Posted on 03/29/2020 4:09:21 AM PDT by metmom
"Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Matt. 6:13).
Have a healthy sense of self-distrust.
At the moment of your salvation, judicial forgiveness covered all of your sins—past, present, and future. Parental forgiveness restores the joy and sweet fellowship broken by any subsequent sins. But concurrent with the joy of being forgiven is the desire to be protected from any future sins. That's the desire expressed in Matthew 6:13: "Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
That petition seems simple enough at first glance, but it raises some important questions. According to James 1:13, God doesn't tempt anyone to commit sin, so why ask Him to protect us from something He apparently wouldn't lead us into in the first place?
Some say the word "temptation" in Matthew 6:13 means "trials." But trials strengthen us and prove the genuineness of our faith. We are to rejoice in them, not avoid them (James 1:2-4).
The solution to this paradox has to do with the nature of the petition. It is not so much a technical theological statement as it is an emotional plea from one who hates sin and wants to be protected from it. Chrysostom, the early church father, said it is a natural appeal of human weakness as it faces danger (Homily 19.10).
I don't know about you, but I have a healthy sense of self-distrust. That's why I carefully guard what I think, say, watch, read, and listen to. If I sense spiritual danger I run into the presence of God and say, "Lord, I will be overwhelmed by this situation unless You come to my aid." That's the spirit of Matthew 6:13.
We live in a fallen world that throws temptation after temptation our way. Therefore it's only natural and proper for us as Christians to continually confess our sins, receive the Father's forgiveness, and plead with Him to deliver us from the possibility of sinning against Him in the future.
Suggestions for Prayer
Thank the Lord that He loves you and ministers through you despite your human weaknesses. Ask Him to protect you today from any situation that might cause you to sin.
For Further Study
Read 1 Corinthians 10:13 and James 1:13-16.
To what degree will God allow you to be tempted? What is a common source of temptation?
Studying God’s Word ping
What is "Homily 19.10"?
Excellent, thank you.
The Lord said, Go and sin no more.” I struggle with this constantly. It seems I am constantly sinning. Indeed, we are subject to temptation upon temptation upon temptation. Greed. Pride. Lust. Laziness. Gluttony. Hate. A hundred other failings.
I can’t even profess to repent, because to me you can’t repent without genuine pennance and a dogged struggle to “go and sin no more”. I fall back constantly and know I am going to sin through my weekness and avarice. It seems like I have forgotten all my discipline. I wish I could stop sinning. But if wishes were horses, then beggars would ride. I am tired of failing but not serious enough to stop.
I don’t deserve to be saved. I still Believe. Jesus Christ is my Savior. I just wish I would stop hurting him.
I’m guessing it’s the name of a writing of the aforementioned early church father.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
I don't believe that God expects perfection out of us here on earth.
That's not to take sin lightly, but if you constantly set standards for yourself that you fail to meet, you are going to only struggle with discouragement and depression.
I don't think that's what He wants us to be.
That's almost becoming too self-obsessed.
Live close to Him and when you fail just consider.....
1 John 1:7-10 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Maybe that's what he meant, maybe not. As far as I know, the word "Homily" is synonymous with a Catholic priest's sermon after the readings and before the Eucharist portion of the Mass.
If so, why didn't the author just say Luke 19:10?
Thanks
And just more than Google.... Chyrsotom’s homilies are a rich connection to the early Christian life, often giving more realtime context to the Gospels, Acts and Paul.....
Good reading for the quarantine !
No it’s Homily 19 on the Goel of John......part 1 ...... The 0 is probably a typo..... Most of his homilies (or sermons) are broken up into parts usually no more than 4 or 5 parts.....some though do get longer.....
But in the original post the authors reference is to the a Gospel of John
That homily thing sure is confusing!
“If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Thank you. That is comforting.
I appreciate that.
I hate to see anyone in bondage to guilt and shame.
Godly sorrow leading to repentance is good. Otherwise it can be destructive.
It doesn’t matter if the whole world is against us, if God is for us.
Read Romans 7:14-25. Paul struggled with the same thing.
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