Q: Instead of “criticizing” your brothers and sisters in Christ when they mess up, or when they go threw trails and tribulations turn away, why don’t you tell them they can “LEAN ON YOU”…
A: In the classic, Bill Withers version of the song "Lean On Me," the first part of the chorus says, "Lean on me, when you're not strong, And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on." This sound similar to "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Gal 6:1-2)." Christians are good at "shooting" their own wounded. In other words, we can see somebody who we believe is caught in a sin and we condemn them. How many of us have heard it said that our trials and tribulations are the result some "unconfessed" sin in our lives? Or because of our sin we have "lost fellowship" with God? There is nothing loving or comforting in these beliefs and they are not even true. In fact, we allow someone to lean on us in times of trouble to remind them that they are forgiven for their sins and that God is faithful, promising never to leave them or forsake them.
The second half of the chorus goes "For it won't be long 'Til I'm gonna need Somebody to lean on." The Bible says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Cor 1:3-4)." How many Christians falsely believe that we will someday stop sinning if we just try hard enough or submit to proper rules for our lives? While we should see sin diminish in our lives as we grow in our faith we will never stop entirely. And thank God for that! Why? Because it keeps us focused on Him, His forgiveness and His faithfulness in our time of need so we can share that comfort with others in their time of need. If you are living a perfect, sinless life, what would you have in common with someone who is suffering? Nothing. People lean on us because they recognize we understand what they are struggling with. That common thread in our struggles creates a bond that creates a unity that is difficult to break. LEAN ON ME and I will LEAN ON YOU because when life gets difficult we both LEAN ON GOD! Be blessed.
Q: Unless the "Lord" "builds" the house, they labor in vain..What does that mean?
A: We have to be very careful when we look at Old Testament verses like Psalm 127:1 without a full understanding of the New Covenant (Acts - Revelation). When we see phrases like "its builders labor in vain" that is an opportunity for the flesh to get involved and for us to fall from grace to a life under some sort of law. The Apostle Paul said, "To this end I labor, STRUGGLING WITH ALL HIS ENERGY, which so powerfully works in me (Col 1:29)." As Christians our labor is not in vain because we don't labor. Whatever we do is the Holy Spirit working in and through us. This is an obedience to faith which is our response to the truth that has been revealed to us. The foundation of our faith is Jesus Christ. His life, death and resurrection accomplished two things for us. One, He fulfilled the law by walking in perfect love. Two, He died a death He did not deserve to satisfy God as payment for our sins. Now, because of the resurrection, He lives His life in and through us. This the foundation of our faith that is built upon.
"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light (1 Cor 3:10-13)." Paul warns us not to lay a foundation built on our own human works. They are nothing more than wood, hay and straw. Therefore, be careful when somebody tells you that you must be obedient because it will soon be followed by the list of what you should be obedient to. They are only putting you under a yoke of slavery that even they cannot bear. A life of laboring in vain as you try with no little zeal to achieve through self effort what you already possess through faith in Christ. Our life is a life of faith, resting from our works and trusting in the work that Christ has already finished and now wants to live through us. Let the Lord finishing building His house because He has already laid the foundation. Be blessed.
Q: Salvation is "FREE" but what will it "COST" you?
A: Jesus said, "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and ESTIMATE THE COST to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish (Lk 14:28-30)." What is it that your heart desires from this world? Success, money, fame, fortune, admiration, health, sex, education, friends, family, etc. The list is varied. These are the things that the world promises and our heart desires that the individual must decide if whether or not they are worth sacrificing for Jesus. In essence they are the currency we pay with to lay a foundation in Christ. This is not like the "sacrifices" we currently see being made by those engaged in a religious festival. Trying to stop a bad habit for 40 days in hopes it pleases God is not what Jesus is talking about.
