The Sin to Grace
In 1Co.10:12, Paul says, “Let anyone who thinks he stands be careful that he not fall.” This is a foreboding warning. It is one over which all of us have shriveled in fear. This is right and good and one that has kept many from the pride of life and or a pride of grace. The individual who falls is the one who is proud of grace and his enjoyment of it.
But I would want to speak to the other side. I would write it, “Let anyone who has fallen take heed or be careful that he look to grace.” All too often when we fall we look to the cause or consequence rather than the God of grace. God grants humility to the humble and it is given to the one who does not hide from his weakness or obvious pride. There is a wallowing in the shame or condition that even this can be from pride. “How could this happen to me?” “I am so ashamed that people would see it.” Now there is a good humility of repentance but it is not from the fleshly disbelief of the fall, as much as it is in the acknowledgement of God’s grace even in the pit of pride’s sorrow. Pride is not just the thinking of how great we are or even how low we are. It is simply the thinking of ourselves. Humility is just not thinking of ourselves.
When we fall we must not be shocked at our fall. That is human sin. We must be shocked that God would know the fall we will take, give permission to the evil one to give the temptation that will lead to the fall and then when we fall touch us with grace. It is in the fall that we know more of grace. It is the dirt on the knees and hands that reminds us that we are dirt, awaiting the transformation into delight. When we fall, look to Jesus and enjoy the grace. Don’t look at the sin and the dirt as much as looking at the Washer of the soul with the water of the washing of the Word.
But I would want to speak to the other side. I would write it, “Let anyone who has fallen take heed or be careful that he look to grace.” All too often when we fall we look to the cause or consequence rather than the God of grace. God grants humility to the humble and it is given to the one who does not hide from his weakness or obvious pride. There is a wallowing in the shame or condition that even this can be from pride. “How could this happen to me?” “I am so ashamed that people would see it.” Now there is a good humility of repentance but it is not from the fleshly disbelief of the fall, as much as it is in the acknowledgement of God’s grace even in the pit of pride’s sorrow. Pride is not just the thinking of how great we are or even how low we are. It is simply the thinking of ourselves. Humility is just not thinking of ourselves.
When we fall we must not be shocked at our fall. That is human sin. We must be shocked that God would know the fall we will take, give permission to the evil one to give the temptation that will lead to the fall and then when we fall touch us with grace. It is in the fall that we know more of grace. It is the dirt on the knees and hands that reminds us that we are dirt, awaiting the transformation into delight. When we fall, look to Jesus and enjoy the grace. Don’t look at the sin and the dirt as much as looking at the Washer of the soul with the water of the washing of the Word.
posted by ipastorwill at 9:49 AM
2 Comments:
Excellent musings, Will. I would venture to say that when one falls as a result of pride, and then chooses to focus on that which they stumbled over rather than the grace of God being offered in that moment, they are actually continuing in pride, though the pride takes new form. The truly humbled will look to the grace of God and crave the restoration found there.
Great insight. Thanks, Will.
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