While We Were Still Sinners - Romans 5:8

  
 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
 - Romans 5:8

    I know of many folks who just can’t grasp the idea of “grace.” It’s ok, it isn’t an easy subject to wrap our heads around. Works righteousness just makes more sense. We’ve committed some terrible transgressions against God’s laws so it only stands to reason that we should have to make some restitution or pay the consequences. And the logic here isn’t wrong; but identifying the party that stands accused is where all the confusion comes in. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21.
    So who drew the unlucky short straw? Why, Christ Himself, in a manner of speaking. And the same way many object that they didn’t vote to have Adam represent mankind in the Garden of Eden, they say the same thing about Jesus being our sin substitute. But just like the situation with Adam, no one asked us. And there is an incredibly great reason for that fact. You see, one doesn’t ask the spiritually dead if they want representation before the wrath of the Almighty God! “Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.” - Ezekiel 37:11-12.
    So we, like the Valley of Dry Bones are without option or recourse. We are spiritually dead in our sins. And since dead men and women are capable of doing or achieving nothing, we certainly can’t save ourselves; we desperately need someone to bring us back to spiritual life. And that Someone is Jesus Christ. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:23.
    It is Christ’s loving self-sacrifice upon the cross that paid the wages for our sins. In His physical death upon the cross, Christ propitiated God’s wrath. He took our sins upon Himself and in turn, God reckoned Christ’s righteousness unto us. But He wasn’t done with us. There was one more task for Jesus to complete and it would be the task that would give significance to His death.“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” - 1 Peter 1:3. We have been forgiven our sins and saved for eternity by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
    Still concerned about having had too much to drink last Saturday night? God has already forgiven us for worse sins. Feeling guilty about the crosswords we had for a co-worker? He has already forgiven us for worse. Lust built up in our heart - he has already forgiven us for worse. If we believe that Jesus Christ died and was raised from the dead for us, all our sins have already been forgiven. “Well,” some might imagine, “does this give me the go-ahead to sin again?” “What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” - Romans 6:15. The grace of God never gives us over to our sins. The answer is, “No!”
    This is the providence of God’s grace upon us. He has granted us forgiveness when we couldn’t pay the wages of sin for ourselves. Jesus did that! We were powerless to save ourselves. We could never recompense God enough to appease His holy wrath; only Jesus could.
    So let us take stock of our lives and remember the words Jesus had for a woman of sin, a woman who was thrown before Him after being caught in sin! “Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ 11 She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’” - John 8:10-11.
    Let us remember Jesus last words to her - “Go, and from now on sin no more.”

Christ’s Mandate - John 3:3

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” - John 3:3

    One of the most oft-quoted verses in all the Holy Scriptures, John 3:3 presents an indispensable qualification for salvation - we must be born again if we are to see the kingdom of God. Jesus doesn’t suggest to Nicodemus that he be born again. He declares without hesitation or ambiguity - he MUST be born again. So, it isn’t difficult to understand the Pharisee’s incredulity regarding the idea of rebirth. “Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?’” - John 3:4. We can almost hear his quandary, “born . . .again?”
    Christ was explaining to him that regeneration of the human soul was a sine qua non, a non-negotiable requisite for salvation and Nicodemus was having a world of difficulty understanding this fundamental principle. So Jesus elaborated - “Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’” - John 35. Christ had just revealed one of the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith: spiritual rebirth.
    Two sit in church on Sunday, one is there because he understands that he is “supposed to be there,” while the other listens to and reflects upon the Word of God. The one’s mind races back and forth between the game later today and those things which distract him throughout the week. The other contemplates God’s Word and how it impacts him today, tomorrow, and every day of his life. One’s life “is of the world,” while the other’s is merely “in the world.”
The difference between these two is that one’s soul remains unregenerate while the other’s soul has been “regenerated” by the in filling of the Holy Spirit; this one has been reborn through the “water and the Spirit.” The water represents the washing of the soul. All the uncleanliness of the world has been washed away and the Holy Spirit has replaced the distractions and complications of a fallen world. This soul has been regenerated to eternal life.
    The eternal life Christ promises us comes through this rebirth. The mark of this rebirth; the fruit of this rebirth, is our very faith! “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” - 1 John 5:4. Without regeneration, without rebirth, we cannot have faith, because regeneration precedes faith! To come to faith in Christ Jesus we must first be reborn.
    But what of our sacramental duties? What of tithing? What of fasting? What of them? None of those peripherals, none of those incidentals are necessary for obtaining the faith we so need for salvation. They are certainly desirable for the Christian but not necessary for obtaining saving faith. But of being reborn, Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again . . . .” Without the spiritual rebirth, no one will be saved! Without the spiritual rebirth, we “cannot see the kingdom of God.” It is not a negotiable item. It is a must do if we are to seek the kingdom of God.
    There is no one in heaven who did not experience the rebirth. It is necessary. It is vital to our very salvation. Without it we would never seek God. With it, we are constantly seeking the kingdom of heaven so that all things will be added to us. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22-23.

Leaning On Christ - Luke 10:38-39

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. - Luke 10:38-39

    We should all be familiar with the story of the sisters, Martha and Mary.  These were Lazarus’s sisters. The same Lazarus who would later die and Jesus would call forth from the tomb. When Jesus arrived at the home of the two sisters, Martha busied herself preparing to serve Him and His disciples, while Mary took a seat at Christ’s feet and lovingly listened to every word He had to say. As might be expected, Martha objected to Jesus about Mary not helping her  - “But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’” - Luke 10:40. Jesus, in His manner, basically told Martha not to worry herself over Mary’s seeming lack of propriety - “But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’” - Luke 10:41-42.
    The scene is played out again in the Gospels when the little children come to see Jesus and the Apostles objected, much as did Mary though for different reasons. “Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’” - Matthew 19:13-14.
    The very presence of Christ is cause for all of us to come to Him. It should be our natural desire to sit at the feet of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, to be near Him, so close we can lean upon Him. But we, like Martha, are often anxious and troubled over many things. Life’s distractions often take our focus off of Christ. The bills need to be paid. The kids need to get off to school. The house needs to be cleaned. It seems we have no shortage of reasons to attend to things other than Christ. And while these things must be done, we must never forget to make time for God in our lives. In this way, we must be more like Mary and  the children who wanted to sit with Jesus.
    While we must see to our daily responsibilities, we must also seek Jesus with a desire that exceeds anxiety and worry. After all, was it not Jesus Himself who asks us - “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” - Matthew 6:27.  And does not Jesus provide an answer to our worries? “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30. Surely, we should be lining up behind Mary and the little children just knowing that Christ’s peace awaits us.
    Even in the throes of our worst experiences, we have the solid promise of Jesus that He will be with us and never forsake us. His promises are as true today as the day He made them.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” - John 14:27. This is not to suggest that nothing bad will ever happen in our lives. Such a promise is made nowhere! We cannot realistically expect that we will not have tribulation in our lives. That is simply part of our fallen nature. Our faith in God must remain our spiritual strength.
    We should all take great assurance in the promises of God. He has guaranteed that He will never leave us or forsake us. Ever! “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9. Wherever we go! Is it any wonder that Mary and the little children yearned to sit at Christ’s feet, to be in His presence; to lean upon Him?