Sin and the Believer

I hear the doctrine that all believers must continue to commit sins supported by 1 John 1:8,10 quite often. In fact, the error is so commonplace that I hardly pay it any mind. But I recently read it from a world renowned theologian. That was enough to make me take notice. If a man so respected and brilliant misunderstands these verses perhaps there are others who could benefit from a concise explanation of the text in view.

1 John 1:5 ¶ This then is the message which we have heard from him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

The warning of verse 6 is directed to those who walk in darkness though claiming to be in communion with God. According to verse 7 those who walk in the light are being cleansed from all sin. Verse 8 is frequently used as a proof text to support the doctrine that believers continue to sin. Those who claim to have no sin but are in fact lying cannot be the same persons referred to in verse 7 (who are indeed being cleansed from all sin). Verse 8 seems to refer to the group addressed in verse 6 (a heretical group within the church that apparently denied having ever committed sin). Those addressed in verse 9 are "cleansed from all unrighteousness." While those in verse 8 do not have his word in them because they claim to be sinless (apparently refusing to confess their sins and be "cleansed from all unrighteousness").

The subjects of verses 8 and 10 possess neither the truth nor the word. I take that to mean that they are not in God. As such, they are not Christians. Therefore, these verses are not legitimate proof texts for the doctrine that all Christians must continue to commit sins until they die.

Generous Judgment

Tiger Woods made a public confession and apology this week. What should our reaction be?

The Christian faith holds justice in high regard. This is most clearly seen on the cross. That act demonstrated the horrible consequences of sin. It also showed that the penalty MUST be paid. Simple repentance is not enough. If repentance were sufficient then the cross would not be necessary. Justice demands payment!

The Christian faith celebrates forgiveness. Central to the faith is the doctrine of universal guilt. Justice leaves no human uncondemned. Once again the cross brings clarity. The same cross that demonstrated God's justice simultaneously demonstrates His incredible mercy. Jesus died so that we can live. He was condemned so that we can be forgiven.

So, as we look at the Tiger Woods incident, which should trump - justice or mercy? That is a very difficult question. For sure, he will be suffering consequences. Sin always has consequences. Perhaps the closest we can find to an answer is to discover what our attitude should be in light of Scripture.

Matthew 7:1 ¶ Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Matthew 18:23 ¶ Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

Story of David and Nathan - David was judged by his own mouth. He demanded fourfold restoration. Thereafter he lost four sons.

James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy triumphs over judgment.

As people who have been forgiven of a debt that we could never have paid we ought to be very generous with others. Our attitude must be one of humility, mercy, and eagerness to believe the best of and forgive those around us.

Taught By God

The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he says, I came down from heaven? - John 6:41-42

This scene is all to familiar. How often do we hear the skeptics point to their evidence and summarily reject Christ's claims? In point of fact, these Jews had a rather attractive argument. After all, they did (to their knowledge) know Jesus' parents. They also knew his hometown was Nazareth. How could he then claim to be from heaven? They knew better!

These were illustrating a point Jesus had made earlier in this discourse. Humans cannot perceive that which is beyond this dimension without divine assistance. Or, as Jesus put it, we must be "taught of God" (v.45). Let us pray that God will grant us the "spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him" (Eph 1:17).

Too Strong to Be Broken

"The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken." -- Samuel Johnson

I just added four workouts a week to my calendar. Why did I put it in my calendar (time and alarm attached)? I feared that otherwise I might not follow through on my good intentions. There is a principle here. Good habits don't tend to happen accidentally. Consider applying this principle to the practice of prayer. Simply wanting to pray, wishing to pray, acknowledging the needfulness of prayer, is not necessarily sufficient to cause one to actually pray. We might do better if we intentionally schedule prayer into our daily routine. Hopefully that will be the first step toward a holy habit "too strong to be broken".

Soul Food

I used to regularly attend the midweek services of a local black church. I haven't been in a while. I need to get back there and see how everyone is doing. I was the only white guy. That didn't seem to matter much. However, there are many cultural differences. For instance, after one meeting a man spoke of his eagerness to make himself a good old pig ear sandwich. Others chimed in speaking very highly of pig ear sandwiches. I've never had one. I hope to never try one. Nor am I particularly interested in eating hog jowls, ham hocks, chitterlings, or chicken gizzards. For the most part, soul food is just not appealing to me.

Of course, there's no problem with us having different tastes in foods. That's part of what makes life interesting. The real issue is tastes in SOUL FOOD.

Just as body needs food, the human heart craves and needs immaterial sustenance. And, just as in the natural all foods are not healthy, all immaterial foods are not healthy for the soul. What we really crave -- what we are created to long for -- are such things as true Love, Joy, Peace… These are things that come from God. He is the only legitimate source for the immaterial SOUL FOOD we all crave and need.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

This is one of several "I am" statements found in John's gospel. Jesus reveals that he is: the Bread of Life, the Light of the world, the Door, the True Vine, and the Way, Truth, and the Life. All of these are exclusive claims. No other food, door, way, truth, life, nor light are available.

If you're hungry you're invited to come to the Bread of Life and eat freely. Keep coming to Him. Keep believing on Him. You will find food for your soul.

Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Computer Generated Imagery

I recently encountered an amazing video which was composed of nothing but CGI. The thing really impressed me. Beauty, subtlety, mystery, novelty, and impossibility danced gracefully on my computer screen. Did I mention that I was impressed?

I had some time to pause and pray while I waited to meet a parishioner outside of the courts this morning. As I gazed out the window and asked God for a favorable outcome in the upcoming court case snow softly fell from the gray skies. That's when it occurred to me. I was so impressed with what that one man had done in creating a ten minute video out of nothing but computer programs, but, where did that man get that ability? Could he have done any of that without Divine assistance. Would that derivative beauty be there for me to appreciate if it weren't for the work of the Source of all beauty?

I don't mean to diminish the accomplishment of the man who made The Third & The Seventh. He must have put in incredible amounts of time and energy to make that short film. His is no small accomplishment. My point is that we ought to stand in awe at what the Lord has done. All things were made by him (John 1). All of the beauty we have ever seen finds its ultimate source in the Self-existent One. How can we do anything less than highly acclaim both Him and His work? Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Life Without Law

Are you a law keeper? As a Christian I certainly don't advocate ignoring God's law. However, I refuse to be "under the law". You see, Galatians 5:18 says that "if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." Some might see liberty to sin in this statement. The Holy God who inspired Paul to pen these words intended no such interpretation. Immediately following this sentence comes a very dark list of evil deeds climaxing with the pronouncement that "those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Then in what sense are we not under the law?

Paul goes on to describe the fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Meekness, and Self-control. If these become the focus of your life you will not need to obsess over the law. You will not be under any of the threat or curse of the law because "against such there is no law" (v. 23). Let us allow God to fill our lives with good fruit. If we walk in the Spirit we can live life without worrying about violating Divine prohibitions.

"The law can only be fulfilled by spiritual men, and these only the grace of God can produce. For the man who has been made spiritual like the law will easily do what it commands. He will not be under the law but at one with it." - Augustine