Are Christians hypocrites? There was a time when I was not saved that I attended my family's church. Often times after service I would see some of the ladies gathered outside the door or in the parking lot talking to each other. In most cases they were dressed in their "Sunday best." However, what I remember the most about these ladies was not that they attended church, it wasn't that they praised the Lord, nor was it that they wore their best clothes. What I remember was that when they were standing around talking to each other I could hear them gossiping and putting down other Christians. This stuck with me so much that it played a role in me coming to faith in Jesus Christ because I didn't want to be like those women; hypocrites who dressed up for church in order to praise Jesus, but exhibited anything but His influence on their lives within seconds of worshiping Him. It reminds me of the words Jesus spoke to the Scribes and Pharisees. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness (Matthew 23:27)." Jesus was describing people who claimed to believe in God by what they did, but inside they were spiritually dead to Him. In other words they were unbelievers. Now, I am not saying these women were unbelievers, nor am I saying that we never fail as Christians in our behavior. But, to the average person who doesn't know this or doesn't believe in the Lord, what are they to think? Then wouldn't you know it, when I did become a believer, I would experience another kind of hypocrisy from so-called Christians. This is something that is preached all throughout the Christian church. It is this idea that Christians are supposed to live these lives of obedience and repentance; always trying to live by what is good and avoid what is evil. Regarding obedience, you may hear Christians say things like they desire to focus on, "What does it mean to live a holy (set apart) life." Repentance may be defined as, "turning from the way of life that is contrary to God’s law, and turning to the way of life that is defined by God’s law, which consists chiefly of the Ten Commandments, but includes other commandments, statutes, and judgments, as well." This all sounds godly, but it is a recipe for disaster because it illustrates how to make hypocrites.
In Colossians 1:22, Paul writes, "But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation." This eliminates having to find ways to live a holy and set apart life because through your faith in Jesus Christ, you are holy, which means set apart. Again, we are told that, "For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them (Galatians 3:10).”" Therefore, if we are to turn "to the way of life that is defined by God's law," that is saying that we must turn to the way of life that puts us under a curse because we must "abide by all things written in the Book of the Law." Nobody is doing that. Therefore, you begin to see how hypocrites are created. They are created by people trying to live a life they cannot live in order to obtain the holiness of God they already have received. Or they lie and tell people they have found a way to be obedient to God when they are not being obedient. Anybody who has truly come to know the grace of God, His love and their identity in Christ, not only desires to live a life pleasing to Him, but knows that what pleases God is allowing Him to live His life in and through them because they are already holy (set apart), obedient (to the truth He has revealed to them) and have repented (of their unbelief in Jesus Christ). Otherwise, all your hypocritical attempts to live a life you cannot are only telling Jesus that He died for nothing. "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for nothing (Galatians 2:21)." Hypocrites are those living a life that tells Jesus His death was for nothing! They would rather believe the lie of Satan told thousands of years ago in the Garden of Eden, when he said to Eve, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:4-5).” Hypocrites are those eating from the wrong tree and are not living a holy life of obedience and repentance, but are living a life which is nullifying the grace of God.
Showing posts with label repentance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label repentance. Show all posts
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Friday, January 27, 2017
All Scripture ...
I visited the Facebook page of a popular Christian that I follow; Ken Ham. With all the turmoil over the last few days and weeks in the United States, he decided to post this on his wall:
"Our nation needs to hear this:
"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" (2 Chronicles 7:14)."
While I can understand what he is driving at by posting this verse, I have often had difficulty with posting scripture that equates the nation of Israel or the Jewish people with the United States or Christians in America. There is this assumption that God is in covenant with the United States and any parallels seen between our country and the biblical problems of the nation of Israel allow us to use scriptures out of context as if they apply equally. One of my personal struggles is to stay silent when I think I have something to say on a particular subject. With that said, I posted on this thread to throw my two cents into the fray knowing that I was probably going to catch opposition for it; which I did. Therefore, I wanted to share with you what I wrote and the ensuing "conversation" that occurred in hopes that it may have some value.
Me: "My people = The Jews, not Americans.
Our sins are already forgiven; 2 Corinthians 5:19-20; Hebrews 10:17-18
Our land is not being devoured by locust and it is raining. (2 Chronicles 7:13)
People need to come to faith in Jesus Christ and when things are terrible it can work to the benefit of the Kingdom as it leads to people coming to faith in Jesus. While I understand the intent of this passage, the context is not for Americans or the United States. All that is happening now is all a part of the End Times. Keep preaching the Gospel as it will only get worse."
Kim P: "You're trying to say that a crack head murderer is already forgiven? That the current baby murdering abortion industry is forgiven? Really? Because I read that repentance is necessary for forgiveness. Repentance being a turning away from sin. And by saying that "My people= The Jews" you are saying that WE don't belong to Him?"
