When you go to a doctor because you have a pain somewhere in your anatomy, the doctor’s role is not to treat the symptom but to identify and treat the source of the problem. To do so the medical practitioner reaches into his/her bag of all she/he has learned in undergraduate studies, medical school, residency to discern the root cause of your pain. With the diagnosis the physician prescribes medicine or treatment that hopefully will get rid of your pain.
A sinner is not a sinner just because they break God’s laws. In fact, they may not even be aware they are breaking His laws. Paul explains in Ephesians 2 the root cause of what makes a sinner. He says a sinner is dead (like a spiritual zombie) or unregenerated leaving them virtually blind to the evil they consciously or unconsciously practice. He says in v 2 the cause is following … the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air [Satan], the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient (NIV). He then explains in v 3 the sinner lives … gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts (NIV). What is often categorized as sin is simply misdirected deeds that are the fruit of our spiritually blind condition. It is this inner darkness that makes the person by nature objects of God’s wrath, not just the symptomatic sins they do.
I write this because unless we understand the total depravity of our inner being, we will never really understand our need for God’s great mercy and grace. When we do become aware of a wrong deed we have done, normally we try to somehow a) justify it, b) call our sins ‘mistakes’, c) glibly expect God’s mercy to forgive us d) ignore it as no big deal, OR e) we try to exercise more self-discipline or behavior modification, so we do not repeat it.
Unfortunately, the other alternative of mentally or emotionally acknowledging that we have broken God’s laws only brings us temporary relief, that relief is not sustainable. Only when a person becomes aware that his/her nature is irreparably broken and he/she lacks the ability to heal him/herself, is that person able to sense their desperate need of God’s mercy and grace. When that person humbly admits their depraved condition and asks God to do what only He can do, they will then discover a sustainable peace and joyful regeneration by God’s Spirit that makes them alive after being dead. It is this supernatural transformation that gives us the desire to love and obey God and the connection to His ability to literally live a life in Jesus’ likeness.
Have you been treating sin’s symptoms rather than root cause? Has your life consisted of cycles of failures to be like Jesus and trying harder next time? Or has it consisted of being very aware of your need for God’s continued mercy and grace and asking for more of them to empower you to live the better life? God is not angry when we sin. Jesus’ closest disciple wrote if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness (1 John 1:9, NLT2). He is a like loving parent whose child has fallen and skinned his/her knee. Humble confession of our hopeless sin nature brings God’s immediate forgiveness. The most critical factor is remembering we are sinners not because of our failed efforts, but because we follow our sin nature that tells us we can make ourselves better next time. Have you been genuinely enjoying God’s grace and mercy or are you still trying to fix yourself through self-discipline, self-help or positive thinking? Hope and freedom come from leaning on God’s provision and cooperation with His guidance.
Good to re-evaluate ourselves.
So true…..maybe multiple times.
For one who’s been a Christian for many, many years; this
is a good reminder to go “back to the basics”. The cravings
of our sinful nature seem to be screaming at us, while the
truth of God’s Word is tucked silently, down deep in our heart,
to be obeyed only if we go to the root of the problem and admit
we are spiritually blind until we let God’s light finally enlighten us
and are obedient to it!
Reminds me of an old worship song “Learning to Lean” . Did I learn then – no, but over the years of trying to change myself I’m finally ‘learning to lean on Jesus’. Thanks for the reminder.