Can we admit that there are parts of the Bible that at surface level are confusing?  One of the greatest areas of confusion is our “working out our salvation” (Phil 2, James 1) and yet knowing that no one is justified (made right with God) based on works/obedience (Rom 3:20, Gal 2:16) but only in resting in the finished work of Christ.  Let’s look at some of these verses juxtaposed against one another:

Set 1:
Romans 3:20 – “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

Philippians 2:12 – “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,”

Set 2:
Romans 4:1-3 – “What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say?”Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

James 2:22:24 – “You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called afriend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

(I’m fighting not to go off on a tangent here about how this highlights the importance of having the primary “diet” of preaching/teaching in the church be studying through books of the Bible verses having topical studies.  I’ll just say that if you belong to a church that doesn’t regularly go through books of the Bible, please find a solid pastor/author that will faithfully supplement your instruction.  I’m not saying leave! Only that God reveals Himself through scripture, and as it’s perfect, reading through books in their entirety gives a richness and clarity to scripture that cannot be seen in topical studies, even though those too are helpful at times.

Thank God for the gift of teachers!  I myself struggled with many issues in scripture, and sometimes do still, but God’s grace to me has been to surround me with solid men/women of God to help me.   So looking at the verses above, what is the “work” that we must do?  That’s a great question to ask!  Thankfully others asked Jesus that very question, and he gave us a direct answer in the gospel of John 6:28-29 – “Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

So then, the work that we do, the work that justifies us is our belief in God.  The battle we fight as Christians is to rest in the Truth that in Christ, the battle is already won.  That’s where we must fight.  Do you realize that when you first believed on Christ, ever power of sin over you was defeated?  The only sin that we can hope to overcome is defeated sin.

How do you respond when you sin, when you are tempted to believe that you are accepted by God based on your obedience?  Satan surely would love to have you feel defeated in your sin, the only problem is, it is impossible for sin to defeat you ultimately as a believer.  You can be deceived; allow yourself to buy into that lie, but the truth is you can never be defeated.  Why?  Who is Satan going to accuse you to?  Who is the Judge, except the One who has already declared you “not guilty”?  So how ought we to respond to the voice accusing us, when we sin, when that familiar lie creeps in to tempt us?

I want to exhort us to learn how to have the courage of “gutsy guilt”.  To be broken and repentant, but joyfully to proclaim that Christ is Holy, and His sacrifice has covered ALL your sin, past, present, and future.  Can you rejoice in your sin?  Can you rejoice not that you fell – we hate sin, and run from it as believers, but take joy in Christ and your salvation today in Him.  Look at David in Psalm 25:1-3 to see how he responded to His sin – “To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.  Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.”

David’s work was not to try to “make right” his sin, but his work and battle was in trusting the Lord.  He proclaims the truth that none who God has claimed for His own will be put to shame, rather his accusers shall be.

Colossians 2:13-15 – “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.  This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.  He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

Every accuser, that would bring a charge against you, has been put to shame for their accusations.  This is because in accusing you, as a believer trusting on Christ that by grace through faith have been credited with Christ’s righteousness, those who would accuse you are found to be accusing the Holy One of God, Jesus Christ.  Yikes!  I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes.  Now me sharing this scripture hopefully is encouraging, but my hope is that you will battle to rest in these truths and learn to speak back to your accusers, to preach to your own soul when you fall, with gutsy guilt.

Your accusor will say, “Look here!  You profess to be a Christian?  Look at your sin!  You are not righteous, God will not accept you.  You are a hypocrite and should give up, stop even trying to pursue Him.”

With gutsy guilt you can respond – “Yes I’ve sinned, but I am not defeated by my sin, but Christ has been more than a conqueror for me.  He has paid for it all, and even if I must wait for joy in the Lord for a season, I will wait for Him, trusting Him, knowing that He will never leave or forsake me.  Rejoice not over me, accuser! In Christ, my righteousness is not my own, but Christ’s who dwells in me”

Micah 7:7-9 – “But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.  Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise;
when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.  I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me.  He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication.” 

Can you feel that?  Can you see that God can be upset with you and at the same time be your advocate?  Yes, sin will bring the indignation of God, but He, Himself will plead our cause, and execute judgement… not against you, but for you.  As Micah says, we will wait for the God if Our salvation.

This is how we are to fight for joy in God in all circumstances, even our sin.  Learn what it means to work and fight not to be justified to God, but to fight to rest in the truth that In Christ you have already been justified.  Then, standing on a firm foundation of your justification in Christ, go – make all out war on all sin, sin that has been defeated by the blood of Christ, that lingers in your life and separates you from a fullness of joy in the God of your salvation.

Grace and Peace,
Adam