Question 1

How should we confront our own faults?

Accepted Answer

Romans 7:18-23I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.Galatians 5:17The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.We should confront our sinful faults by recognizing that sin is at the root of those faults and the consequent problems that flow out from them.Psalm 19:12How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.Psalm 44:21God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.Psalm 90:8You spread out our sins before you—our secret sins—and you see them all.Ecclesiastes 12:14God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.1 Corinthians 14:25As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”We should be quick to recognize and admit our sinful faults to God. After all, God already knows our every fault. Trying to hide them from him is pointless and only causes us to distance ourselves from him.Mark 6:18John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.”Acts 5:3Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.”Galatians 2:11-12When Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision.We must be open to accept godly criticism from others. Even the apostle Peter committed a public error that harmed the community of believers. Fortunately, Peter learned from Paul’s critique, and the church benefitted as a result.Psalm 51:3-4I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.Jonah 1:12“Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.”Luke 15:18“I will go home to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you.’”We should accept responsibility and the consequences for our faults; that is the only way to grow beyond them.

Question 2

How does God deal with our human faults?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 65:3Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all.Ephesians 4:32Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.Colossians 2:13You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.1 John 1:9If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.God offers us forgiveness for our sinful faults, and we also are called to forgive others. In this way, we reflect God’s character and build up the community of faith.Romans 6:11-12So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.Romans 8:3-4The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.2 Corinthians 5:17This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!Galatians 5:16So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.Through Christ, God offers us freedom from the slavery of sin. Through his Holy Spirit’s guidance, he empowers us to live out that freedom.2 Corinthians 12:9-10Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.Philippians 4:13I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.In our weaknesses and imperfections, God’s strength enables us to serve him more effectively. God uses our weaknesses to remind us that he is the source of our strength.

Question 3

With all our faults, how can God see us as blameless?

Accepted Answer

Acts 13:39“Everyone who believes in him is made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do.”Romans 3:28So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.Romans 5:1Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.1 Corinthians 6:11Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.Galatians 3:6In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”Ephesians 1:4Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.Philippians 3:9I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.God sees us as blameless of our sinful faults because of our belief and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus takes our sins away; so God sees us as though we had never sinned.

Question 4

Considering our many faults, how are we to live blameless Christian lives?

Accepted Answer

1 Corinthians 1:8He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.2 Corinthians 6:3We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.Philippians 1:9-10I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.Philippians 2:14-15Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.Colossians 1:22Now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy.1 Thessalonians 3:13May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people.1 Thessalonians 5:23Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.1 Peter 1:15Now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.1 Peter 2:12Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.2 Peter 3:14So, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.Jude 1:24-25Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time!Because of Christ’s sacrifice and God’s strength, we are to live our lives controlled by his Spirit. This means submitting to Christ’s control in every area of our lives. In our own strength, we cannot live pure or holy lives, but with the Spirit of God within us, we can make steady progress toward purity and holiness until we meet God face to face in eternity and he completes that process.

Question 5

How should I keep from focusing on others’ faults?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 20:9Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”?Proverbs 27:6Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.Matthew 7:1-5“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”Matthew 18:15“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.”Galatians 6:5We are each responsible for our own conduct.James 4:11-12Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?James 5:9Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!James 5:19-20My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.We must deal with our own faults and let God be the judge of others. We should see ourselves as God sees us and be humbled. At times, of course, we must point out the faults of others but our focus should not be judgmental. Instead, it should be done with love and for a corrective purpose.1 Corinthians 13:4-5Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.Galatians 6:1If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.Ephesians 4:2-4Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.1 Peter 4:8Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.When dealing with the faults of others, our focus must be to help and encourage them, not hurt them. We must always be humble, gentle, patient, and forgiving with others.

Faults