Stay Focused…Even During the Pain

Stay Focused…Even During the Pain

Romans 5:3-4; 1 Timothy 4:15; Hebrews 5:14; Colossians 1:28-29; James 1:2-4

 

Theme: The chances of being sidetracked increase with trouble and pain, but we must remain focused on learning of the Lord and drawing closer to Him.

Relevance:

By the grace of God, we can stay focused during pain by fixing our eyes on Jesus, trusting God’s permanent presence instead of temporary suffering, and casting our worries on Him through prayer. Remember clarity frequently follows the act of following His guidance rather than preceding it. Scripture frames pain as a brief test that builds endurance, spiritual strength, and eternal hope.

Introduction:

The idea of maturing in Christ is a subject we have given substantial thought to and have even taught this on a regular basis.  As a missionary-pastor, I routinely encouraged, instructed, and coached others through the various stages of personal spiritual development. You see, spiritually we mature with diet and exercise much like we do physically. The word of God provides our meat, bread, milk, honey, water, and ‘green pastures.’ The encouraging and directing words of a spiritually minded coach help tremendously.

As we obey God we begin to understand and appreciate more of Him and His Word. Obedience acts as a pathway to spiritual growth. By putting our faith into practice, we often gain clarity, build a deeper trust, and experience a closer relationship with God. Obedience shows our love, trust, and faith in Him. Insight frequently arises from the act of following His guidance rather than preceding it. This trend of obedience will also feed our souls deeply as more clarity comes with our compliance; thus, our experiences of God’s truth teaches and trains us further (Luk. 11:28; Jn. 13:17; Prov. 2:9).

Still the possibility of distraction exists, especially during painful experiences; we must focus ourselves on spiritual growth still. The following thoughts help us do just that.

Lesson:

God Continually Recommends Incredible Spiritual Self-control to Overcome Serious Challenges to our Development.

A. Cooperate with God’s Work in You. Philippians 2:12-13, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

·        We are to live out and show the reality of our salvation with deep respect and seriousness before God. Christ’s followers are responsible for actively living out and expressing the inner change God has already given us. It does not mean earning salvation by good performances; rather, it shows our efforts in obedience cooperates with God’s inner power, which supplies both the desire and the ability to please Him.

·        The verb “work out” carries the meaning of “work to full completion,” such as working out a problem in mathematics. In Paul’s day it was also used for “working a mine,” that is, getting out of the mine all the valuable ore possible; or “working a field” so as to get the greatest harvest possible. The purpose God wants us to achieve is Christlikeness, “to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). There are problems in life, but God will help us to “work them out.” Our lives have tremendous potential, like a mine or a field, and He wants to help us fulfill that potential.^[1]

o   Just as you unpack a box or exercise a muscle to display what is already inside, believers are called to let their internal faith manifest visibly in daily obedience and character.

o   “Both to will and to do of his good pleasure”: God changes our inner desires ("to will") and then gives us the strength and opportunity to carry them out ("to do").

     B.  Dedicate Yourself to Growth to Influence Others Likewise.  1 Timothy 4:15, “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all") indicates a Christian leader must deeply focus on spiritual truths, fully dedicate their life to practicing them, and let their ongoing personal growth be clearly seen by everyone.

·        “Meditate upon these things” that is spend time thinking deeply about and practicing sound spiritual teachings and our God-given duties rather than just knowing them.

·        “Give thyself wholly to them” literally dedicate our whole heart, time, and energy to these godly tasks without holding back or getting distracted.

·        “That thy profiting may appear to all” we must ensure our spiritual maturity and progress move forward visibly so other people can see the real, positive impact of our faith.

·        Paul is encouraging Timothy to give himself undividedly and undistractedly to the work of the Lord. He should be all-out in his efforts. In this way, his progress will be evident to all. Paul does not want Timothy to hit a plateau in his Christian service and then settle down into a comfortable rut. Rather, he wants him to be always advancing in the things of the Lord.^[2]

     C.  Keep Maturing and Developing Discernment Daily. Hebrews 5:14, “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil”) shows that deep spiritual truth is for mature believers. True maturity comes from regular practice and using God's word to tell right from wrong.

