"I
have never fallen into sin!"
That statement, boldly declared among
the more that 45 men assembled, brought an uncomfortable hush to the room. Words
like: ARROGANT, SELF-RIGHTEOUS, IGNORANT, certainly filled many minds. Such
pride!
The context: At the opening gathering
of a men's retreat, our host/coordinator had initiated a get-to-know-you
activity. Andy personally introduced himself and added a brief bio of his
spiritual journey. As each man around the room followed this template, a definite
motif unfolded. Most of the men had a clear testimony of saving faith in Jesus
Christ. But nearly everyone also included a statement that sounded a bit like
this: "After I believed, I fell into sin. I fell into the kind of things I
had been doing before I trusted Christ." Now, gratefully, we were spared
most of the gory details, but salvation followed by falling back became a
theme.
A gracious God effects a most
gracious, rescuing gospel. He snatches from the binding grip of sin its
helpless slaves and emancipates them to become servants of righteousness so
they may joyfully pursue a new life of holiness. From the agony of bondage to the hilarity of freedom. One could
rightly expect that every memory of past decadence would produce increasing
repulsion. Who would ever want to go back?!
"But thanks be to God, that you
who were once slaves of sin from the heart...having been set free from sin,
have become slaves of righteousness." Romans 6:17-18
Regrettably, so much like thankless Israel
enjoying longed-for freedom from Egypt, slowly the painful memories were
replaced by romanticized flashbacks. And they longed to go back.
"I have never fallen into
sin." Then, following an appropriate pause for impact, our brother John
added, "Every sin I have committed, I chose to do!" And the room was
filled with conscience-convicted laughter that acknowledged that truth...
"What shall we say then? Are we
to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to
sin still live in it?" Romans 6:1-2
See you
Sunday, Church!
Pastor Tom
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