Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Can We Do Enough?

  We had a good teaching on this subject a few weeks back. The question was this, "At what point do we do enough to be reconciled to God?" The answer is, we can't do enough ourselves to be reconciled with God! Before we understand and receive the gift of eternal salvation, we stand in front of God as filthy sinners, or as God's Word say's as His enemy! We can not do enough good works, say enough good things or go to church enough to be reconciled to God. There is only one way to be justified and that is through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore, having be justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have received access by faith into grace, in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." So it's only by faith, by trusting in the gospel of Jesus, trusting that the sacrifice He made for us, was powerful enough to save us from our sins and not just our sins from the point of salvation back but all of our sins. Even those sins that we may stumble with and commit in the future. We may trust with all of our hearts that Jesus paid our debt in full, that when Jesus said "It is finished", that He meant that. We must trust that Jesus paid our debt in full, not in part, in full means Jesus paid for ALL of our sin debt not just those we committed before our rebirth!
  In order to be justified, we must also be reconciled. Romans 5:10-11 says, "For if when we were 
enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation." Only through Jesus do we receive reconciliation with God, which justifies us in God's eyes! How does this happen, Romans 3:26 says, God imputes Jesus' righteousness on us and in Romans 4:6, God imputes righteousness apart from works. Showing us that we can never do enough to earn our own reconciliation with God! Here is the amazing part, after Jesus robes us with His righteousness, He then takes our sins, filthiness, unworthiness and imputes it on Himself forever! And then makes us one of many promises, Romans 4:7-8 says, “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered;  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” That's right never to impute sin upon His child again and we stand in front of God now, after salvation, perfect, sin free, in His eyes just like Jesus! But still in a sinful body, with a nature that we will wrestle with sin until the final day and we receive a perfect body! But we are still perfect in God's eyes!
  How is that possible you might ask? Simple, Romans 8:1-3 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin:...". For those are the key words "no condemnation for those who are IN Christ Jesus," you see we have to truly abide in Jesus fully, putting your full trust in Him. 
  Is this a license to sin and continue in the lifestyle you live, NO! If you have repented of your sins, you won't want to. Repent means, to turn away from sin completely.  You will stumble and even fall  but like the "The Forgiving Father",  He is there to pick you up with open arms! So again, can we do enough to earn our own reconciliation with God? The answer is no, Jesus has already done it for us if we will trust Him and abide in Him!
       

21 comments:

  1. Hi Clint, great post! I was just wondering if you'd mind if I linked your blog on mine. My blog is about my family and sort of day to day events. My addy is lauraperic.blogspot.com if you'd like to check it out and then let me know if that's alright with you. :)

    Laura

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure thing! I have know problem with it. Its God's not mine. :-)

      Delete
  2. Thanks so much for this post, Clint. I like the way you explain things.
    So many stumbling blocks some days. It's good to know that Jesus always has you in His hands.

    Have a blessed day. ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen to that Linda, God's Word really explains itself when we ask the Holy Spirit to teach us.

      Delete
  3. Well said, my man. I try to focus on Jesus in all I do. I don't focus on problems, I focus on Him. Sure makes life so much easier!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jesus must be our focus. Sometimes we allow our flesh to get in the way but if we just pay attention, God is there to refocus us!

      Delete
  4. Well written :) :) I think it's important that you emphasized that Jesus Christ is the one who's reconciled us to HIM...so important...because it's not through us, that's for sure. If it were, than Jesus death/ressurection would have been completely unnecessary :) :) Thanks for including the Scripture references, too :) :) Greetings from the ocean shores of California, Heather :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow Clint,
    Powerful message. We are fatally flawed and we do stumble, regularly. It's impossible to overcome our failings, weakness, and pride to ever be reconciled on our own accord.

    I am in awe just thinking about God's commitment to man, to have sent his only son Jesus to pay our debt and lead us along the path to our salvation. It's in our hands, whether or not we accept this gift or deny it.

    I admit, I struggle thinking about this. It's a bit difficult for me to wrap my head around the idea that God could ever find me worthy and absolve my sins; even through Jesus' sacrifice. Putting into perspective as you have done here, set me back on track. I do put my trust in Jesus and I abide in him and his word. Thank you for writing this post. I have printed it for the next time I get confused. Have a great week Clint.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have to give all of the Glory to God!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Excellent. Freedom in Christ. Freedom from the bondage of trying to "earn" salvation and freedom to live the "abundant life" He promised now and forever. Thanks for spreading His light. God bless you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I saw your comment on KJVBlog. Looked over some of your blog and like what I see. Your post is so true. No way we can earn our Salvation. I really don't like the "sinning religion" phrase either. We are not perfect ~ we will falter at times and will need to confess. But when I hear someone say "I can do anything I want because it's covered". Yes, our sins are covered, but I don't want to do anything that displeases my Savior.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "I can do anything I want because it's covered". I here that and I want to say, maybe you need to go back to the alter. LOL! I feel most of the ones that make that comment are just using our Savior as a get out of jail free card. Those are the ones we have to be gentle with and show with loving scripture, I know i used to be one of them! :-)

      Delete
  9. Thanks so much for sharing at Rural Thursday, Clint. Have a wonderful weekend. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am hopping over from UBP. Happy party week.

    Fondly,
    Glenda
    #84

    ReplyDelete