Grace Greater Than All Our Sin

"If my actions do not exemplify what is fitting for a believer, then what right have I to claim belief in God?"

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That's an intriguing question, and we do well to stop and think about it before we provide a zealous, knee-jerk answer. Consider this:

1. Peter believed that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).

2. Jesus told him that the Father had revealed that truth to him, so it was a sincere profession (v17).

3. It follows that Peter was born again and in possession of eternal life (I John 5:1).

4. Yet, Peter denied Christ at what appeared to be a time of great need (Matthew 26:74).

At the moment of Peter's epic failure, it could be said with absolute certainty that he was a man of God-given faith even though his actions betrayed that reality. That’s because Jesus Christ had already affirmed Peter's faith was the real deal, and the Lord cannot deny himself (II Timothy 2:13).

I tell you this not to encourage sin, spiritual negligence, or malaise, but to exhort you to obedience in discipleship. When we examine ourselves, we will find many faults and deficiencies in our efforts to consistently follow Christ. Rather than dwell on past failures, praise the Lord for his long suffering and mercy. In what ways are you failing as a disciple? Don’t fall into the trap of letting past failures prevent you from experiencing the blessings of discipleship. Get up, dust yourself off, and follow the Lord who forgives and loves us in spite of our failures.

- Elder Daniel Samons