Various Christian thoughts

Have you ever wondered what it truly takes to be right with God? It’s a question that has echoed through the ages, and the answer might be simpler, yet more profound, than you think. The core of the matter lies not in what we do, but in what has already been done for us. The truth is, as the scriptures declare, “There is none righteous, not even one“. This powerful statement from Romans 3:10 reveals a fundamental reality about humanity – we all fall short. No matter how good we try to be, our own efforts are insufficient to bridge the gap between us and a Holy God. So, how then can anyone be made right? The answer lies in a revolutionary concept: justification by faith apart from works of the law. This isn’t a new idea; it’s a principle beautifully illustrated in the life of Abraham, a figure revered across generations. Consider Abraham. Was he declared righteous because of his exemplary behavior? The scripture says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness”, as found in Genesis 15:6. The book of Romans elaborates on this, asking, “What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness'” (Romans 4:1-3). Notice the recurring word: credited. This is a key theological term, akin to a banking transaction. It signifies that God, through grace, places His righteousness into our account, not because of anything we have earned, but simply because we believe. Think about it this way: “Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5). This highlights a crucial distinction. If righteousness were earned through works, it would be an obligation, something God owed us. But instead, it is a gift freely given to those who place their trust in Him. This concept isn’t limited to Abraham. King David, despite his significant failings, also understood this profound truth. “David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account'” (Romans 4:6-8), quoting Psalm 32:1-2. David’s experience shows that blessing and being made right with God come through forgiveness, a covering of our sins that is not based on our own merit. This realization often comes as a “Eureka” moment – a sudden understanding of our own inability to cleanse ourselves and the acceptance of God’s provision. It’s discovering that like Abraham, we have something about our flesh – a stain of sin – that no amount of religious activity can wash away. But then, we discover that God has already provided a substitute. While salvation is received through faith alone and by grace alone, this faith is not meant to be stagnant. Just as a prisoner who has been acquitted shouldn’t remain in their cell, we are called to live out the reality of our forgiveness. The beautiful truth is captured in Micah 7:19: “He will turn again; he will have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” This is the foundation of our hope and the reason for our joy. We are declared righteous, our sins are forgiven and forgotten, not because of what we’ve done, but because of God’s incredible grace. Have you experienced this “Eureka” moment? Perhaps today is the day to embrace this truth and be covered by grace.

Have you ever felt the weight of your mistakes, those things you wish you could take back? Imagine a debt so large you could never repay it. This is the situation we all find ourselves in when it comes to our wrongdoings, our sins, against God. The good news is that there’s a solution, a way out that doesn’t depend on our ability to be “good enough.” It’s called grace, which means God’s undeserved kindness and favor towards us. It’s something freely given, even when we don’t deserve it. Think about John Newton, the writer of the famous hymn “Amazing Grace”. Before becoming a pastor, he was involved in the slave trade, a life marked by recklessness and immorality. But when faced with death during a storm at sea, he cried out to God. As he came to understand the gospel, the message of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, he was overwhelmed by God’s grace in forgiving his terrible sins. It was this profound experience that led him to write the words, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!”. The realization of his own deep sinfulness made God’s grace all the more astonishing. Sadly, it seems many lose this sense of amazement. Perhaps it’s because we lose sight of how serious our sins truly are to God. Our wrong thoughts and hidden actions are just as significant as the more visible sins we might judge in others. We tend to put ourselves on a pedestal, thinking we are better than others. Jesus once told a story that helps illustrate this. A man had two people who owed him money – one a large sum (500 denarii) and the other a much smaller amount (50 denarii). Neither could pay back what they owed, so the man freely forgave both debts. Jesus then asked which one would love him more, and the answer was clear: the one who had been forgiven more. This story demonstrates how God’s grace works. Some might think their sins are small and therefore God’s forgiveness is not a big deal. But whether the debt is large or small, it’s still a debt. True appreciation and love for God come when we recognize the enormity of our sin and the incredible grace it takes for God to forgive us. In Luke chapter 7, we read about a woman known as a sinner (understood to be a prostitute) who came to Jesus while he was eating at the house of a self-righteous religious leader named Simon, a Pharisee. She wept at Jesus’ feet, washed them with her tears and her hair, kissed them, and poured expensive perfume on them. Simon was disgusted, thinking that if Jesus knew what kind of woman this was, he wouldn’t allow her to touch him. But Jesus knew Simon’s thoughts and told him the story of the two debtors. Then, turning to the woman, Jesus pointed out how Simon had failed to show common courtesy, while this woman had shown extravagant love and humility. Jesus then declared, “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little” (Luke 7:47). He concluded by saying to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace” (Luke 7:50). It wasn’t her tears or the expensive oil that saved her, but her faith in Jesus. Those who recognize their deep need for forgiveness are the ones who truly understand and appreciate God’s grace. The self-righteous, like Simon, feel little need for it. The core message of the early followers of Jesus, like the Apostle Paul, was this incredible grace of God. When Paul first preached in places like Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra (cities in the region of Galatia), the message was clear: forgiveness of sins comes through Jesus, and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which he could not be justified by the law of Moses (Acts 13:38-39). The Gentiles who heard this were glad and believed. In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly about the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands (Acts 14:1-3). Even after facing opposition and persecution, they returned to these cities, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:20-22). They had preached the gospel of God’s grace. However, Paul was shocked to hear that these very churches in Galatia were turning away from this message. They were being influenced by others who taught that following the Jewish Law was necessary for salvation, adding works to God’s grace. This is a perversion of the true gospel. Paul’s reaction was strong. He wrote in his letter to the Galatians: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-7). He even issued a stark warning: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9). Paul was so firm because his understanding of the gospel didn’t come from human teaching but directly from Jesus Christ himself. He said, “But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11-12). The danger of adding anything to God’s grace for salvation is that it diminishes the sufficiency of what Jesus Christ has already done. It suggests that His sacrifice alone wasn’t enough. The truth is, we have a debt we could never repay, the debt of our sins. Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, came and paid that debt for us through his death on the cross. He lived a perfect life so that His righteousness could be given to us. We have nothing to offer God to earn our forgiveness. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). This doesn’t mean that good works are unimportant. In fact, the Bible goes on to say, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 – not explicitly cited but related concept). When we are truly saved by grace through faith, our lives will be transformed, and we will naturally want to do good works as a response to God’s love. But these works are a result of salvation, not the cause of it. The message is clear: salvation is a free gift from God, received through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not earned by our efforts or good deeds. We cannot add anything to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. Our focus should be on trusting in His grace alone. This amazing grace is what sets us free from the consequences of our sins and offers us eternal life. Let us never lose our amazement at this incredible gift.

