I Am So Frustrated

I am so frustrated with Paul’s writings! I said it earlier and I say it again today; Paul vacillates between grace and works! Colossians 3.25: “But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.” Where is grace in that?

Frankly, although I read yesterday, I did not blog because of my frustration. Once again, it was Paul’s letter to the Colossians that threw me off. In 3.1 he says, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” Okay, I can deal with that. But then in verse 5 Paul says, “So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.” I thought we who confessed our sin and our faith in Christ were forgiven! If God is still going to punish this stuff, I would like to know who is going to be left! Some of the godliest people I know confess that they still have struggles with sin; be it great or small. What gives?

In my heart of hearts I do not wish to do what is wrong. However, I don’t want to waste unnecessary energy on ‘fixing me’ when ‘I’ seem to become the center of attention rendering me ‘self-centered.’ Are we known to be Christians by our perfect walk? Is it not more important how I treat others? Is not the true life of faith that Christ has forgiven and redeemed me the story I have to tell? Is not the life of ‘loving God and man’ one that acknowledges inability to self-help and total reliance on Jesus’ work on the cross?

Sort of like Paul said back when we were in Romans (7), “Who will deliver me from this frustration – from this death?” I, like Paul claimed then, thank God it is Jesus Christ!

Father, I am frustrated with the presentation of grace AND works in the New Testament. I have said this before and I say it again right now; “Help me – I can’t seem to help myself.” Jesus save me!