Many Christians struggle with sin. When they stray into sinful behavior, they feel guilty and know it grieves the Lord.
They wonder whether God will keep blessing them even when they continue sinning, so this article provides answers. Additionally, we will look into why forgiveness and repentance should be sought out as important steps toward being forgiven and forgiving by Him.
Table of Contents
1. God is not a tyrant
Religions across the board share the concept of an all-powerful, all-knowing deity who stands above all influences – both male and female or genderless (an impersonal abstract power). Monotheistic theologies generally view Him as both powerful and wise – free to do whatever He pleases with creation without external interference affecting Him in any way.
But these doctrines can also paint an inaccurate depiction of God: as an oppressive ruler who punishes even minor transgressions with extreme severity and uses His power to oppress those who don’t agree with his beliefs. Atheists use this image of Him to discredit Christianity but it doesn’t represent what really goes on within Christian belief systems.
God was left in an awkward predicament by this dilemma. If there were no consequences for sin, its effects would quickly spread across creation like a virus – leading to a Mad Max world where powerful predators preyed upon weak ones, while evil flourished unchecked.
So He devised a plan that would show His creation He wasn’t just another dictator but an unconditional lover who was ready and willing to die for them – through Jesus, His incarnation into human form, which paid the price for their rebellion and brought them back into communion with Him. Through this strategy, Luther, Huss, Wilberforce, Bonhoeffer and many others found hope and power through Him; their passion and love of Jesus is evidence of His great grace bestowed on humanity – an act which could only come from such an unconditional savior!
2. God is a loving father
As we read the Bible, we gain an understanding of God’s heart for people. He is a loving Father who seeks to bless those who come seeking Him; those who keep His commandments receive his blessings as do those who repent of their sins and return home to him for forgiveness.
At one point in their lives, Sarah and Elizabeth in the Bible both lost faith, laughing at God when He told them they would bear children. Yet He blessed them with Isaac instead.
Experience of God’s love is a profound testament of Who He Really Is, it contradicts materialism and humanism while at the same time showing His greatness as Creator of all that exists and active participant in keeping it going (Revelation 21:3-4).
But God is also a gracious Father, offering blessings to those who seek Him. If necessary, He punishes those who sin so they don’t go directly to hell – better for them to experience suffering here on Earth than eternal damnation in Hell!
To fully experience God’s blessings in your life, it’s necessary to seek His will – this means seeking peace, truth and love through following his commands in his Word and seeking reconciliation when needed. Furthermore, forgiveness should be extended freely as unforgiveness will prevent access to his grace and keep blessings at bay.
3. God is a giver
Paul wrote to the Corinthians to talk about God’s judgment against sinners. In this context, it is important to remember that his character as a giver plays an integral role in his message – so much so that many think of God solely in terms of benevolence; yet his giving character should also be part of our understanding of him.
God freely gave his Son and the Holy Spirit without condition or measure. A traditional view of the Trinity shows Father giving, Son receiving and Spirit giving back again; this illustration helps us grasp His generosity.
God’s presence keeps believers going during trials and hardships. When they sense His grace in their suffering, they know they’re not alone and He will keep them going even as they endure trials and sufferings. God is not a cruel master who dictates his commands but instead an infinitely merciful giver who cares deeply about those who follow his will and follow his commands obediently.
God rewards those who seek him with his presence and gifts – including forgiveness of sins and salvation from hell. He invites you to approach him even in times of deepest grief, because giving makes God happy! When you share, you make him happy too!
When you feel trapped by sin, remember that God is an all-powerful giver who wants only the best for you. Trusting in him and placing your life under his care will bring many gifts. Rather than succumb to temptation to sinful behavior, remember that all your needs have already been taken care of by him; surrender yourself entirely and he’ll shower more blessings upon you!
4. God does not withhold blessings from those who ask
The Bible asserts that God blesses all men spiritually and materially through His common grace in this life, yet only those who are holy and righteous through Jesus will receive blessings from God; those who do not reflect these qualities will instead receive curses instead. Thus a Christian cannot expect to experience God’s favor if they live their life in open rebellion against Him.
The Israelites, as depicted in the Old Testament, were a nation which reverenced God and followed His Law through faith. So long as they walked in obedience with the Lord they enjoyed all his blessings (Leviticus 26 & Deuteronomy 28), but once they turned from Him they experienced his curses (Numbers 26 v3; Psalm 44 V22).
Christianity teaches its followers to understand that divine blessing and cursing depend on individual choices and actions; God only blesses those who follow His path while punishing those who don’t.
Additionally, it’s crucial to recognize that divine blessing is an emotional state and should never be measured by wealth or success alone. Even though a professing Christian may appear successful and have everything they appear to need in life, living a life filled with open sin will damage their relationship with the Lord and lead them away from receiving His gifts.
So it is paramount for Christians to focus on first seeking God’s Kingdom and righteousness (holiness), while everything else will follow naturally from there. God has already laid this spiritual principle out in his Word as the basis of prayers and actions taken today.
5. God does not withhold blessings from those who sin
Apart from using physical blessings as an indicator of God’s blessing in our lives (because this can easily mislead), it’s essential that we remember not all sin is hurtful to Him. Some sins, like adultery or theft, don’t even cross His mind, while other acts may cause far greater hurt to His heart than we imagine.
Sarah became disbelief, even laughing off a prophecy concerning Isaac’s birth, yet God still fulfilled His promise and blessed her with Isaac.
Blessing is God’s intentional statement or process by which He brings good fortune for all mankind, as opposed to cursing which can be defined as divine justice retaliating against man’s choices and deeds.
Divine blessing comes to sinful men through God’s grace in this life as an imperfect blessing that often involves pain and difficulties. Only with Jesus comes an everlasting and sure hope of eternally better times ahead.
Many people struggle to grasp this truth and begin blaming God for their struggles, believing He withholds blessings from them because they are sinners. Yet these assumptions are untrue because God is love – He wants only what’s best for us, yet our behavior must reflect that in order to receive these gifts from Him. Therefore if you’re feeling trapped by sinful behavior it may only mean it is time for repentance and trusting in Jesus to overcome any issues you might be having with your relationship with God!
