the basic message #E244

2/7/04

One of the most repeated phrases in Christianity is that "Jesus paid our sin debt".  Millions, if not billions, routinely assert their claim on their "right" to have their sin debt covered.  I've run across a passage that might shed a little light on the payment of debt.

Romans 13:8

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.

While I fully realize this scripture has no "official" connection to salvation, I think our views about repayment have become somewhat skewed over time.  As a result, we're part of a generation that has a hand out for any kind of freebies that come along.  I tend to believe that the concept of Salvation has become cheapened over the years due to common teaching that Salvation is completely free.  I'll challenge you to find scripture that supports the totally free Salvation concept.  I'll give you some help:

Ephesians 2:8-9

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.

God didn't want any man to even remotely think that he can do enough work to buy a seat in Heaven.  That hasn't changed and never will.  What is very relevant is something we call our "ability to pay" when it comes to out-of-control debt.  Think about this for a moment- if you run up your credit card debt to a point in which you're getting further and further behind, the credit card company might allow you to pay them on your "ability to pay".  It's a form of financial grace that they extend to their customers in an effort to salvage as much of the money owed to them as possible. Our sin debt has some common traits with our financial debts: Both usually occur from a lack of discipline or from selfishness.  Sin and financial debt seem to fall under the old, "everybody's doing it" mentality. 

Jesus came to remove us from the bondage of sin, but it's very important to remember that God still gives us free will.  Some folks seem to think that a Christian is somehow immune to sin.  I don't find any scripture to support that- in fact, I find scripture that indicates that Satan will go after true Christians even harder, since their failing will help his cause.  Everyone is capable of sinning, but those who have some backbone and discipline can overcome much of what Satan throws at them.  It's important to note at this point that the Holy Spirit can infuse discipline into even the weakest Christian as long as one condition is met.  The condition?  That we simply ask the Holy Spirit to give us strength and change our heart and life.  Are you a thief?  Ask the Holy Spirit to change you.  Do you drink alcohol to excess?  Ask the Holy Spirit to change you.  Do you have an abusive personality?  Ask the Holy Spirit to change you.  The biggest obstacle to most Christians is that they either: A. Don't want to change, or B. They don't see any need to change.

A very active part of our Christianity is repentance.  Our determination to turn away from our sins and turn towards Jesus is something that's very much under our control.  When we reject this simple procedure, we're sending a clear message to God, and that message is: "I want something from you God, but don't ask me to do anything in return."  Salvation is completely free, yet costs everything.