·       “Strong meat” refers to deep and advanced teachings of the faith, unlike “milk” or basic beginner instructions.

·       “Of full age” indicates spiritually mature people who have grown past their early stages as new believers.

·       “By reason of use” means learning and growing through ongoing, daily practice of our faith.

·       “Exercised to discern both good and evil” that is training your mind and heart over time to spot the difference between right and wrong, or truth and false teaching.

·       Once more the writer betrayed his concern about his readers’ ability to reject the false ideas which confronted them. Had they been sufficiently mature they would be able to “distinguish” those ideas as “evil” over against the truths they should have known were “good.” But he feared that this capability was not yet really theirs, though he would make every effort to instill it in them.^[3]

D. Remain Focused and On Mission to Continue Developing Believers. Paul notes his toil and struggle, energized by Christ’s power, to present everyone fully mature in Christ. 

Colossians 1:28-29 states: “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” The great Apostle viewed his core mission as boldly proclaiming Jesus Christ, correcting and instructing all believers with godly wisdom to help them grow spiritually mature, while relying entirely on Christ’s powerful energy working inside him to do the hard work.

·       “Perfect in Christ Jesus” points to mature, complete, and fully grown in the faith, rather than completely sinless.

·       “Labour and striving” indicates ministry takes intense, hard work and personal sweat (“striving” is an athletic word for competing in a contest).

·       “His working in me mightily” Paul did not rely on his own strength; he depended on God’s power actively moving through him to accomplish spiritual results.

·       Spiritual adults in Christ, no longer babes in Christ (Heb. 5:14), mature and ripened Christians (4:12), the full-grown man in Christ (Eph. 4:13). The relatively perfect (Phil. 3:15) will on that day of the presentation be fully developed as here (Col. 4:12; Eph. 4:13).^[4]

The Word of God presents pain as a brief test that builds endurance, spiritual strength, and eternal hope. Still the possibility exists for distractions, especially during difficult experiences; we must focus ourselves even more tenaciously on spiritual growth during these seasons. Remember, obedience is our pathway to upward growth in Christ. We often gain clarity, build a deeper trust, and experience a closer relationship with God when we are compliant. Obedience to truth is an active choice turning basic facts into deep, everyday nuts and bolts understanding.

Matthew Henry noted, “We must continue in the faith grounded and settled, and not be moved away from the hope of the gospel; that is, we must be so well fixed in our minds as not to be moved from it by any temptations. We must be stedfast and immovable (1 Co. 15:58) and hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, Heb. 10:23.”^[5]

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^[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 77.

^[2] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2094.

^[3] Zane C. Hodges, “Hebrews,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 793.

^[4] A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Col 1:28.

^[5] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 2332.

Choosing Truth Over Facts

Choosing Truth Over Facts

John 8:32; 14:6; 17:17; 2 Cor. 5:7; Hebrews 11:1

Theme: Authentic facts point to God’s truth; we must live by God’s truth and not mere facts…by faith and not by sight.

Relevance:

John 8:32, says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Accepting and actively living by Christ’s teachings provides a deep spiritual awakening (salvation) that breaks the heavy chains of sin, fear, and spiritual blindness. God also delivers us from spiritual confusion when we believe Him instead of our circumstances. Facts are subject to misleading manipulation leading to greater sin, darkness, and bondage, but embracing God’s truth is freeing, liberating, and life transforming!  

So, choosing God’s reality over the visible or empirical world is defined as faith. Hebrews 11:1 states: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Rather than relying strictly on physical observation or human scientific measurement, biblical faith treats God, His word, and unseen spiritual truths as the ultimate foundation of reality.

Introduction:

The Jews did not know the truth, and they were in a terrible form of bondage. They were in the bondage of ignorance, error, sin, law, and superstition. Those who truly know the Lord Jesus are delivered from sin, they walk in the light, and are led by the Holy Spirit of God.^[1]

Jews who had believed Him indicates that some paid attention to Jesus’ words without necessarily committing themselves to Him personally (cf. 6:53). It was possible to “believe” in the message of repentance and the coming kingdom without being born again. Continuing in the truth is the sign of true followers and learners (disciples). If they really grasped His message, they would find salvation truth. Knowing this salvation truth would liberate them from their bondage in sin.^[2]

The idea of ‘truth over facts’ entails prioritizing God’s statements, a deeper, overarching Bible principle, or a divine reality over objective, verifiable data. While facts are strict, measurable bits of information, we view God’s truth, a Bible-based experiences, or an essential takeaway as having higher significance; we know these realities transcend individual data points.

