Our Assurance

"Sin does not own us."

OUR JOB is to go through this life and never blame God. Blame implies He did something wrong, when He never does anything wrong. He is perfect and holy. He cannot sin and does not make unjust decisions (James 1:13). Ever. Instead, it is that we continually assume what is happening, and we go by what things look like, that our feelings override our thinking. It looks like God is to blame, so we refuse to think otherwise.

Half the victory to overcoming this tendency in us is knowing it is a tendency. I’ve said this specifically about anger. Anger is always the route to sin, and as long as we justify it, as long as we defend our reason for it, it will control us. To take control away from anger is to feel it, but we choose peace instead. I personally know how much that hurts. Anger “feels good” for a time, then it doesn’t, when the results of it come into focus. Peace feels like acceptance of that thing that angers you, but it isn’t that at all. Our humanness constantly wants to retaliate. God’s way is for that thing not to affect us at all.

[And just as a pointed side note, the Word does say, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath (Ephesians 4:26).” But instead of using that as an excuse to be angry for a while, which is not the meaning intended, just a few verses later, it says, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice (Ephesians 4:31).” In other words, don’t give in to anger.]

God is peace. He is peaceful. He is not anger or wrath any longer. Jesus came and destroyed, dissolved, the works of the devil, and that was what God the Father and God the Spirit wanted (1 John 3:8). God is peace on earth and good will to men (Luke 2:14). When God’s plan of salvation comes to full completion, there will be no more death or sorrow, no fear or strife. It will all flee away (Isaiah 55:11). Until then, He enables us to maintain peace, and He heals our thinking so that our initial response to evil things is not to blame Him but instead, to SEEK HIM. Seek Him for the answer to settle that thing in your heart, whether His reply is up to your standard or not. And I say it that way because sometimes we want details which He doesn’t give. I usually don’t want details that you are giving me. So it works both ways. Whatever God’s answer, we place it within us and His peace guards our minds and our thoughts (Philippians 4:7).

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” (Matthew 7:7)

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to everyone generously without a rebuke, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5 ISV)

We can know this about our loving God, He always does things for our good (Romans 8:28). Always. And this is not, as some say, a saying to excuse Him for doing things harshly. No, that is not who He is. His love for mankind, as individuals by name and not just a corporate unite, is the only reason for Jesus’ sacrifice. God owed no debt to the devil. He owes no debt to anyone. But His sacred honor demanded He act. He loved us SO MUCH that He would go to the extreme of even His own death in order to rescue us from sin.

Sin is not owned by the devil. Instead, it is that sin owns him. Sin does not own us. Jesus made up the difference. He continually makes up the difference. We must see it, and in all things tell ourselves, God is on our side. No matter what other voice we hear, that is our response, and the Spirit of God fills our mind with confident assurance, with shalom, well-being.

“For the LORD shall be thy confidence.” (Proverbs 3:26)

“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” (Isaiah 32:17)

“Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” (Isaiah 51:11)

“God has good purposes for those people who love him. We know that. He uses everything that happens to them to bring good results on their behalf.” (Romans 8:28, EasyEnglish)

Photo by Zoha Gohar on Unsplash


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com