I should be dead.
No, AIM, I didn’t file a safety report for this.
This month the Lord has shown me that I had only a watered down understanding of the Gospel. I knew the basics: God is holy, we are sinners, and Christ died for us that we might have eternal life with Him. Believe in Him, accept Him into your heart, and you’re saved. That was pretty much the end of the story in my mind.
Sometimes it’s easy to think that we’re not really that bad off without Jesus. It’s tempting to think that our sins really aren’t that bad and we don’t really need Jesus that badly. We play the comparison game and say to ourselves, “Well, I’ve never done what that person has done… sheesh, they’re messed up!”
And in so doing, we miss the whole point of the Gospel.
I once heard of a well known preacher/writer who was asked how he would explain the Gospel to someone who had never heard it if he only had one hour. He replied that he would spend 45-50 minutes on the depravity and sinfulness of man and 10-15 minutes on the work of Jesus Christ to reunite us with the Father.
Dang. Do I really understand how messed up I am? Do I really understand the depth of my need for Christ’s redemptive work in my life? Do I understand how holy God is and what that means? Paul says in Ephesians that we were dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1). Romans 3:10-11 says, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good; not even one.” Even our righteousness and the “good” things we do are like filthy rags in front of our Holy God.
Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death” We are all sinners. We all deserve death. We should be dead. I should be dead. None is worthy of God’s mercy and grace.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved– and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this s not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:4-9) All glory, honor, and praise be to God alone, forever and ever, Amen!!
If that verse doesn’t stir something in you and make you want to sing and dance or at least cry, there’s something wrong with your ticker. Read it again! Even the first two words are incredible: “BUT GOD...”
Child of God, let this sink into your heart. Let your heart realize how infinite His grace and mercy are. Know that it is no act of your own that draws you to Christ- it is His grace. It is no act of your own that allows you to repent of your sin, turn from it, and follow Christ- it is His grace. It is by no act of your own that you are justified in the sight of the Lord- it is His grace. He not only absolves you of any legal punishment, but he also credits you with His righteousness.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
I’m no Bible scholar- I only took a handful of Bible classes in college. My understanding of theology is limited. Even still, this blog could go on forever about God’s grace and my need for Him.
I never want to lose sight of the depth of the Gospel. I never want to minimize Christ’s blood to look like cheap cool-aid. The Gospel is life-changing. If it hasn’t changed your life and you have accepted Christ, I invite you to examine your heart. If you haven’t repented of and turned from your sins, confessed with your mouth and believed in your heart that Jesus is Lord, what are you waiting for? Receive His Grace. Repent. Turn. Believe. Follow.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I’m found,
Was blind but now I see!
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved!
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun!
