We were not only born into sin, but we as men all continue in sin. Some men may outwardly appear to lead holier lives. However, even our best deeds are like filthy rags before a holy God.
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one,’ (Romans 3:10 )
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; (Isaiah 64:6)
So, where does this leave us? As God’s creation, we are born into sin, and even our greatest efforts cannot meet His perfect standard. How can we avoid living in complete ruin and despair? It is in His grace that I find my joy! That grace is perfectly revealed in the gift of His Son. John 3:16 proclaims “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
God has covered all my sins–past, present, and future. We do not live under the burden of the law but in the light of grace through the salvation of Jesus. Our need for a Savior was not something that originated in the garden with Adam. No! Our salvation through Christ was established before the beginning of time. Jesus Christ has been at the right hand of God since the very beginning. The sins of Adam and mine did not catch God by surprise. Our salvation and redemption were determined before time began. God’s grace is so perfect that He established our redemption even before our creation! So, what do we say? At the Cross of Christ, He reconciled His children to Himself.
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18).
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. God in his perfect love has reached through the fiery pit of Hell and stanched his children to the safety of his arms. He no longer sees where we have been, but prepares a place where we are going! Our sins’ scars are now healed and are signs of the past, but not of our future. (2 Corinthians 4:7)
What should we do with this grace? We embrace it! We thank the Lord God for it and abide in Him. Even though our imperfect bodies are failing, we strive to seek His will. There is nothing we did to deserve this grace; we didn’t earn it or purchase it. We simply need to come to the foot of the Cross and accept it. Praise God!
The only thing that matters is the Cross of Christ!
Have a great weekend
Stephen L. Thomas
RTM