Forgiven. But Alas, Sinful

12/1/2018

I didn’t know, when I awoke without a song today, that it would be as solemn a day as it is. Turning TV on to “catch up” on the news, I found out about the death of George HW Bush, “Bush’41”, as he became known. He was a very fallible man, as we all are. But, watching the accolades being poured out has reminded me of the not so distant past, including the days of Reagan, Reagan-Bush, followed by Bush ’41, and living through those years as a minister of the gospel of Christ and a pastor to a few.

[It is important that I reiterate here my own testimony of faith in Christ and Christ’s work alone for my salvation, lest some might think me to be too liberal in what I’m about to write. I am a “salvation solely by the grace of God” preacher. There is no work by man involved in the individual salvation of any man today, and it has been that way in the entire church, the Body of Christ, since the Apostle Paul’s salvation and his preaching of the mystery of Christ. Therefore, if a person tells me, or I hear the testimony of that simple faith in Christ, it isn’t incumbent upon me to question their personal salvation, though I might be critical of some and their display of it.]

The “National Cathedral,” an Episcopal Church, is not known for great personal evangelism, nor known as a bastian for the preaching of the simplicity of Christ. Their doctrinal statement is fraught with error when compared to the “mysteries of God” delivered to, through, and by the Apostle Paul in Romans through Philemon—doctrine given solely unto the Body of Christ. But, that church was, for many years, Bush ’41 and his wife, Barbara’s home church. 

Pres. Bush ’41 had a testimony of faith in Christ. It was a simple faith and testimony. I have no reason to doubt it. His words expressed he was fully expecting to go be with the Lord, and he spoke of it often (so say they now that he has passed away.)

Some of you might have heard me use the terminology “give as much grace as you take.” That’s the grace I’m making reference to, saving grace. That this grace might reach into other parts of people’s lives would be a natural outcropping. We’re taught by Paul to be “tender-hearted” toward others and to forgive, “as Christ hath forgiven us.” We should and we do. If you do not find yourself holding a grudge against another, you have, no doubt, forgiven as Christ hath forgiven you. 

But, as is very noticeable, we didn’t shed this natural, mortal body of sinfulness when we trusted the Lord for salvation. And daily we face this sinfulness our nature foists upon us, all of which are forgiven by God for Christ’s sake and for the righteousness of His Body. 

That complete and utter forgiveness, however, doesn’t keep many of the sins in the lives of saved persons from becoming bad works, or in Paul’s explanatory words of judgment by fire: “wood, hay and stubble.” Paul warned “many who have sinned and not repented” (2 Col.12:21.)  To the rest, he warned of these activities as something from which to stay away—see Rom.16:17, 18 and 1 Cor.5:5, 9-11 and more places in similar vein. The passages teach us what to do. Forgiving one another in the same way God for Christ’s sake has forgiven us is simple and easy. But, it doesn’t make life or our walk with the Lord easy unless we obey the “staying away” part of those admonitions listed above. Giving grace in forgiving others isn’t about ignoring what has occurred. Christ doesn’t say to the sinners saved by grace, “hey, go do the bad, so it’ll make my grace look good.” Paul had to put up with that nonsense in Rom.3:8, and even clearer in Rom.5:20 through 6:2.

And, so it is with someone like the former president and his religious association. I’ll accept that he, by testimony will be in the same eternity with me, but I won’t go become an episcopalian, nor will I practice what he practiced. And just as I didn’t seek his friendship and accompany him in his unlearned position, I shall not commend him for it either. 

My prayer for the next 5 days of national mourning is that the hearts of some will turn to the word of the Lord, coming to see where and how the Lord’s plan for our lives is spelled out in Romans through Philemon, then from all Scripture for doctrine. Do I believe that is possible? Yes. Do I believe it will happen? No, not nationally, but maybe in one person, or a few.

Thanks for reading, the Elder