I've been writing a lot recently about sin and accountability and what it means to actually live for Christ. I will be continuing that today (hopefully this is greeted with enthusiasm and not groaning). If I have been writing in a negative tone, I apologize. I have only done so as to show the seriousness of the topic.
Today, though the conversation still of incredible seriousness, and despite what is sure to be a negative sound, I hope to end by showing the kind of life which ends in "well done." The kind of life which ends in a prize no man, fire, flood, or amount of time can take away.
What is Sin?
I fear that I may have written too much already regarding the area of sin, without in fact defining what sin is. According to the Online Webster Dictionary, sin is defined as "a vitiated (spoiled) state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God."
Another definition simply states that sin is a "transgression of the law of God."
These are both fine definitions, however neither is fully understood by many (if not most) of the Christian Church today. Think of a list of sins. Write them down if you need to. Your list may resemble something like this: murder, lying, envy, lust, vanity, pride, or swearing.
These are sins, of course. Read Galatians 5:19-21 if you can't take my word for it.
However, there are a great number of sins not listed in this passage, a great number of sins hidden beneath the surface, a great number of sins that Jesus spoke of far more often than the ones listed above.
James 4:17 says that "to him to knows to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin."
If you have read any of my most recent posts, or if you have read any of the Gospels, you might realize how little Jesus talks about sinning, and how much He speaks of doing good. If you do something God told us not to do, you are affecting your own walk with Jesus.
If you do not do good toward others when you know you should (sit by the "losers" at the lunch table, work at a food shelter, etc.) you are affecting not only your own walk, but others as well.
These are called the sins of omission and commission. Neither can be taken lightly.
Sin in the Life of Believers
Again, if you have read anything I have written recently, you will know how little New Testament writer's speak of sin. The reason? Most of the New Testament was written for the believers, and these authors wanted to show the believers that a life in Christ was a life free from sin (Galatians 5:1).
The book of 1 John emphasizes over and over again that a life made new in Christ is new. The old is not leaving. It is gone. We are a new creation. Our old life is gone, and it is never coming back (2 Corinthians 5:17).
We are promised continuous paths of escape from temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13), as well as the Holy Spirit, which will guide us in all things (John 16:13).
To sum up, the only promises we are given regarding sin, is the ability to conquer it.
But the question arises, why do Christians continue to sin? Why are believers still caught up in addiction?
Preparing for the Race
I'm sure many of you have read the passage regarding our Christian walk being like a race (Hebrews 12:1). It tells us to lay aside weights and sin that keep us from running.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 also talks about life as a race, but from a slightly different perspective. This passage speaks of the training necessary to run the race, something we often don't think about.
Here is the whole passage:
"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."
Think for a moment of something you were really excited about; something you had to prepare for. For me, this passage rings home. I was both a Track and Cross Country runner in high school. We ran about eight miles everyday for Cross Country.
Now, I enjoy running, but I'm not one of those people who lives and breathes to run. Needless to say, I didn't enjoy running every day. I didn't enjoy the shin splints or the burning calves, and especially not giving up sweets like my beloved Coca Cola.
But I did just that because it was a necessary part of disciplining by body for each race. However, I wasn't good enough to ever win a race, so I wasn't even running for a prize. I was just running because I enjoyed the social atmosphere and staying in shape.
Think about what people are to do, to give up, for something so small as staying in shape, staying social, or at the most winning a medal they will eventually throw away.
Use the Weights, Don't Carry Them with You
Somewhere down the road, Christians twisted this passage to mean something completely different. Instead of preparing ourselves with weights before the race, we just carry the weights with us hoping that will be good enough. And all they do is slow us down.
Being a Christian isn't asking Jesus into you heart. It's putting Him in every aspect of your life. Living the Christian life isn't about running a race in which we continually take weights people offer us, and then take them off when we remember they slow us down.
The Christian life is discipline. It's hard work. It's preparing for the race with hours and hours of discipline. It's giving up things that you have the right not to give up, but you choose to because they will slow you down.
The Disqualified Believer
Paul wrote that he disciplined his body so that he would not become disqualified. What does that mean? Does that mean we don't have eternal security, and that we can be disqualified from the race?
No.
It means if we are not careful, our lives will end and we will realize we were never really running at all.
This next matter may surely lose me some readers, but I need to say it all the same.
A man or woman who shows up to a Cross Country race wearing boots, snow pants, and a backpack is not a runner. They are an obstacle.
