13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature," God made you" alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."-Colossians 2:13-15
The word forgiveness makes me think of many beautiful things, but this morning's scripture readings shed new light on the topic. I think of forgiveness as beautiful and freeing but seldom do I see it as life-giving. But it's so true. It brings new life into us, life in abundance... we are alive in Christ.
Oh the Christian... it's so difficult to deal with this idea of forgiveness, because we feel so much pressure to be like Christ, to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect... and we should strive for such things. But we also need to understand that Christ is only Christ in our lives when we recognize our sin and the need for His forgiveness... the need for him to nail the code and regulations upon the cross. He freed us from death on that cross of our sins. And we can now live in Him. I'm alive in Christ, because I am dead to myself. On my own I would be a goner. But I live because Christ lives! I can almost hear the beautiful song, "He Lives! He Lives! Christ Jesus Lives Today!" We can also sing, "I Live! I Live! I Live Today... because of His death on the cross."
2 In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. 3 Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit" of judgment and a spirit " of fire. 5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain. -Isaiah 4:2-6
We hide our sins, our struggles, our temptations, because people do judge others. They do. In some way, they judge whether you're worthy of their company. It seems quite ridiculous to me, because we all sin. Perhaps some sins are easier to see or talk about or acknowledge. What about the sin of being self-seeking or ambition? What about the sin of wealth? What about the sin of pride? What about the sin of self-reliance and self-sufficiency? "Huh?" you ask. Those aren't sins. Well, of course those aren't the ones that come to mind most readily, because these are all upheld as values in our society, to a certain extent. But taken to an extreme... these can also be sins.
That's why I've always found the Psalm so important... Lord, forgive me from my hidden faults. Yet, we must also be more and more forgiving with people, understanding that we have far more sins in our own lives than those that we acknowledge. That's why Romans 2 is so important, that we are not to judge others... we simple don't know enough to even be able to do that.
And we need to search and examine ourselves in order to humble ourselves before the Lord. Habakuk states that we must be silent before the Lord. Recognizing our own weakness and our own sins is an important way to do that... and then we can move from that confession to a joy and appreciation for the powerful forgiviness that He offers us. I've always loved the Third Day song, "Consuming Fire," because it shows the transforming power of Christ in our lives. This morning I tried to share the power I have felt of God to transform me. When I allow Him to be the greatest in my life, He transforms me. Sometimes it's a hard process- with fire and smoke that sometimes take a long time- but it results in peace, shelter and refuge. Lord, I praise You for seeing my sins, cleansing me of my sins, and working in me through Your Holy Spirit in order to transform me with Your amazing power. You are Holy and Beautiful to me, Lord God.
1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load. -Galatians 6:1-3
Sometimes it is so important for me to recognize again and again that my Lord has cleansed me and forgiven me the blood of my sins, because the world is not so forgiving. (Of course, they won't admit that.) But people are very hesitant to listen to your struggles and it makes them very uncomfortable if you mention something along those lines. Our mantra is supposed to be, "I'm ok. Everything's fine." If you cross that thin line, they can no longer imagine that you're perfect person and go along with their business.
Sharing struggles and temptations and difficulties and sins not only humble us, but they hold us accountable for our brothers and sisters. When you know that someone is caught in sin, you must "restore him gently." We are commanded to "carry each other's burdens," a very serious command seeing that this is seen as synonymous with fulfilling the law of Christ. We are being disobedient to Christ if we do not look out for our brother and sister... forgiving them their sins, but also (and much more difficult)... restoring their souls.
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