Please Note these Core Differences:

• Facts: Objective, provable, and independent of personal feelings (things like statistical data, IDs, digital driver’s licenses, diplomas—university degrees, or documented events).
• Truth: Personal value placed on God, Jesus Christ, revelation—His statements/promises, core Bible messages, or God’s higher purpose.

Truth is absolute, unchanging reality rooted in God’s perfect character. He does not merely speak the truth; He literally embodies it. It is revealed through His unchanging nature, the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ, who stated, “I am the way and the truth and the life”.

The distinctions can be summarized by noting the differences between Scripture and Modern Science. Believers should always base their lives on truth and only on ‘science’ where it agrees with ‘truth.’

But not everyone agrees, “Critics argue that dismissing data in favor of a preferred narrative contributes to Truth Decay, undermines shared objective reality, and opens the door to misinformation and bias.” (The Dangerous Mindset of My Truth)

However, I would much rather disagree with mere people, than to be at odds with God!

Again, it has been noted, “Generally, truth decay is a cultural condition marked by a shrinking reliance on objective facts, data, and analysis in public life. The term describes how opinions and personal beliefs increasingly overshadow verifiable facts.” (The News Literacy Project, Jennifer Kavanagh)

While I do not advocate in any way adopting a ‘My Truth’ mentality, I must insist that we believe an honest God regarding anything He says…especially when God’s Truth contradicts human data, research, or credentials.  

Lesson:

First Note Key Bible Passages on Faith and God’s Unseen Reality!

1. Hebrews 11:1: Defines faith itself as the solid proof (substance) and conviction (evidence) of realities that human eyes cannot detect.

·       Faith is confidence in the trustworthiness of God. It is the conviction that what God says is true and that what He promises will come to pass.

·       Faith must have some revelation from God, some promise of God as its foundation. It is not a leap in the dark. It demands the surest evidence in the universe, and finds it in the word of God. It is not limited to possibilities but invades the realm of the impossible. Someone has said, “Faith begins where possibilities end. If it’s possible, then there’s no glory for God in it.”^[3]

2. Hebrews 11:3: Account for creation in this respect: “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” This establishes that the spiritual and spoken power of God preceded and produced the physical universe.

·       Faith is also a way of viewing all experience since it is the way in which believers see the universe (tous aiōnas, lit., “the ages,” also rendered “the universe” in 1:2) for what it is—a creation by God.^[4]

·       [B]elievers accept by faith that God created the physical universe out of nothing using His spoken command, originating visible reality from the invisible. (Bible Reference)

·       Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear means the material, visible world came into existence from an invisible source (ex nihilo, or out of nothing), rather than being formed from pre-existing physical matter. (Bible Reference)

3. 2 Corinthians 5:7: States the daily walk of a believer: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

·       Christ’s followers are called to conduct our daily lives and make decisions by trusting in God’s unseen promises and eternal realities, rather than relying solely on physical circumstances, temporary hardships, or human senses. The three Hebrew boys understood this perfectly in Daniel 3. The average ‘worlding’ will not appreciate thinking this way!

·       Not by “sight”: Refusing to let temporary physical obstacles, fears, or what is immediately visible dictate hope or obedience. Remember the temporary nature of our earthly bodies and the absolute certainty of an eternal heavenly home. Keep going because our ultimate hope is anchored in Christ and future resurrection, not what we can physically touch or see right now.

4. 2 Corinthians 4:18: Directs our attention past temporary physical metrics to eternal invisible truths: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

·       Believers must fix our focus on spiritual, everlasting realities rather than temporary, physical troubles. Visible, earthly things—including pain and material life—are temporary (temporal), while invisible spiritual truths like God's glory and heaven last forever (eternal). We must not give up despite intense suffering. Eternal glory makes present trials feel small and short-lived.

