Liberated from the Lock-up of Lawlessness (Sin) - Part Two
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32 (KJV)
Most of us are familiar with the idiomatic expression: “It’s not what you know but who you know.” The substance of the expression speaks to the advancement of individuals at a work place or professional setting based on their connections rather than their talents, knowledge or skills. Oftentimes this is identified as nepotism. According to the dictionary, nepotism is patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship, as in business and politics.
Unfortunately, church settings and ministerial walls are not exempt from the nearsightedness of nepotism. Too often, Pastors or church leaders are caught in a cloud of partiality. Consequently, they cannot see that their family member is not the most qualified or gifted person for the position that is posted by the church.
Furthermore, impartiality is not sanctioned or in step with the Spirit of God. It is iniquity. As a matter of fact, the Scriptures speak to the consequences of individuals that ignored truth for the favor of the faithless or wicked.
“These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: but to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.” Proverbs 24:23-25 (KJV)
According to the proverb, the one who is partial is someone who states that the wicked are actually righteous people. That is, they ignore what God says about our behavior. Righteous people obey God’s precepts and laws and the wicked do not. This proverb reveals that, at the time it was written, people were being partial. People were being partial by ignoring the truth in favor of the wicked. They honored the wicked as if they were godly individuals. We still see this occurring in our world today.
Next, the proverb says that someone who rebukes the wicked will be a delight to others and blessing will come to them. That is, the principle of impartiality means that we hold to biblical principles regardless of circumstances and persons. We must be impartial in our judgments and in our statements. That is, we say sin is sin, the wicked are wicked and the godly are godly.
However, I invite you to consider with me that the implementation of the aforementioned idiomatic expression is indicative to an infinite fact. Specifically, in the context of faith and our liberation from our incarceration of degeneration (sin). It is indeed our intimate knowledge of God, by virtue of His Spirit, that advanced us from the kingdom of darkness and translated us to the kingdom of His dear Son. God gave us the capacity to cut off the chains of carnality and the shackles of sin.
“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Acts 26:18 (KJV)
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Colossians 1:12-13 (KJV)
So the answers to the questions from last week’s blog are absolutely answered by the Almighty himself. The colossal Christian artist and gospel writer Andrae Crouch wrote a song that clearly captures this point. Consider with me a portion of this soul-stirring but sanctifying truth:
You have some questions in the corners of your mind
And traces of discouragement and peace you cannot find
Reflections of the old past, they seem to face you everyday
There's one thing I know for sure that Jesus is the way
Let me hear you now
Jesus is the answer for the world today
Above Him there's no other Jesus is the Way
Remember our Lord, said “Ask it will be given unto you; seek and ye shall find; knock and the door shall be open unto you!”
In closing, liberation from the lock-up of lawlessness is directly connected to who you know and who you ask!
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR