Just Because We Can’t See It Doesn’t Mean It’s Not There

Sin is real. The evidence of sin is all around us — both in the natural and moral realms. According to God’s word, as a consequence of Adam’s sin, the earth itself was condemned (Gen. 3:17–19).

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now (Rom. 8:20–22).

The manifestation of sin in the moral realm may be denied, but the reality of sin is everywhere — “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power” (2 Tim. 3:1–5; also read Rom. 1:18–32).

Consider sin to be like an undiagnosed disease. It may be that we are not aware that we are suffering, but eventually — as a consequence of it not being diagnosed and addressed — we begin to show signs of suffering. Just because we can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. How many of us have watched friends and loved ones die because they were not aware they were suffering from something like cancer — and then when it was finally detected, it was too late? Again, sin is like that, except that we’re not talking about losing our bodies, but losing the undying part of ourselves, our souls, forever (2 Thess. 1:6–10;  Luke 12:4–7).

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . . Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Rom. 3:23; 5:12). “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins” (Ecc. 7:20).

So what are we to do? What can we do?

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:23–26).

The power of God in saving souls is not simply in His overlooking that we have sinned against Him. If He did this, He would be unjust:

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it — the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins. It was to show His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:21–26).

Here’s the thing — God’s nature is compared to light (1 John 1:5;  John 1:4–9; 8:12;  Heb. 12:28–29). And the point the word of God makes is that there’s no darkness in Him at all! So how can He justify sinners? “My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. This is how we know that we know Him: if we keep His commandments. One who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:1–4).

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him (Rom. 5:6–9).

The apostle Paul was commanded not to wait but to “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16). “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:3–5; cp. John 3:3–7; Php. 3:8–11).

Just because we can’t see sin, doesn’t mean it’s not there. It will manifest itself (1 Tim. 5:24). But once there, only obedience to God’s command of faith and baptism (Rom. 4—6) can remove it completely and eternally! God be praised for His love!

"Is It Lawful?"

The question, “Is it lawful?” is asked nine times in the New Testament (Matthew 12:10; 19:3; 22:17;  Mark 3:4; 12:14;  Luke 6:9; 14:3; 20:22;  Acts 22:25). The question is essentially seeking authorization for doing—or not doing—a certain thing: whether it is about healing on the Sabbath, divorcing one’s spouse for any reason at all, or scourging a Roman citizen.

The question, “Is it lawful?” seems to be asked a lot less than it should be, especially when it comes to worshiping God. For example, when Nadab and Abihu offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded (Leviticus 10:1–11), they were consumed by fire which came out from the Lord. They did not stop to think about what they were doing because they didn’t care, and they were therefore severely punished.

In asking, “What’s wrong with _____?” we’re really asking the wrong question because we are basically coming at establishing authority backward—we’re already doing what we’re weakly questioning. It’s the same as asserting that since the Bible does not forbid a practice that it is somehow divinely-acceptable. But again, consider Nadab and Abihu.

When we ask “Is it lawful?” or “What makes this right?” we are seeking authority first and foremost rather than as an afterthought.

Another important phrase we find used throughout the New Testament by Jesus Himself and His holy apostles is: “It is written.”

This phrase is found 64 times —Matthew 2:5; 4:4, 6–7, 10; 11:10; 21:13; 26:24,31;  Mark 1:2; 7:6; 9:13; 14:21, 27;  Luke 2:23; 3:4; 4:4, 8, 10; 7:27; 19:46; 24:46;  John 6:31, 45; 8:17; 12:14;  Acts 1:20; 7:42; 13:33; 15:15; 23:5;  Romans 1:17; 2:24; 3:4,10; 4:17; 8:36; 9:13, 33; 10:15; 11:8, 26; 12:19; 14:11; 15:3,9,21;  1 Corinthians 1:19, 31; 2:9; 3:19; 6:16; 9:9; 10:7; 14:21; 15:45; 2 Corinthians 8:15; 9:9;  Galatians 3:10, 13; 4:22, 27; Hebrews 10:7;  1 Peter 1:16.

Seeing this lengthy list of scripture references underscores the importance of this phrase because it manifests an attitude of reverence toward God’s word as the source of our authority for doing what we do and how we do it. As Jesus said, “Take heed what you hear … Take heed how you hear” (Mark 4:24;  Luke 8:18).

In the words of King David—“Oh how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. … Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble” (Psalm 119:97, 165).

