Truth of the matter is, to me, in good conscience a Christian will have a goal in life to walk in a manner that is pleasing to God; turning away from the things in our life that are otherwise. The reality is that we share this goal with those who abide in the Jewish faith, the Muslim faith, and others who believe in God. We all share a desire to be accepted of God. But, as the Bible clearly states, no one shall reach that goal through individual thought, word, and deed alone as reflected by the Scripture Ecclesiastes 7:20: “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”.
The result is that we all, from time-to-time, find ourselves troubled in mind and spirit as we deal with one or more failures in our efforts to walk in a manner that is pleasing to God….it is something to pray about. But the bigger question is whether we also find ourselves in trouble in terms of God’s acceptance and relationship of us as a result of our failure….that’s a whole new ballgame.
The difference depends upon which of the Laws we are using in our efforts to be accepted of God: the Law of Perfection through our own efforts (our works) or the Law of Perfection through the Blood of Jesus. If we are trying to be accepted of God through the Law of Perfection through our own efforts, then we will find ourselves in trouble in terms of Gods acceptance and relationship to us simply because, as Ecclesiastes 7:20 states, we cannot succeed. If we are trying to be accepted of God through the Law of Perfection through the Blood of Jesus, it is a different story. Why is this?
It is because the Law of Perfection through the Blood of Jesus (the New Covenant as described in the Bible) contains within it a provision for the forgiveness of our sins: that is, the Blood of Jesus is, in God’s eyes, a covering of our failures to walk in a manner pleasing to him. Because of this, the Blood of Jesus not only forgives our sin but also maintains our relationship with God despite our failures.
Four scriptures come to mind: Ephesians 2:8, John 3:16, John 15: 4-5 and Proverbs 3: 5-6.
Ephesians 2: 8 (KJV) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
John 3:16 (KJV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 15: 4-5 (KJV) “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, and ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 (KJV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
But how does one abide in Jesus? Through faith and trust as the Scripture says in Proverbs 3: 5-6 (above). This includes walking through your failures as you try to walk through your life in a manner pleasing to God; for again, it is by grace ye are saved, through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is a gift of God (for choosing to accept and believe in his son, Jesus).
What Christian, of any years, has not struggled in turning away from the law of Perfection through works to the Law of Perfection through the Blood of Jesus. This struggle is a common ailment to us all. It is true that sometimes God will empower one to overcome an overwhelming failure in one’s life immediately. It is also true that sometimes it is over a period of time and the overcoming during that period of time is by virtue of choosing to abide in Jesus; to accept the forgiveness (grace) of God, the covering of the blood of Jesus. Trust (faith) in place of doubt and despair despite the outward appearance.
