A false teaching is gaining popularity among Christians: the belief that God is never disappointed in us because He forgets our sins and only sees Jesus in us.(1)
Scripture says believers can disappoint God.
If we couldn't disappoint God, He wouldn't give us this warning:
Ephesians 4:30: "...do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
Scripture also urges us to find out what pleases the Lord.
If we always pleased God, these Scriptures (written to believers) wouldn't be necessary:
Ephesians 5:10: "…find out what pleases the Lord."
Colossians 1:10: "…live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way…"
Like any loving parent, God is disappointed in His children when we make bad choices. He doesn't cover His eyes and smile. He rebukes, corrects, and disciplines us for our good.
Hebrews 12:6: "the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son."
Revelation 3:19: "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent."
(1) This view has grown increasingly popular due to misunderstandings about "unconditional love." Please read Better Than Unconditional to identify those popular errors. Recently this error has also gained new followers through the influential fiction book, The Shack. On page 206 the lead character Mack asks The Shack god if he's ever been disappointed in him, and The Shack god emphatically says, "Never!" For more insights: Examining The Shack
For more scriptures and information on this subject, check out these 1-minute devotions:
God Sees My Sin
Forgive or Forget?
Bible Love Notes
Hi, Thanks for sharing this as the concept you spoke of his so distorted! Your posts and Bible love notes are so good!I did lose all my contacts a long ways back, but found you again (so glad)
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Roxy
thanks for this important note. So many false teachers out there today. Tired of hearing when God sees me on Judgement Day, He won't see sinful Mary, He will look past that sin and see Jesus cause Jesus bought and pd for my sin. the last part is correct. But 1st I have NEVER seen ONE scripture indicating the 1st part. I will be judge for e of my sins, sadly.
ReplyDeleteI have a similar issue I'm having probs with, maybe God is talking to me, causing the discomfort, maybe not. Hopefully you can shed some TRUE Light with scripture. the other phrase is that whatever tbe situation, a given individual is right where God wants them to be at that given moment in time. So a person living a sinful life is exactly where God wanta them to be? I know Job was, but Jonah was not, and God stopped it. To me, it sort of makes God the big Chess player in the sky and negates free will...? have you written on this.
Good question.
DeleteI've heard of this belief, that God has predestined every situation in life and men have absolutely no free will. This would mean that every evil act committed by a person was part of God's perfect will, and that is a contradiction of Scripture since God does not tempt men and all that He does is good and holy. James 1:13
Scripture teaches that God's purposes will prevail in the end, but it also teaches that men are given choices.
Even if the case of Job, God allowed Satan to test Job with hardship. He didn't allow him to control Job's heart or Job's responses.
I think there are hundreds of Scriptures that refute this belief. This one comes to mind:
Jeremiah 19:5: "They have built the high places of Baal to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal--something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind."
If you want to study this more, I encourage you to study how often God gives men choices in Scripture. Genesis 4:7 and Joshua 24:15 for example. I don't think God is giving us choices He's already made for us, nor would Scripture support this.
Let me know if I've addressed your question and if this answer is helpful.
God bless you.