Sider goes on to say - "Jesus called for costly obedience and radical discipleship. In spite of some glaring failures, the early Christians lived profoundly transformed lifestyles. The astonishing quality of their lives attracted people to Christ. Today, our hypocrisy often drives unbelievers away.
Jesus certainly welcomed and forgave sinners. Parable after parable makes this wondrously clear. But that does not mean Jesus expected these forgiven sinners to continue to sin. "Go and sin no more," Jesus told the adutlerous woman. Obedience is essential.
Jesus summoned his disciples to a costly obedience. (Mark 8:34-35).
Jesus expected his disciples to forgive others just as he had forgiven them.
Jesus knew that his followers would live so differently from the surrounding society that the world would hate them. (see John 15:19; John 17:14-19). Today, unfortunately, many people despise Christians, not for their unswerving obedience to Christ, but because of the hypocritical disconnect between Jesus' teaching and our actions.
Jesus was ruthless with the materialists of his day who loved their money more than God. Jesus denounced lukewarm folk who wanted both to worship God and practice sin. (Luke 12:22)
Jesus insisted that anyone who loves him "will obey my teaching" (John 14:23). But not on our own strength. It is only as we abide in Christ who is the vine that we branches can obey Christ and bear fruit. (John 15:5) How do we abide in Christ? Not just by believing in him, but also by obeying Him! (v.10)"
Again, I am stung by Sider's insights. We, as believers, are saved by grace. We are saved, not because of how good we are - but because of how good God is! However, this truth does not give us a license to dumb down the call to holy living. We need to be called back and reminded that we need to be salt and light. Anyone else struggle with this?
Next post: Sider will give us the Biblical vision of what our lives are to be, book by book, in the New Testament. I'll see you then.
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