My New Book “Bless-ed” Is Now Out! Almost. Blessing #32!

Friends:

My new book, Bless-ed! Fifty-Two Weekly Blessings You Have as a Believer and How to Help Your Lost Friends Find Theirs will soon be available on Amazon here. I have advanced copies if you are interested. I will send you a copy for $10 (which includes shipping). Here’s Blessing #32 in Bless-ed:

BLESSING #32: The Blessing of Clarity about S-I-N!

“What a brutish master sin is, taking the joy from one’s life, stealing money and health, giving promise of tomorrow’s pleasures, and finally leading one onto the rotten planking that overlies the mouth of the pit.” (Jim Elliot)

As we think about the many blessings we have as Christians, we fool ourselves if we believe we are beyond sin. We are still in a battle against temptation and sin and will be until we see Jesus.

The above quote, by the way, is from the missionary-martyr Jim Elliot. He’s most famous for the challenging statement: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” From the introductory quote we can tell that Elliot was quite aware of sin’s destructiveness, wasn’t he?

But what qualifies as “sin”? Our culture muddies the waters of definition and is guilty of calling “good” sin and “sin” good. God’s Word must be our dictionary for we believers —

32. WE HAVE A CLARITY ABOUT SIN!

THE BLESSING Followers of Jesus have an authoritative source for identifying sin and turning from it. Granted, Christians have historically added to God’s Word, describing some practices as sin (one thinks of dancing, for example) which aren’t. We have also subtracted from God’s Word, in excusing other practices (such as slavery) as not being sin. God’s definitive Word is a blessing in that it gives us the truth about sin. We may not always act on this knowledge, but there it is – for our good. As a friend says, sin will hurt you and will hurt you bad.

THE BIBLE Scripture has so much to say about sin, from the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2-3 to the completion of human history in the book of Revelation, we learn of sin’s destructive power. The Bible gives us specifics about sin that we must know and follow: (1) It is the Lord who defines sin (for example, the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20); (2) Sin is not just external acts, but includes internal thoughts and attitudes (Heb. 4:12); (3) All sin is deadly, so, although the Bible doesn’t have a list of “the seven deadly sins,” there are some lists of sins in God’s Word (Prov. 6 is one example which is fascinating); (4) Sin is not just what one does, but what one doesn’t do (James 4:17); (5) Sin’s remedy involves both confession (agreeing with God about our sin) and repentance (turning from sin) (I John 1:9-10). Repentance may be described as siding with God the Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sin, rather than defending ourselves; (6) God’s community, the church, is where sin is to be confronted and overcome (James 5:16); (7) We believers have the authority to declare sins forgiven or unforgiven based on a person’s response to or rejection of the gospel (Matt. 16:19); etc.

We may use other words in talking about sin, but we should never excuse sin with our euphemisms (“my mistake!” or “my bad!” or “I just messed up! Can we move on?”). Sometimes the older words (“sin,” “transgression,” “iniquity”) can be quite useful if they are clearly defined.

ACTION STEPS

1. Purpose this week before the Lord to allow His Word to be your dictionary when it comes to sin. Do a word study of a particular sin with which you struggle (pride, lust, laziness) and share your notes with another believer.

2. Let another follower of Jesus know that you will pray for them in their struggles and will gladly “hear their confession.” We are priests to God, are we not? Communicate the truth that you will listen and will not condemn, but will share the truths of God’s Word for the one who is struggling.

3. Please forgive one more reference to my book on temptation and sin (When Temptation Strikes: Gaining Victory Over Sin). There is a great deal there about dealing with sin that you may find helpful.

4. PRAYER How do I pray for my lost friend? I pray that he may understand his own dire need of forgiveness from a holy God for his sins and may turn in repentance to Christ.

 

My New Book “Bless-ed” Is Now Out! Almost. Blessing #31!

Friends:

My new book, Bless-ed! Fifty-Two Weekly Blessings You Have as a Believer and How to Help Your Lost Friends Find Theirs will soon be available on Amazon here. I have advanced copies if you are interested. I will send you a copy for $10 (which includes shipping). Here’s Blessing #31 in Bless-ed:

BLESSING #31: The Blessing of a Vigilance about Temptation

“Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is … We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it: and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means—the only complete realist.” (C.S. Lewis)

What are some temptations that you face as a believer? One of the blessings that I have as a follower of Christ is a sensitivity to the Lord. I don’t want to embarrass my Savior, grieve the Holy Spirit, or hurt myself or my family by giving in to sin.

However, temptation is not sin. The Lord Jesus faced temptation, but turned away from the enticements of the Evil One. And believers face temptations all the time. But there is a blessing in being in the family of God and it is that –

31. WE HAVE A VIGILANCE ABOUT TEMPTATION!

“Oh, no! Not another missionary!” I just learned that a long-term missionary had been caught cheating on his wife. They are now separated, getting intense counseling, but it seems unlikely that the marriage will survive. Christians aren’t immune to temptation and sin.

