Why Christ died for us
Why Christ died for us is impossible to understand. It was such a sacrifice. We honor that sacrifice by accepting that sacrifice and trusting God every day. But just because we are acceptable in Christ doesn’t mean we can behave however we choose.
That Christ died for me, therefore I get to do what I want is never taught in the New Testament.
Oswald Chambers/My Utmost For His Highest
Instead, II Corinthians 5:21 states:
He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
We are accepted in Christ, not excused
We are accepted in God not because we have obeyed, or because we have promised to give up things, but because of the death of Christ and in no other way. When we realize the price that was paid, the only response is to accept this and grow in Christ.
I think sometimes we feel that because of Christ’s payment for our sins; because of our acceptance into God’s kingdom, we are off the hook for our behavior. We think we can behave any way we want. But that’s making grace cheap.
Grace is not cheap. The greatest sacrifice paid for it.
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Scripture never suggests we can stay at ground zero.
Even Jesus grew and matured.
So why do we think we don’t have to?
I think it’s because we have been spoonfed only the “touchy-feeling” parts of the Scriptures, the parts that make us feel good.
And I’m not suggesting we should fear God, as the common definition of the word implies, but that we need to realize God is not only loving, he is also holy. That’s how we show the proper fear, by realizing his holiness.
We are acceptable in Christ, yes, but we are not excepted. We are not an exception, meaning we are not allowed to our “acceptedness” as an excuse for continuing in our past sinful condition.
It’s not about emotions
Our faith in God isn’t based on “touchy -feeling” emotions. It’s based on what Christ did. And that was such a sacrifice, why do we sometimes take such a casual approach in our behavior?
I always hesitate to write a post like this because there are people in the world too much like me. People who feel more guilt than they should. People like me who try too hard. And when we read something like this, we take it too much to heart. That’s not what I’m intending at all. That’s not what I am saying.
I’m not referring to the occasional slip-up. I’m referring to those continuous questionable behaviors that create a distance between us and God.
For the most part, we can trust God to shine his light on those parts of our lives that need some “touching-up”. But we need to give God the opportunity to do that by prayng “Search me, Oh, God, and know my heart”.
God bless and have a good day.
