We Can Rise Again
Through Christ, we can rise again from our sins and become a new person, using our past experiences as stepping stones to grow in humility and trust in Him.
James Stalker preaches about the possibility of rising after falling into sin, emphasizing that through Christ, one can overcome besetting sins and be washed, justified, and sanctified by the Spirit of God. He encourages those who feel fallen to believe that they can rise, citing examples of individuals who were once deeply fallen but found redemption. Stalker acknowledges the doctrine's potential for abuse but stresses its relevance for those seeking deliverance, drawing inspiration from St. Augustine's concept of using past sins as stepping stones towards perfection. He highlights David's repentance in Psalm 51 as a model for turning transgressors back to God.
Text
"My sin is ever before me"
(Ps. 51:3).
But then, if we have fallen, our enemy plies us with the other argument: It is of no use to attempt to rise; you cannot overcome your besetting sin. But this is falser still. To those who feel themselves fallen I come, in Christ's name, to say, Yes, you may rise. If we could ascend to heaven today and scan the ranks of the blessed, should we not find multitudes among them who were once sunk low as man can fall? But they are washed, they are justified, they are sanctified, in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. And so may you be.
It is, I know, a doctrine which may be abused; but I will not scruple to preach it to those who are fallen and sighing for deliverance. St. Augustine says that we may, out of our dead sins, make stepping stones to rise to the heights of perfection. What did he mean by that? He meant that the memory of our falls may breed in us such a humility, such a distrust of self, such a constant clinging to Christ as we could never have had without the experience of our own weakness.
Does not the Scripture itself go even further? David fell deep as man can fall; but what does he say in that great fifty-first Psalm, in which he confesses his sin? Anticipating forgiveness, he sings,
Then will I teach Thy ways unto
Those that transgressors be,
And those that sinners are shall then
Be turned unto Thee.
Sermon Outline
- The Possibility of Rising Again
- Examples of those who have risen again
- The power of humility and clinging to Christ
- The memory of our falls can breed humility and trust in Christ
- The Scripture itself teaches us to rise again
Key Quotes
“My sin is ever before me” — James Stalker
“To those who feel themselves fallen I come, in Christ's name, to say, Yes, you may rise” — James Stalker
“Then will I teach Thy ways unto Those that transgressors be, And those that sinners are shall then Be turned unto Thee” — James Stalker
Application Points
- You can rise again from your sins through Christ and become a new person.
- Use your past sins as stepping stones to grow in humility and trust in Christ.
- Apply the Scripture to your life by reading it, meditating on it, and letting it guide your actions and decisions.