The Depth of our need for Christ's Forgiveness

Recently, there has been a lot of talk here on AAG about Salvation; the nature of our redemption and whether we can keep this gift, lose it, throw it away or have it somehow tricked away from us. 

One of the things I am convicted of is that we fail to recognize the depth of our need. When we begin to think that we can produce something to offer God, apart from his Spirit, we fool ourselves. Our only offering is to empty ourselves, to die to self, and take on Christ. There is no other offering worthy. 

The nature of humanity is wretched. Lost. Sold into slavery and bondage of sin. Apart from Jesus Christ, we have nothing to offer. Apart from Jesus Christ, we are lost and doomed. Our only hope is in him who knew no sin. 

Paul said that it was in his weakness that he became strong. So, it was in recognizing his powerlessness, that Paul came to accept and respect the total need that he had for forgiveness, mercy and grace. In that recognition, he ceased striving and began accepting and receiving the total work of Christ in his life.

I'm convinced that we devalue the sacrifice of Christ, when we consider ourselves somehow worthy or able to make ourselves righteous before God. We devalue and diminish the significance of Christ's atonement, if we begin to think that we can somehow keep what was not ours to begin with. 

It is when we recognize our total need for mercy and grace, on our best day, that we can receive from Christ the power to live and breath and have our existence. 

Yes, we should live a dedicated and holy life. But we must never think that we can do that in ourselves. Without Christ, we are lost - no matter how good we may appear to be living. It's by dying to our own ability, dying to our own importance, dying to our own significance and dying to our needs that we can be emptied of self. 

In emptying self, the life and power of Christ takes over in us and gives us a new life - the power of Christ in us. The nature of Christ begins to fill us. That can only happen when we realize that our own righteousness is not sufficient. No good deeds, no restriction of behaviors can ever make us good enough. 

What truly changes us, is when we realize that Jesus gave his life so that we can live, filled with the Spirit that he breathed out on the Cross, when he said "it is finished" and "Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit". 

Blessings to you and I hope that this Resurrection day celebration is a life changing experience for you! 

Scribe