In all worship and holy conduct we need to possess this attitude toward the word of God because His word brings life (John 6:68;  1 John 5:11–13). “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak” (John 12:48–50).

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

“Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:11–13).

Knowing how important the word of God is in distinguishing between what is acceptable and what is not, we read of our adversary’s interest in removing or distorting the word: “The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them” (Mark 4:14–15;  Galatians 1:7).

“Put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:21–22).

“That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete” (1 John 1:3–4).

Before we offer worship to God, let us be sure that it is lawful (Romans 12:1–2).

Pursuing Christ’s Holiness

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:8–10).

The apostle Paul urged his readers to: “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Because “the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5). The Lord Jesus Christ fulfills every single one of these characteristics fully—the pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith. And the apostolic charge, the divine charge, is that we strive to become like Him: “But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’ ” (1 Peter 1:15–16).

Notice that righteous men are not our standard: Paul didn’t urge the Corinthians to imitate him, per se, but to imitate him as he imitated Jesus Christ. Jesus is our standard—“For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding” (2 Corinthians 10:12).

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love (Ephesians 4:11–16).

Growth is essential to life: if we’re not growing, then we’re dying. But spiritual growth that will reach into eternity is not growth for the sake of growth, rather it is growth based upon the word of Christ (Romans 10:17; 14:23;  Colossians 1:4–6;  2 Thessalonians 2:13–14). Again, Christ being our only standard.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:1–3).

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:8–12).

So how do we go about this pursuit of Christ’s holiness? Is it even possible? “With man it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27;  Acts 17:27;  Hebrews 11:6).

Our pursuit begins with a desire to know of Him (Luke 9:23–27; Romans 10:17;  2 Peter 3:18). We go to the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. When was the last time we read through the gospels?

Jesus is not just another historical figure. Jesus is God with us (Matthew 1:23;  John 1:1–5, 14–18). As He said to His apostles, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

In closing, notice how many passages show us that Jesus wants us to follow Him—Matthew 4:19; 8:22; 9:9; 10:38; 16:24; 19:21;  Mark 1:17; 2:14; 8:34; 10:21;  Luke 5:27; 9:23, 59; 18:22;  John 1:43; 10:27; 12:26; 13:36; 21:19, 22. “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6). He has revealed Himself to us so that we can, through Him, live eternally (John 3:16;  Philippians 3:20–21).

The Enormity of What God Has Done

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

It is very humbling to meditate upon the enormity of what God has done for all of us by approaching mankind as that which He created — “Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:5). As the psalmist so beautifully asks: “What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (v. 4). And what God has done for mankind is so unique that there’s only way the story can be told: in the light of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-5 / 2 Timothy 1:8-10).

“For God so loved the world …” (John 3:16). “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. … We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:9-10, 19). Without God’s love, there would be no love at all.

The purpose, though, for our humility in light of the gospel and what God has done for us through His Son on the cross is not simply to make us feel bad (though we, at times, should). God’s love is designed to elevate us — “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as

you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11).

This “elevation” is not just to make us feel better about ourselves — although that might happen as a result of the relief which comes from our realization and acceptance that our sins have been completely forgiven in Christ — but to also help us be better in every station of life: whether at home (as parents and children), work (whether as an employee or employer), school, or even when we’re alone and no one but God knows what we’re up to. In Christ we find a fresh start, a new beginning, and an ultimate hope of heaven where “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4 / Isaiah 25:8).

With a new year beginning today, we generally like to view things as “new.” The calendar has indeed changed, but really just from one day to another. So how can we see a change within ourselves? The real benefit today is that we, as Jesus’ followers, are coming together as His body to worship Him and to remind ourselves of His indescribable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15) as we participate in the Lord’s Supper — “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).

Furthermore, we come together to pray to and worship in spirit and truth the God of the universe, and to encourage one another by stirring up love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). In other words, we look up and we look around in our time together in worship and spiritual refreshment; if you will, our time together is a kind of spiritual huddle — where we plan and then go out into the world to put into play God’s wonderful words of salvation.

Our adversary, the devil, wants us to miss out — and the more we miss worship and Bible studies, the weaker we become spiritually. As Paul said to the Corinthians about their abuses of the Lord’s Supper, “For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That at is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep [i.e., died spiritually]” (1 Corinthians 11:29-30).

God’s salvation is offered freely (Isaiah 55:1-7 / John 6:27). Take full advantage of this opportunity before it’s eternally too late (­2 Peter 3:8-13).