·       Paul compared the sufferings he had experienced, severe as they were (2 Cor. 11:23–29), to light and momentary troubles (thlipseōs, “pressures, hardships”; cf. 1:4). They were nothing in view of the eternal glory that would be his when he would be in Jesus’ “presence” (4:14) and would be like Him (1 Cor. 15:49; Phil 3:21; 1 John 3:2). This is amazing: all of his heavy, continuous burdens were, he said, “light” (the Gr. elaphron means “light in weight, easy to bear”; used in the NT only twice: here and in Matt. 11:30) and “momentary” (the Gr. parautika means “brief, for the slight moment, on the spot”). Though, as he wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:8, his hardships were “far beyond” (hyperbolēn) his ability to endure, he said his coming glory … far outweighs them all (hyperbolēn eis hyperbolēn is lit., “extraordinary unto the extraordinary”).^[5]

5. The Perspective of Faith (Truth) vs. Empirical Science Evidence (Modern Scientific Facts)

·        Separate Fields of Consideration: Scripture positions God as the Creator not as a hypothesis to be tested by the scientific method! He must be approached purely through trust and reverence (“without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”) Hebrews 11:6. Beloved, trusting God’s reality and goodness is the absolute requirement for any real relationship with Him.

o   The entire Christian walk is something that cannot function or start without reliance on the unseen.

o   Seeking God requires intentional, continuous effort through prayer, obedience, and looking to His promises rather than just passive agreement is a must.

·        The Source of Absolute Truth: Where empirical science relies on what can be measured, weighed, and seen, biblical reality instructs the believer to accept divine revelation as more certain than changing physical circumstances or human reasoning.

o   God’s Character and Word Define Ultimate Reality. Truth is not merely a changing human idea. It is a permanent standard rooted in God’s unchanging nature, meaning what God says is always real, right, and faithful.

o   God as Truth: Scripture describes God as a “God of truth” (Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 31:5, and Isaiah 65:16), He cannot lie, His essence defines what is real, and He cannot break promises (Hebrews 6:18, Titus 1:2). God is the ultimate source of reliability and absolute truth!

o   Jesus as Truth: Jesus states in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” showing that truth is embodied in a person rather than just abstract rules. Jesus is the exclusive path to God, the ultimate source of divine truth, and the giver of eternal life, asserting that relationship with God is found only through Him. Jesus embodies the absolute and final revelation of God’s character and word.

o   Spirit as Truth: The Holy Spirit is explicitly called the “Spirit of truth” by Jesus Christ. He is promised as a helper who dwells with believers, teaches us, and guides us into all truth. As the Witness he confirms and testifies to the reality of Jesus Christ. As the Teacher he speaks only what He hears from the Father and the Son, leading people away from error deeper into Jesus, the Truth. (Jn 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; 1 Jn. 5:6)

o   The Word as Truth: Psalm 119:160 states, “Thy word is true from the beginning,” establishing the Bible as an absolute, error-free standard for everyone. Beloved, God’s word is entirely true from start to finish, and His fair laws last forever. He does not lie or make mistakes. Everything He says is pure fact, from the first book of the Bible to the last. His word is absolute truth.

o   Truth is Immutable: God’s truth does not shift with time, culture, or personal feelings. It remains constant for all people.

Clearly, a believer must choose truth over mere facts. Facts should point to truth, but unfortunately facts can be manipulated or ‘cherry picked’ causing confusion and enhancing the darkness, lies, deceptions, and bondage. Truth has the power to make us free of sin and its influences upon our lives. Where the facts cannot be verified by the Scriptures we must go with Bible evidence or God’s statements—truth. For us God’s facts are the ‘alternative facts’ we must appeal to for authority. Though facts may enjoy a certain level of rigor and alignment with Modern Science, we still choose the Word of God first and foremost. Quote the Bible and let them fact check that!

 

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1517.

^[2] Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 304–305.

^[3] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2195.

^[4] Zane C. Hodges, “Hebrews,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 807.

^[5] David K. Lowery, “2 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 565.

