I just don't understand how you can have a relationship with Christ and not occasionally be driven to your knees by your own desperate sinfulness.
Now, I know:
Christ did not die so that we could live our lives in shame and remorse. He didn't die so that we might live our lives in horrified introspection. He died so that we might be free.
But C'mon! You know what I'm talking about.
Sometimes I just stop and think, "Holy cow, my mind is so vile!" I'm glad no one can hear the garbage that passes through my head.
That's before we even get into the topic of the things I say or do! I have trouble understanding people who think, "Oh, I'm doing alright, I'm not a bad person. God couldn't turn away a guy like me!" Are these pod-people? I don't get it.
I heard a preacher say one time that he thought we would do a lot better in our country if we stopped preaching Grace for a while and spent some extra time teaching people about sin, damnation and the requirements of a Holy God.
That makes pretty good sense to me.
It just seems to me that if God's gonna get some folks saved, God's gonna have to get'em lost first.
I relate to:
ReplyDelete"Sometimes I just stop and think, "Holy cow, my mind is so vile!" I'm glad no one can hear the garbage that passes through my head."
But...
Forgive me. I guess I'm feeling a little contrary today.
Is not the conviction of sin the product of having accepted the gospel by free grace?
We are told to:
“Go you into all the
world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believes not
shall be damned.”
Not: ....go preach the law so that they will come for the remedy...?
I praise God for you Vearl...thanks.
You are really blowing this mindless minion thing I'm looking to you for... :-)
ReplyDeleteIs there then, such a thing as "cheap grace"?
Your point is valid IF "the gospel" incorporates, oh, I don't know, how about "sin, damnation and the requirements of a Holy God"? And if the gospel doesn't fully incorporate man's destitution without the sacrifice of Jesus, is it the true gospel or "another gospel"?
(Im snarky today, too... Wanna rumble?)
Wish I had read the "rumble" comment before I commented on your "serious question" in the other post! No time to rumble gotta go look up snarky.
ReplyDelete