Me: "Yes. The problem between man and God is not that we are sinners in need of forgiveness, but we are spiritually dead and in need of His resurrected life. Forgiven: "Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the WORLD to Himself, NOT COUNTING their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)." Saved by His resurrected life: "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be SAVED BY HIS LIFE (Romans 5:10)." True repentance is turning from your unbelief in Jesus and accepting Him as Savior (i.e. Mark 1:15). Born again Christians belong to God, but 2 Chronicles 7:14 was not written to Christians. There were none at the time. It was written to disobedient Jews. Thank you."
Lyndon W: "Repentance is turning from unbelief in Jesus ?? Ummm....no."
Me: "Ummm....Yes. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15"
Gary F: "See Ken Ham's post.... ALL SCRIPTURE"
(Ken Ham's post: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 2 Tim 3:16")
Me: "Yes, 2 Chronicles 7:14 is God-breathed. It is useful for teaching us how to take scripture in context by showing us that it was written to Jews under the Law not American Christians. And by understanding the proper context it can be used to rebuke those who use it for a purpose it was not intended. Thus, it corrects us so that we can be in agreement about what the verse means. Therefore, it trains us on how to correctly handle God's Word as those who are in a right-standing with God through our faith in Jesus Christ. Grace and Peace."
Robert F: "My people = Christians"
(I didn't respond to this because I addressed it in my initial post.)
Robert F: "Only past confessed sins are forgiven. This verse is just one of many that says we must repent to receive forgiveness. We must stay in a submissive relationship with God and NOT return to a life of willfully sinning. Without repentance there is no forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38, Acts 17:30)."
Me: "Sorry, Robert, all our sins are forgiven; 2 Corinthians 5:19, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 4:32, Hebrews 10:17-18, Romans 4:8, Colossians 3:13... And without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness; Hebrews 9:22. Confession simply means agreeing with God. We must agree that we have sinned, but also agree that He is not counting our sins against us so we can boldly approach the throne of grace in our time of need; Hebrews 4:16. God bless."
This is where the thread has ended. I do not enjoy this type of exchange with random people, especially Christians, on the internet. I feel it can serve a purpose by showing different views of scriptures and also serve as a teachable moment for all involved as to how to give a reason for why we believe as we do, to keep us humble and teachable as well as provide an opportunity to get practice sharing our faith. Thanks for reading.
"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" (2 Chronicles 7:14)."
While I can understand what he is driving at by posting this verse, I have often had difficulty with posting scripture that equates the nation of Israel or the Jewish people with the United States or Christians in America. There is this assumption that God is in covenant with the United States and any parallels seen between our country and the biblical problems of the nation of Israel allow us to use scriptures out of context as if they apply equally. One of my personal struggles is to stay silent when I think I have something to say on a particular subject. With that said, I posted on this thread to throw my two cents into the fray knowing that I was probably going to catch opposition for it; which I did. Therefore, I wanted to share with you what I wrote and the ensuing "conversation" that occurred in hopes that it may have some value.
Me: "My people = The Jews, not Americans.
Our sins are already forgiven; 2 Corinthians 5:19-20; Hebrews 10:17-18
Our land is not being devoured by locust and it is raining. (2 Chronicles 7:13)
People need to come to faith in Jesus Christ and when things are terrible it can work to the benefit of the Kingdom as it leads to people coming to faith in Jesus. While I understand the intent of this passage, the context is not for Americans or the United States. All that is happening now is all a part of the End Times. Keep preaching the Gospel as it will only get worse."
Kim P: "You're trying to say that a crack head murderer is already forgiven? That the current baby murdering abortion industry is forgiven? Really? Because I read that repentance is necessary for forgiveness. Repentance being a turning away from sin. And by saying that "My people= The Jews" you are saying that WE don't belong to Him?"
Me: "Yes. The problem between man and God is not that we are sinners in need of forgiveness, but we are spiritually dead and in need of His resurrected life. Forgiven: "Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the WORLD to Himself, NOT COUNTING their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)." Saved by His resurrected life: "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be SAVED BY HIS LIFE (Romans 5:10)." True repentance is turning from your unbelief in Jesus and accepting Him as Savior (i.e. Mark 1:15). Born again Christians belong to God, but 2 Chronicles 7:14 was not written to Christians. There were none at the time. It was written to disobedient Jews. Thank you."
Lyndon W: "Repentance is turning from unbelief in Jesus ?? Ummm....no."
Me: "Ummm....Yes. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15"
Gary F: "See Ken Ham's post.... ALL SCRIPTURE"
(Ken Ham's post: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 2 Tim 3:16")
Me: "Yes, 2 Chronicles 7:14 is God-breathed. It is useful for teaching us how to take scripture in context by showing us that it was written to Jews under the Law not American Christians. And by understanding the proper context it can be used to rebuke those who use it for a purpose it was not intended. Thus, it corrects us so that we can be in agreement about what the verse means. Therefore, it trains us on how to correctly handle God's Word as those who are in a right-standing with God through our faith in Jesus Christ. Grace and Peace."
