Saturday, November 17, 2012
Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.
THE LAST JUDGMENT -- JESUS DIDN'T DIE FOR NOTHING
It can't be both ways. We either live by God's Law and hope to enter heaven on the basis of our obedience or we trust in Jesus perfect life and death. Either Christ is your Savior -- or you are.
Let's fast-forward to the Day of Judgment and our final arraignment. The Scripture says that we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ (cf. Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
How will you plead when you must stand before the Judge? "I've been a good person." "I've kept God’s Law." "I was kind to animals." "I think I've done enough good to make up for my wrongs."
Those who plead in this way believe that Jesus died for nothing. What lies ahead of them is rightly described as a tragedy. God provided them righteousness in His Son, but they despised it in favor of filthy rags (cf. Isaiah 64:6).
How do you plead? "God be merciful to me, a sinner." "I'm with Jesus. He lived for me and His perfect life is my righteousness." "I'm with Jesus. He died for me and has paid my debt in full. My sins are forgiven."
Jesus didn't live for nothing. He lived for you in perfect obedience so that you by faith in Him might live with Him and see the glory of heaven. Jesus didn't die for nothing. He died for you, laden with your sins to free you from their consequences and from the Law's accusations.
May God continue to bless us through His Word that we do not set aside or despise the undeserved love of God in Christ -- in favor of our goodness -- but instead cling to His living and dying that we might be justified by faith.
