While some of those principles apply to civilian life, doing them does not make that person a soldier or a marine or whatever part of the military they aspire to become. They must first be enlisted.

This is also true of becoming a Christian. I began that life when God called me to Himself. Then He began to teach me how to live it. Sadly, those principles are often preached to civilians who cannot live like members of God’s family until they are members, because without that calling, they do not have what is needed to be it. All efforts are self-effort and even if those things seem to be the right things, doing them without faith is what the Bible calls sin.

Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23)

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

(Jesus said) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4–5)

In this world, a person can enlist in the army when they hear the call to do so. In the spiritual realm, that call is something like “Uncle Sam wants you” only it is Jesus doing the calling. Many Christians attest to hearing Him call and that it comes to them when they were ready to hear it. Some  might say no to the existence of God, or no to the reality of their sinfulness, or no to all sorts of ideas they have about religion and the church, but when Jesus calls, that invitation is irresistible.

I remember one woman who said she heard the gospel at camp when she went there to pick up her sister. She had no intentions of listening never mind responding, but when she heard Jesus, she  tightly grabbed the chair in front of her to keep herself seated. It didn’t work. She went forward, was filled with faith and saved.

This happened also to Saul who became Paul. He was on a road planning to destroy Christians when Jesus called him and transformed his life. From that time on, he became a mighty soldier of God. While not so dramatic, God did the same in my life. He walked into my living room and revealed such powerful truth to me about Himself that saying no was impossible.

My point is that God never asked me to first give up my old life, to be poor in spirit, to deny self, or anything like that. He just gave me faith to believe that Jesus died for my sin, that Jesus is God in human flesh and wanted me in His kingdom. I knew this was true. The training to live for Him came after that and because He had come to live in me, I had the ability and the desire to do His will.

PRAY: Jesus, You know that we who sin cannot save ourselves nor can we do any of the things You require unless we have You in our lives. Any self-effort is just that — self-effort, and because it is, we “go our own way” instead of the way that You clearly say is the only way: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) and Paul affirms it: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9) I cannot claim any part of becoming Your child as something I did. You are the Savior and You did it all and are still doing all as You enable me to live as Your soldier and Your child.

How can I please God?

2 Samuel 3; Psalm 51; Ezekiel 12; 1 Corinthians 14

 The Old Testament tells how a leader of the eleven tribes not yet under David had killed the brother of one of David’s men in battle. This man also appointed one of Saul’s family as king over those tribes, but he revealed a desire for his own power by his actions. He seemed to be for David when he vowed to take the remaining tribes over to him but he didn’t get an opportunity to rule anything — the brother of the man he killed murdered him in revenge.

How did David handle all this? He distanced himself from what the brother did, which pleased all the people, but he did not take action against him. He was responsible as king to deal with murderers. This shirking of his duty happened later with one of his sons, triggering a revolt in another son and because of it, David nearly lost his throne. David learned the hard way that God is not pleased when His people abdicate biblically mandated orders.

Yet the Bible calls David “a man after God’s own heart” which begs the question — how can that be true? The answer is in Psalm 51 where David prays after his sin concerning Bathsheba:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. (Psalm 51:1–4)

God makes it clear that my perfection is not the issue. Sin already ruined that possibility. Instead, He looks for a heart that seeks Him. David knew this and prayed, “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16–17) The same words are repeated elsewhere:

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:17–18)

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15)

“ . . . . But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2)

The common idea is that God wants sinners to smarten up, to strive for good behavior and do good to others. While this is not false, it is not what makes His people distinctive. Instead, the people of God are marked by humility and the full realization that we fall short. We confess our sins rather than ‘trying harder’ and rely on His grace and compassion, knowing that only by the power of the Holy Spirit are we able to do His will.

Therefore David was given that desirable label. He was a man of God because he fit the description of righteousness that God wants. He made mistakes. He sinned. But he sought the will of God and forgiveness knowing that he fell short and could never clean up his own heart — God must do it and God, by His amazing grace, always does.

APPLY: Today I am totally thankful again for the grace of God. I fall short but He carries me. In my weakness and sinfulness, I cannot be what I want to be, never mind reach the perfections of the Lord, but He is my refuge and strength, my strong tower and hiding place. By His great love, all my sin and shortfall is forgiven and the purity and excellence needed is freely given to me in His Son, Jesus Christ. God is an awesome God!