Greetings, friend, and welcome back to the course.
Just as a reminder, for a few days we will be looking at the purposes of God in slavery to sin. Here is the outline we are using:
Purposes of slavery to sin:
That we might experience grace.
That we might become broken and humbled.
That we might recognize our need to wash at the cross and walk by the Spirit.
That we might learn to war against our flesh.
You have no doubt noticed, as I have, that giving in to any habitual sin has a hardening effect on our hearts. Hebrews 3:13 talks about being “hardened by sin's deceitfulness.”
This “hardening” by the deceitfulness of sin presents itself as proud, arrogant, dominating, unwilling to hear others, self-reliant, foolish, an attitude of superiority that looks down on others, and many more ungodly attitudes and behaviors. This hardening keeps us immature emotionally, spiritually and mentally which can have devastating effects on relationships, ministry service, job performance, etc.
What we need in this condition is to be broken of our pride, broken of our rebellion, broken of our self-will. The cross is ideally suited to breaking us in this way and then healing us.
Looking at the cross of Christ is how we become broken of our sin, and then healed and made whole. God wounds then He heals; He puts to death then He makes alive (Deuteronomy 32:39). So, if this is where you are right now—being broken by God—don’t fight it, yield to the breaking, even welcome it as this is how God is going to work His grace in you and free you.
It is a gracious work that God does, through His Holy Spirit, to break us, humble us, lower us down, make us nothing in our own eyes. Friend, as you gaze up at the cross, be reminded that your sin put Jesus there, and let it cut your heart! And yet, also remember that it is His love for you that put Him there, and let this truth heal you.
Question 1. What is God’s intent in breaking us?