Can We Be Good? - Part 3 (Conclusion)

The text of my sermon on 29th March, 2020.
The Scripture this is based on is Romans 8:6-11

I have two questions to conclude with:

Did God really say? And, Is all this fair?

Did God really say? This is the doubt Satan sows. It worked splendidly with Eve, so why abandon a winning formula? Did God really say human nature is wicked? Did God really say you’re sinful? Did God really say only He is good? If I think I’m a good person who doesn’t need God, that’s the devil whispering, Did God really say? If I think Jesus didn’t need to die for me because I’m innocent, that’s the devil whispering, Did God really say? If I think Jesus isn’t the only way to God, that’s the devil whispering, Did God really say? If I think there’s a kingdom of darkness for bad people, a kingdom of Heaven for Christians, but there’s a middle ground for good non-Christians, that’s the devil whispering, Did God really say? It seems naive and nasty that nice, decent people who don’t believe in Jesus, are God’s enemies who can’t please Him. But Paul lays that on thick (and therefore I am compelled to do the same). This should lead us to preach the gospel to give those who are out the chance to get in.

The second question: Is all this fair? Is it fair that I’m condemned because my ancestors sinned? Is it fair I live in a messed up world because someone I never met ate some fruit? Is it fair that God condemns me for being human, something I can’t help? Is it fair that God gets the blame for bad things that happen in the world? Is it fair that He who gives us life and everything good is maligned, dismissed, disobeyed? Is it fair that Jesus died on a cross for our sins, though He’d done no wrong? Is it fair that I get to spend eternity with God when I don’t deserve to?

In every case, no!  A fallen world isn’t fair. We can’t make it fair. We’re wholly inadequate to do it in a just way. God has a better way than fairness. It’s called grace. Grace is better than fairness. Grace gives what isn’t deserved. For God’s grace, we must be grateful. Fair would see us condemned; grace sees us redeemed. And with the Spirit’s help, we should live a life of grace.

The Vilest Offender Who Truly Believes?

Not so long ago a serial rapist in England was granted parole after serving eight years of his sentence. This rightly caused a public outcry and the decision was overturned. The one  aspect of this terrible case I want to focus on was that he claimed to have become a Christian in prison. This led to various responses. “He’s deceived if he thinks God has forgiven him” being one of them. I am obviously not in a position to know whether he has truly repented and turned to Christ. When it comes to prisoners it is easy for me to be sceptical because it could easily be a ploy to get early release (“I’m a reformed character, Guv”). But my scepticism is neither here nor there to the grace of God.

Let’s put this man to one side now and consider “sinners” in general. What is the grace of God for? Surely it shows favour to those who don’t deserve it. (Which, by the way, is all of us.) Do we have something in the back of our minds that the grace of God is only for people whose sins are no worse than mine? Or do we really believe that “the vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives”? Why would we put a limit on who we are happy to accept as a brother or sister in Christ based on their past behaviour? “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.” “Forgive one another in Christ as God has forgiven you.” “Freely you have received, freely give.” OK, the sin may not have been against us but the concept of accepting one another in Christ stands, even if it is unpalatable to us.

When the Apostle Paul was converted there was scepticism and fear among the Christians because he had been persecuting Christians and dragging them into prison. If he could, however, be accepted by the church, then anyone can. I think a cautious welcome is fine if need be and some degree of monitoring of the behaviour of the person to see if they demonstrate fruit in keeping with repentance. Depending on the sins involved some safeguarding measures may need to be put in place. But an outright rejection of the person from the outset is not Christian.

Here’s a link to a poem I wrote about this, which expresses things in a different way…

Happy Feet