You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
Summary: It is one thing to understand that God offers us salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ. It is another to understand the difference between our lives before knowing Jesus and after.
After hearing that the “wrath of God” is coming, there is nothing more delightful to the soul than hearing that there is hope of avoiding God’s wrath.
Paul has just listed some of the reasons God’s wrath is coming. They include but are not limited to sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed. (Paul has other lists in his letters that are more extensive.)
Then he says, “You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.”
Wow!
Does that mean that even if we used to do all these things, God would still give us a pass from his wrath?
Yes. People have been doing all kinds of things that are offensive to God, and still, God is willing to forgive and forget if, like the prodigal son, we return to him with a humble heart. Jesus himself is our assurance that God will accept us back with open arms.
Jesus explains it this way:
“Whoever believes in him (Jesus, the Son of God) is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:18)
How does this work?
Like so many things, Jesus has already answered our question with a parable.
Talking with his disciples (Matthew 20:1-16), Jesus tells them a story about how the “kingdom of heaven” works. In the story, a landowner hires people to work on his land. Some he hires early in the morning, others are hired later in the day. A few are not hired until just before dark. By then it is almost time to stop working. At the end of the day, the landowner pays everyone the same amount of money, regardless of how long they worked.
Serving in God’s kingdom here on earth is work. God expects us to turn from our old ways and serve him with love. He expects us to love him above all else and love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40).
Some of us start working for God when we are very young. Others don’t give their hearts to God until they are very old, almost ready to die. Should those who have worked their entire lives for the kingdom of heaven be treated better than those who only worked for God for a short period of time?
God’s response to being questioned about this is straightforward. He says, “I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. … are you envious because I am generous?” (Matthew 20:14-15)
Application: Rejoice that God is both patient and generous!
Food for Thought: Is there anybody on earth who can claim to be innocent of the items on Paul’s list? If not, why not?
We cannot claim to be without sin.
Romans 3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
1 John 1: 10: If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
However, God Himself declares us innocent through faith in Jesus’ work on the cross.
1 John 1: 9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 2: 1 – 2: My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Romans 3: 24 – 26: and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, i through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Colossians 2: 13 – 14: When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you d alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
Thank you, Rich!
Beautifully put!
Rich answers this very well!
Is there anybody on earth who can claim to be innocent of the
items on Paul’s list? If not, why not?
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8,
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:6
Believers are today works in process of becoming perfected as children of God. Empowered to live according to His will over our own, We will be perfected by our creator God when we stand before Him in heaven.
Amen, Ron!
Good devotion and good comments. I agree with both R’s and R2D2’s thoughts on this, and I would only add:
Even if someone looked at Paul’s list and foolishly thought, “I have never done this one…”
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
Thanks, Chris.
Great “point!”