The good news says we need faith: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
However, the bad news is that we tend to try and earn God’s love and rewards without realizing our best efforts offend Him. He says we are sinners and we try to prove otherwise, but . . .
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)
For 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)
Paul understood and gladly gave up on his own merits. He wrote, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)
Others didn’t understand or said NO to this news. The Jewish people thought they were pleasing God simply because they were descendants of Abraham. When John the Baptist saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.” (Matthew 3:7–9)
Again, apart from faith, we cannot please God. The first step is simply believing He exists. The evidence is plain:
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1–3)
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)
But believing God exists isn’t enough to save a person. “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” (James 2:19). Obviously the demons have made their choice and are beyond admitting their evil ways and trusting God. For them and for those who say NO to His good/bad news, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (Romans 1:18) People may worship nature, evolution, idols, even demons, but not the One who loves them, a love heightened by the realization of our sinfulness!
Without the admission of sin, the good news is not so good and may not even make sense. If I could save myself, why would I need Jesus? Why would He need to die?
PRAY: Thank You Jesus for existing, for loving us and dying for us, for granting faith to us. Thank You also that You make truth plain. Enable those who hear it to believe it, all of it, including the part that says none of us can earn or deserve even the least of Your mercies.
PONDER: In reading Romans 1:18–31, I can see the connection between denying God, and sliding into idolatry, and eventually gross immoral behavior. Blindness is brought on by disobedience and lack of faith, both to the good news and to the bad news. I rejoice that God is real and that He loves me and sent Jesus to die for me. I am also grateful that He reveals sin and how it is harmful to my life and robs me of all the good that He wants to give me. And I am grateful for His mercy and grace, that all He says and does is GOOD and for my good.
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