|
| Are We Wretched? |
|
| |
1:18 "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Sin is devastating. It wrecks human lives. Just one sin (in deed or thought) separates us from God and produces spiritual death.
Nowadays we have written off sin. It is seldom even mentioned. We believe we are good people. Boy are we deceived.
Paul had a different perspective. He cried out: "Oh wretched man that I am." He proclaimed himself to be "the chief of sinners." (Notice that he didn't say "the chief of former sinners.")
Jesus said: "There is none good, but the Father." So, then, how can we be good people? Perhaps we should admit what we really are and throw ourself on God's mercy.
Isaiah speaks hope for our hopeless sinfulness -- God's forgiveness and transformation through the blood of Jesus. We can never be good in God's eyes. How can we compare with absolute perfection? In God's glorious light, I am a wretch.
Two songs say it all: "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me," and "Just as I am without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me, Oh Lamb of God, I come." |
|
| To add a comment to "Are We Wretched?" |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| September 07, 2009 |
 |
|
|
I've started writing for a site that pays its writers. Here's a link: http://www.examiner.com/refer
If you sign up, will you please click at the bottom of the application on "Find My Examiner" and then search for my name, Steve Simms. Then click to list me as the person who referred you. I really appreciate that.
Check out my some of my posts as the Nashville Evangelical Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/x-19568-Nashville-Evangelical-Examiner |
|
|
| September 07, 2009 |
|
|
|
 [star!] |
We are ALL wretched indeed...All of our righteousness is as filty rags....Where would we be without the redeeming Blood of Jesus....He surely died for all of our sins, and removed the death sentence that had been placed upon us because of Adam and Eve.....But thanks be to God we can continue to walk in the newness of the Spirit, and walk according to HIS WORD ;o) |
|
|
| September 07, 2009 |
|
|
|
Exactly, MarJay. That ist the truth.
As humans we tend to take one side or the other and proclaim ourselves to be either good people or totally depraved. In reality we our goodness is filthy rags, yet we are not without hope. If we turn to Christ, He will redeem us. |
|
|
| September 07, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
Steve I like the post Are We Wretched?. Particularly I very much like it- "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me," |
|
|
| September 07, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Thank, Darmesh. Hopefully my spelling was okay. |
|
|
| September 07, 2009 |
|
|
|
| [star!] |
Oh the wretched soul that I am!!!. If I say I am without sin, I make God a lier.
Interesting. God can't lie. Why should He? He is truth. and all that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Praise God!!
This scripture comes to mind also. All have sinned and have fallen short of Gods glory. I think this way, Lord I have sinned and have fallen short of your glory in me.
please forgive me! Change my heart, renew a right spirit within me!!
Blessings Steve. |
|
|
| September 07, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Brother Steve, My heart is heavy for folks that just don't get it. The Lord has a simple plan of salvation, come let us reason together, though your sins. The sinning is not anything the Lord's doing, I was a wretch, I was lost, I needed a saviour. God reasoned with me about my lost condition, the Holy Spirit is still speaking to me about the things that displease my Lord. I can kid everybody on my church, but I can't kid God, He knows the intents of my heart . Be blessed and keep shining the light. |
|
|
| September 07, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Wretched and loved for our love. "They shall know we are Christians by our love, Christlike love. |
|
|
| September 07, 2009 |
|
|
|
Amen, Sis. We must approach God with a humble heart.
Good point, Vickie. We can indeed kid people, but not God. Now matter how clean we may look to the world, God sees us for who we really are and we must rely on His mercy and the Blood of Jesus.
Pastoral: It is both. We are wretched and we are loved and forgiven and made new through Christ. |
|
|
Follow this blog
