I would ask you to contemplate a question with me this evening, and as best as is possible, to come up with an answer that is not only based in the truths of Scripture, but does not dishonor God in any way. That is very important to me, and should be to you, that every aspect of our lives should not just glorify the Lord, but in no way should ever dishonor His Holy name.
I pose this statement to you then, if indeed the sins that we commit are done by our own free will, by choice, is then our faith, or better yet, the growing of our faith a choice?
There are sins that I believe we commit inadvertently, those that are not predetermined by us, those that we have not fallen into temptation from, but simply sins that we may do without forethought of malice. For those, as well as all of them, we may employ 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” They are in a sense similar to those that Job prayed for on behalf of his children, (Job 1:5) they are, in our terms today, those “just in case I have dishonored you and did not realize it” sins.
But then to our faith, and I speak here to those who have been crucified with Christ, (Gal. 2:20) those who desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. (2 Peter 3:18) We are given a measure of faith, (Romans 12:3) but how many people attain to that full measure in this life, how many people, children of the Most High, are seeking daily to increase their faith, if indeed it is possible.
Most generally, the trials, tribulations, temptations, and troubles of a one-day old Christian are not the same as one who has walked with Him for decades. Experience breeds, or should breed, trust, and when placed side by side, trust in Christ is synonymous with faith in Christ, but how far down the path does the average born-again believer walk. We will arrive at the narrow gate, at least all of those that this discussion is speaking about, but how many will walk all the way to it, and how many will have simply stopped on the path somewhere along the way, and will only meet the Lord at that gate because He had to go and get them.
Is our faith in Christ determined by how we handle each test, if you will, in life, or is it the amount of trials we have faced. As far as I have been blessed to see in my life so far, unless one by the power of the Holy Spirit conquers those tests, those moments in life that are meant to show us where we are on the path, they will not grow in His grace, but what about knowledge.
Knowledge applied is wisdom, and unless we are faced with circumstances that cause us to trust Christ completely, we will never gain knowledge, and therefore our faith will not grow, if indeed my hypothesis, if you please, is correct. How many times does a man need to be tested, how many times must he be put into the fire until all the dross is gone, how far must one trust the Lord and how often before we have reached our full measure of faith. “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:12)
The personal resounding of the man that the Lord used to write a large part of the New Testament, words that sound as if, even at the last moment of life, there is still a long way to go.
Short periods of doubt are not counted, as I believe, by the Lord against us, they are in fact expected, but when that doubt lingers, not only is our faith in question, but any possible growth is hindered. One cannot live partway up the mountain, either the peak must be reached, or one must turn around. Sometimes we sin on purpose, how often do we seek the Lord, with great intent, to grow our faith in Him, to ask Him to help us to trust Him more. Not often, I do not think, for that prayer can only be answered with a test of our faith, and that is one thing that most people do not pray for. To ask to be filled with the knowledge of His will, (Col. 1:9) is to ask to be tested, for in testing our faith grows, and in the patience of that testing, we possess our souls. (Luke 21:19)
3 thoughts on “Wanting More”
Leviticus 4:27-31
And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;…….and it shall be forgiven him.
Many other OT verses can be quoted!
I have in the past talked with our pastor and few other pastors of diocese about their thoughts about [sinning through ignorance].
They said, that was the old testament but now in the church age when a believer is indwelt with The Holy Spirit we no longer commit sin in ignorance, all sin we commit is willful, knowledgeful and through complete awareness.
Though i can’t find a verse in the new testament about our sin in ignorance, i can give examples from our own lives that this is true, but they will not accept it.
1 Corinthians 13:9-10 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
YOUR THOUGHTS!
To know the totality of a thing, one must understand the inverse of that thing. There are laws on the books of many countries that state that “Ignorance of the law is no excuse,” but, that does not work for the born-again believer. To not sin, we would need to have the entire Word of God memorized fully, an impossibility, in time, this will occur, Hebrews 8:10 and Jeremiah 31:33 are just two examples of this truth. For those of us in this age of grace though, we must rely on John 16:8, “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” Reproving is to be shown the truth of the error of our ways, our sins, and so, by default, we will indeed sin occasionally without the foreknowledge that we are committing a sin, and by His grace and mercy, “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14, He has offered to us 1st John 1:9 as a way to reconcile ourselves with Him. Praise God for patience with us.
Excellent point on,
John 16:8 that he will reprove the world of sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:8
Thus their remain no need of reproving of our errors, and we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Thanks God we are reproved!
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