Question & Answer

The Bible is clear that if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Part of God’s amazing grace is that even when we willfully sin, He forgives us when we repent. That being said, understand that all sin carries consequences. While God’s forgiveness eliminates the eternal punishment for sin, God loves us too much to not discipline (train) us in righteousness. David was forgiven for his sin with Bathsheba but the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba were devastating for him and his family. The same would be true for Christians who do not have biblical grounds for remarriage. Does God forgive them? Yes. Are there consequences they face as a result of their decision? Yes.

Rare is the occasion that we just sit around while God does all the work. He expects us to live our faith and show what we believe. When we wait on God – we are literally listening to Him, seeking His face and a response.

Clearly God wants us to know Him and to know His will. We have His written Word and we have the present, active power of the Holy Spirit.

In Jeremiah 33:3 God says “Call to me and I will answer you…”

As well, Philipians 2:13 states "for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (ESV). Also, James 2:17 says "…faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (ESV).

Scripture reveals to us a beautiful relationship between believing/trusting and acting/obeying. Our responsibility is to search God’s Word to find and know His will. Once we sense His will, then we must act in faith accordingly. Our actions of obedience are the outward result of our inward belief that God will keep His word.

When we receive direction from Him (objectively through His Word, subjectively by the leading of the Holy Spirit) then our time of waiting is over and it’s time for action. Obedience or action should be the result of our waiting on God.

When it comes to interpreting scripture for teaching or for our own devotional edification we must start with the principle that Scripture cannot mean to us what it didn’t mean to the original recipient. We begin by asking "What was originally intended?" Similar instruction is often repeated elsewhere in Scripture, revealing a principle by which God deals with His people (i.e. tithing, acting sinfully, etc).
 


Additionally, the Lord can devotionally encourage us by giving us a Scripture (making it come alive to our heart). As we walk through situations, there are moments where it seems that a verse or passage has been given to us specifically by the Lord. He uses them to speak to our heart for encouragement, exhortation, rebuke, etc. At those times, we should receive the encouragement with thanksgiving, while not trying to turn it into teaching points for others.