Nothing, Absolutely Nothing

Ephesians 2:9 - not of works, lest anyone should boast.

I know there are times when I have failed You. That was part of a prayer this morning. The next part is what I need to share. My next words were: I know there will be days ahead, times ahead where I might redeem myself. Ooops. Immediately I knew those words were wrong as soon as they were out of my mouth. I cannot do anything to redeem myself. Jesus has already paid the price.

Praise God for that. Nothing we can do. And yet our nature is to strive. Our nature is to weigh the good and the bad in our lives and pat ourselves on the back if we believe our good outweighs our bad.

This just is not the way of the Lord. He asks nothing in return for His forgiveness of sin through His death. Nothing but receiving Him into our lives, living as if He truly mattered, being obedient to His calls and obedient in the things of God...which means gaining the knowledge and wisdom set forth in His Word.

Once saved we understand what He offers us through His Word. His Word is the Bible yet it is also Jesus Himself, the Word made flesh. His Word shows us all we need...to see ourselves as sinful beings and allow the free saving grace of Jesus to cleanse us of our sins, being washed by His blood, the blood shed for all mankind. Nothing more, nothing less. Hallelujah!

We will continue at times to fail Him. But we can lift our heads and be free of guilt and shame when we continue to confess our sins TO HIM, not to a friend, neighbor, pastor or priest.

A personal relationship with Christ means between you and Him. He is the only Mediator between you and God. No man can do that, no works can do that. It's all about Him. This relationship begins with Him as He opens your eyes to see Him. Then it's about you! Your choosing to receive Him. He will accept you no matter what you have done. Your sins to you may seem greater or less than another's but they are all the same in His eyes. And He will forgive you if you reach out to Him. And He offers this gift freely, expecting nothing in the way of old works in return.

When we give a gift, that's just what it is, a free gift. Some might have ulterior motives thinking now the other person will have to reciprocate. But not Jesus. His gift of salvation from our sins is free. He offers it to us 24/7. Forgiveness of our sins is 24/7 if we ask for forgiveness when we have sinned. His gift was the greatest gift, one we cannot even imagine replicating or outdoing. He died on that cross freely. All our sins were upon Him, a concept too hard to grasp, when He was scourged and spit upon, when He carried His cross, when He was nailed to it, lifted up for all to see, when He was momentarily rejected even by His own Father...when He died. But what did He say amid all this torture: Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Just before He died He also said, It is finished. The final act of His obedience was done. We have that same opportunity when we say, Lord, I am finished with my old life. I give it to You with all my sins. I ask that You give me a new one through Your forgiveness.

All He asks is receive that gift He offers and know Him. When you know Him all other things come into being, supernaturally. Will we get everything right all the time? Not in this lifetime. That's why we have a Savior, one who can sympathize with our weaknesses, one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. But He was able to do it without sinning. (Hebrews 4:15). We are not God so we will always fall short.

Join in that personal relationship and be set free. Know that nothing you do in error cannot be forgiven if you only ask. Know that nothing you can try to do to make amends to Him will work. Just admit to Him your sin and move on. But this can only happen in relationship with Him.

Psalm 103:12 - As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.