“Toe stompers”….

 “Toe stompers”

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us…

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1John 1:7-10

Our women’s Bible Study is reading through a book by the late Jerry Bridges, “Respectable Sins”, written in 2007.  

The table of contents lists the chapters, subjects he covered …

1. Ungodliness 

2. Anxiety and frustration 

3. Discontentment 

4. Unthankfulness 

5. Pride

6. Lack of self-control

7. Impatience and irritability 

8. Anger

9. Judgmentalism

10. Envy, jealousy, and related sins

11. Sins of the tongue 

12. Worldliness 

Not only these headings, some chapters are further broken down into subtopics….

Like Pride- 

1. Moral self-righteousness 

2. Pride of correct doctrine 

3. Pride of achievement 

4. An independent spirit

We tend to think of the Galatians list…

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and  envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal.5.19-21

Or the Ten Commandments, or the “biggies”- murder, etc…

Forgetting that the fruit of the Spirit…each fruit has an opposite…no love, joylessness, unkind, no self-control, etc..

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Gal.5.22-26

I don’t know about anyone else, but the topics have stomped on my toes numerous times…am almost to the point of wearing thicker boots and the use of crutches…my “toes” are so bruised and broken…having resorted to the use of 1John 1:9 unceasingly…asking forgiveness…….wanting only to exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit,  walking in righteousness and the light, not the opposite…

Thank YOU…