When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, the deepest desires of our heart for unconditional love, total acceptance and meaning and purpose to life are met by Him. Therefore, the things we once desired to meet those needs begin to lose their interest. That doesn't mean they don't hurt or that it is easy to get over not having or pursuing, but in the depths of our heart we know that letting them go is okay. Counting the cost is just another way for Jesus to stay on theme during His ministry. He talked of "losing" our life to find it. He also talked about the man who "hates" his life will "keep" it for eternal life. Ultimately, Jesus said, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple (Lk 14:26)." We love Jesus because He first loved us. If we love the things of this world more than Him, we will struggle in our walk. Those observing us will ridicule us as they see us trying to hold on to both the Lord and the world. We need to learn what we have in Christ so we will trust and depend on Him completely. It is worth the cost! Be blessed.
Q: "Repentance" and "Forgiveness", is there a difference between the two?
A: Repentance is simply turning from your unbelief in Jesus Christ to belief in Jesus Christ. This is a one time act that happens for all believers at salvation. "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel (Mk 1:15)." Forgiveness is releasing somebody from having to pay a debt they owe you that they cannot pay, thereby, freeing both of you from the bondage the debt caused. "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them (2 Cor 5:18-19)." The only sin that separates man from God is the sin of unbelief (Jn 16:9). All other sins were paid for at the cross for all eternity. Unfortunately, repentance is often taught as "I used to commit this sin, but now I don't." That begs the question, "what if I commit the sin again? Does that mean I never repented to begin with?" This is the bondage many Christians live with. They spend their entire life trying to repent of, and overcome, sin God is not counting against them.
We must realize that once we repent from our unbelief in Jesus Christ, we are given forgiveness as an inheritance of our faith. The forgiveness we have from God is not based on our ability to repent of every sin in our life. Nobody ever asked God to come down to earth as a man to die for our sins. Therefore, we don't need to keep asking Him to forgive us of every sin we commit the rest of our lives. Rather we live in thankfulness for the forgiveness we already have been given (Eph 1:7). In turn we are able to "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Col 3:13-14)." We don't wait for others to repent of the sins they committed against us. We forgive them, regardless, because we are reminded of the sins God no longer holds against us. We no longer hold them responsible to pay a debt they cannot afford the same way God canceled our debt that we could not afford. We are now free to let God live through us. And when He is doing that we are not going to be led to sin. When we do sin we can thank Him for the forgiveness we have and learn why we weren't trusting Him when we sinned. If you don't believe all your sins are forgiven it is time to repent of your unbelief. Be blessed.
Q: Is temptation a sin? Also what can Christians do to keep from "yielding" to temptations?
A: No, temptation is not a sin. Temptation only presents us with the opportunity to sin.
What Christians can do to keep from "yielding" to temptation is to remember what the Bible says in Titus 2:11-12. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age..." It is the grace of God, not the law of God, that teaches us to say "no" to ungodliness. The next question is "How does the grace of God do this?" Take for example the sin of adultery, which has become "popular" in recent weeks.
The law says that adultery is a sin. Therefore, when presented with the opportunity to commit adultery, the only thing that can be said is "I shouldn't do it because it is a sin." It does nothing to teach us to say "no" to the sin only that it is wrong to do it. Furthermore, the penalty under the law for adultery is death. But, Christians have watered that down to things like confession, repentance, etc. Either way it doesn't teach you to say no unless all you want to do is avoid the penalty. However the grace of God is something different.
It is the grace of God, the Holy Spirit reminding believers of who we are in Christ, that teaches us to say "no" to ungodliness. Therefore, if presented with the opportunity to commit adultery we recognize two things. One, is it an act of love towards my spouse and the other party to engage in sex out of wedlock? No. Secondly, is the act of adultery consistent with who I am as a child of God? No. Therefore, we are taught how to say "no" to ungodliness by being reminded of who we are in Christ because of the love God has given to us. Bottom line is not simply that I don't sin because it is wrong. I don't sin because it isn't a reflection of who I am in Christ and the knowledge that the sin will not provide for me what I already have in Him. Be blessed.
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