ARE YOU SURE?

ARE YOU SURE?

            Peter says in 2 Peter 1:10 that we are to give diligence to make our calling and election sure.  We see from this that not only can we know with confidence that our condition with God is sure, but that we must diligently make and keep it sure.  In other words, we must remove all doubt and be confident in our spiritual condition and salvation.  God is not a god of doubt, he is a god of confidence and doubt is not acceptable to him.  After all, He has provided us everything we need to be sure of that (2 Pet. 1:3).

          Doubt is a red flag that should alert us to the fact that we have a problem or area we need to address.  Doubt is not a good thing spiritually.  It is not spoken well of in God’s word when it comes to our spiritual lives.  Doubt is something that we can all experience, and something we can cause in others.  Both of which is not good according to the apostle Paul.

          Paul explains what doubt will do to us in Romans chapter 14 as he uses the example of a weaker brother verses a stronger brother.  A weaker brother being one that is spiritually young and not spiritually matured in the scriptures and a stronger brother that is more spiritually mature in the scriptures and confident of exactly what his liberties are.  Simply, different levels of faith and knowledge of God’s word.  In this example of eating meat offered to idols, Paul explains the difference of one’s eating in doubt, verses eating in confidence and faith.  He shows us that something can be perfectly alright for one to do, but a sin to another.  That shows us that the act itself was not wrong, but the state of mind of the christian doing it has to be of faith and not doubt.  To the one who thought it to be wrong, or in this case doubted it to be acceptable, it is sin.  To the one who knew and had faith that all creatures made of God are good and are to be accepted with thanksgiving (1 Tim. 4:4-5), it was alright.  As long as it does not cause the weaker to stumble and violate his faith because of the stronger brother’s example.  Paul clearly summarizes his point in Romans 14:23 by saying, “...for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

          That example and scripture clearly shows that we must not act out of doubt, but instead be sure what we enter into is acceptable by faith.  Faith only comes from God’s word (Rom. 10:17) and he has supplied us with everything we need pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3).  So, if we act in doubt and not faith, we are willfully taking a chance and acting out of doubt which makes it sin to us.  After all the act itself could be sinful, or not, but we are showing that we are willing to risk it and please ourselves outside of faith.  God says it is not all about the act itself.  We are not to risk it, and we can’t be right accidentally.  You must act out of faith or it is sin regardless, so don’t do it.

          So, when making our decisions about whether or not to do something that we are not sure about, we must refrain from these things.  God has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness so we must act in faith and not in doubt.  Err on the safe side and be absolutely sure!  Even when there is liberty in faith allowing something, it is still sin to us if we act out of ignorance and are not convinced or sure by faith (Romans 10:17; 14:23).

 - Marc Hopkins