Christianly Thinking – Challenge #1

Last week, we inadvertently introduced a Christianly thinking challenge: What is the Gospel? In other words, have you thought about the Gospel enough to know what you think? We will call that “Challenge Zero” – perhaps the beginning of a series. In this article, you will be challenged to think about sin, sins, and the sin. You will find two propositions, a few rhetorical questions, and several questions to help you (and potentially us together) exercise our thinking as Christians.

Two propositions:

1.       Our failure to understand and lay hold of the empowering grace of God does not excuse us from exercising it toward His full potential in our lives; it only makes doing so more difficult. This is true for fellowships as much as individuals.

2.       The foundations of our individual and collective faiths have been compromised in a number of ways. Important ingredients have been lost, or substituted with impure and substandard replacements. In some cases, the appropriate depth has not been achieved. One example is our understanding of sin, sins, and the sin; and the way we are to consider, relate to, overcome, and disciple in each one. A foundation laid with the notion of inevitable sin will eventually crack, many times, if it ever hardens at all.

A few rhetorical questions:

1.       How true is “I am able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)?” What are the limitations of this promise? What are the limitations of Christ’s strength?

2.       Should God expect Christ’s strengthening to enable Christians to “hit the mark” continually?

3.       Is there a solution to this seemingly impossible conundrum and its consequentially unbearable burden?

Questions to Challenge Your Thinking

It seems we would benefit from understanding the relationship between the supernatural life of the new man and the old/natural/flesh/world life we are confined to on this side of heaven.

1.       What is the difference between sin, sins, and the sin?

2.       How are the old life and old man related to the new?

3.       How are they opposed to one another?

4.       Distinctly, how are they different?

a.       In relation to God.

b.       In relation to other redeemed souls.

c.       In relation to the world and its inhabitants.

5.       How do they impact one another? The whole of our being? For example: How does accommodation to our flesh affect our soul and spirit?

6.       What is the difference between “flesh” (or “old man”) and “body” (or “strength”)?

7.       What do you do with 1John 3:9 and 1John 5:18?

8.       Are we, as new creatures in Christ, responsible for controlling/overcoming our flesh? Are we liable when we do not? What does that liability look like?

9.       Are we, as new creatures in Christ, responsible for the full exercise of grace available to us? Are we liable for our timidity, self-distraction, discouragement, and ignorance? What does that liability look like?

10.   Are we better off as ignorant fools or disobedient knowledgeable people of God?

Recognizing that some may be intimidated by these questions, we encourage you to remember two very important promises of Jesus Christ: First, seek with your whole heart and you will find what you are looking for (Matthew 7:7-8). Second, the Holy Spirit has been sent to teach us all things (John 14:26)?

As practical advice, consider word searches using your favorite online Bible resource (e.g., BibleGateway.com, BlueLetterBible.com) or specific phrase searches using your favorite search or AI engine (e.g., “What does the Bible say about ‘the old man’?). Let me know if you need help with either of these.

Finally, let me know if dialoguing (not debating) about this topic interests you. I am all about dialoguing these days, particularly around Christianly thinking topics.

In the meantime, God bless you with the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.

Have a strong day in the Lord,

Rob

#iamjustthepen