Let me rephrase. A "believer" who runs the race of the Christian life with the "weight" of addiction is most likely not going to hear "well done." They are most likely not going to receive the Kingdom of Heaven. They are most likely not a Christian.
What About Grace and Repentance
Contrary to what Christians might like to believe, grace is not God forgiving you every time you apologize for your sin or your addiction.
Grace is when God saves us from the weight of sin once and for all.
But doesn't the Bible say God will forgive me when I repent? Yes. But what is repentance?
According to the Greek, the word "repentance" comes from the two words "meta" and "nous". Meta means "after," and nous means "mind." In other words, repentance is a mind that has changed, and ultimately, a life that is changed, for if one has truly purposed in their mind to change, change will come.
In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God says the following:
"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
Notice that God does not promise to forgive the people's sins if they simply seek His face and pray (ask forgiveness). Why? Because that isn't repentance. God promises the forgiveness of their sins if they "turn from their wicked ways." In other words, if they actually stop sinning and choose to follow Him instead.
No one can be a slave to sin (addicted) while simultaneously a slave to Christ. You can take that to the bank (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13).
If you cannot run without a backpack, you can never run. If you are a slave to sin, you cannot be a follower of Christ.
Caution - Not Condemnation
I do not write this to condemn anyone, or to judge, or to assume you are not a Christian. I write this to warn you, as Paul warned the early Christians in Corinth. Examine yourselves to see whether you are truly in the faith.
Our enemy, Satan, is not roaming around seeking whom he may drag into sin. He is roaming around seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Satan doesn't care whether or not you are a drunk, or on drugs, or get kicked out of school.
There is a good chance Satan wants you right where you are - safe. He wants you surrounded by Christians who never challenge you. He wants you assuming you are a Christian. He wants you to read your Bible mindlessly, not expecting anything new. He wants you in church raising your hands and weeping at emotional songs, and never truly understanding grace or repentance. He wants you in accountability groups that encourage you to get back on your feet, but never get in your face and tell you to stop sinning because light can have no part of the darkness.
The biggest lie of the evil one is that you are safe from him.
The Good News: A Life of Discipline
Finally we have arrived at the good news, for we were never meant to dwell on the bad, but we were meant to understand it.
God loves you, and He has a wonderful plan for your life.
I'm sure you've heard that before. I know I have. But we must understand that this wonderful plan comes at a great cost. It comes at the cost of our very lives.
In Luke 9:23, Jesus says, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."
If you are holding a cross, walking toward your death, there is no place for sin. There is no opportunity. However, there is all the opportunity in the world for a great prize. A prize which cannot be stolen, cannot be broken, and cannot wear away with time.
No great victory, no great prize comes at no cost. We seem to understand this in every area of our life - save our faith.
And whether for fear of preaching works, or laziness, or pride, we have put away spiritual disciplines altogether.
A race run well is a race in which the runner is prepared - in which they have trained - in which they have laid down every weight and hindrance.
Run Well
Believers, we cannot go on sinning (Romans 6:1, 1 John 3:9, 5:18, Hebrews 10:26). We cannot be addicted to pride and vanity and lust and laziness and idolatry. We must be addicted to feeding the poor, helping orphans and widows, visiting those in prison, and being kind to strangers.
I do not write of a life of rules. I write of a life of true freedom. My pastor calls it "the freedom of bondage." It's the perfect kind of slavery. It's the kind of slavery where your daily task is to do good.
By grace we are freed from a life of slavery to our body, and made servants of a Good God. We are the servants of the God who created waterfalls, a baby's laugh, the sunset over the ocean, the depths of the Grand Canyon, the heights of Mount Everest, the blue of the ocean, the black of night, the mystery of space, the wonders of the human body, the joy of helping those in need, the love of family, and the peace in forgiveness.
Our history as a nation and as a planet have put a bitter taste in our mouths for the word "slavery." Christ came to change that. He came to remove the chains of slavery, and to offer the chains of freedom.
Despite any negative tones, this post is one of great joy. You and I no longer need worry about sin. We need no longer worry about the chains which have so long entangled us. Despite our family, despite our past, despite the weights we held for so long - we are now free to run a race.
This race is hard, and there will be times where we slip and we stumble. But we run as free men and women. We run with a smile, knowing with absolute certainty - we will win this race.
Do not give up hope. Christ has overcome every obstacle you will ever face.
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us fun with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1)."
And just what is this prize we are running for?
You will find a glimpse of it in Revelation 21.
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen
