Grace – it’s so simple and yet so profound. I know people who truly believe that as long as their “good deeds” outweigh their “bad deeds,” then that will be enough. The truth is, nothing we can do will ever be enough. In fact, Scripture tells us that our own good deeds, those deeds we think will earn us points toward salvation, are like filthy rags before God.

“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”
(Isaiah 64:6)

“We have all by sin become not only obnoxious to God’s justice, but odious to his holiness; for sin is that abominable thing which the Lord hates, and cannot endure to look upon. Even all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” – Matthew Henry

While doing some research regarding our recent discussion on “Civil Unions” and the homosexual agenda, I read the following quote on Defending Contending:

“While a clear and unambiguous biblical case can be made against homosexuality, it is also true that many people really do just hate homosexuals and construct their arguments against homosexual practice in order to provide a rationale for their angry feelings against them. And it is, no doubt, true that Christians frequently misuse doctrines that are true in order to achieve improper ends.

And I would agree that homosexual practice is not necessarily more heinous than a lot of sins out there which are also called detestable to God… some of which I have personally committed prior to knowing Christ. But sin is sin, and all sin is rebellion worthy of death.

But you and I both are all born into a condition – the bondage to a corruption of nature which manifests itself in many sins here on earth that none of us can escape from naturally unless Christ sets us free. Being born into a condition is not testimony that this is what God desires or intends us to do, but is part of our condition in the fall.

Due to our corrupt natures, I have committed this sin, and you are addicted to some other form of idolatry, but both of us are slaves to our fallen condition and are hopeless apart from Christ. Being natural is not not an argument for, but against something being of God because depravity keeps us from being able to save ourselves and extract ourselves from our willful sinful predicament. Fact is, we don’t want to.”

Isn’t that the truth? We don’t want to stop doing what brings us pleasure; even if God forbids it. And in our flesh, we will defend our “right” to do it – to the death. We have a deep and passionate love-hate relationship with our sin. Our flesh loves to sin, but when we give in to our evil desires, we hate ourselves for it. Even as Christians, we constantly battle our flesh:

“For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do…For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” (Romans 7:15, 18 NKJV)

So where do we go? What do we do? I know that I am a wretched sinner saved by Grace. It is very likely that I have in my lifetime been guilty of greater sins than you! So how can I rest assured that I am going to Heaven? How do I have the audacity to believe that my sins are white as snow?

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1-4, NKJV)

If you are a homosexual, or have been fooled by the “gay agenda,” you may be wondering about those “gay churches” and places like http://www.herchurch.org/ where they choose not to pray, “Our Father Who art in Heaven,” but instead pray, “Our Mother who is within us.” Please don’t be fooled. Your very soul depends on it.

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.” (2 Peter 2:1-2, ESV)

Are you good enough? Find out…

• Celebration or Abomination?
• Me First!
• Those “Bad” People
• “I Know the Rules!”
• Wear the Pants!

Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: