The Sinner's Need of Christ
This post is part of my Steps to Christ series.
Since the fall, selfishness took the place of love in our hearts and it has been impossible for us, in our won strength, to resist the power of evil. In our current sinful state we could never find joy in holiness. That is why we naturally want to hide form God. A sinner is unable to be happy in God’s presence and would have no joy in heaven should she be permitted to enter. Heaven would be a place for torture for the sinner.
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
No one!
- Job 14:4NKJV
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
- Romans 8:7 NKJV
Education, culture, the exercise of the will, human effort, all have their proper sphere but it is impossible for us, of ourselves , to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken. There must be a power working form within, a new life from above, that power is Christ.
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
- John 3:3 NKJV
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- 1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
- John 1:4 NKJV
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
- Acts 4:12 NKJV12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
- Romans 7:12, 14, 16, 14 NKJV
The answer is found in the next passage.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
- John 1:29 NKJV
Jesus is our only hope! He is the only one who can take away the sin of the world!
Genesis 28 tells the story of Jacob, alone, an outcast, hated by his brother, ha had lied to his father and had to flee. Jacob had left all that he knew and loved behind, he even felt distant from God, because of the sin he had committed. Jacob feared he was completely and forever cut off from God and forsaken of Heaven. (more on my post The Gate of Heaven) Jacob then lies down to sleep and dreams of “a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” (Genesis 28:12 NKJV)
Jesus is the one who connects us to God.
And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
- John 1:51 NKJV
Christ connects fallen humanity in their weakness and helplessness with the Source of infinite power.
Everything that is good has its origin in God.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
- James 1:17 NKJV
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
- John 14:6 NKJV
We ought to make an effort to appreciate the labor and energy that Heaven is expending to reclaim the lost and bring them back to the Father’s house. Look at all the trouble that all of heaven is going through to save you, me, and even our enemies. What else could God do? I just hope that in light of all that God has done for us that we will be willing to love the One who has loved us so much. Why would anyone not take advantage of the means that God made available that we may be transformed into His likeness and restored to harmony and communion with God?
If you wish to go deeper on this topic check out Steps to Christ chapter two.