Our Toleration of Evil

 

“Our Toleration of Evil”

Prov. 28:13-14; 3:12; 1 Pet. 1:14-15; Isa. 59:1-2 

SUBJECT: CORRECTION ADVERSITY COMPELS US TO MAKE

THEME: Examine Your Attitude Toward Evil and Sin When Trouble Invades Your Life. 

RELEVANCY: God Desires for Us to Correct Our Attitude Toward Evil and Turn Away from the Practices of Sin. Sin usually leads to even more sin; it is certain that the “hardened heart shall fall into mischief.” God desires to compel all of us to engage in periodic self-examination so we may face up to our own sin and to do the difficult work of changing our beliefs and our behavior. Once more we want to encourage you to, look at your own heart and life to see what you may need to correct when adversity comes your way. Our goal is to live in total harmony with what Jesus would believe and do.

INTRODUCTION:

The Scriptures tell us, God is a God of absolutes. We are either evil or righteous, based upon what we have decided to do in response to Jesus Christ and His shed blood on the cross. If we accept that what Jesus did on the cross was for us and for the remission of our sins, and we receive Him as our Savior, then we move from the classification of sinner to the classification of saved.

Sin is the Worldwide separation of people from God.

 Romans 3:9-10, What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; [10] As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Paul uses these verses to show that humanity in general, in its present sinful condition, is unacceptable before God.

Have you ever thought to yourself, ‘Well, I'm not too bad.’ I'm a pretty good person?

Have you ever lied? Have you ever hurt someone's feelings by your words or tone of voice?

Are you bitter toward anyone? Do you become angry with those who strongly disagree with you?

The Bible tells us the world stands silent and accountable before almighty God. No excuses or arguments are left. Have you reached the point with God where you are ready to hang up your defenses and await his decision? If you haven't, stop now and admit your sin to him.

MESSAGE: 

WHY DO WE CARELESSLY TOLERATE SIN AND EVIL?

We answer this question by asking another one.  What does the Bible say about God's holiness? Our view of sin is directly related to our view of God’s perfect holiness.  With a low opinion of God’s holiness we tolerate and harbor more sinful attitudes and actions.  When we have a high admiration for God’s holiness, we are far less passive regarding our sin.  The following are some principles that help us quickly grasp the infinite holiness of God.

A.  WE DISMISSED GOD’S HOLINESS WHICH IS BEYOND COMPARISON.  

1 Peter 1:14-15, As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: [15] But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

Being holy in the sense of superior moral qualities and possessing certain essentially divine qualities in contrast with what is human—‘holy, pure, divine.’^[1]

We are called to abandon our former, sinful lifestyles and align our daily behavior with the perfect holiness of God. This radical transformation as followers of Christ replaces worldly ignorance with active obedience and moral purity.

The moral excellence of God that unifies his attributes and is expressed through his actions, setting him apart from all others. Believers are called to be holy as God is holy. —Systematic Theology

    1.  God Sets the Standard of Morality.

The God of Israel and of the Christian churches is holy—he sets the standard for morality.

The believers’ living hope based on their new birth should lead to a lifestyle of holiness. Those chosen for new birth are also called to be holy. Peter exhorted his readers to prepare to meet the challenge of obedience by adopting a new mind-set. The price paid for a believer’s redemption calls for reverence and obedience. Obedience involves purifying oneself and practicing holy living, while offering spiritual sacrifices as a royal priest.^[2]

Unlike the Roman and Greek gods, God is not warlike, adulterous, or spiteful. These ancient gods acted like spoiled, jealous, and powerful humans; many ancient religions featured immoral and unethical gods and goddesses. They supposedly had superpowers but also bad habits like stealing, lying, and cheating. Unlike the gods of the pagan cults popular in the first century, Jehovah is not bloodthirsty or promiscuous. He is a God of mercy and justice who cares personally for each of his followers. Our holy God expects us to imitate him by following his high moral standards. Like him, we should be both merciful and just; like him, we should sacrifice ourselves for others.

