Occasionally we hear politicians make public confessions (usually after they have been found out!) regarding misdeeds, and that they have failed to live up to their own expectations, and let the public and family down. It makes good fodder for satirical shows on T.V. and radio. However, it is often the case that for every misdeed disclosed, and which we may point the finger - we are guilty of a score more of our own secret wrong-doings and failings, even if it is just our hidden thought-life.
The Bible states "For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard" (Romans, Ch. 3, v. 23 - New Living Translation). It follows from this that all need to be forgiven by God - in order to secure a place in heaven. The new, or "New Covenant" way to which the Bible refers is now by trusting in Jesus alone to forgive us. The apostle Paul wrote that "God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us" (Romans Ch. 3, v.25).
Paul also wrote that "There is only one God, and there is only one way of being accepted by him. He makes people right with himself only by faith [i.e. active trust]...", (Romans 3:30) - regardless of whether we are from a moral, or immoral background. .
Jesus strongly suggests that it is this key principle of trusting in Christ alone (and what he has done for us on the cross) that justifies us before God: but which some people would find offensive. The message of Jesus and the New Testament has been called "bad news for good people!" Jesus said "I have come not to call the righteous but sinners" (Matthew Ch.9 v13). Here is a spiritual paradox in the Bible that has been likened to a "rock" (who is, in fact, Christ!), a sure foundation on which to build our lives; and, on the other hand, to a rock or "stone of offence" that people will stumble over.
The apostle Paul put it this way: that for some, the proclamation of Christ crucified for sinners saved by faith, is, a stumbling block, (1 Corinthians Ch.1, v23). The word for stumbling block, snare or offence, in Paul's Greek is "skandalon" - which is the root of our English word "scandalous", meaning something outrageous! The outrageous news is that Jesus is good news for bad people!
Is it "outrageous", that those who attempt to justify themselves with "good deeds" should have to humble themselves (eventually, before God) and admit "I too am a sinner - just as bad, if not worse than those I've despised"? God's love is outrageous, scandalous and wonderful amazing grace that we - just like the dying thief on his cross next to Jesus - are declared "not guilty" when we put our trust in Christ and his all-sufficient death on that cross. .
Barry Cummings, Abbey Road Baptist Church, Barrow-in-Furness |
