Did Jesus teach self-improvement?
We know that Jesus talked about specific sins: “The things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Matthew 15:18-19
Yet when Jesus could have rebuked His disciples for their sinful acts, He didn’t. He could have rebuked them for breaking the sabbath (Marc 2:23), speaking too fast (Matt 17:4 , Matt 17:25) or not bringing bread (Marc 8:14) or for betraying Him (Marc 14:27). But when Jesus rebuked His disciples it was constantly because of their lack of faith:
– “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” (6:30)
– “He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” (8:36)
– “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me! Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (14:30-31)
– “Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?” (16:8)
When Jesus prayed for Peter who was about to betray Him, He prayed for His faith not to fail (Luke 22:31).
Yet if my brother or sister come to me today to confess a sin, will I point to a lack of faith? I plead guilty, he would not. Yet I understand that when Christians are struggling with sin and don’t seem able to win over sin, the problem is a problem of identity. I believe the power to win over sin is to believe what God says about us. If God calls us conquerors, why do we live as though we are losers? Of God calls us loved why do we live as though we are unwanted and uncared for? If Jesus calls us friends why do we live as though He is a unattainable?
When it comes to sin, if we limit our Christianity to dos and don’ts then it is simply self-improvement to be a better person and that’s not what Christ taught. Any religion offers that. The gospel is not ‘do this and don’t do that’, the gospel is first believe and therefore do. The letter to the Romans is constructed like that; first our sin – we have all fallen short of the glory of God (3:23) – then our freedom from sin through Jesus’ sacrifice – there is now no condemnation for us who are in Christ (8:1) – and finally our response to this great gift – to therefore give our lives as living sacrifices (12:1).
This is on the basis of this gospel that we are to live our lives everyday. The gospel is not just a message we have to tell unbelievers. The gospel is to be believed everyday. Believing the gospel must remain at the center of our lives. If we stop believing who we are in Christ and we start seeing ourselves in the eyes of other people, or in our own eyes, or the eyes of today’s society then we will act as if we are those people. But we are who God says we are. Feelings and people’s comments won’t change what God has made us, or else we are making God a liar. Nothing can separate you from His love, nothing.
The difference between self-improvement and Christianity is that with God we are already perfectly improved, we are already perfect, and by faith we act on what we already are.
“For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:14
Madame Morgane 