Forgetting Jesus: The Spiritually Blind Christian

2 Peter 1:9

 ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 

This is the Christian who you could call carnal or immature, he is a Christian but he hides it really well. Every opportunity for growth toward God he seems to pull the emergency brake and slow down. He has forgotten that his sins were paid for and he is nearsighted or blind to what that cost.

The flip side of the coin is the Spirtually blind Christian who has forgotten what Jesus has done and this leads to legalism. When Christians forget Jesus' work on the cross then can slip into moralism and legalism.

This type of forgetfulness can play itself out in one of two ways: one the Christian will be walking on spiritual egg shells around God because he still feels that he has to help God pay for his sins. The second way, the immature way, it plays out is the Christian who never really grows up and just keeps taking from the church, he lolly gags in his sins and shows no real concern for growth.

Characterized by:

• Subjective roller coast relationship with Jesus
• Constant fear of dying, unsure that he has done enough to make God happy
 

or

• Very immature, still playing around in his sins and he is hesitant to leave
• Not looking to give only to take from the local church

Futility of the Christian:

For the first Christian he has forgotten that Jesus died for all his sins and that he  needs to rest in that.

For the second Christian he has forgotten that Jesus is Holy and Lord. He has not allowed the gospel to penetrate his heart and produce motivation to repent, grow and serve

Bottom Line:

Look to the gospel for both cases. To forget that Jesus has forgiven your sins will lead to either despair and trying hard or it will lead to lazy living and sin. They both are bad and come from walking along and forgetting Jesus.

When Jesus said on the cross "it is finished" he meant it and all sins - past, present and future were dealt with. The immature Christian simply needs to grow up and contribute to the local church and stop taking and complaining. He will complain about the church but never lift a finger to help, he will take the free stuff but never give. He will be playing around in his sin and resisting God's push toward growth.