12/14/15

"MORAL" LESSONS FROM BIBLE "HEROES"? NOPE.

It is very commonplace in many churches today to use the men and women of the Bible as examples of morality and goodness to encourage us to be more moral and better people.

Is this the purpose of the Bible and these examples?

Let us in fact look at the examples.


1.     Adam and Eve. Walked with God, then doubted Him. Blamed each other. Sin entered the world.

2.     Noah. Got drunk. Lay uncovered.

3.     Lot. Hangs out in the city gates of Sodom. Offers his daughters to lustful gay men.

4.     Moses. Temper problem. Murdered Egyptian. Was not permitted to enter the promised land.

5.     Abraham. Lies to the Pharaoh about Sarah.

6.     Sarah, does not trust God, laughs, offers her maidservant to her husband to sleep with. To this day we have the radical Muslims because of them. Heirs of Ishmael.

7.     Jacob, the deceiver. Lies and steals the birthright.

8.     David. Man after God’s own heart. Lusts after Bathsheba, another man's wife. Uses his kingly power to bring her to him and commit adultery with him. Tries to cover it up. Can't cover it up, so he has her husband murdered. Numbered the census not trusting God. Adulterous man. Was not permitted to build God’s temple because he was a man of war with blood on his hands.

9.     Solomon. Wise but thousands of wives.

10. Samson. Strong but lusted after women and was a spoiled brat. Told his parents what to do.

11. Jonah the Prophet. Self-righteous, hated the Ninevites. Acted like a baby when he didn’t get his way. Tried to hide from God.

12. Hosea, who takes a prostitute as his wife.

13. Paul. Murdered Christians.

14. Peter. Lied three times. Compromised the Gospel by not eating with Gentiles. Paul had to oppose him to his face.

15. The disciples who fled before Jesus' crucifixion.

16. Etc.

Multiple more examples could be given. 

You see, God has put these examples in Scripture to encourage those of us who are broken.  

There is this false idea--the theology of glory--that says we "get better morally" once we become Christians. This false idea says that becoming more like Christ is to be "morally better."

But to become more like Christ is to become more dependent upon Him. 

We never get past our need of forgiveness.

The Gospel is Good News for the Christian, too.

Even if we don't see ourselves in the examples above, none of us obey God's Law perfectly.

None of us love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

None of us love our neighbor as ourselves.

None of us repent perfectly.

Jesus Christ obeyed God's Law perfectly for us. 

Jesus Christ was baptized with a baptism of repentance for us because our repentance is never perfect.

Jesus Christ loved the Father with all His heart, mind, soul, and strength, and His neighbor as Himself.

God did everything for you through Jesus Christ, in His righteous life, death, and resurrection.

Your sins are forgiven. Regardless of how you feel.

Jesus Christ† is for you.

"He Who knew no sin became Sin for us, so that, in Him, we might become the Righteousness of God."

1 comment:

  1. Question-

    Would you say that the "theology of glory" can sneak in law, and exacerbate sin?

    ReplyDelete