ON OUR OWN WE’RE MISERABLE FAILURES WHEN IT COMES TO GOD’S STANDARD OF GOOD

 

 

To be “good” in the eyes of God would mean to be morally perfect. One glance at the law would quicky reflect back exactly who we really are in truth—sinners in desperate need of saving. If we want to change, we can do a million home remedies and read the Bible all day and night and nothing will happen. No amount of works can save us which includes “trying” to be good. On our own we’re miserable failures when it comes to God’s standard of good.

Take a quick look into the mirror of God’s law and ask yourself:

Have I ever lied? What do you call someone that lies? A liar.

Have I ever stolen anything? (Regardless of size and value)

What do you call someone who steals? A thief.  So far, I’m a liar and a thief in the eyes of God.

Have I ever used God’s holy name in vain such as ‘OMG’ or ‘Jesus Christ’ as a curse word? That’s called blasphemy. Am I a blasphemer? (in the Old Testament blasphemy was punishable by death)

Have I had sex before marriage? (called fornication) Am I a fornicator in the eyes of God?

These are just a few of the Ten Commandments but if you were to die right now and be judged on all ten based on what we just looked at, would you be innocent or guilty? Heaven or hell? You’d be guilty like the rest of us sinners.

Revelation 21:8 says this, “All liars shall have their part in the lake of fire.” Death is proof of just how serious God is when it comes to sin. Romans 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death.” In other words, we’ve each been given the death sentence by God due to sin. That’s the reason we die, we’re already condemned.

If you were in court and all the evidence was in (you stand totally guilty before the judge) what could you do? Repentance won’t help you; do you know why? Well imagine you say to the judge, “judge I did the crime and I’m sorry, I won’t do it again!” (in short that’s repentance) The judge would simply respond, “good you should be sorry, and you won’t do it again, you’re going to jail.” So, repentance can’t help you. You need something else, any idea what you need? Mercy.

If all the evidence is against you, all you could do is cry out, "have mercy on me!" In a civil court the judge could possibly give you a lesser sentence. But the Bible says, "God is rich in mercy to all who call upon Him." So how did God extend mercy so we wouldn't have to go to hell? God through His great love for us became flesh-Jesus of Nazareth. He lived up the demands of God's law perfectly. He then died in our place taking upon Himself the wrath of God which we deserved.

If you were in court and had a fine you couldn't pay for, you'd serve time. But if someone stepped into the room and paid your fine in full the judge could say, "you're free to go someone's paid your fine in full." That's what Jesus did on that cross. He then rose again and calls each of us to repent and trust in Him. Repentance is being genuinely sorry for your sins, coming to God in prayer, willing to turn and forsake sin with His help. Then trust in Jesus. No amount of works can save us for we're all guilty of sin. This is why we must fully trust in Jesus and His finished work on the cross. He paid our fine in full and by trusting and believing in Him we receive His very righteousness as a free gift of God. Only then can we stand before God the day we die without the stain of sin. The moment you repent and trust in Christ the Holy Spirit grants you a new heart with new desires that are pleasing to God. You'll no longer thirst for sin but for righteousness (things that are pleasing to God) making you an entire new creation in Christ. That's a personal miracle God promises to work in all those that call upon Him.