“Powerful Requests” ( James 5:16, HCSB ) by Carley Evans

Woodcut for “Die Bibel in Bildern”, 1860. Deutsch: Holzschnitt aus “Die Bibel in Bildern”, 1860. Erster Tag, Gott scheidet das Licht von der Finsternis. Français : Gravure en bois pour «Die Bibel in Bildern», 1860. Português: 1º dia: Criação da Luz. Gn 1:3. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What makes an “urgent request” powerful? James says that righteousness makes our prayers effective, i.e. “very powerful.” And what does James define as “righteousness?” He says that righteousness is the direct result of healing. How does James say we are healed? He says that healing comes from confession of sins.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.”

Simply put, don’t go before God the Father in prayer without first confessing your sins. With confession comes His healing, and with His healing comes righteousness, and with righteousness comes power.

“Let Us Grow” ( Ephesians 4:15, HCSB ) by Carley Evans

Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator), a 6th-century encaustic icon from Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai. NB - slightly cut down - for full size see here (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If Christians are perfect already, then why does Paul urge us to “grow in every way into Him who is the head — Christ?” His admonition makes no sense if we have accomplished the ultimate state, i.e. sinless-ness, i.e. holi-ness. Yes, we are declared sinless, we are positioned in Christ as holy, but we continue to make mistakes because we are still contending with the ‘flesh’ — what is that anyway? Some might say the ‘flesh’ is the sinful nature, the ‘old man.’ Or, perhaps the ‘flesh’ is as simple as ‘we are born human, not divine.’ I know — I hear the protest — that sounds like an excuse for sin.  Rest assured, there is no excuse for sin. We shouldn’t say, “Well, it’s Adam and Eve’s fault, you know.” Nor should we deny that we sin. Instead, God calls us to confess our sins one to another. If we don’t sin, how then can we confess?

And so, we are called to “speak the truth in love.” The truth is God asks us to “grow in every way” underneath and within Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Healer and Coming King.

“But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ.”

“In Him Wickedness” ( Isaiah 53: 6, WYC ) by Carley Evans

Christ in Gethsemane (Christus in Gethsemane), oil painting by Heinrich Ferdinand Hofmann (Heinrich Hofmann). The original is at the Riverside Church (Riverside Church, New York City). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Do we forget Jesus becomes sin (wickedness) on the tree? All our evil is put in Him by God so that “He suffers what should be our chastising, or our punishment.” An extraordinary event — God becoming sin. Our minds protest. How does the Holy One become unholy? Does He? Or is Jesus only dressed in sin? Is sin only “put on Him” as a garment, or is sin “put in Him?”

Isaiah, the great prophet from the Old Covenant, writes:

^“5 Forsooth he was wounded for our wickednesses, he was defouled for our great trespasses; the learning of our peace was on him, and we be made whole by his wanness. (And he was wounded for our wickednesses, he was defiled for our great trespasses; he suffered what should have been our chastising, or our punishment, and we be healed, or made whole, by his scourgings.)

⁶ All we erred as sheep, each man bowed into his own way, and the Lord putted in him the wickedness of us all. (We have all wandered astray like sheep, each one turned to his own way, but the Lord put on him all of our wickednesses.)”

Jesus is defiled, defouled, punished, wounded, scourged. God the Father treats Jesus as sin. As a result, we — who err and wander astray, each to our own way — are made whole, healed, restored to God’s graces.

“If We Acknowledge” ( 1 John 1:9, WYC ) by Carley Evans

Ever downplay a mistake or a sin? Ever speak of it as if it wasn’t that bad or even worth mentioning? Ever make excuses for it? Ever deny that you sin?

“If we acknowledge [grant, concede, accept, admit, recognize, confess] our sins, he is faithful and just, that he forgive to us our sins, and cleanse us from all wickedness.”

God expects us to acknowledge that we are sinners saved by His grace. If we accept our sinful state and concede that it displeases God, then “He is faithful and just,” and forgives “us our sins.” As if that isn’t enough, He “cleanses us from all wickedness.”

He does this; we don’t. God is faithful and just. He is forgiving. And He has the power to wash us white as snow though our sins be as scarlet.

“The Essential Sin” ( Psalm 139:23-24, HCSB ) by Carley Evans

The essential or basic sin is idolatry — putting something or even someone before or above God. David asks God to search him, to know his heart, to test him and recognize his concerns. Of course, God sees David’s offenses clearly. David expects God to not only see his idolatry, but also to lead him out of it and into the way of everlasting life. David sings:

²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive^[idolatrous] way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way.

Jesus comes to earth to lead us out of death and into everlasting life. He comes so we may have life and have it abundantly.

Hallelujah!

“Heard At The Beginning” ( 1 John 3: 11, WYC ) by Carley Evans

What does Jesus say to those He calls? “Come, follow Me.” Right? In following Jesus, what do His disciples encounter? His love for sinners. Right?

^“For this is the telling, that ye heard at the beginning, that ye love each other.”

All Jesus’ disciples discover God’s love — His awesome willingness to forgive sins. That we do less is a great injustice. God reminds we’re allowed to throw stones at sinners if – and only if – we are without sin.

“The Sting And Power Of Sin” ( 1 Corinthians 15: 56, NIV ) by Carley Evans

“Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 15:50)

Rather, the mortal will clothe itself with immortality, says Paul. When? At the last trumpet. At that moment, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, death will be swallowed up in victory.

We know “the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.”

The good news is that eventually we will be freed from sin and the consequence of the law which is death. At that time, we shall bear the likeness of the man from heaven. When? When we are given the victory over death through that same man, our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

“We will all be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51) We will become like “the second man from heaven” and will no longer be like the “first man [who] was of the dust of the earth.” (1 Corinthians 15:46)

We will no longer be subject to the sting or the power of sin.

“Let’s Reason Together” ( Isaiah 1: 18, ESV ) by Carley Evans

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

God isn’t giving us an excuse to sin. Rather, He’s giving us His promise to make our sins as if they never were.

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:12-14, NIV)

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy Name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits — He forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5, NIV)

“Waiting On God” ( Psalm 25: 15, ESV ) by Carley Evans

My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for He plucks my feet out of the net.” (Psalm 25:15, ESV)

Evil forces — whether persons, demons, or tortured spirits — are always throwing nets out in front of those of us who walk according to God the Holy Spirit. What I never forget is God “plucks my feet out of [those] nets.” Even if I see the net and yet step into it willfully in a spirit of disobedience, God the Holy Spirit is faithful to rescue.

My prayer is akin to David’s: “For Thy Name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.” (Psalm 25:11, KJV) I trust the Lord to show mercy and to “bring me out of my distresses.” (Psalm 25:17, KJV) I believe God “keeps my soul, and delivers me.” (Psalm 25:20, KJV) Therefore, I pray with David, “Let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in Thee. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on Thee.” (Psalm 25:20-21, KJV)

“Sinners Saved” ( Hebrews 7: 25, NIV ) by Carley Evans

God the Holy Spirit writes about sin in believers:

“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:12-13,NIV)

Jesus, the Son of God intercedes for believers. No need to intercede for those who do not sin.

“Therefore [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

Jesus made one sacrifice for all sin.

“By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:14)

“If we deliberately keep on sinning, after we have received knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” (Hebrews 10:26-27)

“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (Hebrews 12:4)

Obviously, Christians are called not to sin; but we do. And thank God, Jesus’ sacrifice nails those sins to the cross and His shed blood washes them away. The Holy Spirit says, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17)