It is easy to think that Jesus was not successful because He did not stamp out sin when He died on the cross. Disciples still sin, even though they have given their lives to Him as their Savior. This devotion explores whether Jesus is a minister of sin, condoning sin because it is still prevalent in the world today.
Nuggets
- While we need to highlight sin so that we can cut it out, the law points out that we can’t rely on us changing ourselves.
- Jesus was strong – mentally, physically, and spiritually.
- The purpose of Jesus coming down the first time was to pay the price for our sins, not to eliminate sin.
- Every day, we make so many decisions that seem to us to be little; however, those small decisions ultimately reflect whether we are following God or not.
Let's Put It into Context
Galatians 2 talks about being justified through faith, not through works. We just covered that because we have been walking through Ephesians. The gospel in a nutshell is housed in Ephesians 2: 8-9.
To read devotions in the Foundations of Salvation series, click the appropriate button below.
We also just talked about whether God ignored our sins. Nonbelievers sometimes believe that, by God’s “silence” in eliminating and/or punishing sins to their standard, He is saying there really isn’t anything wrong with people’s behaviors.
Don’t worry. We are going to come at this from a different angle.
One more background piece, though. We’ve talked before about why disciples keep on sinning after they have admitted their sins, asked Jesus to be our Savior, and confessed God as Sovereign Lord.
This is because there are three different tenses in one verb in the Bible. There is the past, present, and future – we were justified, we are being justified, we will be justified. We have been justified because our relationship has been restored, and we now can be changed into a spiritual being. We still are, however, a physical, human being.
Christ a Minister of Sin???
“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!” (Gal. 2: 17 NKJV)
This devotion, I want to talk about verse 17 by itself. What consequences does our continuing to sin have on Jesus and us?
So, while we are a believer, going along in our Christian walk (“… while we seek to be justified by Christ …” (Gal. 2: 17 NKJV), we still have the capacity to sin. Does that make Christ weak? Does that mean Christ promotes sin? Does that mean Christ really allows sin? Doesn’t that really mean our actions don’t matter? Let’s find some answers to those questions.
Is Jesus Weak?
“Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin!” (Heb. 4: 15 CEV).
Weak? Jesus? Where in the world did you get that idea?
Jesus knew exactly Who He was — He was the Son of God (Jn. 11: 4). He had every confidence that He could and would succeed in His mission — to be the Savior of the world (Jn. 3: 16).
Physically, Jesus was a carpenter, which required strength. Yes, He may have gotten to ride in a boat every once in a while, but for the most part, He probably walked. All over. He didn’t exactly stay in one spot.
Jesus was strong – mentally, physically, and spiritually. That is what He wants for us, also.
Does Jesus Promote Sin?
“What shall we say, then? Should we continue to live in sin so that God's grace will increase?” (Rome 6: 1 GNT)
I struggled whether promote was really the word I wanted to use. What I mean is, if we don’t sin, God and Jesus don’t get to continue to shower us with the grace. So, wouldn’t Jesus want us to keep sinning so He can appear to be that much more gracious?
Didn’t Paul just say that? “Law was introduced in order to increase wrongdoing; but where sin increased, God’s grace increased much more” (Rom 5: 20 GNT).
Oh, no. That isn’t the point. The point is we need to highlight the sin so that we can cut it out. The law points out that we can’t rely on us changing ourselves.
Sin in our lives is one of the things we are to work on when we are working out our salvation (Disciple’s Job Description #2). We are supposed to be identifying and removing sin from our lives in order to not continue to sin.
The Disciple’s Job Description
To access the complete job description, click the button below.
Job Duty #2
Work Out Our Salvation (Philippians 2: 12)
Our lives post-conversion is to prepare us for our lives in eternity. Sin won’t be around in eternity, which is why are are called to be holy. “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (II Cor. 7: 1 ESV).
Jesus wants us to kill sin dead in our lives now. Not sorta dead, but dead dead.
Does Jesus Allow Sin?
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Rom. 3: 23 NLT)
Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve bit when Satan told them to bite. Some may think that, because Jesus “failed” to remove sin from this world when He came the first time, He is allowing it to continue.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
The purpose of Jesus coming down the first time was to pay the price for our sins, not to eliminate sin. He is coming back again someday to eliminate the sins. Until then, we could possibly argue that Jesus is allowing the sin to continue.
Why is Jesus doing that? Everyone has to hear about the plan of salvation before the end.
Everyone has to have the opportunity to choose whether they are going to turn their lives over to God or are they going to continue to live for Satan. God will not tell Jesus to grab the cloud and sickle and scoot until all who are going to have turned their lives over to Him.
Wouldn’t we hate it if God said, “I am getting tired of waiting. Okay, Jesus, go do your thing. We are going to stamp out sin right now. I know Tom, Sally, and Elaine were supposed to do the ABCDs, but I am getting tired of waiting for them. They will just have to lose because they didn’t act fast enough.” No, we are glad God is waiting for everyone who is going to become a believer to become a believer.
A consequence of that sin continues. This world will be controlled by Satan until Jesus returns. Satan wants sin to abound.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
Do Our Actions Matter?
“Jesus replied, ‘If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water’” (Jn. 4: 10 NLT)
Life is filled up with so many little actions. How many times have we been told that the little things end up being the big things?
Maybe that is true. Every day, we make so many decisions that seem to us to be little. However, those small decisions ultimately reflect whether we are following God or not.
I think sometimes, we are so focused on the big things – no, we haven’t murdered anyone lately – that we don’t consider how the small things impact our relationship with God. We try to follow God by loving others, but we end up tolerating their sins.
Making the Connections
No, Jesus did not die so that we could continue to sin. Jesus came to this earth to fulfill the law of God. He came to pay the price of our sins.
Because of that substitution, we can now be free from the consequences of sin. He has secured our pardon.
How Do We Apply This?
We have to admit our sins, believe on Jesus as Redeemer, confess God as Sovereign Lord and demonstrate that commitment by following our job description. We have to ask Jesus to be our personal Savior.
Then we have to live like we have made that decision. We have to make the changes in our lives necessary to become more like Jesus.
The ABCDs of Salvation
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
We have to work out our salvation. We have to follow God’s laws and commandments. We have to share our newfound joy with others.
We have to live a life that is holy – a life that will prepare us for our eternal lives.
Father God. You are perfect; we are not. Nonbelievers see us rather than You. Lord, help us to show You in us. May we live our lives following Your law and commandments. Our goal is not only to live as You want us to, but also to lead others to You. Amen.
What do you think?
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