The Bible says that do not just commit sins, but we are by nature sinners (Romans 5:8), helpless (Romans 5:6), and enemies of the God (Romans 5:10). Isaiah says that mankind is estranged from God (Isaiah 1:4). Because he is a holy God, he is not able to meet with us on our terms.
And that is why God took on human flesh to be the go-between for man and God. Jesus is our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). But that does not only mean that he pleads for us, that means that God accepts us through Christ. The Bible is very clear that we are accepted as we are in Christ. For instance, Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ.” Other examples are in these verses: Romans 6:1-11, Ephesians 1:3-14, Philippians 3:7-11, Colossians 3:1-4, to name a few.
So, what that means is that God could not just accept me as I am. If he did that, he would not be dealing with my sin seriously, which is an infinite offense to his glory (Romans 3:23). This does not mean that we have to clean our lives up before we come to Christ. It is precisely the opposite: we are to come to Christ as we are because it is only in Christ that we can have a right standing before God. His righteousness is our righteousness. His holiness is our holiness. His death over sin is our death over sin.
To put it differently, Jesus does not just provide our right standing before God, he is it. Our hope is found in him alone.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
A Lesson From Asaph
Where will you go in the day of trouble?
The death of a child. The crumbling of a career. The disintegration of a marriage. The constant financial stress.
Our natural tendency in these difficult times is to be introspective, looking to oneself for comfort and joy. Questions then come to flood our minds: “What if I responded in a different way?” or “How can I possibly have strength to make it through this trial?”
When the Psalmist Asaph went through the day of trouble, he instinctively turned inward. This lead to skeptical questions about God’s goodness: “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time?” (Psalm 77:7-8, ESV).
Don’t miss what is happening here. Asaph, growing consumed with the perceived largeness of his own trials, began to view God as being small and impotent. He questioned his goodness and steadfast love.
The problem with looking to oneself in the midst of trouble is that the trials get disproportionately overblown in comparison with the Source of Hope. We look to ourselves, but we cannot save ourselves. We grow infatuated with the depth of our problems, but this analysis will never be a rope that will get one out of the slough of despair.
To get a clear focus on reality, Asaph turns to remember what God has done in the past: “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old” (Psalm 77:11). Despite his circumstances, Asaph resolved to look outside of himself to the only true hope. His remembrance of God’s past good deeds became an anchor to his soul that God would again act to steady his spirit in the midst of this storm.
We can only get true hope by looking to God. He alone can save. And in those times when God seems distant, resolve to set your mind on God’s gracious and loving acts in the past. Knowing God's loving acts in the past gives hope that he will be loving in the future.
The death of a child. The crumbling of a career. The disintegration of a marriage. The constant financial stress.
Our natural tendency in these difficult times is to be introspective, looking to oneself for comfort and joy. Questions then come to flood our minds: “What if I responded in a different way?” or “How can I possibly have strength to make it through this trial?”
When the Psalmist Asaph went through the day of trouble, he instinctively turned inward. This lead to skeptical questions about God’s goodness: “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time?” (Psalm 77:7-8, ESV).
Don’t miss what is happening here. Asaph, growing consumed with the perceived largeness of his own trials, began to view God as being small and impotent. He questioned his goodness and steadfast love.
The problem with looking to oneself in the midst of trouble is that the trials get disproportionately overblown in comparison with the Source of Hope. We look to ourselves, but we cannot save ourselves. We grow infatuated with the depth of our problems, but this analysis will never be a rope that will get one out of the slough of despair.
To get a clear focus on reality, Asaph turns to remember what God has done in the past: “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old” (Psalm 77:11). Despite his circumstances, Asaph resolved to look outside of himself to the only true hope. His remembrance of God’s past good deeds became an anchor to his soul that God would again act to steady his spirit in the midst of this storm.
We can only get true hope by looking to God. He alone can save. And in those times when God seems distant, resolve to set your mind on God’s gracious and loving acts in the past. Knowing God's loving acts in the past gives hope that he will be loving in the future.
Why Read the Bible?
1.) You are born again through the Word of God.
“Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23
2.) He gives us life by his Word.
“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” James 1:18
3.) Faith comes from hearing the Word.
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.” Romans 10:17
4.) The Word of God is the source of great and lasting joy.
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” Psalm 119:103
5.) The Word of God makes you more like Christ.
“Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17:17
6.) The Word of God gives hope.
“Whatever was written in former days was written for our own instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4
“Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23
2.) He gives us life by his Word.
“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” James 1:18
3.) Faith comes from hearing the Word.
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.” Romans 10:17
4.) The Word of God is the source of great and lasting joy.
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” Psalm 119:103
5.) The Word of God makes you more like Christ.
“Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17:17
6.) The Word of God gives hope.
“Whatever was written in former days was written for our own instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4
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