The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"Careful In Evaluation"
We can be tempted when seeing unChristlike behaviors and attitudes in professing believers to quickly dismiss them as being false professors of faith in the Lord Jesus. The Apostle Paul, conversely, took a more measured, deliberate view.
"Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus" (I Corinthians 1:1-2).
While Paul strongly affirms the Corinthians in his salutation as genuine believers, he also presents the most strident challenge directed to Christians found in the New Testament epistles. "Ye are yet carnal" declared the Apostle of the Corinthians' blatant attitudinal and behavioral waywardness (I Corinthians 3:3). Never, however, does Paul indict his brethren for bearing a false confession of Christ. On the contrary, the first nine verses of I Corinthians offer perhaps the most affirming of Paul's commendations found in any of his epistles. Had one never read the letter, the introduction of I Corinthians would lead to the perception of a strong and vibrant fellowship of believers. Moreover, Paul affirms the Lord's presence in the Corinthians: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (I Corinthians 3:16). The epistle to the Corinthians nevertheless exists because of the Corinthians' carnality in attitude and behavior. The most affirming commendation. The most strident challenge. How can both be directed to the same company of believers?
The answer lies in Paul's teaching in other epistles regarding the present challenge believers face within our own being. Born again believers' hearts are inhabited by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus - "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." We also bear in our earthly members and faculties - "the flesh" - a "law of sin" (Galatians 4:6; Romans 7:22-25; 8:2). The Apostle himself acknowledges this confluence of conflicting inclinations: "When I would do good, evil is present with me" (Romans 7:21). In our present lifetime, the possibility of sin (including grievous carnality, as with the Corinthians), will remain with us. Doubtless, this is the reason Paul did not immediately question the salvation of professing believers who were not living in accordance with their confession of Christ. He knew from his own experience the challenge all believers face regarding temptation and fleshly inclinations. "Considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 5:16-17; Galatians 6:1).
Of course, it remains true that no excuse whatsoever exists for any sin a believer commits, including the detours from God's will that characterized the Corinthian believers. Born again believers in the Lord Jesus are super-energized vessels of the power of Christ, equipped to overcome any temptation (I Corinthians 10:13). Our Lord overcame every enticement to sin He ever faced - "in all points tempted like as we are, and yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). He now lives in us to empower our own overcoming, including the most wayward among us. Thus, we must expect of each other - and most of all, ourselves - a quality of life that reveals the presence and power of the risen Lord Jesus who dwells and walks in us as the very Life of our lives. "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (II Corinthians 9:8).
This grace notwithstanding, no believer ever in this lifetime advances beyond temptation and the possibility of sin. We must join Paul to not quickly dismiss as false professors of Christ those who may bear Him within, but who do not seem to outwardly reflect His presence. Certainly, false professions of Christ do occur. People can "believe in vain" as failure to bear fruit may suggest the absence of the Root (I Corinthians 15:2; Matthew 7:20; Proverbs 12:12). However, the Lord's chief apostle would counsel us to be very careful in our evaluation of authenticity. Perhaps most of all, he would tell us to "consider thyself" when we are inclined to a dismissiveness we may direct toward others, but which we are far less likely to apply to ourselves.
"I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ, that in every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you."
(I Corinthians 1:4-6)
""If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
(I John 1:8)
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
(I John 2:1)
Weekly Memory Verse
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
(Hebrews 13:8)
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