As the bride of Christ, believers have a challenge to overcome the message of “greasy grace” that is preached from far too many pulpits. It’s a message that God overlooks sin in our lives. We can live any way we want because that’s what His grace is for. It’s a message that denies the element of repentance, a message that is soft on sin. It’s a message that leads to deception. Believers going forth into the harvest need to understand that it is a message that has snared many who need to be set free with the truth. Consider this in light of Jesus’ parable .
Matt 12:43-45 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” NKJV
This strange parable is a conclusion of His teachings that were designed to call people to repentance and faith. The message was about “regeneration” and not “reformation.” And while the message was pointed directly at Israel, there is a major implication for us today with the issue of incomplete repentance as a result of man’s desire to be relieved from guilt; reformed outwardly but not reborn inwardly. This is the result of insincere or incomplete faith, having never started in the way of truth. The result is that they know enough about God to know how to resist His claims, eventually hardening themselves against Him.
Looking at Jesus’ teaching, it’s not enough to clean one’s house; the right tenant must be invited in. The Pharisees were proud of their “clean houses” but their hearts were empty and mere religion (reformation) was not going to save them. There had to be regeneration, the receiving of Jesus into their heart (Rev 3:20). A person might clean themselves up but it will only be a temporary freedom, when they return to their old ways they will once again be under his power and be far worse off than they were before. The only sure salvation is a full salvation; it is not enough to just temporarily cast out Satan.
When we reach out to the lost and share the gospel, we need to be fully armed with the Word of God. As long as their are churches that don’t preach sin and the blood of Christ there will always be a message of greasy grace to overcome with the truth. As ambassadors of Christ, we need to be prepared to face that challenge head on with the truth. There is no “legal” remedy for sin… you can’t legislate morality. Man cannot be neutral about Jesus!
This Wednesday’s Video Challenge
019 The Battleground of the Mind
2 responses to “The Empty House”
When a modern Christian implies or tells me through his or her actions and behavior;
that they are very special, loved by The Father and next to Moses in piety;
then I have a relatively honest appraisal that they don’t understand how Holy God IS;
and how unrighteous we in these deceptive spirits appear to Him;
Lastly, how much of His Word they haven’t comprehended…
Thanks for the comment Michael. Yes, as Christians we are not exempt from dealing with our old nature. Our challenge is to surrender to Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us through this life. What we often forget is that the moment we gave our heart to the Lord and repented for our sin that we were given “all” of Him in the form of the Holy Spirit. His image – His character – resides in us. Our challenge is to allow the Holy Spirit to “work out” His character in us. When we submit to His work in us then, rather than the behavior you noted, our life gives glory to God. Paul summed this up for us in His letter to the Romans … Romans 8:28-29 … blessing brother.