Comfort and Hope · Spiritual Growth · Biblical Figures · Trials and Formation
Sin or spiritual formation? A question to consider
10 min read, approximately
“As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him: Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered: It was not that this man or his parents sinned, but so that the works of God might be revealed in him. I must do the works of the one who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
After saying this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, spread the mud on the blind man’s eyes, and said to him: Go and wash in the pool of Siloam (which means Sent). So he went, washed, and came back seeing. Then the neighbors and those who had previously seen that he was blind said: Is this not the man who used to sit and beg? Some said: It is he; others said: He looks like him. He said: I am the man. They asked him: How were your eyes opened? He answered: The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me: Go to Siloam and wash. I went and washed, and received my sight.” (John 9:1-11)
Considering: Sin or Spiritual Formation
Sadly, many of us have often stigmatized people when something bad is happening or has happened to them. We have criticized them, claiming that it must have happened because of some sin. However, the Lord’s Word wants to teach us that this is not entirely true. Sin does have consequences, but there is also the Lord’s teaching, formation, and discipline in our lives, so that we may be useful instruments for every good work.
Because of sin…
“The wicked person’s own iniquities will ensnare them, and they will be held by the cords of their sin. They will die for lack of correction and go astray through the immensity of their folly.” (Proverbs 5:22-23)
But through the Lord’s teaching, formation, and discipline…
“No discipline seems joyful at the time, but painful; afterward, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11)
Some people from the Bible?
Of course! Many people appear in God’s Word, but we will focus on just 4. Let us look at these examples that demonstrate the Lord’s formation, teaching, and discipline:
David (Click to view)
“After removing him, he raised up David as their king, of whom he also testified: I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do everything I desire.” (Acts 13:22)
What happened to him?
- He was singled out: Psalms 51:5
- He was rejected: Jesse never called him; it was the prophet who sent for him. (1 Samuel 16:1-11)
- He was betrayed
“For it was not an enemy who insulted me; I could have borne that. Nor was it someone who hated me who rose against me; I would have hidden from him. But it was you, a man who seemed close to me, my guide and my companion. Together we shared sweet confidences and walked in friendship in the house of God.” (Psalms 55:12-14)
- He was persecuted: 1 Samuel 18:6-30, 1 Samuel 19
All of this happened before he became king…
Could we say that all this happened to him because of sin or spiritual formation?
Job (Click to view)
“There was a man in the land of Uz named Job. He was blameless and upright, feared God, and turned away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and very many servants; he was greater than all the people of the East. His sons would hold feasts in their houses, each on his appointed day, and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
When the days of feasting had run their course, Job would send for them and sanctify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said: Perhaps my children have sinned and blasphemed against God in their hearts. Job did this continually.” (Job 1:1-5)
What happened to him?
- Satan relentlessly sought to destroy him: Job 1:9-10, Job 2:4-7
- He lost everything he had
_“_Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground, and worshiped, saying: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord took away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:20-21)
- His suitable helper despised him
“Job took a piece of pottery to scrape himself and sat among the ashes. Then his wife said to him: Do you still hold on to your integrity? Curse God and die.” (Job 2:8-9)
All of this happened before he was made far more prosperous than before…
Could we say that all this happened to him because of sin or spiritual formation?
Joseph (Click to view)
“Then he said to Joseph: Since God has revealed all this to you, no one is more capable and wise than you. You will be in charge of my palace, and all my people will obey your orders. Only I will have more authority than you, because I am the king. So Pharaoh told Joseph: Look, I am putting you in charge of all the land of Egypt. Immediately Pharaoh removed his official ring and put it on Joseph. He had him dressed in fine linen and had a gold necklace placed around his neck.
“Pharaoh said to Joseph: Since God has made all this known to you, no one is as discerning and wise as you. You will be over my house, and all my people will be governed by your word; only in the throne will I be greater than you. Pharaoh also said to Joseph: See, I have placed you over all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh took his ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, clothed him in the finest linen, and placed a gold necklace around his neck. He had him ride in his second chariot, and they proclaimed before him: Bow the knee! Thus he placed him over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh said to Joseph: I am Pharaoh; without you, no one will lift a hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-paneah and gave him Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife. Joseph went throughout all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:39-45)
What happened to him?
- His brothers hated and mistreated him
“His brothers answered him: Will you reign over us or rule over us? And they hated him even more because of his dreams and his words.” (Genesis 37:8), “His brothers envied him, but his father reflected on these things.” (Genesis 37:11)
- He was envied for his dreams
“Israel loved Joseph more than all his children because he had been born to him in his old age, and he made him a robe of many colors. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.” (Genesis 37:3-4)
- He was threatened, despised, and sold as a slave
“They said to one another: Here comes the dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into a cistern, and we will say: Some wild beast devoured him. Then we will see what becomes of his dreams.” (Genesis 37:19-20),
“They took him and threw him into the cistern, but the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.” (Genesis 37:24),
“Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites rather than lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh. His brothers agreed. As Midianite merchants passed by, they pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.” (Genesis 37:27-28)
- He was accused without just cause
“When Joseph’s master heard the words his wife spoke to him, saying: This is how your servant treated me, his anger burned. His master took Joseph and put him in prison, where the king’s prisoners were held, and he remained there in prison.” (Genesis 39:19-20)
All of this happened before he became an important person in Egypt…
Could we say that all this happened to him because of sin or spiritual formation?
Jesus (Click to view)
“Therefore God also exalted him to the highest place and gave him a name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
What happened to him?
We could go through all the Gospels, writing in detail about everything Jesus went through. However, Isaiah 53:2-12 gives an overall account.
And could we attribute all that happened to him to sin or spiritual formation?
The apostle Paul said:
“I thank my God whenever I remember you, always praying with joy for all of you in all my prayers because of your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being convinced of this: the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:3-6)
The psalmist said:
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose in me; your mercy, O Lord, is forever. Do not abandon the work of your hands.” (Psalms 138:8)
And the Lord said:
“So will my word be that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will do what I desire and succeed in the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
Therefore, let us not forget that
“Each person’s work will become evident, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test what kind of work each has done. If the work someone has built remains, they will receive a reward. If someone’s work burns up, they will suffer loss, though they themselves will be saved, but as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)
We are all in the Lord’s hands, so we must understand that we will be molded, formed, and transformed until the day of Jesus Christ!
Not everything happens because of sin; as we have seen, there is also spiritual formation.
May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!
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