I always need to preach to myself a reminder that I am beloved (Eph. 3:17-20) and spotless in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). This is because life is always telling me otherwise, serving me up a platter full of failures, temptations and rejections. In addition to this, I struggle with my sins. They too preach a powerful message: “You’re not righteous! Who are you kidding! How thrilled can God be with you!” And they make a pretty persuasive case!
The voices of condemnation are clever, and they know Scripture and are never at a lack to pull up a disturbing verse:
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9-10)
I might not be an adulterer, but Jesus revealed that we are guilty of adultery even when we have the wrong thoughts (Matthew 5:28). Nor am I free of the charge of “murder.” Jesus similarly informed that we are guilty of murder and worthy of condemnation by merely uttering, “You fool” (Mat. 5:22). Not very comforting for a born doubter! However, Paul continues to write:
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:11)
How can it be that I was once “greedy,” but now, I am no longer so? I still covet and want what others have. Doesn’t this make me a condemnable sinner? No! Why not? Something that has transformed the deserved-condemnation into unmerited-favor has taken place. I have been “washed,” and “sanctified” and “justified.” I’ve been totally liberated by Christ’s death. Any denial of this fact diminishes His Cross and tells Him, “No, it’s just not enough to transform my scummy-ness!”
Our voices of condemnation aren’t quite so easily put off. They thrust another verse into our wounded conscience with a chuckle:
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)
The first question that comes to mind is, “Am I truly holy enough?” And the first answer would be, “No, you’re not!” Hebrews goes on to exemplify what “holiness” is all about by citing the unholy Esau who sold his birthright for a “single meal” (Hebrew 12:16). This would remind me of the times when I’d terminate a very important spiritual conversation because I was thinking about a juicy hamburger, just like Esau. If Esau is the example of un-holiness, where does this leave me? Not with a lot of confidence! However, Hebrews continues:
Afterward, as you know, when he [Esau] wanted to inherit this blessing [from his father Jacob], he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind [repentance], though he sought the blessing with tears. (Hebrews 12:17)
Although Esau wanted the blessing, he was unwilling to repent of his un-holiness. It brings me great confidence and reassurance to find no example in Scripture where God refused a penitent forgiveness. On the contrary, Jesus promised that He would receive all who would come to Him (John 6:37). Paul confidently asserted that, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)
By God’s grace alone, this is one message that has found a permanent home in my fragile heart. However, there are many other sermons that I must continue to preach to myself, because my ears become stuffed with despairing and accusing sermonettes. But this is a good thing. Without this tug-of-war, I would never have learned to adore Christ and His redeeming, all-surpassing and reassuring Word.
The voices of condemnation are clever, and they know Scripture and are never at a lack to pull up a disturbing verse:
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9-10)
I might not be an adulterer, but Jesus revealed that we are guilty of adultery even when we have the wrong thoughts (Matthew 5:28). Nor am I free of the charge of “murder.” Jesus similarly informed that we are guilty of murder and worthy of condemnation by merely uttering, “You fool” (Mat. 5:22). Not very comforting for a born doubter! However, Paul continues to write:
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:11)
How can it be that I was once “greedy,” but now, I am no longer so? I still covet and want what others have. Doesn’t this make me a condemnable sinner? No! Why not? Something that has transformed the deserved-condemnation into unmerited-favor has taken place. I have been “washed,” and “sanctified” and “justified.” I’ve been totally liberated by Christ’s death. Any denial of this fact diminishes His Cross and tells Him, “No, it’s just not enough to transform my scummy-ness!”
Our voices of condemnation aren’t quite so easily put off. They thrust another verse into our wounded conscience with a chuckle:
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)
The first question that comes to mind is, “Am I truly holy enough?” And the first answer would be, “No, you’re not!” Hebrews goes on to exemplify what “holiness” is all about by citing the unholy Esau who sold his birthright for a “single meal” (Hebrew 12:16). This would remind me of the times when I’d terminate a very important spiritual conversation because I was thinking about a juicy hamburger, just like Esau. If Esau is the example of un-holiness, where does this leave me? Not with a lot of confidence! However, Hebrews continues:
Afterward, as you know, when he [Esau] wanted to inherit this blessing [from his father Jacob], he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind [repentance], though he sought the blessing with tears. (Hebrews 12:17)
Although Esau wanted the blessing, he was unwilling to repent of his un-holiness. It brings me great confidence and reassurance to find no example in Scripture where God refused a penitent forgiveness. On the contrary, Jesus promised that He would receive all who would come to Him (John 6:37). Paul confidently asserted that, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)
By God’s grace alone, this is one message that has found a permanent home in my fragile heart. However, there are many other sermons that I must continue to preach to myself, because my ears become stuffed with despairing and accusing sermonettes. But this is a good thing. Without this tug-of-war, I would never have learned to adore Christ and His redeeming, all-surpassing and reassuring Word.
Daniel Mann
