Photo by Jenny Venturo
My last devotional was a bit of an introduction to a series on the sinfulness of mankind. If that sounds like an odd topic, you’ll have to read the introduction to see why I think it’s so important to include sin in our discussions about the Gospel.
If you didn’t click on the link from last week, never fear! You will still get a summary of last week’s message.
Understanding your own sinfulness is uncomfortable, and maybe you’ve found yourself regretting that you prayed for God to show you “who I really am inside.” Because when you are humble enough to ask Him to expose your sin to the fire and light of His holiness, it will wither your soul.
Nevertheless, acknowledging that you are a sinner is the first step toward understanding why Christ died. After all, the Living Water can never revive your soul unless your soul has first withered. There is no revival if there is nothing to revive. There is no salvation unless there is danger from which to be rescued. There is no Good News unless there is Bad News. I will continue to repeat—the Gospel doesn’t make sense unless you understand that you are a sinner.
Have you ever understood that you are a sinner?
You know that the Bible says that people are sinners. It couldn’t be clearer than when it says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).
But the Bible goes even further. It emphatically states that we are “under sin” (Rom. 3:9). Sin is like the tons of debris that trap a person in an earthquake. It crushes and doesn’t let you up. We are slaves of sin (Rom. 6:16). We are stuck in mire (Ps. 69:2, see also v. 5).
You can test this for yourself by trying to be good for one hour. You cannot think one wrong thought. More than that, you must only do what is perfectly right. You can’t because you’re under sin.
We have been born into it. Romans 5:12 is again very clear when it says that sin entered the world through Adam. Contrary to what competing modern philosophies will tell you, people are innately wicked. Filthy.
Take a close look at the words in Romans 3:9-18 to see how the Bible describes sinners. Describes you. Make a list of those words. Then compare yourself to your list and ask yourself the following questions:
· Do you always do what is right? Do you always seek God and want what He wants?
· Do you ever decide not to do what you know is right? Can you keep from sinning for just one hour? You should not only keep from sinning—God wants you to do what is good.
· Are your words always good, life-giving, uplifting, wholesome, kind, true, and pure?
· Even if you’ve never murdered anyone, have you had hateful thoughts toward another person? Do you always treat people kindly? Do you enjoy getting on people’s nerves?
· Is there always peace between you and other people, or does your pride get in the way? Do you fear God because you know that He is holy and must punish sinners?
But no amount of persuasive wording will show you that you are a sinner. At least, it will not show you that you are a sinner who deserves the eternal wrath of God. Only the Holy Spirit of God can do that (Jn. 16:8).
And this is where discussions about God’s holiness come in. Holiness and sinfulness are as different as light and darkness. They are incompatible. Neither can tolerate the other. So when the Holy Spirt prods your conscience, the effect is immediate and powerful.
All this is basic, but few of us spend nearly enough time meditating on these things. Will you ask God to show you your need? Will you ask Him to help you show it to others?
Lord, show me that I need You. Help me to truly understand the Gospel.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Used by permission. All rights reserved.