Books by Ian Rogers
Books by Ian Rogers
“Remove all blemishes and bad bits”
This sentence needs a bit of explanation. To some, it may seem supremely arrogant, as if, because I am a Christian, I am perfect and look down on all lesser mortals.
Actually I agree with Saint Paul, who wrote: ”Not that I have already… been made perfect but I press on to win the prize for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Phi. 3 v 12.
Jesus said; ”Be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” Matt. 5 v48, a reflection of God’s call in Leviticus 20 v 26 ”You are to be Holy because I, the Lord, am Holy”.
Is Jesus commanding something that is impossible for us in this life and only bestowed on us after death? Or, if perfection is possible in this life, is he saying that unless we achieve that perfection we won’t get into heaven at all? Both these ideas are parodies of God’s truth and grace.
Remember the parable of the Prodigal Son? After all the son’s greed and stupidity, as he returns home with selfish motives (’Even my father’s hired hands have more than enough to eat’) his father, representing God, runs towards him and embraces him. The son doesn’t even get to speak out his rehearsed apology.
God loves every single human being, despite our faults and failings. When we turn towards Him in any way and with whatever mixed motives, He responds to us. He encourages a deeper relationship and clearer spiritual vision, even when that grows haltingly and slowly. This is known as ’common grace’ - it’s how God reacts to everybody.
However, if and when someone turns to Him through Christ - which means there is already some spiritual awakening - there is what is called ’special grace’. Through Christ, God’s true image on earth and now know to us through the Bible, God gives us an even greater, deeper and more profound experience of Himself.
I like to use an illustration about perfection and holiness with the youth group. Imagine a screen with the word SIN project in red letters on the white background. Now imagine looking at the screen through a red filter, such as red cellophane.
The word SIN disappears because the whole screen looks red! This is how God views us through Jesus -“the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” By faith in Jesus God sees us as perfect in Christ. Of course, we need to say ’sorry God’ for any known sin, and say so daily.
I use instant ’arrow prayers’, that is quick, once sentence, prayers as and when I think to.
It’s not an exercise in self flagellation or of adopted piety. It is faith. ’God made him who had no sin to be (to carry, to absorb) sin for us, that in him we might become the righteousness of God’.
2 Cor. 5 v21. Amazing.
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