Today’s post “Hope for Christians Burdened by Sin” comes from our dear friend Nick Kallis. Nick is a student at Cedarville University completing a Master of Divinity degree.
At times a Christian may feel weary, weak, and failing. Burdened by wrong desires and the temptations of the world, we war against sin and the ancient Serpent, the Devil. David was often weary and weak. In Psalm 38:3–4, David cried out, “There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.”
This heavy burden and struggle can discourage us and make us tired. Yet, if this is you, Christian, you need not be discouraged. You also do not need to condemn yourself with false accusations. There is mighty hope and relief for our weary and discouraged souls.
Paul wrote the letter of 1 Corinthians to the church that was at Corinth. This church had multiple issues with sinful behavior. They struggled to live according to the truth of the Gospel. And throughout his letter, Paul confronts the church at Corinth for their sinful behavior and wrong living.
However, Paul tells them that he did not “write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children” (1 Corinthians 4:14). Throughout his letter, Paul reminds the church of their identity in Christ–their identity and reality despite their struggle with sin.
In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul confronts the church and writes, “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”
By calling the church at Corinth, “people of the flesh” and “infants” he is saying that they are living in a way contrary to God’s Spirit and the truth of the Gospel. They are instead living and thinking according to the world. Hebrews writes “for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child” (Hebrews 5:13).
But notice that Paul doesn’t just say “infants;” he says “infants in Christ” (emphasis added). This is where the hope and relief comes in. Paul has used the phrase “in Christ” earlier in his letter three times: 1 Corinthians 1:2, 4, 30. He also uses similar language in 1:9. These are all positive usages of “in Christ”—in fact, Paul describes the Christian’s wonderful and amazing reality that is “in Christ.”
1 Corinthians 1:2 – “to those sanctified in Christ Jesus…”
Paul tells the church of their solid status “in Christ” before confronting their lifestyle as infants. Paul does not want to crush the Corinthians with discouragement, but Paul wants to remind them of their glorious salvation that is sure and promised despite their failings.
Although the Corinthians are struggling in the letter, they are “in Christ” and that is their hope and their good news. Christ is to them and to us “…wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption…”
Therefore, Christian, because you are “in Christ”, though you may be burdened with sins and temptations and may be an “infant in Christ”, you have great reason to rejoice! You are Christ’s and Christ is yours. By his blood he has bought you and he shall not let you go—even unto the end of the age. For “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Sin doesn’t instantly disappear when we accept Christ. We will be in the process of sanctification for the rest of our lives. But our sin can’t undo the work of Jesus on the Cross. What a great reminder of the identity we’ve received and the life we’ve been given through faith in Jesus and His life, death and resurrection. Thanks, Nick!
Author:
Nick
Hey, I’m Nick! I’m a graduate student completing my Master of Divinity degree at Cedarville University. I enjoy reading and writing. My wife Mary and I are expecting our first child soon.
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