As the culture continues to secularize
and the biblical church becomes more and more strange in the world, I become
more encouraged and optimistic as a Believer. The darkness of the secular culture
shows the light of the Gospel more vividly to a dying world that secretly seeks
substance over style.
I believe now, more than ever, the church will
have a greater opportunity to love extravagantly. We love like Jesus, no matter the circumstance
or cultural roadblocks. Part of that love is, with great compassion, informing non-believers
that which separates humanity from God (aka sin). When Jesus caught the woman
in adultery He defended her, literally saved her life, and then he said, “Go
and sin no more” (John 8:11).
For the Christian to proclaim
the destructive and murderous nature of sin, he or she must be honest and
transparent about their own struggles with sin as well. My own struggles of
lust, anger, and impatience (just to name a few) have hurt me, my family, and
my friends in more ways than I care to recall. I am thankful that my salvation
is secure because of God grace and not because of my good works. “ For
it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians
2:8-9). And I am also grateful that after my salvation no one can snatch me out
of the hand of Jesus (John 10:27-30).
However, my sins even after salvation, has consequences.
But let’s not be fooled into thinking
that a transparent Christian will not suffer persecution in this world. Peter understood that Christians will be
persecuted and reminded the church not
to forget their true identity in Christ and live lives of purity and holiness.
“. . . you are a chosen
people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you
may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his
wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;
once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and
exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live
such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong,
they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter
2:9-12
The ESV Study Bible explains 1
Peter 2:12 as follows: “Believers are to live godly lives even though they will
be criticized by unbelievers. When believers do good deeds, some unbelievers
will repent and believe and thus glorify God.”
Therefore, let’s keep doing
what God has always commanded the Believer to do. “Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This
is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39).
