Looking For Loopholes

There are some people who always seem to be looking for a way around God's Word. They will diligently search the scriptures, but only to find out how they can circumvent or avoid the clear teachings of the Bible. They are looking for loopholes. Here are just a few perceived loopholes they may try to use.

1. No one is perfect (Romans 3:23). On the other hand, we are told to go on unto perfection (Hebrews 6:1). When Jesus told the woman caught in adultery "Neither do I condemn you," He also said, "...go and sin no more" (John 8:11).

2. Others are in sin... What about them? They are like Peter when he wanted to get off the "hot seat" by asking Jesus "But Lord, what about this man?" (John 21:21). Yet, Paul warned us not to compare ourselves with others (1 Corinthians 10:12). Actually, this is only an attempt to dodge our own responsibility to deal with sin in our lives by diverting attention to the sin of others. It just does not work.

3. I'm never separated from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). That's right. Furthermore, God even "commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). While God loves His children, he also disciplines them. As the Hebrew writer put it, "For whom the Lord loves He chastens" (Hebrews 12:6). Jesus said, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent" (Revelation 3:19). He still expects us to repent. Even though God loves the lost, they are still just that-- lost!

4. The blood of Christ keeps on cleansing (1 John 1:7). Yes, the word "cleanses" does include a continuous action in the Greek. While the blood of Christ does keep on cleansing us, it is based on the condition that we walk in the light!

5. You can't judge me (Matthew 7:1). This seems to be the "granddaddy" of all so-called loopholes. However, this does not refer to all kinds of judging. Jesus told us to "judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). Of course, Psalm 119:172 informs us that "all God's commandments are righteousness." So we can judge based on what the Bible teaches. Paul condemned the Corinthians for not judging when they should have dealt with the sin among them (1 Corinthians 5:1-3). The bottom line is this--we will all be judged by the Word of the Lord (John 12:48).

There is no such thing as a get out of jail free card while we refuse to repent of sin. Looking for loopholes will never benefit us spiritually, nor will it ever help a person go to heaven.