Why our calling includes much more than simply avoiding the ‘big’ sins

By Dean Collins

The apostle Paul is pretty clear that we must pay our taxes and obligations under the law. But I think his follow-up point is often forgotten. Paul opens his instruction this way: “Owe no one anything.” Besides the obvious legal and moral obligations of paying our debts, many of us have experienced that wonderful feeling when our obligation has been completely satisfied. There’s nothing quite like it.

Paul, however, did not end his instruction there. And what he added was not fine print, either. It is right there in the middle of the sentence with the same font: “except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” This exception is central to how we must approach today and each other. Debt-free people should look and act differently than anyone else. It starts with remembering who paid our biggest debt.

A debt I could not pay

There was a song I use to lead many decades ago that went like this:

He paid a debt he did not owe
I owed a debt I could not pay
I needed someone to wash my sins away
And now I sing a brand new song: amazing grace the whole day long
Christ Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay.

What Jesus did on the cross with the offering of his blood sacrifice resolved an obligation we were completely unable to satisfy. There is nothing like being free from sin and death. However, I fear maybe the further we get from the moment we first experienced this amazing grace we sometimes, maybe often, believe then we can do whatever we want to do with no regard for others. We probably aren’t bold enough to say that out loud, but our actions expose that we have forgotten Paul’s Word.

A salvation that leads to transformation

Maybe it’s a problem for humans everywhere, but it seems especially to be an American problem. There is a sense that if we do well enough financially to meet our obligations with banks and mortgage companies, we can then settle into a selfish lifestyle where we can do whatever we want and let someone else deal with the problems and needs of another. Paul and Jesus both say that is simply not so. The Christian life is more than a salvation experience; it is a transformed experience.

Paul’s language in many places echoes much of Romans 13. According to Paul, when we surrender to Jesus, we put on Christ in a similar way that we put on our clothes each day. Our spiritual clothes are the clothes of our new life in Christ. We cannot put on Christ and ride off into the sunset. We are called to love each other with the love of Christ.

By the way, Paul says love does no wrong to a neighbor. Sometimes we seem to believe we can do what we choose as long as we first check off some key checkboxes for moral categories. Paul even lists those categories:

Adultery
Murder
Stealing
Coveting
Orgies
Drunkenness
Sexual immorality and sensuality
Quarreling
Jealousy

Most Christians and many non-Christians will agree that these are the big sins to avoid. Paul finishes these instructions with this line: “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

A transformation that means caring for others

To live as new in Christ means I can’t simply avoid the big sins and live selfishly after that. Walking in the light means we will see the needs of others and act lovingly toward them and their situation. This is what we are called to do.

Of course, there is no way you or I can solve everyone’s problems and take care of everyone’s needs. But I can act with kindness toward everyone I encounter. And I can, through the investment of some time, some prayer, and sometimes some financial contribution, make a difference. When the whole body of Christ does this, we partner with God in ways that will change the world and bring Heaven to earth.

On the other hand, if we simply see ourselves as forgiven, avoiding the “big sins,” and living free to do whatever else we want, then we have failed to understand our calling.

Lord Jesus, we are amazed at your sacrifice on the cross that paid a debt we could never pay. Forgive us when we accept your love and fail to pass it on to another. Renew our hearts and minds to better reflect your love to those around us today and every day. Wake us from our selfishness that we might discover the joy of serving others.

Your time with God’s Word
Romans‬ ‭13:8-14; Colossians‬ ‭2:13-15;‬ ‭3:9-11‬‬ ‭‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by RODNAE Productions at Pexels

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