The sign of growth in Christ

Believers, the sign that we are growing in Christ is not found in our ability to suppress sin or do more good by human effort. Even unbelievers do good things and can say no to sin given the right circumstances. The sign of our maturity is found in the revelation of how much we are loved and forgiven in Christ, how we are/can do nothing without Him and how bogged down and entrenched in sin we would be were it not for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

See Paul's own revelation as he grew in grace, the first step being from his description of himself as "the least of the apostles" in 1 Corinthians 15- "For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me."

In a later epistle, Ephesians 3, he described himself as "less than the least of all the Lord’s people," down from the least of the apostles - "7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,"

Again in a later epistle, 1 Timothy 1, he went down further seeing himself at the bottom of the rung of of all sinners- the worst of them all! "15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners."

As Paul increased in the knowledge of God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, he saw more and more who he would be without God's grace- from the "least of the apostles" to the "less than the least of all the Lord’s people" and finally the worst of all sinners! He attributed all that he achieved to the grace of God within him; the same grace that we have today!

Believers, never ever think that you can attain sinless perfection or even have victory over ANY sin by your own power. Never attribute your success and victories to your own smarts. The reason that we are not wallowing in sin is because Christ does not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear and with every temptation He is the Way of escape for us. With this knowledge through Christ, it becomes difficult for us to condemn those who are yet to receive their invitation to enjoy God's abundance of grace and His gift of righteousness "for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, Jesus Christ." Romams 5:17.

The flesh in the pastor is the same flesh in the prostitute. Given the right circumstances, anybody can do anything; sin in the flesh is activated when we try to keep the law (see 1 Cor 15:56) or think that some sins are beneath us because we are "better than that." This is why Peter could deny Jesus when he absolutely knew that he would not:) He swore that he wouldn't but ended up doing the very thing that he swore not to do...three times...and with swearing and cursing! The dynamics of the law cannot change.

Believer, is there any sin or addiction that you are still trying to suppress with your own power or think you can handle like Peter? Stop trying and start believing Jesus by His grace. This is why He came for you: Matthew 1:21- "And she will have a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

In Christ, our paths can only shine brighter and brighter, not by our own light (righteousness from works of the law) but by our Saviour Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. When we let go (of our puny efforts at saving ourselves and being righteous) and let Him, we can't but grow in grace. Growing in grace is trusting less in ourselves and more in Christ for everything.

He saves from sin!