THE BLESSING So, one could argue that this blessing is a potential one (like many of the others). If we believers don’t take advantage of this provision, we will fall, we will fail, and we will succumb to the enticements of the Evil One and our own wayward hearts. Vigilance about temptation is not automatic in the believer, but available through God’s Word and God’s Spirit.

THE BIBLE God’s Word does not leave the believer in the dark when it comes to sin and its precursor temptation. We read in Hebrews 4:15-16:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Please notice several key points brought out in this passage:
(1) Although the writer to the Hebrews uses negatives to make his point, the positive way to state verse 15 is: We have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses! You and I, as children of God, will never be in a situation in which we can say, “Jesus can’t understand what I’m going through!”
(2) Jesus has been tempted in every way we are — yet He did not sin.
(3) We can approach God’s throne of grace and find mercy and grace in our time of need. Our confidence is in His character and His desire to help us in our situation.

My lost friend Mike doesn’t enjoy this kind of God-given vigilance. God may indeed show him mercy when he gives in to temptation, but he (as of yet) has no relationship to the Savior and should not expect to find help in his time of need. His greatest need is to repent of his sins and trust Christ for his salvation. Then Hebrews 4:15-16 will prove to be a great help to him!

ACTION STEPS

1. Take the time each day this week to pray through Hebrews 4:15-16. You might consider using a different translation each day. Write out several conclusions (at the end of the week) that you’ve come to about temptation.

2. Here’s a tough assignment: Confess a temptation you are facing or a sin you’ve committed to another believer. James 5:16 commands the believer, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Ask another Jesus follower to pray for you.

3. This is not meant to be self-serving, but your author has written an extensive treatment of temptation in his book When Temptation Strikes: Gaining Victory Over Sin. You might consider reading a chapter or two in that book — and discussing it with a friend.

4. PRAYER So, how do I pray for my unsaved friend? I make it clear that I’m not above or beyond temptation and sin. I might share some of my struggles with my lost friends – and how Jesus as my high priest helps me overcome temptation. And I pray for my friend that he would take temptation and sin seriously and bow his knee to the Savior.

 

What in the World Am I to Do about My SIN?(A Study of Psalm 51, Part 2)

 

What in the World Am I to Do about My SIN? (A Study of Psalm 51, Part 1)

 

How Concerned Are You About Your Sin? (A Look at Psalm 38)

 

The Theology of Calvin . . . and Hobbes (Sin)

 

Bless-ed! 52 Blessings Your Lost Friend Doesn’t Have . . . And What You Can Do About It! (Part 35)

My friend Mike — who has not yet trusted Christ as his Savior — reminds me of a number of blessings which I enjoy — or should enjoy — as a believer. “Enjoy” might be the wrong word for our next blessing, but I am thankful for God’s grace. And I don’t believe most of my friends —

35. THEY DON’T HAVE AN OPENNESS TO CHANGE!

I am not overlooking the human potential to recognize a habit or a sin that needs to change — and changing it! Alcoholics are sometimes successful in attaining sobriety. Poor fathers may realize their failures and become dads who really care. Rebellious teenagers occasionally come to their senses and become respectful and grateful young adults.

I’m talking about a fundamental, soul-deep conformity to the Person of Jesus Christ! Moral changes may take place in lost people because they have been made in the image of God, but a substantial re-ordering of one’s priorities and values can only happen to one who has surrendered his or her life to Christ. Theologians — who get paid by the big word — call this sanctification.

We read in Malachi 3 about the Lord where He says, “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” (v. 6). The Psalmist speaks of the Lord in Psalm 55- “God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.” (v. 19). We are told clearly in I Samuel 15, “He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.” (v. 29). Our God is absolutely perfect. And what is perfect does not need to change. James tells us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (1:17)

But we’re not. Perfect, that is. And we need to change in so many ways. For the believer, a large part of change involves repentance. We acknowledge our wrongness in an attitude or behavior or priority, ask the Lord for forgiveness, and covenant with Him to change. Saying one is sorry is not the same as a soul-deep conviction that leads to significant conformity to Christ.

So, how do I pray for my unsaved friend? I show by my life some changes which Jesus is making in me — and I give Him the credit! And I pray for my friend, not that he would try to be “better”, but that he would come to repentance and trust the Savior who does not change. (to be continued)

 

 

 

Bless-ed! 52 Blessings Your Lost Friend Doesn’t Have . . . And What You Can Do About It! (Part 32)

What are some temptations that you face as a believer? One of the blessings that I have as a follower of Christ is a sensitivity to the Lord. I don’t want to embarrass my Savior, grieve the Holy Spirit, or hurt myself or my family by giving in to sin.

