Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

PRESUMPTION

August 26, 2009

When the Apostle Paul writes his masterpiece Letter to the Romans, he begins making a case for the magnitude and significance of our sin. He must. Forgiveness, mercy and grace, mean nothing unless grounded on the reality of our need.

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
-Romans 2:4 TNIV

The Good News becomes good news as it triumphs over the bad news. Yet here Paul cautions us all against presumption. When Christ's work rescues us from ourselves, it is to lead us to faithfulness, obedience, a Christ-centered life. It is not a license for indulgence defying our own commitment to follow Christ. It is meant to "lead us to repentance," not the presumption of indulgence.

It's not that once and for all, we get it right and sin no longer. No. But it is true that our focus is on honoring Christ increasingly in all we do. Beware of presumption.
Joyfully,

Dale Patterson