When our children make mistakes, we overlook their position in Christ. We tend to focus on their bad behavior. I've heard parent's call their kids names, such as, "dumb", "clumsy", "silly" when they make mistakes. This is the opposite of what Apostle Paul did when he heard his children were misbehaving.
Paul was the spiritual father of the church in Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 4:15 The church in Corinthians was considered by man an immoral church. They committed worst sins than an unbeliever. Not only were they sinning, but they were also proud of their sin. 1 Corinthians 5:2.
Paul was a wise father. He realized that the problem with his children began when they removed their eyes from Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 3:4 Paul told his children that they were acting just like everyone else in the world because they were focusing on men and not on Jesus. This attitude lead them to pride, envy, jealousy, and sexual immorality.
Paul dealt with the root of their sin problem by turning their attention towards Jesus, which is an important lesson we can learn from him. When our children make mistakes, Instead of telling them how great their sin is, we can tell them about what Jesus did at the cross for all of us. There is no greater wisdom or speech than that. God's power is released when the message of the cross is being preached.
1 Corinthians 2:1 "And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 18 For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.
Since Jesus died on the cross for the Corinthians church, Paul resolved to see Christ in them. For Paul, their identity was no longer based on their performance. Instead, it was based on Jesus' finished work. That is the reason why in 1 Corinthians 1 Paul calls his children: "Us who have been saved," "sanctified in Christ Jesus," "temple of the Holy Spirit."
If we look at the things Paul mention in 1 Corinthians 1:4, we realized that he proclaims to his children grace and peace from God. Paul knew that all their pride would diminish if his children turned their eyes towards Jesus' grace; there is no room for pride when we are humbled by the death and resurrection of our Lord. Then, Paul announces them that they have been enriched in Christ; there is no room for jealousy when we know about the resources available for us in Christ. Paul also reassures their salvation by faith. He tells them that God will sustain them without guilt on the day of judgment; sin loses its power when we believe we are saved by Jesus not by our own "lawful" works. 1 Corinthians 15:56 "For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power." Lastly, he encourages them to come closer to God; a genuine transformation occurs when we fellowship with God.
1 Corinthians 1:4 "I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
As parents we need to turn our eyes away from ourselves and away from our children's behavior. We need to look at Jesus. We must receive the freedom, right standing, forgiveness, salvation and restoration that Jesus has given us. Only then, we will be able to see our children's identity in Christ. Only then, we will be able to share the message of the cross. The proclamation of the cross will empower our children to do what is right. The proclamation of their identity in Christ, apart from their behavior, will set them free from the power of sin. Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."
Post by: Sofia Di
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