full view
What a titantic thought; God not only knows all his thoughts, but he knows every thought that has been, and will be. Remember that time you thought you were so awesome? God knew you were thinking that and in one way he agreed, because of who you are in Jesus, and in another way he maybe laughed a loving laugh due to having a full view of what it looks like to be truly awesome, a view of himself.
God doesn't just know our thoughts, he knows everything! God knows everything about me at all times, in all depths, and still loves and forgives me.
For those that are not in Christ, those that do not trust in and love Jesus, the omniscience of God must be dealt with. Many choose to think big thoughts that explain away God, creating for themselves a place to have faith without evidence. Others live in fear because they know there is a God but do not love him. They know deep within that they have been created for more than themselves and that they are accountable to someone for all the wrong they have done and carry alone to be dealt with alone. God knows all our sin.
For the believer, this should bring great comfort and motivation. We should be comforted to know that every sin we have ever committed or will commit can not nor will ever be hid from God, he sees them all. And in seeing them all, every last one of them, he dealt with them all in Christ on the cross! So if you are a child of God and are carrying a sin, God has forgiven you, confess it up, be healed, and rejoice that you can't hide your junk from our all knowing awesome God.
God knows my future. God loves me. I can rest.
in Christ alone. justified.
Romans 5:1
Did Jesus come to teach those that are "good" and those that are bad a better way to live so they could follow his ways and one day be declared righteous? Are we made right in God's eyes because we attend church, say a prayer, give our tithe, give to missions, sell millions of albums and thank Him at the awards, walk to the front of the church and cry or maybe even pass out, sing in the choir-especially soprano or tenor, clean out the church bus toilet, become a minister, say the Lord's prayer before the big game, refrain from "dipping, cussing and chew and dating those that do", teach 7th grade boys Sunday school, feed the hungry, adopt children, take care of widows, give away free water downtown without even mentioning our churches name, or cut the pastors lawn?
Deep down and even on the surface we know that these things can not save us. So how can we get to God? How can we be made right and be forgiven? We need help because without it, we are doomed.
If you are a Christian then you have been justified, in other words the Christian, "through faith in Christ, has been justified and declared righteous by God, once for all. The result of this is that the Christian no longer lives under the fear of judgment and the wrath of God but has peace with God, which is not merely a subjective feeling but an objective reality."(ESV study bible)
We no longer pay the price for our sins because Jesus, in love, took our sins upon Himself absorbing the wrath of God. God, in the most Supreme court, takes the substitutionary death of Jesus on our behalf and declares us free and forgiven. Jesus paid the price, our death penalty. God sees us now as righteous, because of Jesus, not because of us.
So believer, walk in the freedom and peace that Jesus accomplished for us, God gives us and the Holy Spirit empowers. In faith follow Jesus and do great deeds, but do them because you are justified and love God, not to be justified as you fall deeper in love with yourself.
In Christ alone am I justified.
in Christ alone
If you are a Christian then you are a child of God, you have been adopted into His family. This adoption does not happen due to us living in such a way that earns God's favor. It is not like God walks through the spiritual orphanage and sees us looking cute, being sweet, or displaying obedience causing Him to take us home. We do not become His children because we follow some laws in faith and want to be like Jesus. We become His children solely based off the the works of Jesus, trusting in Him to save us from our sins. None of us are worthy, but through Jesus we receive our worth and rights as God's children.
I think it is important to know that our standing as children of God is all of grace. I don't deserve all the rights of a child of the King of all, I deserve all the rights of a sinner, the right to receive the wrath of God. GRACE!
As I look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith, I am full of gratitude and joy. I am not saved by my works,
but I am saved because of the works of Jesus and faith in Him alone. God has adopted us to display His awesome love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, power, and so many other things that brings delightful worship. God has adopted us to show us and the world His worthy Son. God has adopted us to live through us in the person of the Holy Spirit. In Christ, I am a son of God, a child of God. May I never insult Him by thinking my works add to what Jesus did for me on the cross, giving me some credit for this privilege of sonship.
In Christ alone am I a child of God.
three brothers
About seven years ago some friends of mine and I studied the rich book of Galatians. We used Galatians: Living in line with the truth of the gospel, by Tim Keller as our study guide. Keller helped me to see the gospel of Jesus in such a way that brought me wonderful peace and needed conviction. Tonight I was reading an article from World Magazine that I wanted to share with you that gives a taste of the great perspective that Keller helped me to seek.
Read the Prodigal sons article here.
