By Pastor Greg
At the end of a revival in Chicago, Dwight Moody noticed a young man still seated in a pew in the back of the church: his face in his hands and obviously deeply troubled. Being the compassionate man that he was, Moody walked back, placed his hand on the young man’s shoulder, and asked “What’s troubling you son?” But instead of the expected response of conversion, the young man replied “Sometimes I don’t think I am a Christian. Sometimes I don’t act like one or even feel like one”. Moody sat down next to him, opened his Bible to John 5:24. He asked the young man to read the verse. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life”. [1] Moody asked the young man if he believed and accepted Jesus as Lord, and the young man said that he did, to which Moody asked “Are you a Christian?” But the young man replied “Sometimes I think I am, but other times I’m not so sure”. Moody asked the young man to read the verse again, and then asked the same question: “Are you a Christian?” But still the young man had doubts. He began to mention circumstances and trials in his life. He mentioned his struggle with faith and in living the way a Christian should. As he began listing all the reasons that caused his doubt, Moody interrupted the young man and said, “See here, whom are you doubting?”
There are appropriate times in our lives to focus on our sin. Without conviction there can be no salvation. But once a person has confessed their sin and believed in the work of Jesus upon the cross, there needs to be separation from that sin; an understanding that it is no longer held against them. But from time to time a believer has a tendency to dwell on the sin and forget the salvation. Too often we remind ourselves of who we were. Sometimes others remind us of whom we were as well. But this is not true of God. If we have heard the promises of God, believed that in Jesus we have salvation, and have confessed Him as Lord and Savior, there is no condemnation. A person is no longer judged and has moved from death to life.
I believe what we read in Romans is Paul’s own personal struggle with condemnation. I believe Paul struggled to put his past behind him and instead embrace the affirmation of God. I say this because the words of Paul at the end of chapter 8 seem to be very personal - as if Paul was reminding himself of God’s magnificent promise; a reminder to not doubt the promises of God no matter what he did, how he felt, or what others might say about him (read Romans 8:31-39).
Paul is not talking about a prosperity gospel here. Give us all things in verse 32 is not speaking about possessions, wealth, and prosperity, but grace, love, forgiveness, mercy, and peace. Even though God would be justified to condemn us when we stumble in our walk or are weak in our battle over the flesh, He chooses instead to see the righteousness of Christ. When we are weak; when we stumble and fail, God listens to Jesus who is at the Father's right hand pleading on our behalf. Paul suggests that believers should never see trials and hardships as God's punishment for our sins. Either God permits our trials and sufferings to strengthen and conform us, or He uses what is evil to bring about that which is good (compare the response of Joseph in Genesis 50:20).
Missing from this section is the thought that a Christian will never make mistakes or never fail. Christians do fail. Christian do sin. Nowhere are we taught that as a Christian we will live perfect lives. Oh, we are to strive to live as holy people, but we will slip up and mess up from time to time. However, even though we may sin while we are believers, that sin will not change God’s promise to us. God’s declaration about us never changes. Even though the world may accuse us of being hypocrites when we fail to live as a Christian, and even though we may condemn ourselves when we fail and fall in our Christian walk, God will not summon us to court and accuse us. That’s because Christ has already paid the penalty.
Doubt of salvation and self-condemnation should not be found in the heart of a believer. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we should fear no evil. Why, you may ask? It’s because God is with us. It’s because God is for us. It’s because Christ died for us. It’s because God has declared us innocent. It’s because Christ intercedes for us. It’s because Christ loves us. And nothing can or will keep God from loving us. Nothing. Yet how often do you struggle believing that God is for you? How often do you doubt that you are really saved; really a Christian? Do you ever wonder this? Do you ever look at the situations and struggles’ in your life and think that God must be pretty upset with you right now? Do you ever feel that God is against you because you’re living a miserable life filled with suffering, are afraid of death, or are under attack from the adversary? Well, you are not alone. I struggle with this, and I believe Paul struggled with this as well, which is why he needed this reminder. If God is for us, who is against us?
As a Christian, you and I must live each day accepting this and believing this regardless of the circumstances. And even though others may condemn, or circumstances may give us the impression we are being condemned, we do not stand condemned before the Father. This He has promised. Because of Christ we stand before Him as His child. This He has promised. He wraps us in festival robes and pours out His love upon us. This He has promised. In all things and through all things, don’t ever forget this promise of God. If God gave us His best while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8), imagine what we will receive from Him now that we are believers!!!
[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. 1995 (Jn 5:24). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
No comments:
Post a Comment