# “I need you” by Paul David Tripp

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2011/07/15/i-need-you-by-paul-david-tripp/
- Published: 2011-07-15T11:27:50-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“On the cross and in the resurrection, Christ broke the _power_ of sin over us (
Rom. 6:1-14), but the _presence_ of sin remains. Sin is being eradicated within 
us, and this process will continue until we are sin-free. But while sin remains,
we must remember that sin is deceitful.

Sin blinds– and guess who gets blinded first? Me! I have no trouble seeing the sins
of my family, but I can be astonished when mine are pointed out! Since each of us
still has sin remaining in us, we will have pockets of spiritual blindness. Our 
most important vision system is not our physical eyes.

We can be physically blind and live quite well. But when we are spiritually blind,
we cannot live as God intended… Physically blind people are always aware of their
deficit and spend much of their lives learning to live with its limitations.

But the Bible says that we can be spiritually blind and yet think that we see quite
well. We even get offended when people act as if they see us better than we see 
ourselves! The reality of spiritual blindness has important implications for the
Christian community.

The Hebrews passage [Heb. 3:13] clearly teaches that personal insight is the product
of community. I need you in order to really see and know myself. Otherwise, I will
listen to my own arguments, believe my own lies, and buy into my own delusions.

My self-perception is as accurate as a carnival mirror. If I am going to see myself
clearly, I need you to hold the mirror of God’s Word in front of me.”

–Paul David Tripp, _[Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1935273043?tag=toletaupanre-20)_(
Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2002), 53-54.

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