by Jesse Abel
Thoughts from Papa “J”
It is so simple that most of us will overlook it; self-righteousness in a matter is not trusting in the LORD. Thus the outworking of self-righteousness is sin. Psalm 37:1-8 and Proverbs 3:1-8
Good Morning
2 Corinthians 2:3-11 – No doubt that we have all been affected by the sin of others and no doubt we have affected others for the sin of our self. As broad as sin can be we have trouble talking about it openly and I think that this lack of willingness to face sin head on is our way of expressing a “no fault” attitude. Let me explain my thoughts.
The Living Word of God explains that sin is an act of war against God and God only; Psalm 51:1-4, but it also teaches us that when we sin it touches and harms the people around us; such as the events of the life of Korah and his entire family. Of course some of will say; isn’t this a bit extreme? And the answer is… all sin is extreme!
In fact; while we can easily admit to being a sinner, we are very quick to say things like, “yes; I am a sinner saved by grace” and the truth is, the statement is true and as a result there is usually no further comment necessary. For some of us this becomes a license to sin.
The unsaved is like a person who has a weapon before he or she has a license to carry it. Once saved you get to carry it openly, but the results are no different even if the verdict in one’s mind is. So there is a problem with sin and Dennis Swanberg once doing an imitation of Don Knotts said in the voice of Barney Fife. “What shall we do with sin?” Funny… this is a good question, but it seldom gets an answer.
Suffering, comfort, consolation and salvation in chapter one of 2 Corinthians and we now find in chapter two that the apostle is adding the words “forgiveness and love” to the original recipe (the apple pie) is necessary, if left out one might see the work of a very good looking pie and one that may taste good too. But it will lack the wholesome work of tenderheartedness. Ephesians 4:3
Forgiving is one of our most difficult obstacles. Once a person asked Corey Ten Boone if she had forgiven the Germans for her imprisonment and the deaths of her father and sister, her answer was yes. The person then said; “well do you have any documentation concerning your arrest or release, or any news articles of the hardships you and your family suffered”?
Her answer; “well yes I do, I keep this information safe in my desk over there”! and the person said; “well Corey you have not completely forgiven those who caused this suffering; since at any time you choose you can go to the desk and reflect on all the sorrow and pain of those days and it will all come flooding back on you”.
So I think that most of us can talk a good story about being forgiven, and if we are we are truly forgiven. Ephesians 2:8-9 are our “go to verses” but mostly our story falls short of the mark and that would be Ephesians 2:10. Yes it is necessary to discipline the sinner, but it is just as necessary to forgive them as well. It is naïve to believe otherwise since Satan is aware and is the master of sin.
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