No Excuse!

David Letterman is known for hurling comedy zingers at misbehaving politicians in his late-night television show, The Late Show.  For example, in March 2008, he took potshots at Eliot Spitzer, then Governor of New York, who was implicated in the investigation of a high-end prostitution ring.  During an indignant rant on his late show, Letterman called for the governor to resign from office.  He quipped, "I mean, can you imagine if this happened to me how fast they'd have [me] out of here?" (edited for content)

However, Letterman confessed last week, that he had also been involved in similar immoral behavior.

The Scripture warns:

"Therefore you are inexcusable, O man,
whoever you are who judge,
for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself;
for you who judge practice the same things" (Romans 2:1).

But, lest WE begin pointing fingers at the sins of others, take note:

"For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
(Romans 3:23).

We may not have engaged in the same type of immorality as Letterman and some lascivious politicians, but ALL of us have sinned before God.

There is NO EXCUSE for our sins.  It does no good to try to point out the sins of others in order to try to hide our own.  We are ALL guilty before God.  We ALL need a Savior.

There is no EXCUSE, but there can be FORGIVENESS! 

God loved us so much that He gave His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2).  IN HIM we can have forgiveness of our sins IF we accept His offer of grace on His terms.  

We must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and trust that His death on the cross 
is the Way for our salvation (Acts 16:30-31).  We must repent (Acts 17:30-31).  Repentance is a change of MIND that leads to a change of LIFE.  Repentance includes sorrow for PAST sins but also the resolve to strive NOT to repeat those same mistakes in the FUTURE.  We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God (Rom 10:9-10) and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38).  

Then, we must continue to seek to walk in the light of His Word for the rest of our lives.  The promise is that if we will strive to live faithfully to Him and His Word, the blood of Jesus will continue to cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

Let's stop pointing out the glaring sins of others while trying to hide our own!  There is no excuse for the sins of others nor our own.  Let's start acknowledging the fact that we ALL need the forgiveness that's found in Christ, and accept His offer on His terms.

Won't YOU?

David A. Sargent, Minister

 

Get a wide range of easy to use Bible material from the abiblecommentary.com web site and my Christian blog. You may also subscribe to my e-devotional on twitter and use the FREE on line Romans commentary.