Offended: Wrong teaching about overcoming sin

Practice makes perfect. This wise old saying is, in most cases, true. One wants to play and musical instrument or sing then hours or preparation are in order. Doctors, after years doing the job, are more apt to diagnose correctly. And the list goes on in efforts on this planet where practice pays off. When it comes to sin which so easily entraps us this is not the case. One can curb sin of action by resisting the temptation. In addition the sin of omission will be curbed by doing what is right when it presents itself to be done. However, what about the sin of the thought life based squarely in the mind and heart.

Romans 7:21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ESV 

Reason would look at that question and she would suggest to try harder. This is the natural answer to many of the challenges we face in life. The answer, sadly, in much of the Christian Church is casting the sinner back on him or her selves. This is pagan Greek philosophy but in no way Christianity. Where does St Paul point us?

Romans 7:25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. ESV


Romans 8: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. ESV

What human reason and effort cannot do Jesus did for us by his holy life, bitter sufferings, death and resurrection. This handled the curse of the law for us. Do we want to sin and keep on sinning. No. But out of true repentance we look to Christ and trust his doing the whole job for us. Let us trust this good news and live in the peace it gives.

In the name of Jesus. Amen †

Offense: God is Angry With You!

This error is based mostly on assuming the behaviour of the Christian is related to justification. We all fall short in our thoughts words and deeds in trying to do what our Heavenly Father desires of men. This error is preached, it seems, to guilt the believer into either changing behaviour and perhaps increase service in the church. This hurts people who are sensitive to the law and loves Jesus that he or she would wish to follow perfectly. However, is God really angry with us for our failures to follow his commands and desires for our lives? 


 Colossians 1: 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind,doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. ESV 


 In this letter to the Colossian congregation on will see that we are reconciled with God by the death of Jesus for our sins. We are also by virtue of the innocent and bitter suffering and death of our shepherd presented holy and blameless. This should answer once and for all the fear that God is angry with us and will reject us or we are not truly saved due to our falling short. 


One can be so hurt by this wretched error that one can lose faith in Jesus. One may err from the faith and adopt a "why bother trying since my trying is or was a failure?" This hopelessness often leaves one erring from the faith rather than keeping in repentance and true faith in Christ.


This error is not beholding the bitter suffering and death of Jesus in a correct manner. A true view will see God's fierce wrath toward sins as well as how that Jesus bore this wrath for all people. Hence the teaching of God being angry towards a believer is an actual slap in the face to the Crucified Lamb of God. When one has been granted repentance and faith in the finished work of Christ God is no longer angry with the believer. And the grateful response of the Christian is to out of gratitude seek to guard the words of Jesus seeing them as a Light unto his or her path. 


Let us trust this good news and live in the peace it gives. 


In the name of Jesus. Amen. †