Sunday, April 27, 2014

A Struggle or a Triumph?

How do you view your "relationship" with sin, O Christian?  Because, well, you do have a "relationship" with sin - of sorts.  It relates to you, it impacts.  How do you view your relationship to sin?

Are you a forgiven sinner who continually struggles against sin - where sin is like the crazy stalker ex-girlfriend... or maybe on the bad days you are actually sin's crazy stalker-ex, where you keep ending up walking down sin's street and by her house, even though you know you shouldn't be over there.  (Perhaps those are the times when you feel like a sucker with no self-esteem)

Or, do you view your relationship with sin as a triumph - you have Jesus, and now you don't have to worry about sin.  Sin, oh, that was just that grade school crush you had... or maybe if you were really, really bad, well, that sin was just somebody that you used to know.  In fact, you are so beyond and over sin that you get sort of annoyed if anyone even mentions sin - you are that OVER sin. 




So, which view of sin do you normally take?  I'd argue one of these views is the view of a believer - and that is the first.  Sin is always a struggle, never something we triumph over completely in this life.  You think I am wrong?  Let's consider some folks from the Scriptures.

Well, there's David: For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

"But wait," you cry out!  "That was only after David sinned with Bathsheba."  Yeah... when he knew his sin, he had faith.  When he was all triumphant, he stole peoples wives and murdered them.  That's where triumph gets you.

Or then there's Paul.  You know what he was doing when he thought he was triumphant over sin?  Holding cloaks and coats so they could go stone Stephen.  Rather, when Paul believes he confesses, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost."  I am.  Present tense.  Sound like a man who knows some struggles.

If you would be faithful, if you would know God's peace, know your sin.  See it, fight against it.  Don't deny it away, don't pretend that it isn't there.  You are a sinner - but thanks be to God, He is merciful to sinners.  Christ Jesus has died and risen for you, and you are forgiven.

Late at night, I knock on her door...



2 comments:

Thomas Lemke said...

"I know I should say no; it's kinda hard when she's ready to go."

Yeah, I can see it.

Steve Martin said...

I am in bondage to sin.

Struggle against it? No…not that hard, anyway.

I WILL not to be free from sin. I like sinning. I believe that we all do. Otherwise we would stop.

So we need…what?

A Savior. To do for us what we cannot…will not do for ourselves.