Faults

Human weaknesses and failings which are sinful in themselves, and may lead to further sin. It is common, often as a means of averting blame, to put undue focus on the faults of others. However, where necessary, faults should be exposed and responsibility properly attributed. Jesus Christ lived a faultless life and God's people are challenged to live lives that are above reproach. The church will one day be presented without fault before God.

The variety of human faults

A flawed human nature

Romans 7:14–23 See also Galatians 5:17; Ephesians 2:3; 2 Peter 2:18

Human weaknesses and failings

Romans 15:1 See also Romans 8:28, Romans 14:1–2

We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

Faults in thought, word and deed

Psalm 78:57 disloyalty and unfaithfulness to God; Proverbs 14:21 not showing concern for others; Isaiah 53:6 selfishness in going one's own way; Hosea 7:16 unwillingness to turn to God; James 3:2 failure to control the tongue; James 4:17 failure to do what is right

Finding fault with others

Passing blame to others

Genesis 3:12 Adam blames Eve for his disobedience. See also Exodus 32:22–24 Aaron blames the Israelites for the golden calf; 1 Samuel 13:11–12 Saul blames his troops' impatience and Samuel's late arrival for his disobedience; 1 Samuel 15:20–21 Saul blames his soldiers for the failure to carry out God's instructions; Matthew 25:24–25 The man who buried his talent blames his action on his master's hardness.

And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

Criticising and judging others

Matthew 7:1–5 See also James 4:11–12, James 5:9; Jude 1:16

“Do not judge, or you will be judged. For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Finding fault with God's appointed leaders

Exodus 17:3 See also Exodus 15:24; Numbers 14:2; Joshua 9:18; Acts 11:2–3; 2 Corinthians 10:1

But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: “Why have you brought us out of Egypt — to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

Finding fault with God's people

Matthew 5:11 parallel Luke 6:22 See also Exodus 5:16–17; Psalm 41:6, Psalm 71:10; Daniel 6:24

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Finding fault with God

Psalm 78:19 See also Exodus 16:7; Numbers 14:27, Numbers 21:5; Ezekiel 35:13

They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?

Finding fault with Jesus Christ

Luke 6:7 parallels Matthew 12:10, Mark 3:4 See also Matthew 9:3 parallels Mark 2:7, Luke 5:21 Jesus Christ is accused of blasphemy because he claims to forgive sin; Matthew 9:11 parallels Mark 2:16, Luke 5:30 Jesus Christ is criticised for his association with “sinners”; Matthew 15:2 parallel Mark 7:5 Jesus Christ is criticised for failure to conform to ceremonial cleansing traditions; Matthew 26:59–61 parallel Mark 14:55–59 false charges brought against Jesus Christ at his trial; John 9:16 Jesus Christ is accused of breaking the Sabbath.

Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.

Confronting human faults

Accepting blame for one's own faults

Psalm 51:3–4 See also Jonah 1:12; Luke 15:18

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.

God holds his people at fault

Jeremiah 17:4 See also Hebrews 8:8–9; Jeremiah 31:31–32

And you yourself will relinquish the inheritance that I gave you. I will enslave you to your enemies in a land that you do not know, for you have kindled My anger; it will burn forever.”

Faults cannot be hidden from God

Psalm 19:12, Psalm 44:21, Psalm 90:8; Ecclesiastes 12:14; 1 Corinthians 14:25

Confronting others with their faults

Matthew 18:15–17; Galatians 6:1 See also Luke 17:3; James 5:19–20

If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

Examples of those confronted with their faults

2 Samuel 12:7 David; 1 Kings 14:7–9 Jeroboam; 2 Chronicles 16:9 Asa; Daniel 5:23 Belshazzar; Matthew 14:3 parallel Mark 6:18 Herod; Acts 5:3 Ananias and Sapphira; Galatians 2:11–12 Peter

God can deal with human faults

Faultlessness

Faultlessness shown by Jesus Christ

1 Peter 2:22 See also Isaiah 53:9; John 8:46; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 3:5

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”

God's people are to be above reproach

1 Peter 2:12 See also Romans 12:17–18; 2 Corinthians 8:20–21 Paul ensures that his handling of money is above criticism; Philippians 2:14–151TI Philippians 3:2; Titus 1:6 2 Peter 3:14

Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

The church will be presented faultless before God

Jude 1:24–25 See also Ephesians 5:27; Colossians 1:22; 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy — to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.