Minimizing Sin
In Nehemiah 9 we see a straightforward, call-it-like-it-is prayer. They don’t sugar coat their confession. They call their sin what it is. Throughout the prayer they call sin presumptuous, stiff-necked, forgetful, ungrateful, idolatrous, blasphemous, fat, disobedient, rebellious, law-breaking, prophet-murdering, evil, stubborn, and wicked.
Clearly, they understand the magnitude of their rebellion against God.
Unfortunately the same is not always true of us or our culture. In our culture and in our lives, we want to minimize the way we talk about sin, don’t we? Here are some of our tactics:
- Blaming: Instead of owning up and confessing we want to blame others or our immediate circumstances or our upbringing.
- Defending: When confronted, my tendency is to explain things away, talk about my successes, or to justify my decisions.
- Hiding: We conceal as much as we can about our life, especially the “bad stuff”. We strive to keep up appearances, maintain a respectable image. We do not like to think reflectively about our lives
- Comparing: We tend to look at others to see how we measure up and justify ourselves because “they” are worse than we are
When we rightly see who God is, we will not shrink from calling sin, sin. We will not needlessly blame, defend, hide, or compare. Like the Israelites here, direct ownership of personal sin only happens when we remember who God is and what God has done.
When we understand that it was our sin that held Jesus on the cross we will be simultaneously broken & joyful: broken over the magnitude of our sin, yet immeasurably grateful that we are forgiven by Jesus' substitutionary sacrifice.
Remember What God Has Done
Though God is always at work in our own lives, it is often easier to look at the lives of others and see how God is at work. That is one of the reasons we should read biographies of great men and women of faith who have gone before us. The way we see God working in their lives reminds us that it is the same God at work in our lives.
Here are a few good resources for those looking to read a great biography:
Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret
Hudson Taylor was the first missionary to inland China. What propelled him to abandon comfort and place himself in jeopardy? A fierce faith that believed God truly would fulfill the promises in His Word. Hudson Taylor's spiritual secret was non other than Christ and him crucified. Read this biography and be challenged in your faith.
Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce
This succinct and superbly perceptive study of William Wilberforce not only tells the story of a great man's life-it also tells us how to understand the ultimate source of his greatness and happiness. Moreover, that understanding goes far deeper than the abolitionist achievements for which Wilberforce is honored, astounding though they were. William Wilberforce's secret, as revealed in this book, was that he made the journey from self-centeredness, achievement-centeredness, and political-centeredness to God-centeredness. And he made it with Christlike joy.
Spurgeon: A New Biography
Argued to be one of, if not the most, powerful preachers of all-time, the life of Charles Spurgeon is wonderfully recounted in this book. Both his life's success and disappointments draw the reader into Spurgeons life. this book helps us understand Spurgeon in all aspects of his life - his prayer, his suffering, his depression, his weaknesses, his strengths, his triumphs, humor, joys, and incredible accomplishments.
Autobiography of George Muller
What can be accomplished in an ordinary man who trusts in an extraordinary God? George Müller discovered the endless possibilities! These excerpts from his diary allow Müller to tell his own story. Join him on his journey from a life of sin and rebellion to his glorious conversion. Share his struggles and triumphs as he establishes orphan homes to care for thousands of English children, depending on God's response to his prayer of faith to supply all things. Müller's unwavering, childlike dependence upon his heavenly Father will inspire you to confidently trust the God of the impossible in every area of your life.
Remember Who God Is
In this past Sunday's sermon, we talked about the importance of remembering who God is. Clearly in the prayer found in Nehemiah 9 they are vividly recalling who God is. Just in that prayer alone they remember that there is only one God and that God is creator, preserver, faithful, righteous, miraculous, glorious, powerful, gracious, forgiving, merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, just, great, mighty, awesome, righteous.
Here are a couple good resources for anyone looking to read more in depth on the character of God:
___Knowledge of the Holy
For those looking for a great, but quick read on the attributes of God, it does not get much better than this book. A. W. Tozer gives a biblically saturated look at many of God's attributes. At just over 100 pages in length, the read is not overwhelming, but jammed packed with wonderful truths.
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___Knowing God
A bit lengthier than the book above, JI Packer's Knowing God is well worth the time it takes to read and digest. Chapter upon chapter is packed with deep truths aimed to remind you that knowing God is our deepest joy. Definitely add this book to your 'books to be read' list and once you finish it you will only ask yourself why you did not read it earlier.
