Apologetics

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Aren’t God’s ways wonderful? As human beings we frequently attempt to “make God in our image”, assuming that how we do things is how God does things. It turns out though that nothing could be farther from the truth! “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9 ESV).

In our natural state we are inclined to think, for instance, that we must somehow “earn” our righteousness before God; that we may earn salvation (eternal destiny with Him) through the keeping of rules and regulations. Isn’t it odd then to hear God say, “No. It doesn’t work that way”? “… By works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20 ESV).

You are probably finding that your very best service to Him somehow falls short of the perfection that His holy Law requires. You may be wondering then how one really does find God’s favor and enter into the righteousness that the Holy One requires.

God’s provision for righteousness for men and women has always simply been faith/belief. “(Abram) believed the LORD, and He counted it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6 ESV, again in Romans 4:3).

Of course, John 1:12-13 says, “…To all who did receive Him, who BELIEVED in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever BELIEVES in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Ephesians 1:13-14 says, “In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and BELIEVED in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory..” And finally, in Romans 3:21-22 it says “… The righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the Law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it – the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who BELIEVE….”

Hungry for more of God in your life? Then understand God’s provision for acceptance. You have nothing to prove to Him. You have no burden of sin in your past that the perfect sacrifice of Jesus can’t cover. You have no reason to say “no” to the One Who loves you so much that He was willing to pay so great a price for you to know fellowship with Him.

Wondering if there is any purpose for your life? While you cannot be “saved” BY good works you have been saved FOR good works: “…For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV).

If you turn to Jesus, you will find both acceptance through faith in Him and purpose as your walk with Him is “fleshed out” through your works. After all, real faith cannot help but result in fruitful service to Him. If you, like so many in the world today, find yourself starved for acceptance and emptied of purpose, look to the One Who offers you life through His atoning work on the cross and know that in Him, you’ll find all you need and more.

Copyright © Thom Mollohan.

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