When most people who call themselves Christians hear this phrase, our minds almost automatically jump to Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” This is a great verse that has been put on a lot of coffee mugs, t-shirts, calendars, and bumper stickers. While the is a great verse, that is not the one that I thought of when I read that statement.
Consider these two verses:
“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12, NASB95)
“All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.” (1 Corinthians 10:23, NASB95)
What do these verses have to do with, “I Can Do All Things?” Good question. What both these verses have in common is that they reinforce that you and I, because of our relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, have been forgiven of all sin. When we confess our sin to God and turn away from that sin to a life lived in surrender to His sovereignty over us and our universe, all our sin is forgiven. I like to ask our congregation the following questions, “How much does God know?” The answer is everything. “When does God know it?” The answer is always. If knows everything from all of time and we confess our sins and repent of them changing our mind, will, and actions to prove that repentance, we are forgiven of all sin. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NASB95)
Because we are forgiven of all sin, and because Jesus Christ lives in us and is changing our lives to match His wants and desires, we know we can do all things. In other words, we can do anything we want because we will want what He wants. “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12–13, NASB95)
While Paul affirmed that we can do anything we want, not everything we can do, we should do. Paul told us three limitations that should bookend our decisions about living for Jesus with our surrendered and reborn lives. First, is the decision going to lead us to becoming more like Christ and growing us into maturity in Him? Paul used the word, “profitable.” What did he mean by that? If you have a business, your goal is to make money. This is noble and important. Something is profitable if it helps your goal of making a profit. For us as followers of Christ, the profit is becoming more like Him, growing in our faith, and striving after holiness. One limitation is whether this action will help in that endeavor.
Another limitation Paul gave was not being mastered by something other Jesus as Lord. Contrary to what I have heard taught, there is no bible verse that says, “Thou Shalt Not Drink Alcohol as A Beverage!” Many churches have a church covenant that mention this prohibition, but it is a stand that the church has taken beyond the limitations of scripture. They have done so to protect their testimony and to help maintain holiness. Applying this verse, they have taken the stand that a person who has never tasted alcohol can never be mastered by it. Fill in the blank for any other potentially abused material or possession. One limitation that should help guide our decisions is could this master me?
One final limitation Paul gives is, “Will this help others or hurt them?” In America, this question does not automatically come to our minds, but it is especially important. Paul would go so far as to even say that he would rather not eat meat the rest of his life than to cause a brother to stumble or be offended in their spirit. We need to consider our actions and the potential impact they have on our testimony with others and whether we are putting a temptation in front of others. This may apply to many things from what we wear to what we listen to.
I can do all things, but should I?