There are three families, all living within the same neighborhood. The first child continually steals from his parents. This greatly annoys the parents and causes the other children to suffer lack of food and basic needs. They scold him and whack him for stealing; they threaten him with severe punishment if they catch him doing it again. What does the child learn? Does he learn not to steal? No. He learns to be shrewd around his parents, he learns to make sure that they never “catch” him at it.
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The second child also steals from his parents, and this also causes severe need for the other family members. His parents confront him, where he breaks down into sobs. He confesses that he does not WANT to steal, he claims that he loves his parents, and he is very, very sorry; he just cannot help himself. His parents say they understand; they pat him on the head, and allow him to continue living in the home with food and shelter, even though he doesn’t stop his theft, and the other children die for lack of provision and shelter.
The third child also steals from his parents, and this also causes severe need for the other family members. The parents reveal to the child the terrible injustice of his theft, and show the child how his deeds are destroying the innocents in the family, and creating contention and covetousness. The child realizes his destructive ways; he is horrified at his actions, and is astounded by the love his parents show by setting him on the good path. He sets forth to never, ever steal again. He may be tempted from time to time, but he never steals again because he fully realizes that stealing is destructive: to him, to his parents, and to his fellow siblings. The parents do not need to command him “Thous shalt not steal” because he never does, nor would he if given the chance.
I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Romans 12:1-2
Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18
For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. 1 Thessalonians 5:3
I’ve been reading the books of Jeremiah, 1 Thessalonians, and Romans, an explosive combination.
- How do you make peace with God when you know you do wrong against Him and others?
- Why would you continue to break His law and try to justify yourself, even after you’ve realized that Jesus Christ paid the price for your just punishment?
- If you love God, wouldn’t you go out of your way to do things His way, just because you are so grateful for all He’s done for you?
- If you didn’t know exactly what His way was, wouldn’t you devote your life to finding it out?
It’s very easy, especially in this day and age, to view God’s laws as mere “suggestions.” Such as, with adultery, or homosexuality, or lying. We’ve been brainwashed to believe that God doesn’t REALLY mean what He says; and that, in that blob of time and space after The Book of Malachi and before The Gospel of Matthew, God has changed. He’s nicer- He’s more passive, He overlooks those bad things and gives us “grace” so we are excused for our sins, and can even go off and sin some more without feeling too guilty anymore.
Wrong.
Shall we keep sinning because the grace from God is so abundant? Absolutely not! How can we, who have totally died to sin and cut it off from us, keep sinning?… we have been freed from sin! Romans 6:1-7
Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe [by faith]. … Therefore, the law was our tutor, to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:21-23
You must not understand the word “law” here in human fashion, i.e., regulation about what sort of works must be done and not done. That’s the way it is with human demands of the law with works, whether your heart is in it or not.
God judges what is in the depths of the heart. Therefore His law also makes demands of the heart and doesn’t let the heart rest content in works. …Where there is no free desire for good, there the heart has not set itself on God’s law. …Outwardly you keep the law with works, out of fear of punishment or love of gain. Likewise you do everything without free desire and love of the law; you act of out aversion and force. You’d rather act otherwise if the law didn’t exist. It follows then that you, in the depth of your heart, are an enemy of the law. -Martin Luther, Preface to the Epistle to the Romans.
God isn’t looking for outward works from a dirty heart that would break those laws if allowed. Nor is He looking for a heart that has sentimental feelings toward Him but does not obey His commandments (which is called being deceived). Both are nothing to Him. It’s the third child from the parable that fulfills the law AND lives by faith.
And God is patient while we follow Him. At first, God reveals to us that stealing is wrong. Once we have realized this and overcome it, He reveals something else that we need to change. This is called “sanctification.” It’s a process, and God is very, very patient with us. But there must be progression; the key is FOLLOW HIM. To deny His commands and to refuse to progress out of evil works is SINFUL.
Moreover, sanctification is something we cannot do with our own strength, either. It’s like asking the prisoner to open the prison doors, or asking the lumber to form a house. Impossible! We MUST be filled with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11-13).
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves. Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? … do no evil, not that we should APPEAR approved, but that you should DO what is honorable…” 2 Corinthians 13: 5-6
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May 21, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Sorry it took me so long to get here. I’ve been pretty much under the weather lately, so I have limited brain power each day. Anyhow - I love the photo, as must anyone who’s tried to discipline a cat. Mine have a new strategy. When they know they’ve done something they shouldn’t, they head for the top of the kitchen cupboards where I can’t reach them. Smart kitties, indeed.
And your story of parents and kids reminds me of a pastor I used to know. He always used to say that God had to hit him over the head with a 2×4 to get him to change. I pointed out that if he listened, God had probably first tapped him on the shoulder a few times. And if he obeyed then, he could save a lot of bumps and bruises. I don’t think he ever got it, and that’s one of the reasons he’s a pastor I used to know.
But I agree with your main point. “Greasy grace” doesn’t cut it with God, and neither do works of the law. We’d do well to learn what the Holy Spirit is trying to teach us, and respond, “Yes, Lord!”