The last couple of days have been ones of much heavy Holy Spirit conviction for me. God has used many avenues to bring one thing to my attention: the seriousness of sin. That little 3 letter word that encompasses the whole nature of man apart from God through Jesus Christ. I have been so gently reminded by the Holy Spirit of my insensitivity to God's commands and the law of sin and death. I have taken it for granted that Jesus died for MY SIN. Even the ones I will commit in the future He has paid for with His life and HIS BLOOD. God was on that cross paying the penalty for MY PUNISHMENT FOR BREAKING HIS LAW!! How could I be so foolish to not keep this as the most important thing in my life?
The Law of God, better known as the Ten Commandments is the tool God uses to bring to our attention the disease of sin. And He constantly uses it to remind us that we are sinners in desperate need of a Saviour.
It's like this: Let's say I go to a doctor and he hands me a cure for a disease. I look at him and ask why is he giving me this cure? I am not sick as far as I know. I'm bewildered by the actions of the doctor. He tells me to take it because its good for me. I argue that I am not sick. I hand him the cure back and walk away, completely confused and perhaps a little offended at the implication that I am sick when I am certain I am not.
Now let's say I go to the same doctor and he examines me and finds a terrible disease in my body. He tells me I have about 2 weeks to live. Of course I am terrified. I don't want to die! Then he tells me he has the cure for the disease I have and he will give it to me free of charge. I immediately ask him for it and apply it by whatever means necessary to be cured completely of the disease threatening my life.
How would I feel towards this doctor? I would most likely be very grateful. I would tell everyone I know about him and how he cured me from a life threatening disease. I would especially tell those that may have the same disease. I would rejoice that I got the cure in time. I may even love this doctor for saving me.
How did the doctor come to the conclusion that I had the disease? He diagnosed me. He did a series of tests on me to find out what was wrong.
Now turning to spiritual things. The Law of God is the diagnostic tool by which God measures our lives. It's a Holy Standard that He created for the express purpose of showing us our disease. It's purpose is to show us that we have the disease of sin. It can't save us. But it can show us that we need a cure for our disease. What is the cure? Why it's the GOSPEL!! The GOOD NEWS!! Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, came to earth and gave His whole life, blood, and everything He had taking the punishment and paying the penalty for the sin we commit. And when we repent from our sin, meaning to turn away from it once and for all, put our faith and trust in Jesus and His sacrifial Cross as payment for our sin, then we are truly truly born again.
My conclusion is this: We need to understand we have the disease of sin before we can see our need for the cure. The Law is the means by which God diagnosis the disease of sin, bringing conviction to our hearts. Grace is the means by which salvation comes. Grace through faith. Faith is first, then grace to embrace Jesus Christ as Saviour, Lord, God, our everything, our all in all.
Listen with discernment to modern evangelism. Ask these questions: Is the speaker helping people to understand that they have a disease called sin by presenting them with the Law? Or are they just saying that if you get saved you will have a life of love, joy, peace, everlasting happiness, and that you will go to Heaven when you die? Or worse, do they make statements about how "getting saved" means you will perfect health, lots of money, perpetual happiness, very little if any suffering while still on earth? If you hear any of these false statements about what salvation is I would strongly advise not to listen to this person anymore. If we do not show people their disease, they will not understand why they need a cure.
There is only one true gospel. It is the one that uses the Law to show us our disease of sin and uses grace to show us the loving sacrifice that Jesus gave so that we would have the cure for the disease we all suffer from.
This is the essence of my faith. I thank God for His sacrifice everyday.
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