“‘Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.’ [The Pharisees] answered him, ‘You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?’ And they cast him out.”
-John 9:32-34
For the believer, this passage gives an indispensable reminder. Reading it, I was struck by the forgetfulness of the Pharisees of their own sin, and the pride which stemmed from that forgetfulness. Every believer has something they can teach another believer (Ephesians 4:15-16). Grace has levelled the playing field. While it may be obvious that a new believer has much to learn from a PhD. seminary professor, what is not so obvious is the inverse need. The professor needs the new believer. At the very “least,” their testimony of how he came to faith in Christ will glaze the professor’s eyes with the simple, beautiful truths of the Gospel and produce thankfulness in his heart towards God, and encouragement that God is moving.
The healthy, worshipping Christian life is one that is very mindful of sin. God’s love is demonstrated in the context of sin (Romans 5:8), so to worship him necessitates that same context.
“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”
-Psalm 32:1-2
I must meditate frequently on the sin God has brought me out of and of the sins I currently struggle with, and be thankful for their atonement through Jesus and for the life to come that he has purchased for me.
