With God all things are possible.
The easiest thing to do at times, is to work at our salvation, or at our relationship with God. And the hardest thing to do is rest, and trust that Jesus has done all the work for us. I continue to struggle with this. I find myself slipping back into a relationship with God, that is performance oriented. I stumble, and have to pick myself back up, and remind myself that, of myself I can do nothing.
1 Peter 2:7-9 7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
Jesus was a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence to the Pharisees, because they believed they kept the law of Moses, and were a light to the blind. It is the same for us today. When we think we can measure up to God’s standards, or that God’s love toward us is based upon our performance.When we do this, Jesus becomes a stumbling stone for us also. God loves us based upon Jesus performance not ours. Philippians 3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
God looks at our imperfections and sees Jesus perfection. It at times seems too easy, or too simple, to think this way. There must be something I need to do to get God’s approval, or blessings in my life.
2 Corinthians 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
It really is that simple. It is Satan that tries to complicate everything, subtly through deceptive means. When we become Christians, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we do not join a religion, we become part of a family. God is our Father, Jesus becomes an older brother, who has gone before us. This is good news, The Good News ! What about all the Religions out there? So many denominations to choose from.
James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
I am sure there are many good Church’s that teach the word of God, but James describes true religion. Lets not get religion mixed up with our relationship with God. It is true that God loves the sinner and hates the sin. God is never angry at His children. He hates sin in us, because it is harmful to us. As human parents, we would hate cancer in any of our children, but we would love our children no less. Perhaps we would even feel a stronger love or connection toward them, if we were to see them suffer.
Romans 5:20
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Paul said, the more sin there is, the more grace there is to cover it. This of course does not mean that we sin to receive grace.
Romans 6:15
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
God the Father and Jesus love us, because we have accepted Jesus sacrifice for us, and made him our Lord and Savior. Nothing can add to that, or take away from it. When we begin to realize this, and accept it fully, then we will begin to use more of the faith that we already have inside of us. We will not only expect to receive those things we ask of God, but we will begin to see that our entire life is blessed. That God is answering our prayers, before we have a chance to ask him to. Jesus was asked once, by someone in a crowd, what they must do to obtain eternal life. Lets look at that story and see what Jesus response was. Math. 19: 16-26
16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Jesus told the man what He must do, to obtain eternal life. The same thing that had always been required of man. Keep the commandments! This has always been God’s requirement, since Adam’s first sin in the garden. Obey God. The Old Testament is a complete history of mans inability to do just that. When Jesus disciples heard his answer, it says they were exceedingly amazed! And asked Jesus, who then can be saved? Notice what Jesus response was to them. With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
It is impossible for man to perfectly keep the ten commandments. But Jesus was God in the flesh. For Him it was possible. He kept them perfectly, and yet received the punishment of all sinners. We cannot keep them perfectly, yet have received the reward of the righteous!
Saved By Faith In Christ 