DON’T BE ENTERTAINED BY THE SINS JESUS DIED FOR
John MacArthur died recently. His life had a great impact on many. Some in my family attended his college, one graduated from it. I don’t agree with everything he said, but there a couple quotes that stand out to me as worthy of remembering and passing on. I think you’ll like them as well.
“WE SHOULD NOT BE ENTERTAINED BY THE SINS FOR WHICH CHRIST DIED.” I like this because it expresses a life-long concern of mine. It really bothers me that Christians can fine humor in such unbiblical practices as homosexuality, immorality, drunkenness, rudeness, cruelty, mockery of God or others, etc. We should turn off the TV, leave the movie or conversation, ignore the joke or put down the book containing it. It we wouldn’t feel comfortable having Jesus join us in watching or reading it, we shouldn’t be doing it!
But there are more personal, individual ways we do this. We have our own sin areas, places in our lives that aren’t totally submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We like them so we keep them. We know they aren’t right and we should stop, but we don’t want to give them up so we continue in them. They could be a favorite lust, an area of greed or a jealousy. Perhaps it is someone we don’t want to forgive or something we don’t want to give up, like gluttony or not being good stewards of our bodies. It could be an over excess of something good, like exercise or travel or obsession with a hobby. It’s whatever God is convicting you of as you read this.
“THE GOSPEL IS A CALL TO SELF-DENIAL; IT IS NOT A CALL TO SELF-FULFILLMENT.” Our culture focuses on self-fulfillment. That can be good, but it can also be bad. Advertising, web browsing, music, movies and social media all emphasize self-realization, being all you can be, reaching your full potential and having everything you want. But does chasing that elusive bubble bring satisfaction and fulfillment? Does it satisfying the inner craving, calm the storm and steady the heart and mind? When we turn our attention to self alone, we sacrifice relationships with others, including God, and somehow believe our lives will mean more once we’ve elevated our needs above the love and support offered by others.
This doesn’t mean we neglect ourselves. After all, we are image-bearers of Christ. We should honor our bodies, take care of our minds, and tend our hearts and souls, but we should do so with Christ’s love and light at the helm. He, alone, understands what will bring us eternal fulfillment. He, alone, offers contentment that weathers all the highs and lows we navigate in a fallen world. Jesus didn’t die so we could have a better life according to the world’s standards. He calls us to sacrifice, to die to self, to submit to Him and to wash each other’s’ feet. The Christian life is not about what we can get Jesus to do for us, it’s all about what we can do for Him!
“NOTHING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FORGIVENESS – OUR FORGIVENESS OF OTHERS AND GOD’S FORGIVENESS OF US.” Withholding forgiveness often makes us feel as though we have the upper hand over the person who hurt us, but all this does is plant seeds of bitterness that will choke us, not the offender. Forgiveness is freedom for the offender and offended. It’s a win-win, whether it feels like it or not. It grants us the freedom to live in Spirit and truth, letting God’s ways matter more than our ever-changing, unpredictable, often tumultuous emotions. It’s trusting God’s foresight and deeply believing He knows what’s best. And it’s us believing that forgiveness is what’s best.
We are very glad to have God’s forgiveness for our sins, but often we don’t pay as much attention to forgiving any and every offense against us. What would it be like if God forgive us the exact same way we forgive others?
Colossians 3:13 says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Which of these stand out to you? Why?
What can you learn from MacArthur’s words?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India & Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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