Living as a Christian involves a daily battle. At best, the work of sanctification is slow, and never perfected; but the more we grow in grace the more acutely aware we are of sinful failures.
Any military commander worthy of the name analyzes his victories and defeats. After a losing battle he seeks the cause and determines to remedy it before engaging the enemy again.
It is a somber fact that the good name of Christianity is repeatedly compromised by the behavior of Christians who live in the valley of spiritual defeat and have little in their lives to commend the Gospel they profess.
The Bible sets forth not only the causes of defeat but the remedy as well. Anyone willing to face up to the facts of the Christian life can learn in Scripture where and how the enemy works and why we suffer defeat when we should stand firm.
Satan attacks in many ways and at times when we are most vulnerable. Like the master adversary that he is, he works unceasingly to bring about our defeat.
How do we sin? It seems trite to say that we sin in thought, word, and deed but that is precisely right.
Because we can usually hide our thoughts from others, we can pose as saints while our thoughts flit hither and yon on the garbage described by our Lord: “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a man” (Matt. 15:19, 20a).
The Prophet Isaiah pleads: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:7–9).
We see in the words of the Apostle Paul this same recognition of the need for a regeneration of our thoughts: “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2). And, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil. 4:8).
Let’s be honest. Who of us would be willing to have his secret thoughts disclosed to the world? But for the Christian there should be no reluctance. There is no step more important than determining that with God’s help we will shift our thoughts to those gracious and good things that the Apostle Paul speaks of.
Christians also frequently sin with their lips. Words are, of course, the expression of thoughts.
David recognized the danger of ill-advised words and prayed, “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD, keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Ps. 141:3).
The Apostle James says “So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell” (Jas. 3:5,6).
No Christian can seriously contemplate these warnings without realizing how grievously he can and does sin against God and his fellowmen by some of the things he says.
As Satan incites us to evil thoughts and then tempts us to speak in ways that belie our Christian profession, so also he never ceases in his attempts to lead us into evil actions. The deeds of the flesh are open for all to see: “immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissention, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like” (Gal. 5:19, 20, 21a). What a sorry catalogue of evil!
Does your behavior jibe with your profession as a Christian?
While one of the offices of the Bible is to show us our lives in the pure light of God’s holiness, it does not stop there. It also offers the remedy—making it clear that what God requires of man he will also supply to him. The way to victory for the Christian therefore is to appropriate divine resources.
Look to self for victory over the sins of thought, word, and deed and there is nothing but defeat. Look to the One who is the author and finisher of our faith and there is victory.
There are at least three steps to victory over these sins—sins we would like to gloss over or minimize—and they are wonderfully simple.
There must be faith. Out of that faith there will come spiritual perception. And then there must be obedience. Claiming all the faith in the world is not the answer, faith must be accompanied by obedience. It is at this point that most of us fail. Without obedience faith becomes an illusion.
The letters of the Apostle Paul reveal the weaknesses of the Christians of his day. Although they were redeemed by the blood of the Son of God and saved by faith in his name, they were nevertheless subject to the insidious and continuing attacks of Satan. Paul shows plainly that these attacks begin in the realm of thoughts and find expression in words and deeds.
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Christianity is basically personal. It is a work of redemption in the heart of the sinner. The Church makes a great mistake when it tries to make non-Christians act like Christians. Its duty is to show non-Christians how to become Christians, and to teach Christians how to live as Christians should—“blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life” (Phil. 2:15, 16a).
Such a life and witness is impossible until there is victory over our thoughts, words, and deeds, and this victory is derived from the indwelling Christ. “Whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4, 5).
It is high time that we Christians stop fooling ourselves. Living behind a pious façade may fool men, but God searches our hearts. Before him we all stand naked and exposed.
Pure, holy, and charitable thoughts, words of love and compassion, deeds of kindness and mercy—all come from the life surrendered to and filled by the Spirit of the living God.
There is no substitute for a life like this, nor is there any short cut to it.
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