Inventories, Fear, and the Truth

On our grudge list we set opposite each name our injuries. Was it our self-esteem, our security, our ambitions, our personal, or sex relations, which had been interfered with?

We were usually as definite as this example:

I'm resentful at:     The Cause            Affects my:Mr. Brown         His attention to my      Sex relations
                     wife.                 Self-esteem (fear)
                  Told my wife of my       Sex relations
                     mistress.             Self-esteem (fear)
                  Brown may get my job     Security
                    at the office.         Self-esteem (fear)Mrs. Jones        She's a nut -- she       Personal relation-
                     snubbed me.  She         ship. Self-esteem
                     committed her hus-       (fear)
                     band for drinking.
                     He's my friend
                     She's a gossip.My employer       Unreasonable -- Unjust   Self-esteem (fear)
                      -- Overbearing --       Security.
                     Threatens to fire
                     me for my drinking
                     and padding my
                     expense account.My wife           Misunderstands and       Pride -- Personal
                     nags.  Likes Brown.      sex relations --
                     Wants house put in       Security (fear)
                     her name. 

We went back through our lives. Nothing counted but thoroughness and honesty. When we were finished we considered it carefully.  (AA, pg 65)

 

This list is the classic reference in the AA Book.

 

The major theme, the major problem, for people who drink too much is "FEAR".

 

Yet the Word of God goes further, to the deeper cause:

 

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4: 18)

 

"Fear has torment" -- or "punishment" -- the sense within us of a "comeuppance" or a consequence for wrongdoing.

 

Yet Jesus Christ is the propitiation of our sins:

 

"And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. " (1 John 2: 2)

 

Your sins and my sins were all in the future when Jesus died on the Cross, so we can safely say, just based on common sense, that all of our sins are forgiven, punished, paid for.

 

Yet since common sense is not so common, let us refer once again to the Word of God (from which even the AA Book insists on quoting, even if not in proper context of the One who is the Word!):

 

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1: 7-10)

 

Verse seven states that if we walk  in the Light - and that Light is God, not a mode of behavior or a line of thinking -- then Jesus' blood cleanses us, even now! Cleanses us from all sin, meaning that even if we wanted to take an inventory, as far as God is concerned, there is no sin, because we are in Christ, who is our righteousness and redemption (1 Corinthians 1: 30)

 

Now, John does not discount the truth that we have sin. If we say that we have sin, then and only then are we deceiving ourselves. Yet instead of trying to take account of our sins, we merely confess our sins, and God is both faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us (and this is an ongoing cleansing!) from all unrighteousness. This verse, coupled with all sin in 1 John 1: 7 makes it very clear -- we do not keep confessing our sin in order to maintain fellowship with God and our brethren in the Body of Christ!

 

Bill W. tell you to take your inventory and keep taking it. Jesus Christ, through His blood shed for your and the sins of the world, tells you that you are righteous, righteous, righteous in Him.

 

And if you are righteous in him, then there is no need fear punishment, since Jesus has fulfilled the law and all of its requirements against us! (Matthew 7: 14)

 

Indeed, we will know the Truth, and the Truth - that's Jesus! - will set us free!