In today’s world, strength is often celebrated, and weakness is viewed with disdain. Phrases like “pain is weakness leaving the body” or “we’re only as strong as our weakest link” reflect a culture obsessed with winning and uncomfortable with vulnerability. Yet, the message from scripture offers a completely different understanding: true strength is often found in our weakness. The Bible reveals a profound truth about the human condition: we are all weak. We need breaks, rest, and rely on many things to navigate life. This inherent weakness isn’t something to be hidden or ashamed of; instead, it’s the very place where God’s power can be most evident. Consider the apostle Paul’s experience, as shared in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. After receiving extraordinary revelations, Paul was given “a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited”. Three times, Paul pleaded with the Lord to take it away, but God’s response was: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”. This divine reply shifted Paul’s perspective. He declared, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong”. This passage teaches us that God often allows or even causes pain and suffering in our lives, not necessarily as punishment for sin, but to keep us humble and draw us closer to Him. Spiritual pride is a significant danger, and God’s commitment to our spiritual growth means He will ensure we don’t become self-sufficient. Our weaknesses can serve as a constant reminder that we need to depend on Jesus. Think of individuals whose weaknesses became platforms for God’s power: J.I. Packer, despite a childhood accident that left a permanent mark and potential for brain damage, became a sharp theological mind and influential author. Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic since a diving accident, has a widespread ministry sharing hope through her own hardship. John Bunyan wrote the timeless classic “Pilgrim’s Progress” while imprisoned for his faith, his suffering becoming a source of strength for countless Christians. These examples echo the sentiment of John 3:30: “He must increase, but I must decrease”. It’s in our diminishing, in acknowledging our lack, that Christ’s glory can shine through. We are encouraged to let our weaknesses be a stage for His power to be displayed. The prophet Isaiah reminds us in Isaiah 40:28-29: “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength”. God’s strength is available precisely when we recognize our own lack. The story of Gideon in Judges 7 further illustrates this principle. God intentionally reduced Gideon’s army from thousands to a mere 300 men to defeat the Midianites. This was so that Israel could not boast that their own strength had saved them; the victory would clearly be attributed to God’s power. God does more with less, demonstrating that the power to overcome doesn’t come from human might but from Him. Instead of hiding our weaknesses, we are invited to acknowledge them and turn to God. Our greatest need is not to be pain-free, but to gain spiritual strength through reliance on Jesus. When we feel weak, we are in the very place where the Lord’s power can work most effectively. The simple prayer, “Jesus, help I need you,” is often all it takes to experience His sustaining grace. For those who do not yet know Christ, the first step is to recognize our fundamental weakness – our sinfulness – and the need for a Savior. The Bible says we have all sinned, but Jesus died for our sins and rose again. Believing in His perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection is the way to experience God’s amazing grace. For believers facing pain, suffering, and weakness, the message is clear: you are not alone, and you are right where the Lord wants you to be. Even if the pain doesn’t disappear, God’s grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in your weakness. Embrace your weaknesses, for they can become the very platform where God’s strength is displayed.