YES WE CAN

The perpetual unworthiness  of Christians is a message that resounds from pulpits around the world. In essence, it teaches that God’s people are not worthy of Jesus’ gift of salvation.  And, that we are saved only due to God’s pity for us rather than an eternal love that boggles the imagination. Worse, according to these teachings, we will never be able to live life and be holy and complete without sinning.  

First, let’s look at the word sin. Consider the fact that neither the Old Testament bible patriots, nor the New Testament writers, went around telling people they were sinning.

Rather, the OT word they used is chattacth, meaning an offence against God.   In the New Testament, when the Apostles spoke to people to tell them how to live their changed lives as followers of Jesus, they most often used the word hamartano, which means properly, to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), (figuratively) to err, especially (morally).

Thus, in both the Old and New Testament, the people were taught that when they morally committed acts contrary to God’s statutes, they were offending God and missing the mark.

Christian’s do not have to guess the origin of this ungodly concept?  God gives us the answer:

John 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: …

Satan is unchanged from his goal. And, he does not always have to physically kill God’s people. He simply has to distract us with false teachings which lead us to confess and do things that offend God. For instance, when a person feels unworthy, the thought is why bother to try to do better?

In direct contradiction to this ungodly concept, the rest of verse 10 gives us God’s opinion about our possibilities. Jesus said I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (KJV) 

Thus, when we disbelieve God’s word, are we not dishonoring God? When we see ourselves through Satan’s eyes, are we not abandoning the cross? Given the biblical meaning of the word sin, who do we honor when we stand up in Christian congregations around the world and speak into God’s ears, Thank you for your blood, but Lord, I am and remain a worthless sinner ..... blah blah blah.

In plain English, we are telling God that the blood of His Son Jesus, and His word, was and is insufficient to wash us clean, John 15:3.

Jesus told people to go and be holy and sin no more, such as in John 8:11 with the adulterous woman. Also, in John 5: 14, Jesus told the crippled man [whom He had told to get up and pick up his bed] to “Go and sin no more.”

Nevertheless, through this erroneous message of unworthiness, Satan would have us believe that Jesus thus God is not truthful with us.  Isn’t that what Satan convinced Eve of? 

Question: Would Jesus tell us to do what He knows is impossible? And in that Jesus said He said nothing that the Father did not say, then would God tell us to do the impossible?

In 1 Peter 1, Apostle Peter repeats God’s word of our promised life without sin, 1 Peter 1:13-16:

NOTE: see the clarity of these verses in the New Revised Standard Version [NRSV].

1Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (KJV)

13 Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. (NRSV)

 

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: (KJV)

14 Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. (NRSV)

 

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; (KJV)

15 Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all of your conduct; (NRSV)

 

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (KJV)

16 for it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." (NRSV)

 

Where did St. Peter get this wisdom? It came from God’s Holy Word in Leviticus 11:44; 19:2; 20:7.  In ALL of these verses, and many others, Yahovah, our God and heavenly Father, tells the people—THUS US—to be Holy as He is Holy. In other words, GOD SAID we CAN stop committing moral offenses against Him through our faith in Jesus Christ.

Another question must be asked. Who will benefit from convincing God’s people that we, God’s creation, will always be unworthy, destined to live a life of sin, i.e. morally committing acts that offend God? Again, a well-known fact holds the answer.

Numerous polls reveal that the majority of Christian congregations in the United States are composed of women to the tune of 65-75%. I believe this fact speaks for itself.

Remember the childhood fairy tale about the little train engine that thought it couldn’t climb a hill. After much encouragement by its cargo of toys, it tried. It succeeded.

Given the pervasive and consistent teaching that God’s people are and will always be unworthy of God’s love, Christian believers need to be like that little engine.

God said it…that should settle it.

YES WE CAN live Holy without offending our Heavenly God and Father.