    2.  God's Holiness Is Our Universal Standard for Pure Living.

God is holy; He is utterly unique, distinct from all of creation, and entirely perfect in moral purity. It is the defining characteristic of His nature; His absolute purity—He is completely unstained by sin or evil. There is no darkness or falsehood in his thoughts, statements, and activities—He is perfectly good and just.  

After people commit their lives to Christ, they usually still feel a pull back to their old ways. Peter tells us to be like our heavenly Father -- holy in everything we do. Holiness for us means being totally devoted or dedicated to God, set aside for his special use, and set apart from sin and its influence. Rev. 15:4, says,

“Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”

We’re to be set apart and different, not blending in with the crowd, yet not being different just for the sake of being different. What makes us different is having God’s qualities in our life. Our focus and priorities must be his. All this is in direct contrast to our old ways (1Pet. 1:14). We cannot become holy on our own, but God gives us his Holy Spirit to help us obey and to give us power to overcome sin. Don't use the excuse that you can't help slipping into sin. Call on God's power to free you from sin’s grip.

Commonly God’s standard of holiness is trumped by the “new morality” which is a wide-ranging cultural and ethical shift from traditional, Bible-based absolute moral frameworks toward bases centered on individual self-fulfillment, situational ethics, and bodily self-government. That is moving in favor of flexible, context-driven ethical notions—from God-centered to human-centered ideas! (See Christianity Today). These modern principles emphasize living an authentic, personally rewarding life, prioritizing happiness and emotional well-being over self-denial. Current morality relies increasingly on psychological and observed characterizations of right and wrong. It is closely tied to required concerns for others' welfare, fairness, and justice, driven by secular humanist philosophies rather than traditional biblical views. Our society is presently feeling the woes of that mistake!  

B.  WE DISMISSED GOD’S HOLINESS WHICH CANNOT ALLOW SIN.

Isaiah 59:1-2, Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: [2] But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

God is always willing and able to save His people, but our willful sins create a spiritual barrier. Instead of God losing His power or ignoring prayers, our iniquity breaks fellowship, causing Him to withhold His deliverance until repentance occurs.

There is widespread perversion of justice and dishonesty. People conceive evil and bring forth crime. Their activities are as dangerous as vipers’ eggs and as useless as a spider’s web. Sin controls every area of their lives—what they do, where they go, what they think. They care nothing for peace and justice, preferring what is crooked. What was true of Israel is also true of the entire human race (Rom. 3:15–17).^[3]

God's inability to tolerate sin is mentioned in Habakkuk 1:13, saying. "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity..."

Sin prevents prayer from being answered (cf. Ps. 66:18). Those sins included murder, lying, injustice (cf. Isa. 59:9, 11, 14–15), and planning evil (vv. 3–4). Their actions were like those of deadly poisonous snakes (vipers and an adder), for they were harming each other. ^[4]

God is absolutely holy. In fact, his moral perfection is so vast that He cannot look upon sin with approval or tolerate its presence. Psalm 5:4, says, “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.” This embraces the concept of God’s zero-tolerance policy toward sin and wickedness.

    1.  There Is a Colossal Problem with All of Us Before a Perfect God—our sins have cut us off from any relationship with Him. Because of our sinful attitudes and actions, he has completely turned away from us and utterly refuses to listen.

    2.  Sin Offends Our Holy God and Separates Us from Him. Because God is holy, he cannot ignore, excuse, or tolerate sin as though it didn't matter. Sin cuts people off from him, forming a wall to isolate God from the people he loves.

No wonder this long list of wretched sins makes God angry and forces him to look the other way. People who die with their life of sin unforgiven separate themselves eternally from God. God wants them to live with him forever, but he cannot take them into his holy presence unless their sin is removed. Have you confessed your sin to God, allowing him to remove it? The Lord can save you if you turn to him.

    3. Beloved, this is God’s Second Correction—the Purging Away of Sin from Our Lives. Proverbs 28:13, He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

There is a stark contrast between two responses to sin—concealment versus confession—and their ultimate outcomes.