However, temptation is not sin. The Lord Jesus faced temptation, but turned away from the enticements of the Evil One. And believers face temptations all the time. But I’m pretty sure that Mike — and my other unsaved friends —

32. THEY DON’T HAVE A VIGILANCE ABOUT TEMPTATION!

“Oh, no! Not another missionary!” I just learned that a long-term missionary has been caught cheating on his wife. They are now separated, getting intense counseling, but it seems unlikely that the marriage will survive. Christians aren’t immune to temptation and sin.

But God’s Word does not leave the believer in the dark when it comes to sin and its precursor temptation. We read in Hebrews 4 —

Please notice several key points brought out in this passage: (1) Although the writer to the Hebrews uses negatives to make his point, the positive way to state verse 15 is: we have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses! You and I, as children of God, will never be in a situation in which we might say, “Jesus would never understand what I’m going through!”
(2) Jesus has been tempted in every way we are — yet He did not sin.
(3) We can approach God’s throne of grace and find mercy and grace in our time of need.

My lost friend Mike doesn’t enjoy any of those benefits. God may indeed show him mercy when he gives in to temptation, but he (as of yet) has no relationship to the Savior and should not expect to find help in his time of need. His greatest need is to repent of his sins and trust Christ for his salvation. Then Hebrews 5:15-16 will prove to be a great help to him!

So, how do I pray for my unsaved friend? I make it clear that I’m not above or beyond temptation and sin. I might share some of my struggles with my lost friends — and how Jesus as my high priest helps me overcome temptation. And I pray for my friend that he would take temptation and sin seriously and bow his knee to the Savior. (to be continued)

 

 

 

The Theology of Calvin . . . and Hobbes (Rejoicing in Evil)

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Focus! Keeping Your Eyes on Jesus in a Near-Sighted, Distracted World! (The Blind Man in John 9 – Part 15)

With these verses our study of this most extensively described miracle in all of the Bible comes to a close. The man born blind has been healed. He has been tossed out of the synagogue. He has been insulted and excommunicated. All that remains is a proverbial “moral of the story.”

In this series of blog posts on FOCUS I want to examine my own vision and ask if my spiritual eyesight is getting dim, distracted, or damaged by choices I make. We will be looking at a number of key biblical passages which emphasize this sense of sight. I am particularly looking forward to pondering the healing miracles which turned blind people into sighted people.

Jesus’ Mission: There are several places where Jesus declares why He came. For example, in John 10:10 Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” In John 12:47 Jesus says, ““If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” However, here at the end of this great miracle, Jesus says, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” (v. 39).

His coming, according to this text, involves two purposes: (1) “so that the blind will see” (which has happened in two ways to the man born blind), and (2) so that “those who see will become blind.” The blindness of the religious leaders of Israel could not have been made plainer than here in the story of this healing.

An Outraged Question: Some of the Pharisees heard Jesus say this and they respond, “What? Are we blind too?” (v. 40). The Greek reads: 40 ἤκουσαν ἐκ τῶν Φαρισαίων ταῦτα οἱ μετ’ αὐτοῦ ὄντες, καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ· Μὴ καὶ ἡμεῖς τυφλοί ἐσμεν; Literally, this sentence is translated as: “The ones from the Pharisees who were being with him (presumably Jesus) heard these things, and said to him: ‘Surely we also ourselves are not blind men, are we?”

The way they word their question contains that negative mē we touched on before in one of our posts. What they are really asking is this: “Surely we are not blind too, are we?” Their question is one of outrage, thinking that Jesus is somehow lumping them in with the man who, in their opinion, was “steeped in sin at birth.” Their question, in the way it was worded, expected a negative answer. They expected Jesus to respond with something like, “No! Not at all. I’m certainly not implying that you Pharisees are blind!”

It is interesting that their question implies that the man born blind is still blind! They refuse to acknowledge that he has been healed.

Jesus’ Authoritative Conclusion: The last statement in this miracle story is Jesus’ response to these Pharisees. He says, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains” (v. 41). So this miracle account is about much more than a man born blind receiving his physical sight. This story is about sin and guilt and claiming to see and actually being blind.

I believe what Jesus is saying to these religious leaders is quite stark and direct: “If you were blind — and you’re not! — you would have an excuse for your refusal to believe in me. The fact is, you claim you can see, but you don’t see your own guilt which is right in front of you!”

By the way, this miracle is referred to once more in the gospel of John. In the very next chapter the Jews accuse Jesus of being demon-possessed and some respond, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” (Jn. 10)

Today’s Challenge: Would you say that your spiritual blindness has been healed by the Lord Jesus? If so, will you pray that God would lead you and me to more clearly FOCUS on Him and what He wants to do in and through us?