5 Things We Can Learn About the Gospel from the Diddy Situation
If You Do Not Humble Yourself & Work on Your Sin; You’ll Be Forced to Do So
My understanding is that Diddy had been under investigation for some time. This may have led to a belief that he was getting away with his breaking the law. Sometimes, having money and wealth can make people feel they are above the law. However, we now see that isn’t the case.
Likewise, God judges sin. His goodness toward us is not so we can continue in sin. It’s so we can repent from sin. To repent means to turn away or to have a change of direction. Meaning, we should not continue in sin. God’s grace toward us is not a license for sin. It’s space to get things right.
As believers, we have to go through a process of sanctification which leads to holiness. Holiness means to be set apart to the Lord. Within the space of being set apart to the Lord, our perception of God in our lives and in the lives of others is more pronounced.
Sin Separates Us From God
Whereas, the opposite is that sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2.) Sin also keeps us outside of the kingdom of God.
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were [sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
To inherit means something provided to us by birthright. The things provided to us by birthright will not be inherited here on earth if we choose to continue outside of the way of the Lord. Instead, we become prone to the deception that since we aren’t destroyed yet from our sins, as the wages of sin is death—God must be okay with it. He is not.
Therefore, we will be operating at a lower level in life outside of the authority God has given us. This opens us up to all types of dangerous things. Finally, heaven can be missed by those who continue in sin intentionally choosing not to submit to the Lord.
The Harder Way is to Transgress the Things We Know About God’s Way.
A transgressor’s way will eventually become harder. This is what we see currently going on with Diddy. He got away from the Christian influences within his upbringing. There have been little bits and pieces of Sean P Diddy Combs’ affiliation with faith over the years. For example, he mentioned a gospel album, a Catholic school attendance as a child, and saying God is his best friend in an interview. However, these religious affiliations did not lead to obedience and dying to his flesh.
Let’s not forget a very important part of being considered a believer or follower of Christ requires us to go through a process of dying to our flesh. We should be becoming new creations in Christ as the old ungodly ways we’d walked in are passing away. When we refuse to walk out this process—we only practice religion and not a real genuine relationship with God. This is also a form of deception.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. – Matthew 16:24
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. – James 1:23-24
A Form of Godliness is not Walking Out the Gospel.
It appears that Diddy only had a form of godliness but denied the power of God unto salvation. You see the power of God to save us is not just to forgive us for our sins. Although, this is part of it. It’s to empower us to overcome our sins through the processes that I mentioned above. Anyone who decides to go another way is considered to have a semblance of godliness but not true godliness. Instead, they deny God’s power to sanctify them into a lifestyle of righteousness. This doesn’t necessarily happen overnight for everyone, but there should be some evidence that the process is at work within our lives.
Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. – 2 Timothy 3:5
Diddy could have decided to work on himself at any given moment, but he chose to continue what he was doing. Little did he know, his behavior was being observed by law enforcement and now he is forced to give an account to the law. This is the very same thing that will happen to those who choose to ignore the voice of the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin.
I believe this is what it means to grieve the Holy Spirit and to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. It’s to ignore the leading of the Holy Spirit and his conviction. This will only lead to more darkness and destruction. It’s better to choose the fear of the Lord and to submit to him. God has given us everything we need to live a holy life but we have to be willing to yield to him and his process of sanctification. The Lord will help us to overcome sin.
When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. – John 16:8-11
Quick Summary of the Gospel
Jesus, God’s son, was set aside to pay the penalty for man’s sin before the world was formed. He is referred to as the lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world. It has always been God’s plan to save mankind. He knew we would sin.
With Jesus being God in the flesh, he is the lamb without spot or blemish that provides an acceptable sacrifice for man’s sin. This is why, in the Old Testament, the Israelites had to offer a lamb for their sins. Read up on the Passover lamb in Exodus 12.
This was a symbol of Jesus Christ who was to be revealed as the Passover lamb for mankind many years later. Thus, causing us to avoid the result of sin which is the 2nd death. The second death is separation from God for an eternity in hell.
Those who are saved are those who believe Jesus is the son of God who died for their sins and rose again. We confess this with our mouths and believe in our hearts per Romans Chapter 10. At which point, we begin to learn to walk with the Lord through reading his Word—the Bible and praying daily. Finally, we get into a healthy church community where we can continue to learn and grow in Christ.