Preparing for Sundays
In Nehemiah 8 God’s people not only read the word, but seek to understand the word. How can we better understand the word and make the most of each sermon? If we are not intentional about preparing to hear the word each Sunday, we can simply drift into and out of corporate worship with little impact and life change.
Here are a few simple steps that can help ensure you are prepared for the sermon:
- Throughout the week take some time to read the passage we are going to study, think through it, pray through it, bring questions
- Before you walk out the door take a moment to spend some time in silence – ask God to show up and help you to understand
- When you sing songs pay attention to the words your singing and let them stir your affections and ready your heart to hear the word
- When we pray, pray along in agreement
- Before you sit down, make sure you have a pen and a piece of paper along with your Bible - this communicates that you are expecting to hear from God
- At the moment of silence at the end of the service, consider what was said, repent in places that need repenting, ask for clarity, thank God for His word
Gospel Vs. Religion
In Nehemiah 8:13-18 God's people study God's word. Their study leads to understanding and their new understanding leads to obedience . What is the motivation for their obedience? The answer to this question is the eternal difference between religion and gospel.
Whereas religion says, "Obey and then God will love you," the gospel says, "God loves you, therefore obey." Religion produces begrudging obedience trying to win God over, whereas the gospel produces joyful obedience in response to God's goodness.
Tim Keller identifies numerous differences between religion and gospel:
Religion: Motivation is based on fear and insecurity.
Gospel: Motivation is based on grateful joy.
Religion: I obey in order to get things from God.
Gospel: I obey to get God; to delight in and resemble him.
Religion: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I am angry at God or myself, since I believe that anyone who is good deserves a comfortable life.
Gospel: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I struggle, but I know all my punishment fell on Jesus and that while God may allow this for my training, he will exercise his Fatherly love within my trail.
Religion: My self-view swings between two poles. If and when I am living up to standards, I feel confident, but them I am prone to be proud and unsympathetic to failing people. If am and when I am not living up to standards, I feel dispair.
Gospel: My self-view is not based on my moral acheivement. I am so bad that Jesus had to die for me, and I am so loved that he was glad to die for me. This leads me to deep humility and confidence at the same time.
The Centrality of God's Word
In last week's sermon, we saw the central role of God's word in restoring God's people.
Justin Taylor provides a quick and easy way to memorize the traditional four attributes of Scripture, just put them in the order of S.C.A.N.:
- the Sufficiency of Scripture
- the Clarity of Scripture
- the Authority of Scripture, and
- the Necessity of Scripture
Sufficiency “The idea that Scripture contained all the words of God he intended his people to have at stage of redemptive history and that it now contains all the words of God we need for salvation, for trusting him perfectly, and for obeying him perfectly.”
Clarity “The idea that the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all who read it seeking God’s help and are willing to follow it”
Authority “The idea that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.”
Necessity “The idea that the Bible is necessary for knowing the gospel, for maintaining spiritual life, and for knowing God’s will, but is not necessary for knowing that God exists or for knowing something about his character and moral laws.”
How Should We Confront Sin?
In Nehemiah 5, the Jewish community is unraveling from the inside. Up to this point they have successfully fought against all external attacks. Now the problem is not from beyond the walls, but within. The wealthy nobles and officials are unlawfully lending and enslaving their Jewish brothers and sisters. Nehemiah confronts these men with their sin. But he only does so after spending time in prayer (v. 7). His confrontation comes with a broken heart, not a judgmental eye.
That said, this helpful Q&A with David Powlison gives wise counsel on how to confront a brother or sister caught in the snares of sin. Here is an excerpt:
"Counselors [those confronting someone with sin] never see the heart, only the evidences, so a certain tentativeness is often appropriate when discussing motives. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that counseling aims to illuminate the heart, to help people see themselves as they are in God’s eyes, and in that to make the love of God as sweet necessity. Since counselors have the same package of typical lusts, we meet on common ground in our need for grace because of pride, fear of man, unbelief, and love of comfort and control."
Still Looking for a New Year's Resolution?
It's that time of year again. The time of year when everyone makes, or at least thinks about making New Year's Resolutions. Are you still looking for yours? If so, here is a suggestion:
In 2011 I resolve to keep repenting of my sin and keep believing in the gospel (Mk. 1:15).
Happy New Year!