Graceful Answers

Q: What does Matthew 5:20 mean?

"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20)."

A: What it means is that your righteousness has to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees in order to enter Heaven. Jesus is trying to tell those in His audience that they cannot do what is required to enter into heaven through self-effort. He wanted to strip people of their self-righteous pride, believing they were keeping the law, so that they would turn to Him by faith. The Sermon on the Mount is not Jesus encouraging believers to "try harder." The Sermon on the Mount was given to bury us under the impossibility of trying to gain our right standing before God through obedience to the law. Jesus was preparing us for the Cross. And that is what the law does. It shows us our sinfulness and need for the forgiveness and life offered in Christ.

Q: Why do you think that everytime Jesus was asked about heaven He spoke about life here on earth?

A: I believe Jesus spoke about heaven in earthly terms because....

"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14

Remember that during the ministry of Jesus Christ, He was dealing with disciples who were still spiritually dead. Therefore, they didn't have the discernment that comes from having the indwelling Holy Spirit working within them to guide them into all truth. But even earthly examples most likely don't do justice to what heaven will truly be like. But, given His audience there wasn't much else He could use.

Q: I was wondering what Jesus meant in Luke 9:62?

"But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62)."

A: Luke 9:62 takes place just prior to Jesus sending out the disciples two by two. I believe that what He is saying to them is that in order to stay focused on the task, He has set before them, they have to rid themselves of earthly concerns in order to accomplish it. It may mean you have to miss the burial of your father (Luke 9:59) or not be able to say goodbye to loved ones (Luke 9:61). Regardless of what it may be you can't stay focused on what the Lord wants to do through you if your mind is elsewhere. If you read into chapter 10 you will see this same theme emphasized in verse 4. "Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road." Again, Jesus is emphasizing to them not to worry or be concerned about anything because He will take care of them. All of this underscores the importance of being totally dependent on the Lord in our walk with Him. If we become too concerned with the cares of the world it it effects our ability to respond to His leading. As Christians, God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. This is so we would be totally focused on Him and not be distracted by the cares of this world.

Q: If you remember a wrong someone has done to you, and you have forgiven them, but you still remember it, have you really forgiven them?

A: Yes, I believe so. Remember, you can't express the true love of God unless someone sins against you.

"[Love] is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." 1 Corinthians 13:5

Unless you have been wronged, there is nothing to keep a record of. Right? God doesn't count our sins against us any more (2 Corinthians 5:19). He did this so He could have a relationship with us by removing the barrier that separated us from Him. We owed God a debt we couldn't pay so God forgave that debt, in Christ. Thus, we can approach Him because the sin that separated us from Him no longer is an issue. When we no longer expect a person to pay a debt to us they can't pay, we are exercising the same love towards them that God showed towards us. By doing so, both parties are set free. The transgressor is freed from having to pay back a debt they can't afford and the victim is released from expecting payment on a debt that can't be paid.

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13

You may not forget the wrong you suffered, but you are no longer held in bondage to it. It also doesn't mean you are obligated to fellowship with the individual anymore. But, in love, you no longer hold that person accountable for their sin. You are sharing with them the love that God has expressed towards you.

Q: Why are Christians obsessed with sins?

A: People are obsessed with sins because they don't believe Christ when He said "it is finished!" The bottom line is that most Christians don't know the fullness of the Gospel. Man is born spiritually dead to God in their unbelief which is expressed by their sinful acts. God desired to restore His life to mankind which was lost when Adam sinned. But, before He could restore that life He had to deal with what caused that life to leave in the first place; sin. Therefore, he sent Jesus, the only man who had a life to give, which would satisfy God, to die for our sins. This allowed God, through the resurrection of Jesus, to offer His life as a free gift to all who believe. And because of the eternal consequences of the cross, that life, which has been restored, will never leave. That is why it is called an eternal life. Now, a believer is led from within by the indwelling Holy Spirit; the very life of God. And if we are trusting in the Spirit to guide us He is not going to lead us into sin. And in the case that we do sin, we have Advocate with the Father who dealt with our sins once and for all. When a Christian sins they, therefore, don't ask God to do what He has already done, but understand that their sin is so terrible it required the death of God Himself as penalty for it. Thus, we live in thankfulness, and are free to approach God in confidence to learn where it was we weren't trusting Him in our lives. That's Good News.