Tag: Confession

Jesus came for losers. The gospel is good for the outcast, the broken, the sinners, the “others.”

But let us add three more qualifications.

First, this does not mean that men in positions of power cannot be saved. Jesus said it is harder for rich men to be saved (Luke 18:25), but not because He has to do more for them. It’s because, from a circumstantial point of view, they are less likely to realize their need.

Second, this does not mean that all men in loser positions can easily be saved. Resentment and envy have destroyed the souls of as many Have Nots as have greed and pride destroyed the souls of the Haves.

Third, this does not mean that men who are saved will necessarily remain in their loser position. I have been reading a new book called Loser Theology. It has some good observations. It does address the superficial ways Christians have defined godliness, as in, always the loser in the world’s eyes.

But remember how the Word of Christ refers to Christians. We are saved sinners, that’s always true, but typically called “saints.” Even the Corinthians got this label (1 Corinthians 1:2). We are called the redeemed. By God’s grace we move across columns:

• from lost to found
• from sick to sound, unhealthy to healthy
• from sinners to saints
• from unrighteous to pursuing the obedience of faith
• from humble to glory

This humble dependence on God through faith really adds up. He came because we were far away, but now we’ve been brought near. He saw us dead in our sin, and chose us to make us alive and make us His handiwork.

The Bible says,

• “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7 ESV)
• “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.” (1 Peter 5:8b–9a ESV)
• “stand against the schemes of the devil…withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:11–13 ESV)

Three different apostles, using the same underlying word for what to do against the devil and evil. Oppose him.

We acknowledge that the devil is not everywhere at the same time, and because the power of the gospel has born fruit all over the globe, the devil doesn’t have time to get into everyone’s business. But even if we’re not up against the devil himself, we do face his schemes and spiritual forces of evil.

Resist. Oppose. Set yourself against him. Do not listen, do not seek common ground, do not give in, do not go over.

Since it’s probably not the devil himself, and since the devil probably wouldn’t show himself as the devil even if it was, is the imperative to resist a tool you should have that you should probably just not plan to ever need? No, there is application to oppose all that hell promotes.

Resist lies, watch for deception, oppose self-will. Guard against doubt (rather than faith), be vigilant against grumbling and division (rather than fellowship).

Just as the imperative is repeated to resist, so remember what James said: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Jesus was tempted by the devil. And it was the Holy Spirit that led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted (Luke 4:1). The same Father who expressed His pleasure in the Son also arranged for this time of testing. God is sovereign, so the temptation was part of the plan.

We also know that the apostle James said God doesn’t tempt anyone.

Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. (James 1:13)

This refers to desire inside us. God does not desire evil, God does not cause anyone to desire evil.

This does not refer to trials around us. God does desire faith, God does desire steadfastness under trials, God does desire our testing. So He does put us in positions to be tempted.

In James 1:2 the word “trials” (“count it all joy…when you meet trials”) is the noun form of the same word in verb form in 1:13 for “tempted.” God does not cause us to desire sin, but He does arrange to test our desire for Him more than our desire for sin. Trials are a test of what we’ll do with our temptations.

As Jesus said about us, “out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorally, theft, false witness, slander” (Matthew 15:19). God doesn’t make our hearts evil, but His Word gives a mirror so we can locate the problem and He is faithful to provide a “way of escape” so that we avoid a fall (1 Corinthians 10:12-13).

But don’t blame God, and don’t give in to the enticements of your own disordered desires.

It is written,

“Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.”
(Proverbs 14:34)

We usually go out of our way to say that Proverbs are patterns not promises, and that’s a true pattern. But this wisdom about nations isn’t just common it’s constant. Righteousness never humiliates a nation, and sin never brings her honor.

Here we are on the weekend celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. We are not the chosen nation, but only the blind can’t see the blessings of the Lord, only the rebels to God won’t acknowledge the grace of God and the Word of God that has shaped our laws and our culture.

It is the height of unrighteousness to suppress the truth. God’s wrath is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who refuse to acknowledge the truth of God’s existence (Romans 1:18). And we have taken it further and refused to honor Him and give Him thanks for the particulars in Western Civilization and our liberties in America. No wonder He is judging us by letting us have what we think we want.

We sin not only by disobeying clear commands in our private lives, we sin by disregarding clear blessings in our public life.

If we desire God to exalt our nation, then we must pursue righteousness. And to pursue righteousness, we must worship. We must confess our sins, repent from our reproaches, hear His Word, obey His Word, and give Him glory.