Our
Identity in Christ:
We
desperately need to know that first of all we are sinners and will
one day stand before a Holy God and give account for our lives, some
of us sooner than others. Scripture is primarily meant to reveal who
God is, and secondly to reveal that we as a creation are sinful and
have no hope aside from Jesus' atonement on the cross. There is a
great danger to focus on ourselves and primarily about living a good
life here, rather than being prepared for eternity.
I
challenge you to read some of the Scripture verses that God led me
to, as I was in His Word studying for tonight's lesson, that talk
about who we are as mankind:
We
are sinners: Romans 3:23
We
are dead in our sin: Ephesians 2:1
We
are God's enemies: Romans 5:10
We
are the ones who crucified Jesus: Luke 22:63-23:43
We
would rather turn away from God than have Him: Romans 1:21-23
God
said that He will not yield His glory (Isaiah 48:11), and that glory
will ultimately be revealed through Jesus (Heb 1:3). If we are
Christians our whole lives will be pointing to that glory, especially
through the gospel message (the grace and forgiveness poured out on
sinners through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross), as the Holy Spirit is
working in us towards that same reason.
If our lives are not
portrayals of Christ, as seen by our longing for Scripture, obedience
to God' word, and repentance of sins, it is because we are not saved
and we have God's wrath to fear on judgment day.
Salvation is only
found in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross to forgive sinful
mankind. The Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus became the only acceptable and perfect atonement to take away the just wrath of God. Our sins were nailed to the cross, on Him. We have been set free through Jesus, welcomed into the throne room of God Himself, protected by Him who should look upon us with scorn. What amazing grace that is poured out on sinners by a glorious God!
