Living in the Tension Between Two Precious Truths

The Apostle Paul is not alone in admonishing us to carefully use our speech for the glory of God and the good of others. Consider, for example, James 3:9-12:

“With it [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.”

Oh, I find these words so convicting because they not only condemn the speech that departs from my mouth but the heart that produced it. The Bible is relentless in pointing out that the main problem with us is not our actions but the wicked heart that produces those actions. As Jesus himself said in Matthew 15:18, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.”

What, then, is a Christian to do about his or her manner of speech? The standard God has set is so high, and yet we fail so often, so again I ask, what is a Christian to do?

It seems to me that Christians live in the tension between two precious truths. The one is summarized by texts like Romans 5:20-21: “Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” In other words, the grace of God that was manifested through Jesus Christ always outweighs the sin of those who believe in him. Always! It doesn’t matter if we fail 10,000 times per day, there is always an abundance of grace in Christ to cover our sins!

The other truth is summarized by texts like 1 Peter 1:14-16: “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” In other words, the grace of God in Christ is not an excuse for loose living; rather it is a summons to holy living. The grace of God in Christ not only forgives but also transforms.

So it is that we Christians live in the tension between two precious truths: grace commands us to be like him who saved us, and grace forgives us when we fail to do so. Let us ever remember both of these truths.

Living with you in joyful tension,
Pastor Charlie