The header on this chapter in my Bible says, “Final Warnings.” That sounds ominous. Paul is preparing for his third visit to the Corinthians. He loves these people, but he is frustrated with them because of the way they have allowed themselves to be influenced and the immorality they have tolerated. He wants them to know that those who continue in sin, brazenly doing as they choose knowing that it is against God’s will be confronted and, “I will not spare them.”
Christians sometimes fall into a bad habit of cheapening God’s Grace. We know He loves us. We know Jesus died for us. We know our sins are forgiven. But we act like that salvation has no ramifications for our lives. Since Jesus came in weakness to die for us, we sometimes treat His death as though it were a weak act. He’s the sacrifice and we get the benefit, and we just move along unchanged. We have our own agendas to pursue. But just because Jesus died in weakness, we remember that He rose, and is now living in the power of God. He is King of kings and Lord of lords, and at His name every knee will bow.
God expects us to change – better said, He changes us – through the forgiveness Jesus has won for us. To ignore that fact and act like God has to forgive us cheapens the gift.
This is a conundrum for us. On the one hand we know that we have been forgiven because God loved us so much that He gave Jesus to die for us so sins could be atoned for. That is our hope. On the other hand we know that we sin everyday and fall short of God’s calling for our lives, stumbling over the same sins over and over again. How are we to be sure then that we’re not taking God’s Grace for granted? How can we make certain that we do not despise God’s gift?
Paul encourages us to examine ourselves. “Test yourselves.” We should compare ourselves to God’s Word and see where we fall short of His Will. We should confess our sins, and turn away from them. We should seek to do right instead of wrong.
But what if I test myself and find myself lacking?
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power made perfect in weakness.” (Sound familiar?)
What if I test myself and find myself fine?
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (How ‘bout that one? Is that familiar?)
We should daily recognize the depth of our sin and the magnitude of our need for God’s forgiveness. It should bring us to our knees. But we also remember that God is the one who will lift up our heads. It’s Jesus’ forgiveness that makes us worthy, not the things we do. We can rely on Him.
Paul speaks of passing the test. How do you do that? Is it in all the good things you do in this life? No. It’s clinging to Jesus, holding on to the cross for dear life. The good works, and all that will come. He will bring them. Just hold on like your life depends on Him, because it does. And here’s one more thing to remember. He’s holding on to you, too.
Christians sometimes fall into a bad habit of cheapening God’s Grace. We know He loves us. We know Jesus died for us. We know our sins are forgiven. But we act like that salvation has no ramifications for our lives. Since Jesus came in weakness to die for us, we sometimes treat His death as though it were a weak act. He’s the sacrifice and we get the benefit, and we just move along unchanged. We have our own agendas to pursue. But just because Jesus died in weakness, we remember that He rose, and is now living in the power of God. He is King of kings and Lord of lords, and at His name every knee will bow.
God expects us to change – better said, He changes us – through the forgiveness Jesus has won for us. To ignore that fact and act like God has to forgive us cheapens the gift.
This is a conundrum for us. On the one hand we know that we have been forgiven because God loved us so much that He gave Jesus to die for us so sins could be atoned for. That is our hope. On the other hand we know that we sin everyday and fall short of God’s calling for our lives, stumbling over the same sins over and over again. How are we to be sure then that we’re not taking God’s Grace for granted? How can we make certain that we do not despise God’s gift?
Paul encourages us to examine ourselves. “Test yourselves.” We should compare ourselves to God’s Word and see where we fall short of His Will. We should confess our sins, and turn away from them. We should seek to do right instead of wrong.
But what if I test myself and find myself lacking?
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power made perfect in weakness.” (Sound familiar?)
What if I test myself and find myself fine?
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (How ‘bout that one? Is that familiar?)
We should daily recognize the depth of our sin and the magnitude of our need for God’s forgiveness. It should bring us to our knees. But we also remember that God is the one who will lift up our heads. It’s Jesus’ forgiveness that makes us worthy, not the things we do. We can rely on Him.
Paul speaks of passing the test. How do you do that? Is it in all the good things you do in this life? No. It’s clinging to Jesus, holding on to the cross for dear life. The good works, and all that will come. He will bring them. Just hold on like your life depends on Him, because it does. And here’s one more thing to remember. He’s holding on to you, too.
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