Robert F: "My people = Christians"
(I didn't respond to this because I addressed it in my initial post.)
Robert F: "Only past confessed sins are forgiven. This verse is just one of many that says we must repent to receive forgiveness. We must stay in a submissive relationship with God and NOT return to a life of willfully sinning. Without repentance there is no forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38, Acts 17:30)."
Me: "Sorry, Robert, all our sins are forgiven; 2 Corinthians 5:19, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 4:32, Hebrews 10:17-18, Romans 4:8, Colossians 3:13... And without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness; Hebrews 9:22. Confession simply means agreeing with God. We must agree that we have sinned, but also agree that He is not counting our sins against us so we can boldly approach the throne of grace in our time of need; Hebrews 4:16. God bless."
This is where the thread has ended. I do not enjoy this type of exchange with random people, especially Christians, on the internet. I feel it can serve a purpose by showing different views of scriptures and also serve as a teachable moment for all involved as to how to give a reason for why we believe as we do, to keep us humble and teachable as well as provide an opportunity to get practice sharing our faith. Thanks for reading.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Grace and Peace
'To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.' Romans 1:7
When we write to our friends we often start out our correspondence with simple words like, Dear, Hi, Hello or my friend. The Apostle Paul often included "Grace and Peace" in his letters. As a Christian, I believe we can easily overlook this common greeting used by Paul because we talk about grace so much that when we see the word being used it doesn't phase us. However, it is worth noting that you cannot separate grace from peace. Imagine if Paul had written, "Law and worry to you from God our Father." That carries an entirely different meaning. Similarly, you cannot separate Law from worry. To subject yourself to the Law means you have subjected yourself to trying to live a life you cannot live; a life of obedience and repentance to rules and regulations you can never fully obey. The Law's standard is perfection; "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (James 2:10)." The Law stirs up sin: "For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death (Romans 7:5)." The Law is a ministry of condemnation and death: "For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law (Galatians 3:10)."” The Law is for the lost, not for believers: "We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine... (1 Timothy 1:8-10)." Life under the Law is a life of hopelessness. It is a life of worry because deep down in your heart you know you are not being obedient enough and you're only left with this feeling in your gut that God is not pleased with you and doesn't love you; you are a failure in His eyes.
However, grace is different. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1)." If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, becoming born again of the Spirit of God, then you have peace with God. You have been delivered from darkness to light: "But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:4-5)." All of your sins are forgiven and do not separate you from God: "I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name (1 John 2:12)." You have eternal life: "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:11-13)." You have access to God: "He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit (Ephesians 2:17-18)." Nothing, not even you, can separate you from God's love: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39)." Knowing these truths about the grace of God is what gives you peace. That peace comes from the fact that your right standing before God, your holiness, your justification, your sanctification, your entire existence comes from your trust in and dependence on what Jesus Christ did for you, not trust in and dependence on what you try to do for God. If you are worrying about your relationship with God or if you don't have one with Him at all, it is probably because you do not have peace in your heart and do not know His grace.
When we write to our friends we often start out our correspondence with simple words like, Dear, Hi, Hello or my friend. The Apostle Paul often included "Grace and Peace" in his letters. As a Christian, I believe we can easily overlook this common greeting used by Paul because we talk about grace so much that when we see the word being used it doesn't phase us. However, it is worth noting that you cannot separate grace from peace. Imagine if Paul had written, "Law and worry to you from God our Father." That carries an entirely different meaning. Similarly, you cannot separate Law from worry. To subject yourself to the Law means you have subjected yourself to trying to live a life you cannot live; a life of obedience and repentance to rules and regulations you can never fully obey. The Law's standard is perfection; "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (James 2:10)." The Law stirs up sin: "For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death (Romans 7:5)." The Law is a ministry of condemnation and death: "For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law (Galatians 3:10)."” The Law is for the lost, not for believers: "We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine... (1 Timothy 1:8-10)." Life under the Law is a life of hopelessness. It is a life of worry because deep down in your heart you know you are not being obedient enough and you're only left with this feeling in your gut that God is not pleased with you and doesn't love you; you are a failure in His eyes.
However, grace is different. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1)." If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, becoming born again of the Spirit of God, then you have peace with God. You have been delivered from darkness to light: "But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:4-5)." All of your sins are forgiven and do not separate you from God: "I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name (1 John 2:12)." You have eternal life: "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:11-13)." You have access to God: "He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit (Ephesians 2:17-18)." Nothing, not even you, can separate you from God's love: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39)." Knowing these truths about the grace of God is what gives you peace. That peace comes from the fact that your right standing before God, your holiness, your justification, your sanctification, your entire existence comes from your trust in and dependence on what Jesus Christ did for you, not trust in and dependence on what you try to do for God. If you are worrying about your relationship with God or if you don't have one with Him at all, it is probably because you do not have peace in your heart and do not know His grace.
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