We really are new creations in Christ. A real, fundamental change has occured in the depths of our being. The Holy Spirit has come to dwell within us, and we have been freed from the dominion of sin. But despite this we still sin every day, many times a day. And in that sense we are still sinners.
We should always view ourselves both in terms of what we are in Christ, that is, saints, and what we are in ourselves, namely sinners. To help us understand this twofold view of ourselves, consider Jesus as an analogy. In His own person He was sinless, but as our representative He assumed our guilt. However, He never had any of the personal feelings associated with guilt. He was fully conscious of His own sinlessness even when bearing our sins and the curse of our sins in our place. In like manner, while we should always rejoice in the righteousness we have in Christ, we should never cease to feel deeply our own sinfulness and consequent unwothiness." -Jerry Bridges, 'The Discipline of Grace'.
When we see how sinful sin is, and we know we are undeserving of God's presence, then our knowing the truth of His great love with which He loved us makes our worth greater than we could have ever imagined.
I am unworthy, and yet pefectly worthy! Christ has made me worth something in this life. And my worth is that Jesus died for me. "His lovingkindness is better than life".
6 comments:
Hi Don,
Just got here for the first time and appreciate your work.
This was a very important thought from Luther - I actually have a tshirt from reformationshirts which has this on it.
Important to remember that our worth is great merely because God through an act of His will has determined to set this value on us.
Praise Him for the grace and sanctification He grants to us sinners!
Nice to have you drop by Darrin.
I agree that our worth to God is beyond comprehension really. Especially in a church-culture that makes people God's greatest desire. There's a deception that says:
"God loves everybody, and He wants us all to accept Him, or He will be sad forever. Because we are so worthy to Him, that He died for us. But we have to accept His free gift, He won't force it on anyone, even though He would rather die than live without you.'
I tried to post this at Pyromaniacs blog BUT it was deleted - twice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m6qC6FCiY0
I'm sorry Tor, I'm at a loss. Seems like it was a lot of work to put that video together, but it's unedifying, and doesn't really say much to me.
But, God bless you brother.
Don, I'm in basic agreement with Luther on this, without agreeing on all the particulars. And I definitely respect Jerry Bridges and his writings (of which I have at least two). Yes, we do need to understand just how heinous sin is. As we do we certainly do see more of the greatness of our salvation.
I'm sure you won't be discouraged by the exchange over on Susan's blog. They may see you as uneducated, but they don't see you as dumb. What I think they do see in you and in some over there, is something of Jesus, Jesus himself by the Spirit, and unbeknownst (ha, an old word, I think!) to them that is in large part what keeps drawing them back into a conversation with you and others.
Blessings on your day and week!
Don,
I posted on this, this morning, a simple post on it, and linked to your post.
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