Jesus +

robertsmarg

May 24

Every Sunday, my church practices communion, which is a time to pause, reflect and thank God for the sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross for our sin. This past Sunday in preparation, several bible verses were read from different letters in the New Testament that all spoke of the Cross and that it is by faith in Jesus, not deeds, that we are saved. It struck me afresh that although these verses were originally written at different times and to different churches, they were united with the same message: there was no escaping that salvation came through Faith.

It wouldn't surprise me if the church at the time, although in its infancy, was still struggling with the fact that man cannot add or earn salvation. It isn't about us. But all through the centuries, mankind wrestles with this. Perhaps there is something inherent in us that states we need to earn in order to receive. When we do we can feel good about ourselves.

Or a person may believe in Jesus' finished work on the cross but then they also try to 'do good deeds' to add to the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. But in doing this we say that Jesus isn't enough: as if God Himself isn't powerful enough to rescue man from the consequences of sin!

The Bible is clear that there is nothing that we can do to earn or add to Salvation. As Isaiah bluntly put it:

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Isaiah 64:6

Sin pollutes everything! It is riddled in our thoughts, attitudes, words and actions. One single sin is enough to condemn us. God is so Holy, so pure, that the sight of it grieves Him and it cannot be anywhere near His presence. As *John Cross put it "only a perfect people can be in the presence of a perfect God."

But this is why the Gospel is such good news! Although we are helpless to save ourselves, God, in His love and grace, made a way for us to be forgiven and spend eternity with Him in Heaven! The way was made through Jesus, who willingly bore the Just wrath of God for sin on the Cross and was resurrected three days later, validating that God had accepted His sacrifice on our behalf. It is therefore by Faith in Him, we receive forgiveness and eternal life.

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

If Jesus' resurrection confirms that God has accepted His sacrifice for us on the Cross, then we certainly don't earn or add to, our salvation. As God, there is nothing higher nor anyone purer than Christ. No effort nor good intention that we have can improve or add to our salvation. It isn't 'Jesus plus anything'. It's only by Faith in Jesus that we are saved from the consequences of sin.

Salvation is a gift that we receive. As such, we can't earn it. The life we live afterward should simply be an outward expression of our love and thanks to God.

Comment