We’re All Sinners Saved By Grace
Isaiah 64:6
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Yesterday we were reminded that our holiness is from God and not by our own doing. Strive as we might – and we should with all that is within us – to walk in holiness – our sinful nature battles our every effort it seems. Even when we read if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17) we realize that the old is gone but it hasn’t gone very far (see Paul’s expressed struggle in Romans 7:18-20)! Forgiven people – saved persons – still battle with temptation and sin.
One theological struggle – and maybe we all battle this – is realizing that while we are all sinners – saved by grace – we are not called to condone sin in our lives or in the life of the church. Someone once said it this way – we are to love the sinner but not the sin. This is not always an easy concept.
Some of the struggles the church is facing today stem from wrestling with this dynamic. For instance – can we accept and love a person in the life of the church while not accepting the sinful lifestyle they live? Realizing we are all sinners – striving by God’s grace to live holy lives – can we extend grace to others without condoning sin in their life or in our lives? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Self-righteousness is not a good thing for a Christian – because we cannot be righteous apart from God. Being pious in our faith or devoted to God is a good thing – as long as we realize that our holiness (see yesterday’s devotional thought on holiness here) is from God and ALL because of God working in our lives. I believe we battle this in a number of ways. An example is when our sin doesn’t stack up to the sins of others in our feeble minds. Hear me when I say sin is sin in its ability to separate us from God’s holiness – and all sin is in need of God’s grace. I also realize that a person needs to be more separated from God to murder than to steal a candy bar. Having said both of those statements – some in the church wrestle with a holier than thou attitude – saying my sin isn’t as bad as someone else’s sin (see the Pharisee’s statement here). Again – I am reminded of today’s passage – All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Maybe there aren’t too many answers today – but some good things to think about – as we wrestle together to be all that God calls us to be for Him.
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
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It Is By Grace We Are Saved!
Isaiah 64:6
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Some people actually believe they deserve to go to heaven. I heard a member of my former church say about a person from the community who had just passed – If —– doesn’t get to heaven, I don’t want to go. I quickly came back that if no one else goes – I want to go – because the alternative is just not a good option!!
We will not get to heaven because we have been good or nice or followed most of the laws of God. Our righteousness is like filthy rags my friends. We will only get to heaven because of the grace of God. Ephesians 2:8-9 – 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Turning our hearts over to Jesus is what it is all about my friends – trusting in His grace and mercy. That doesn’t mean we don’t strive to follow God’s commands – we should for sure – but it isn’t our ability to follow His commands that will get us to heaven.
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
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It Is All About Grace
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
In my blog entry for Thursday – September 8th – we looked at Proverbs 3:5-6 – 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. If we rely on ourselves – we are in a world of trouble.
Today’s passage reminds us again – that it is by God’s grace that we are forgiven and made right with God. We live in a society of people who think they have pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps – or the other extreme – that someone owes them. We think way too highly of ourselves and we need to face reality. Left to our own thoughts and doings – we would be lost for eternity.
A portion of Isaiah 64:6 says – all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Basically – the best among us – the good-hearted – the kind – the moral – if we can find any – would still be lost without Jesus. It is by grace we have been saved – it is the gift of God.
So what do we do with this? We strive to follow Christ – walking in His righteousness while realizing that it is ultimately all about Jesus.
A computer saying goes like this – garbage in – garbage out. I think that applies to our lives as well. What we fill ourselves with – secular TV – radio – what we hear wand what we think – is what we will live – most likely. Filling ourselves with God’s Word – corporate and private worship – Godly relationships – will produce godly behavior in us. But – we must always realize that ultimately – it is all about God’s grace.
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
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Repeat After Me – I Am A Sinner Who Stands in the Need of God’s Grace and Mercy!
Isaiah 64:6
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Recently I was cleaning my garage (my wife likes a clean garage – I’ve argued it is a garage to no avail – so I clean it periodically). As I was cleaning the garage – I found a rag that I had used in numerous cleaning endeavors. It was soaking wet with oil – with dirt – with dust – etc. As I picked up this dirty – filthy rag – today’s passage came to mind.
I believe that some of us think our sins aren’t as bad as our neighbor’s sin. Some think that because they go to church – because they may support to the ministry of the church (time, talent, money, prayers) – they are not as bad as others.
This line of thinking only works if we are judged on some scale my friend. It only works if we somehow need to fall in the top 50% (top 50% equals those with less) of sinners to qualify for heaven or blessing. As today’s passage came to mind – all our righteous acts are like filthy rags – I realized that my good deeds – my righteous acts – the things that I might think put me in the top 50% – are still far from what God wants and expects from me. I am in need of God’s grace.
As I thought about this – the following story from Christ came to mind.
Luke 18:9-14 – 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Lord – make me more like the Tax Collector – who knew his sins were many and that he stood in the need of mercy – of God’s grace – rather than somehow thinking that my sins are less than someone else’s.
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
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God’s Grace is Sufficient to Cover All Our Sins!
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
It seems that during our current sermon series on guardrails – we not only have been challenging people to set guardrails in their lives – but by reminding people of their regrets – we have found a group of people who are having a hard time dealing with their regrets. I felt the need today to remind us that we are all sinners – every last one of us.
Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Not only have we all sinned – but the good we do – the righteous acts – are like filthy rags.
Isaiah 64:6 – All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
I do not bring these two Scriptures up to further depress us about our sin – our regrets – but rather to say that none of us is worthy – in and of ourselves. The best among us – their righteous acts are still like filthy rags compared to our God. I say this to help us realize that two truths can be trusted. First – we cannot earn or merit our relationship with God. We can NEVER do enough good to offset our sin. Second – we are all in need of God’s grace – EVERY one of us!
Too often – as I deal with hurting people – we find them falling into one of two categories. First – I am so bad God could never forgive me (as if our sin is somehow greater than anyone else’s sin). Second – my spouse/friend is so bad I cannot forgive them (as if our sin is somehow less offensive to God and somehow we live on a higher plane).
God tells us – my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
Saint Paul saw himself – as Saul – as the worst of sinners – because he was putting to death the followers of Christ – yet He knew God’s grace could forgive him.
1 Timothy 1:15-16 – 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
If we turn our hearts over to God – confess our sins and receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior – His grace is sufficient for you. God’s grace is so amazing. We need to lay our regrets at the cross and allow God to wash us clean. We need to forgive others as we would want to be forgiven.
Matthew 6:14-15 – 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
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We Are Tempted By Our Own Evil Desires
James 1:13-15
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Today we will continue to look at the above passage zeroing in on but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
We’ve already read that our righteousness is like filthy rages. Isaiah 64:6 – All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
I remember a comedian from my youth – Flip Wilson – who had a character (Geraldine) who had a line that she repeated often – The Devil made me do it! The good news today is that the devil can’t make us doing anything. The bad news is that it is our own evil desires that cause us to yield to temptations and fall to sin.
Remember – God has promised us a way out of every temptation – 1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Remember – God has not only promised we can avoid sin – God has given us protection – the armor of God – Ephesians 6:10-18 – 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
I know these are repeat Scriptures – but they need to be driven home. We do not need to sin – we are not forced to sin – we sin because we put something before God in our lives.
We are called to love Jesus more than anything – Mark 12:30 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
Tomorrow we will finish the study of James 1:13-15 by looking at Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
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