Taking Sin Seriously Means Personal Confession

The final point of the message, “The Maturing Christian Takes Sin Seriously,” yesterday was that one of God’s ways for his people to “avoid” having to take the extreme measures of disciplining a sinning Christian was for true Christ-followers to examine their own lives on a regular, consistent basis. Paul talks about that very thing in 1 Corinthians 11: “So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-32 (NLT))

The unfortunate thing is that this kind of examination of our soul and our behavior has fallen from popularity. Sometimes for good reasons … It became a morbid kind of self-flagellation. Other times it is because “confession” became a part of the rote of the worship liturgy of the church and felt meaningless.

But without a systematic and intentional effort of examining our lives we can all too often find ourselves drifting far from God’s paths of righteousness. Right there in the principled prayer that Jesus taught his disciples we find “forgive us our debts / trespasses / sins” and “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Then in the book of Revelation Jesus speaks to seven churches, five of which have issues that Jesus tells them that they need to deal with.

How long has it been since you have examined yourself? … taken an extended period of time to read and meditate in God’s Word with the purpose of putting your life up to the examination of Scripture … listened for the Holy Spirit’s conviction in regards to your life and how you are reflecting the glory of God?

The season of Lent was developed by the church as an intentional time for the people of God to humble themselves before the Lord and examine their hearts and lives. When you read the Old Testament you find God prescribing times of confession and repentance for the people of Israel. He mandated a rhythm of life that included seasons of examination and turning to God.

There are a couple of good articles that you might want to read that point to this same issue: “Spirituality Without Ongoing Repentance is *NOT* Christian Spirituality.” CLICK HERE.  Another is “The Mark of Christianity That is Disappearing from Our Worship” CLICK HERE.

One critical element to keep in mind that helps keep us from that morbid self-flagellation and improper guilt and shame is that true Holy Spirit inspired and filled CONVICTION will always draw us toward Christ for grace and cleansing. When conviction comes from the Holy Spirit we can’t get enough of God’s Word, God’s people and God’s gracious love and mercy. When the feelings are CONDEMNING and we feel guilty and shameful to the point that we don’t’ want to be in God’s Word and being at church is totally uncomfortable, then we can know that it is an emotion inspired by the Devil.

May this Lenten season be a time of careful personal and spiritual assessment where the Holy Spirit leads us to Christ and his mercy, grace and cleansing for sin.

A Maturing Christian ... Can Handle Criticism

    Here's a little follow up to yesterday's message on the way the Apostle Paul handled the hostility and criticism of the Corinthians. The bottom line on the message was that we are best able to handle critics when we are most secure in our relationship with Christ. When we are living totally for Jesus and His glory, we can be assured of God's commendation (1 Cor 4:5). There is incredible power in the life that is lived in "Self-forgetfulness."
    I mentioned and then quoted from a a booklet that Tim Keller wrote entitled, "The Freedom of Self-forgetfulness." Here is the LINK to Amazon for the booklet. A couple of people asked about it.
    There was one area that I skimmed that I thought I might bring to your attention for your added investigation, meditation and prayerful consideration. It has to do with listening for the nugget of God's truth in every criticism level against you. I quoted a college mentor, Elizabeth Jackson as having told me that I should look at every criticism and see if there isn't some seed of truth that I need to consider as being valid and something that God would want to address in my life.
      The Bible itself is full of admonitions and then examples that illustrate how important it is that we take advice and criticism to heart. Not to let it dictate our self-worth, but for criticism to help us in our journey to be all that God wants us to be. Proverbs is an incredible place to start for those pithy encouragements to adhere to advice and respond properly to criticism.

Come and listen to my counsel. I'll share my heart with you and make you wise. (1:23)

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray (10:17)

There is sever discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die. (15:10)

If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home with the wise (15:31)

People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace (10:10)

If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored. (13:18)

To one who listens, valid criticism is like a goal earring or other gold jewelry. (25:12)

In the end, people appreciate honest criticism fare more than flattery. (28:23)

Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery. (29:1)


Just do a word search for criticism or reproof. You'll find plenty of material to build a strong case for  taking the time to handle criticism God's way. The key, once again, is that we are so secure in our relationship with Christ that we are not destroyed by hostile criticism and can therefore use it for our growth and maturity in Christ-likeness. 

A HUGE REMINDER: The vision of the church is not that you simply attend church. The vision is that you will become a mature, reproducing follower of Jesus Christ.