Conclusion: A Question for You

This is the last post in a series on Christians and sin.

The first post in this series was: My Favourite Commandment
http://makarios-makarios.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-favourite-commandment.html
The second: My Favourite sin
http://makarios-makarios.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-favourite-sin.html

The third: I yam what I yam
http://makarios-makarios.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-yam-what-i-yam.html

The fourth: The Big Lie
http://makarios-makarios.blogspot.com/2010/01/big-lie.html

The fifth: Let’s be Honest
http://makarios-makarios.blogspot.com/2010/01/pharisee-in-me.html

The sixth: The Pharisee in Me
http://makarios-makarios.blogspot.com/2010/01/pharisee-in-me.html

Those outside the Church many times express shock and outrage when Christians disobey the One they claim to follow. As I’ve stated in this series, far too many Christians react in a similar manner. My question for both groups is, why? Is there anything in the Bible to suggest that God uses “good” people to accomplish His plan for Creation?

Do you not remember Lot and his daughters? Noah and his drunken stupor? Solomon and his wives and concubines? David killing his “lover’s” husband? The murderer Moses? Samson who loved his prostitutes. The wickedness of Eli’s sons? The liar Jacob? The denial of Peter? The doubting of Thomas? The murderer Saul?

Abraham, as with those who trust Jesus for salvation was COUNTED AS RIGHTEOUS. Anyone who knows the account of Abraham’s life knows that “righteous” cannot mean that he was perfect, or even good. Abraham, like every human alive was at the very least a liar and a deceiver. We do not become righteous in a behavioural sense. Based upon our acceptance of Jesus’ offer of forgiveness, we are COUNTED as righteous.

The only reason that God uses spiritual failures is because that is the only kind of human beings that He has to work with.
To a person, we humans are hypocrites, liars, cheats and bigots.
To a person, we humans are selfish and self-centred and rebellious to the core.

Both Kierkegaard and Lewis say something similar in regard to sin and forgiveness.

Lewis said, “No one knows how bad he is until he’s tried really hard to be good.”

Kierkegaard said that the way to become authentically Christian is to take any one of Jesus’ teachings and try to keep it.

These men are not saying that following any one teaching of Jesus would make us better Christians. What they mean is that if we try to follow Christ’s teaching, we’ll be driven to an awareness of our own sinfulness and the need for continual forgiveness.

As Kierkegaard said, “It’s a consoling idea that we are always in the wrong and we can do nothing to remedy the situation.” I couldn’t agree more. It’s a concept somewhat similar to the freedom that comes with accepting that “The only person I can change is myself.” Many refuse to accept the truth of either statement and both they and those around them suffer accordingly.

God takes those of us who are lost, and weak and who are like sheep without a shepherd and He makes us forgiven and faithful - faithful in our desire, NOT our success, but our desire to serve the One who made it possible for us to live in a forgiven relationship with our Creator.

Those on the outside use the witness of our imperfections as an excuse for a continued rejection of Jesus’ offer of salvation.

Let us, who know the goodness of our Saviour and Creator use our imperfections as a reminder that everyday we need forgiveness. Let us, who know the goodness and mercy and grace of our Creator "come boldly and with confidence to the throne of grace where we can receive mercy and find grace in our time of need." Amen and Amen.