Commentary by Clark
In the CYF Sunday School class this past Sunday Russ led a topic over temptation. This topic spun off into several other topics that addressed various issues associated with temptation. One such spin-off was a conversation about how we, as Christians, are often tempted and sometimes fall.
No wonder people outside the church call Christians hypocrites! We preach one thing and end up doing the opposite. While we don’t set out to fall to temptation, we are not perfect people. That is why we need church – just like the sick need a hospital and sinners need a church. Accepting the fact that we are not perfect, and that no matter what we do, we do not warrant the favor of God.
In the book The Reason for God, author/pastor Timothy Keller states, “What if, however, the essence of Christianity is salvation by grace, salvation not because of what we do but because of what Christ has done for us? Belief that you are accepted by God by sheer grace is profoundly humbling.”
How humbling indeed! Jesus, the Incarnate, did not come for the righteous; no, He came for the sinners. For God the Father is a just and righteous judge who cannot allow sin to go freely – for the penalty of sin is death – but through Christ’s death on the cross, our sins are washed away. Knowing and trusting that it is not about us, rather it is all about Jesus, should be humbling! As we strive to become more like Christ, we need to recognize that there will be times when we fall short, but at the same time we must not forget that we are forgiven.
When temptation overcomes you, get up and brush it off. Learn from the experience, ask for forgiveness, turn it over to God, and move on. Keep in mind that Christ came for sinners, and with that, how about inviting other sinners to church?
Josh
Sunday, January 2, 2011
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