>From my free book, Power 4 Life, for discussion and ministry...
God as Redeemer
Romans 8:32 - NRSV
"He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up
for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything
else."
Do you feel good enough to be helped by God, or do
you feel that you've failed God too often for Him to help you?
Some people, who know of God's power to heal and
may even believe God could heal them, refuse to ask for or
accept God's help out of a sense of self-judgement. They
will not forgive themselves, even though God has forgiven
them. Romans 5:8 says that "while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us." Further, Psalms 53:3 says, "There is
none that doeth good, no not one." None of us deserved
Christ's death for ours sins. We did not and could not earn
that sacrifice. It was a gift, given in love. Romans 6:23
says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Further,
Ephesians 2:9 says that it is "Not of works, lest any man
should boast."
Christians should walk in the realization that we are
saved by what He did, not by what we've done. Christ
suffered to liberate us, but what drove His passion for us?
Christ did all that he did out of an unmerited love, and what
does scripture say of that love? Romans 8:38-39 says,
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor
things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Understanding the redemptive love of God for His
creation can give great confidence to us that He will take
care of us in all our needs. Romans 8:32 says, "He that
spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how
shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
If we didn't earn the death of Christ for our salvation,
what makes us think that we would need to earn His
protection or providential help once saved?
God is by nature a redeemer and calls Himself such in
Isaiah 54:5. His love brought us forgiveness and access to
God. In the end, He will give us an eternal heaven with Him
to share, even as we don't deserve it. Does it make any
sense that He would ignore His character, title as Redeemer,
sufferings as sacrifice, or promises of our future and start
demanding we earn His help, now?
Jesus didn't go around healing the holiest of the land.
He didn't even ask if they were righteous before delivering
them. He only asked, "Do you believe?" (Matthew 9:28)
God isn't seeking to help the perfect and pure. He is
seeking to help the repentant and reliant. You can trust God
to help you, flaws and all.
A Word in Season
"This is the month, and this is the happy morn,
Wherein the Son of Heav'n's eternal King,
Of wedded maid and virgin mother born,
Our great redemption from above did bring;"
-John Milton in On the Morning of Christ's Nativity, st.1, l.1
Confession
I believe that God is my Redeemer. I believe that I didn't
earn His sacrifice, which was given in love. I believe that
nothing can separate me from the love of God. I believe that
the God that was willing to die for me will take care of me.
God Bless
Ken Clifton
http://lulu.com/writingken
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