1. “Covereth” (this is hiding/excusing sin). Trying to hide, deny, or justify wrongdoings. God warns that this approach “shall not prosper”. Hiding sin requires constant energy, leads to inner turmoil, and ultimately blocks spiritual success or peace.
2. “Confesseth” (relates to admitting/owning our sin). Honestly acknowledging faults to God and taking responsibility for those wrong actions.
3. “Forsaketh” (is turning away from sinful behavior). True repentance involves not just saying sorry, but actively abandoning or changing that sinful behavior.
4. “Mercy” (refers to God’s forgiveness and compassion). The reward for complete repentance is God's grace, pardon, and compassion.

1)    Choose Transparency with God over denial. God already sees everything, so attempting to hide sin is foolish. Admitting fault brings peace and breaks the hold that the secret has on your life.

2)    Engage the two-step path to forgiveness. Genuine repentance requires both confession (admitting it) and forsaking (turning away from it).

3)    Take the biblical promise to heart. Align yourself with 1 John 1:9, where God promises that if we confess our sins, He is “faithful and just to forgive us”.

Admitting our faults and actively turning away from these behaviors are the only path to forgiveness and grace. Remember God will never admit a sinful, arrogant soul, into his kingdom. But if we confess our sin, with a broken heart, forsake every evil way, and we give proof that we are serious with God. The sincerity of the confession is proved by our forsaking sins (Job 34:31-32). Then mercy is guaranteed to such a soul (Ps 32:5; 1 John 1:8-10).

     4. God deals with our Shame effectively in Salvation!

These two previous discussions bring us to the unavoidable subject of shame. This is a painful relational consequence of sin that causes a person to feel worthless, exposed, and alienated from God and others. While guilt is about breaking a rule, shame is about feeling that your core identity is irreparably flawed—a valid moral conviction.

Spiritually, shame is often viewed as a heavy burden on the soul rather than a mere character flaw. It is defined as an internalizing force that attacks your core identity, whispering that your whole self is flawed and unworthy of love.—Unknown

Shame causes individuals to hide their authentic selves from God and from their community (like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden—Gen. 3:7-10). It emerged immediately after the Fall when Adam and Eve realized their nakedness, felt exposed, and hid from God. Again, shame is not just an internal feeling; it is a degraded, defeated, or outcast state within a community (e.g., poverty, barrenness, or disease). Experiencing brief shame can motivate a straying believer to repent and return to godly standards.

Practice God's Solution for Shame!
God seeks to remove our shame. Through Christ, God replaces our disgrace with honor, grace, and a new identity.

• Isaiah 54:4: Assures us we will no longer remember the shame of our youth.
• Romans 10:11: says, “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed” (this persistent theme is also promised in 1 Peter 2:6).
• Hebrews 12:2: Highlights that Jesus “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” to secure victory over sin and restore us to fellowship with God.

Guilt is judicial in character; shame is relational. Though related to guilt, shame emphasizes sin's effect on self-identity. Sinful human beings are traumatized before a holy God, exposed for failure to live up to God's glorious moral purpose. The first response of Adam and Eve to their sinful condition was to hide from God, and consequently from one another (Gen 3:7-8; 2:25). Christ's unhindered openness to the Father was both a model for life and the means of removing humanity's shame. Christian self-identity is transformed "in him."

When one confesses Christ and openly rebels against him, however, the work of Christ is publicly shamed (Heb 6:6). Christians must be diligent to renounce shameful behavior, though tempting because of its hidden character (2 Cor 4:2).

Shame is a godly motivator. A virtuous life shames the ungodly, providing a context for evangelism (Titus 2:8; 1 Peter 3:16). A believer's shame for past sin is a spur to forsake sinning (Rom 6:21), to renounce disobedience (2 Thess 3:14), and to minister the gospel (2 Cor 4:2).

Shameless people flaunt their unholiness, calloused to God (Zep 3:5) and glorying in their shame (Php 3:19). Yet no one is shameless ultimately. "Shameless Acts" receive the judgment inherent in the act (Rom 1:27). Also, at the final judgment the nakedness of those not clothed with Christ' righteousness will be exposed (Rev 3:18; 16:15).—Bradford A. Mullen

 

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^[1] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 744.

^[2] Roger M. Raymer, “1 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 842.

^[3] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 984.

^[4] John A. Martin, “Isaiah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1114.