Practice Makes Perfect

Practice Makes Perfect:

It’s one of the most common sayings in sport, athletics, music, and virtually anywhere or anything that requires practice, “Practice makes perfect.”

Coaches, instructors, teachers, trainers, etc., all use that phrase to encourage people to improve or excel at stuff.

In Galatians 5:21 Paul used the Greek verb πράσσω (pras'-so) in a similar way, but to discourage certain attitudes and behaviors (see vv. 19-21) and contrast them with desirable ones (vv. 22-23)...

“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity and debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who πράσσω (practice) such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. In contrast the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” -Galatians 5:19-23

There’s a stark contrast between the person who struggles with ________ and the person who πράσσω (practices) such things.

When you practice something you are intentional about it. One does not find oneself deadlifting 500 pounds (240 kg), spiking volleyballs, bunting, shooting free throws, doing algebra, playing Beethoven, or doing back-handsprings by accident.

In the same way, Paul was telling the church in the Galatia (and the Church universal) that mistakes and blunders regarding self-control do NOT disqualify us from the kingdom of God. What disqualifies us from the kingdom is an attitude (regarding sin) of surrender, which leads to embracing, accepting, defending, and eventually even enjoying sin.

A great example for us today is the virtually global/universal acceptance of homosexuality. The Bible is the external objective authority, yet people everywhere reject that ultimate authority and replace it with subjective morality and popular arguments.

Arguments, such as, “I was born like this” just don’t fly. Being born with a proclivity toward anger does not entitle you to go-off on people. Being born with an inclination toward addiction does not make it okay to get drunk or do drugs. Being born with an attraction toward the same gender does not make it okay to engage in homosexual activity or marriage.

Rather than surrendering to the authority of Scripture as God’s inerrant and inspired word (re: homosexuality see Romans 1:24-27) we come up with our own plans, our own standards, and our own positions on anything and everything we see fit. When Judges 21:25 more closely reflects the condition of our heart, rather than Psalm 128:1, then we are those who willfully disqualify ourselves from the kingdom of God because of what we choose to practice.

When we reject God as the exclusive authority and LORD of every aspect and dimension of our lives, and instead deliberately choose to πράσσω (practice) our desires and embrace our sin because “I was born like that,” then we live out the underlying reality: rejection of Christ’s sovereign lordship.

The clear line of demarcation is not always black and white in practice. It is not a list of do’s and dont’s. The Jewish people tried that and created an endless list of laws and traditions regarding every aspect of daily life - something Jesus rejects completely in saying, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

Scripture’s point (as conveyed through Paul in Galatians) is NOT that “sexual immorality, moral impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like” are PROOF that someone is going to Hell. Instead, Scripture’s point is that those who πράσσω (practice) such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

If God has revealed sin and spoken light and life to us through the Bible (not through self-help books, motivational speakers, or popular philosophy), yet we continue to practice that sin - DESPITE what He has to say - by rationalizing it through circumstance, cultural acceptance, or any other reason - then we willfully choose to become those who will not inherit the kingdom of God.

What has God revealed to you? How have you convinced yourself that it’s okay or perfectly acceptable? Why do you continue to practice sin unto perfection in spite of what Jesus, the Eternal Word, has to say about it? Why the distinction between you and the people of Israel, about whom God said, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit in their own eyes.”

Do you claim Jesus as your King or are you content to surrendered, embrace, enjoy, and practice that sin?

It’s an all-or-nothing affair with Christ. He will have all of you or none.

“Jeremiah replied. ‘Obey the Lord by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well with you, and your life will be spared. But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the Lord has revealed to me…’”

What the LORD has revealed through Scripture is that those who refuse to surrender, but instead choose to πράσσω (practice) such things, they will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com