July 16, 2011 by Allen Coleman 0 comments

Posted in: Sanctification

"For the LORD will rise up as on Mount Perazim; as in the Valley of Gibeon he will be roused; to do his deed—strange is his deed! and to work his work—alien is his work!" (Isaiah 28:21) 

I fail . . . a lot. This bodes poorly for someone so performance minded as myself. I am so often frustrated with myself, and if honest, with God for the pace at which He sanctifies me. That is, after more than a decade, shouldn't I be able to stop doing the things I hate! Why do I keep returning to the same patterns, to the same postures, to the same responses? Why do I keep returning to the same sins? Martin Luther commented on verse 21 of Isaiah 28 and flagged an important difference between God's "proper" work and God's "alien" work:

". . . when our flesh is so evil that it cannot be saved by God's proper work, it is necessary for it to be saved by His alien work"—that is, God must destroy our ungodliness in order that we might be saved" (Luther's Works, vol. 16, pp. 233-234).

Carl Trueman defines alien work as: ". . . God's dealing with us in a way we do not expect and which apparently leads to the result we do not desire." At first glance, what happens at Calvary is defeat: tortured, mocked, crucified . . . dead. This is why the disciples were despondant, grieving and hiding following Jesus' burial. They had assumed defeat. Exactly what I assume when sin continues to rear its ugly head in my own life: defeat. The result, for many of us, is an onslaught of questions that add to our doubt and disbelief:

● Did I not accept Christ as my hope and salvation?

● Did he not promise victory over sin and death?

● Why is the Holy Spirit not empowering me to do his will?

● Why then, do I continue to fail and sin?

● Am I not believing enough?

● Maybe I wasn't really saved?

I think we can all agree this is of no benefit. Luther was adamant that the proper work of God is that He turns sinners into saints. That He creates righteous, peaceful, patient, merciful, truthful, kind, joyful, wise, healthy people; we are His new creation. Therefore, what He really intends (proper work) is achieved through His alien work.

So when sin is revealed, we are to return to the Gospel that strengthens us (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). We are to return to the proper work of God. Calvary, we know, was not defeat. Instead, Trueman describes: ". . . the cross is actually a vehicle for achieving life, blessedness, mercy and salvation." This pattern is crucial in reminding us that what God wants to achieve in our lives (proper work) is often done through weakness, suffering, and yes, sin (alien work). That is, not to say, that God grants us a pass for sin, but rather perfects us through our repenting of it (Romans 6:1-14).

In fact, I should be glad that God continues to reveal my sin and weakness (alien work). In doing so, empowered by His Spirit, I am being continually conformed to the new-self in the image of Christ (proper work). Real reason for concern comes when sin is not revealed and regular repentance ceases in the life of believer (Luke 15:7). Only then should we continually grieve. Yes, sin should grieve us, do not mistake me. However, His revealing of our sin is an opportunity for repentance and this is a reason for joy (Luke 15:10). 

● This shift in thinking is alien to a moralistic approach, which simply says try harder and do better.

● This shift in thinking is alien to a therepeutic approach, which simply says ignore it, medicate it, fake it or mask it.

● This shift in thinking is alien to a deist approach, which simply says I'm in control, not God, as He is uninvolved.

This right-mindedness is alien, indeed. But as Luther reminds us: ". . . his work is called a sweet, friendly gospel, and the one who hears it finds it impossible not to rejoice. This happens whenever the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to our grieving consciences."

As I tucked my kids in the other night, I read to them the story of Jonah. A story of a stubborn prophet who wouldn't repent. My youngest daughter asked: "Why? Is repenting bad?" So often, we echo this sentiment and think of repentance as cause for shame or discouragement. I told my daughter: "No, lovey. Repentance is a reason for joy. Jonah just didn't understand that." And, usually, neither do we.

So I will conclude the way I concluded with my kids that night. I explained to them that the Bible tells us when we repent, there is so much joy in Heaven, that the angels are rendered speechless. My daughter responded, "Like a joy explosion!?" Yes, just like a joy explosion. Instead of defeat, let us claim victory and give thanks. In fact, let us pray as aliens (Psalm 69:8) thankful for the sin He has revealed in us. Let us be igniters of countless joy explosions through our turning back to Him.

". . . there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." —Jesus