The Good Of The Father (The Condemnation Crowd) # 2015

 

Nothing, consequently, is now condemnation to those in Christ Jesus.  Not according to the flesh are they walking, but according to spirit, for the spirits law of life in Christ Jesus frees you from the law of sin and death

Paul to the Romans 8: 1-2, Concordant New Testament 

Recently I've been having a few conversations with a gym friend.  This is nothing unusual.  What is unusual is how I end up feeling after our conversation.  For after we finish our talks, I usually am left feeling somehow condemned in my faith.  Now, I know the truth of my life in Christ, and I know that I will have eternity with Him, of that I am sure.  Yet my friend is big on following, to the letter, certain passages within the scriptures that seem to prove the point which he is trying to make.  Recently, that point is that we all have sinned {Paul to the Romans 3:23} and that we need to be in continual prayer for the Fathers forgiveness.  Yet the apostle Paul is careful to point out that we have been justified gratuitously through the grace of God through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus {Paul to the Romans 3:24}.  So, yes, all have sinned, but through the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross, we have been justified in the eyes of the Father.  It seems that my friend was not interested in hearing that, however.  My guess is that it did not fit his narrative.  That narrative is one that we see preached within the mainstream church.  The narrative that sharing the gospel means convincing others that they are guilty of sin.  That they are in need of Gods forgiveness.  Well, isn't that what happened at the cross?  I've said for some time that the church is stuck on the hamster wheel of reminding people of their sin guilt.  Yet Paul is quick to remind us that Christ has died to sin once for all time {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  That we are to now consider ourselves "Dead, indeed, to sin" {Paul to the Romans 6:11}.  Yet many pastors within the church continue to preach the sin issue as if it is still relevant.  Their congregations are taught to remind the world of this message in order to "Save" them from themselves.  When I was still in the church, I saw first hand the effects of this ministry of condemnation.  I'm not afraid to admit that I also once practiced what the pastors taught me to do.  The funny thing is, now that I know the truth of my life in Christ, I find that people are more willing to listen to the message of the evangel that I speak to.  This is not a message of condemnation, but of the love we find in the Father.  

For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is God's approach present, not of works, lest anyone should be boasting 

Paul to the Ephesians 2: 8-9, Concordant New Testament 

One comment which I made recently which I have received a bit of pushback from is the churches need to keep reminding people of the existence of sin.  You could say that the success of the church depends on their keeping the sin issue alive.  Why?  Well, when you remind others that they have sin in their life, far too many people will feel that the church is where they need to be in order to free themselves of their sin.  The truth of the evangel spoken by Paul AND the evangel of Christ Jesus is that sin is no longer an issue for those who are in Christ Jesus {Paul to the Romans 8:1-2}.  Those in the church bristle at the idea that Jesus died on the cross for our sins past, present and future {Paul to the Romans 6:10, Peter to the Dispersion (1) 3:18}.  In order to keep their pews filled , those in the church continue to speak of the sin issue as if it still exists.  In my opinion, they are doing their best to keep their congregations in the bondage of not knowing true freedom in Christ Jesus.  If this wasn't true, you would hear pastors speaking to the evangel of Paul from their pulpits.  Sadly, this isn't the case at all.  These congregations are taught that to minister to others in the community is to continue to remind them of their sin.  Knowing this, I understand where my friend is coming from.  He himself has been taught that his sin is ever with him.  That he needs to be in prayer for whatever sin he might have committed.  He feels condemned, and he brings this condemnation into his conversations of God with others.  I believe that he continues to carry the shackles of bondage.  It is only through knowing the truth of our life in Jesus that these chains are broken. 

~Scott~