I am starving for good news.
If Christ can save me from everything except my own will, then I am damned! Where can I find consolation when I see that my will is corrupt? Where can I find rest?
Does not Paul say that “it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose”? * If Paul is convinced that “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”**, then wouldn’t that “anything else” also include my corrupted will?
Why do I still say that I am strong enough to resist Him, or that a corrupted will, He will not resist?
I ponder and ponder; I try to be a “better Christian”. I look to the virtues, I look to the law, I try to read the scriptures and devote myself to others, but alas! I am still wretched. God help me!
Is it possible that Christ’s death paid for all this as well?
Colossians 2:13-15 “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Galatians 1:6-9 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!”
Galatians 3:1-5 “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?”
Galatians 3:10-14 “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”
Galatians 3:21-25 “If a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.”
It seems there is a great danger in attributing spiritual fruit to human effort, or thinking that somehow fruit gives life to faith. It is not fruit that gives life to a tree, but the tree that gives life to the fruit. Though a tree without fruit is a dead tree, it does not constitute that if only the tree could muster up some fruit it would live. Likewise, a faith without works is a dead faith***, but that does not mean that the faith died because works died, or that if the works could somehow be mustered, then the faith would be revived.
A faulty definition of “the Christian life” will result in the amputation of parts of the body because they don’t qualify to bear the name “Christian”.
Let me not forget that faith itself is a gift of God.****
In a book by C.F.W. Walther on “The proper distinction between Law and Gospel”, his 17th thesis states: “The Word of God is not rightly divided when a description is given of faith, both as regards its strength and the consciousness and productiveness of it, that does not fit all believers at all times.”
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*Philippians 2:12 &13 “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
**Romans
***James 2:26
****Ephesians 2:8 & 9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
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