Posted on 02/01/2007 6:29:13 PM PST by AlbionGirl
God did his most deadly work to destroy hopelessness and futility and provincial cowardice. He gave up his Son to torture and death. A perfect life, a perfect death, and the decisive work was done.
But there are millions who are numb to hope because of the God-belittling things they have done and how ugly they have become. They don’t lift lofty arguments against God’s Truth; they shrug and feel irretrievably outside. They don’t defy God consciously; they default to cake and television. Except for the periodic rush of sex and sport and cinema, life yawns. There is no passion for significance. For many, no passion at all.
There is a Christian version of this paralysis. The decision has been made to trust Christ. The shoot of hope and joy has sprung up. The long battle against sin has begun. But the defeats are many, and the plant begins to wither. One sees only clouds and gathering darkness. The problem is not perplexing doctrine or evolutionary assaults or threats of persecution. The problem is falling down too many times. Gradually the fatal feeling creeps in: the fight is futile; it isn’t worth it.
(Excerpt) Read more at desiringgod.org ...
The connection between the sinner and the Savior is trust, not improvement of behavior. That comes later. It’s this order that gives hope. "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law" (Romans 3:28). The basis of this wild and wonderful hope (the ungodly justified) is "Christ for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Romans 10:4, literal translation). Through faith alone God counts the ungodly as righteous because of Christ. "For our sake [God] made [Christ] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Let all who are paralyzed by the weight of sin and the powerlessness to change turn in here.To the fallen saint, who knows the darkness is self-inflicted and feels the futility of looking for hope from a frowning Judge, the Bible gives a shocking example of gutsy guilt. It pictures God’s failed prophet beneath a righteous frown, bearing his chastisement with broken-hearted boldness. "Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light" (Micah 7:8-9). This is courageous contrition. Gutsy guilt. The saint has fallen. The darkness of God’s indignation is on him. He does not blow it off, but waits. And he throws in the face of his accuser the confidence that his indignant Judge will plead his cause and execute justice for (not against) him. This is the application of justification to the fallen saint. Broken-hearted, gutsy guilt.
Good to know. You're just full of interesting insights. :)
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What's that old best/worst of all worlds thing:
The Best of All Worlds
French Cooks
German Engineers
English PoliceThe Worst of All Worlds
English cooks
French engineers
German police
This is the reason why so many people fall away from the faith. They think they failed to obey God's laws and so aren't deserving of Heaven or forgiveness. Many Christians seemed to be depressed because of this. But if they read the Bible, especially those verses that you mentioned above, they would realize that Jesus Christ, becoming God The Father's Sacrificial Lamb for our sins and all of sin's consequences, has payed it all. He even said so in his last words on Calvary's Cross. It is translated into English as: "It is finished", but in the original Greek it's only one word: Tetelestai - and it means: "Paid In Full". You do not need to do anything more than accept God's gift to mankind, Jesus, as Lord & Savior & Redeemer, and you inherit Eternal Life. Hallelujah!!
"Paid in Full". Quite interesting. When our sins were paid in full God gave us His Righteousness. Rest in His Righteousness.
Great post!
Haven't we all gone through this? I know I have, but as I've matured as a Christian and time has gone by I can look back and see the LORD guiding me, protecting me and teaching me. It was a matter of time and perspective.
During those periods of futility I learned what it was to truly trust the LORD with everything.
Amen, Amen, Amen!
Those that do fall away, to never return, are they truly saved?
I don't think so, the indwelling Holy Spirit is a marker, so to speak, that we are in JESUS' hands and he promised he would lose none the Father has given him, nor could anything pull them out of his hands.
The connection between the sinner and the Savior is trust, not improvement of behavior. That comes later. It’s this order that gives hope. "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law" (Romans 3:28). The basis of this wild and wonderful hope (the ungodly justified) is "Christ for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Romans 10:4, literal translation). Through faith alone God counts the ungodly as righteous because of Christ. "For our sake [God] made [Christ] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Let all who are paralyzed by the weight of sin and the powerlessness to change turn in here.
To the fallen saint, who knows the darkness is self-inflicted and feels the futility of looking for hope from a frowning Judge, the Bible gives a shocking example of gutsy guilt. It pictures God’s failed prophet beneath a righteous frown, bearing his chastisement with broken-hearted boldness. "Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light" (Micah 7:8-9). This is courageous contrition. Gutsy guilt. The saint has fallen. The darkness of God’s indignation is on him. He does not blow it off, but waits. And he throws in the face of his accuser the confidence that his indignant Judge will plead his cause and execute justice for (not against) him. This is the application of justification to the fallen saint. Broken-hearted, gutsy guilt.
Boy oh boy am I with you on this.
We have tendency to want to make everything so much more complicated than it is. All I have to have is FAITH (Forsaking All I Trust Him).
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