I once knew someone who was miffed and disgusted with new believers because they had big stories of having been deep in sin, through drugs, alcohol and other major things everyone could see were destructive.
You might ask "why would a "Christian" be irritated at the dramatic testimonies of people who had been changed by Christ into a completely different person?"
It is my belief that someone who says they are a Christian and in their estimation have never done anything monstrous or dramatic as a sinful person, might believe they had never sinned.
To deny that Christ changes people is to deny Him!
1 John 1:6-8 "…6 If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
The disgust at someone's testimony of a wicked life before being born again is based on their own idea that they have never sinned and that there is no change in bad people, that Christ does not change sinners.
Sadly this mentality denies the miraculous work of Christ and places the onus on them and others to save themselves by being good.
Romans 3:10-12
"10 as it is written,
“There is none righteous, not even one;
11 There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God;
12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless;
There is none who does good,
There is not even one.”
Just because someone has not done any sin others can see does not mean they are good people. Many people who thought they lived lives worthy of salvation will be going to hell.
Self-righteousness is condemned by God, anyone who lives this sort of self-elevation will go to hell.
Luke 18:9-14
The Pharisee and the Publican
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Notice the Pharisee was praying "to himself", he was not praying to God, he was the god of his own life.
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
Rather than asking God to reveal any sin in their own lives, these self-righteous people assume they did what they thought was right without consulting God. The dirt in their heart is hidden but rejects the idea that God is the One Who cleanses from sin, they thought they cleansed themselves.
1 John 1:6-8 "…6 If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.…"
I once confessed a sin to someone who had learned of my sin many years ago. This man's response was astounding, he asked in a mean spirited voice, "why did you do it." At the time I was a new believer and was shocked at his response. I had confessed it to God and to him even though it wasn't even against him, I thought he might hear and should know I was repentant. I had no answer for him at the time because of my shock that he was not grieving with me over the confession, he saw it as another opportunity to beat me down further. This was a violation of the scriptures but I didn't know it at the time.
To further demean someone who has repented is a form of glorying in the fall of another. The violation of the Scripture was as follows:
Galatians 6:1
"1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.…"
Every single person must confess their sin to be cleansed. If someone never does this thinking they have no need then they are not looking deeply into their heart to see what lurks there hidden that needs confessing to be able to grow in holiness.
Psalm 129:34 "…23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting."
Someone who is self-righteous believing they have never done anything that needed confessing to be cleansed cannot be born again.
Anyone who is jealous of those who have confessed and have been cleansed suggests to me they have never experienced salvation. No one can become born again by pretending they have no sin that deserves hell.
Psalm 19:12
"Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults."
Proverbs 15:9
"The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness."
One cannot be pursuing righteousness if they think they have nothing to confess.
1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Only IF we confess will God cleanse us. He will not cleanse anyone who will not confess, He will not save anyone who thinks they have no sin.
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Dependence on Christ Alone
John 1:17-18
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