No Guilt in Life

I definitely found this quote to be, well, healing.  Too often I have found that while I personally believe the "once saved, always saved" mantra, I rarely act upon it.  I found this to be both enlightening and freeing.

"Does the presence of sin in my life mean that I am not a Christian?  Can I be in a right relationship with God (justified and adopted) and still sin as I do?

It is at this point that I so easily revert to a wrong way of thinking.  I believe Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  I am saved from the penalty of sin.  There is no condemnation.  But then I sin again and I begin to think: 'I must be condemned again.  I need to try a little harder.'  So I go to church, read my Bible, sing more enthusiastically. and engage in spiritual thoughts about Jesus.  Then I assume that I have slipped back into a state of 'no condemnation' again.  But tomorrow I sin again, and I slip back into a state of 'condemnation.'  The cycle repeats itself over and over.

This performance mentality is all too common.  Our status ('no condemnation'), our justification, our assurance of being 'in Christ' is utterly dependent on our continuing (good) performance.  I look to Christ for my justification, but  I look to myself for my continued acceptance. It could not be more significant therefore that Paul - on the heels of the exasperation of Romans 7:14-25 - utters the clearest word of assurance: 'There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus'  (Rom. 8:1).  The issue is not, 'Have I done enough good to outweigh my lack of performance?'  On that account, I could never reach a state of assurance.  Rather, the focus of our thinking must be, 'Am I in Christ?'

Even as mature Christians, we need to remind ourselves continually of the basis of our acceptance - it is entirely because of what Christ has done for us.  Thus, faith in Christ is not a one-time event; we must live by faith each day."

"How the Gospel Brings Us All the Way Home" by,
Derek W. H. Thomas

coming to grips with reality

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus' name

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

You ever have those seasons where you come to terms with just how human you are?  I'm not talking about noticing you suddenly  have joints.  I'm talking about how you're suddenly aware of your own mortality.

Some of you are probably wondering why on earth I bothered making that facebook post on communion last Sunday.  Let's just say that lately, I've been thinking a lot on how mortal I am.  Life isn't that long and I'd love to be able to look back and know that I lived it to the best of my abilities with perhaps fewer mistakes than I've already made.  Since that's not going to happen, I know I have to be repentant - that is, make a 180 degree turn, never looking back - and trust that the Lord will heal what I've broken.

That brings me back to the communion subject.  Last Sunday's message put its salve right on my wounds.  As we took communion, I was struck with the thought that as we take the elements, we are in essence saying with Christ "it is finished."  You have no idea how comforting that is!

Isn't it funny how you've been doing something all your life, and you think you realize the significance only to be hit over the head with it again years later?  Wow.  I serve a great God.

I'm so thankful He doesn't just leave me to my own devices and that He who began a good work in me will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.