September 18

Day 188: The Problem of Sin

Is it not a blessing (bummer) that the more we mature in our relationship with Jesus, the more aware we are of our own sin? It's like our radar sees more and more.

Those of a more Reformed persuasion are accused of dwelling too much on their own sin, continuing sin being inconsistent with their salvation. Tagline: Those who fall never had it in the first place.

Those who lean more Arminian are accused, rather, of being too concerned that their present sin may one day negate their salvation. Tagline: Had it at one time, but lost it.

A little background: the Arminian believers and churches were a response to the second and third generation Calvinist believers. They accused the Calvinists of acting like, "I know I'm going to heaven, so I can live like hell. It doesn't matter."

The Arminians were originally called the "Holiness Movement," in their effort to align faith and practice. Without holy living, one's faith was lost, gone.

If seen in (unfair) absolutes, one put all their trust in their professed faith. The other in their works.

This is one reason why theologians past and present debate Romans 7. Who is Paul talking about in that chapter? (You'll have to read it.) A saved person still wrestling with the frustration over their own continuing sin? Or someone still unsaved who has not bothered to wrestle at all?

Galatians 5:24 says, "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Theologically correct. Because it's right there in the Bible. And it sounds like something that's happened already, past tense. But what if we have a time/day/lifespan where that doesn't seem to be our reality?

But all of us will agree on at least this one point. A Christian's faith, and a Christian's life should be built, one on the other. Almost like the faith is the foundation, and the life is the building erected on that foundation.

No one wants to sleep on a concrete foundation. No one wants to sleep in an unstable house, either.

However, some are content with a strong orthodoxy, absent from "orthopraxy" (living out one's faith.) Can't really tell the difference between them and the unsaved. For others, like modern-day Pharisees, it suffices to live a perceived "holy" life, while internally denying the faith.

Jesus even accused some religious leaders of being "white washed tombs," meaning, they're only good on the outside. James, on the other hand, said, "Faith without works is dead."

So what do we do with this?

Galatians 5:25 says, "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."

To "live by the Spirit" is to base our lives and our eternities on the faith in Jesus we have insured to us by the presence of the Holy Spirit in us. To "keep in step with the Spirit" is to evidence the fact that the Spirit is there. Working in us, to conform us to the image of God.

Never complacent about our still lingering sin. Yet, not believing that our future sin (or anything else) can separate us from the love of God.

So now, as the rain returns to us, I will devote some of this day to pondering the question, "What does it mean for me, today, to keep in step with the Spirit?"

Maybe this includes my allowing the Spirit to lift me more so out of the problem of sin. So my life more closely aligns with my faith.

-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau