The rash
of going out of the way, by some super-spiritual elitists, to emphasize how
worthless and undone they still feel after they have been made new creatures
in Christ, is possibly rooted in Calvinistic concepts – especially the
doctrine of the imputed righteousness of Christ. This doctrine allows one to
still be a worthless sinner while God graciously imputes the righteous life
of Christ to his account. While the man himself is still a vile sinner, God
does not judge him so because He only sees the righteousness of Christ which
He has spread over the filthy sinner – leaving him a sinner under the cover
of Christ’s righteousness. Thus it is supposed to be a sign of great
humility to magnify how unworthy and undone one feels.
In fact,
it is a slam on God’s workmanship in making us over by the power of the
Gospel. Before Christ came into our lives we were nobodies (“not a people”),
but he has made us into somebodies (people of God).
(See 1 Peter 2:10)
We are
not self-made but God-made. We were the servants of sin but he has made us
into the servant of righteousness. It is neither arrogant nor self-righteous
to point out what we are after God’s make-over. We are new creatures. There
is no need to retain a sack cloth and ashes breast beating mentality but
lift up our eyes in thankful recognition of what we have become by the power
of God. We should even urge others to become such as we are (cf.
Acts 26:29).
When it comes to Christians the operative is WERE when it comes to being
worthless sinners
(cf. Rom. 5:8, 19).
In just
a few verses we see what we have become by the power if God:
1.
Living stones in God’s spiritual house.
2. A
holy and royal priesthood.
3. A
chosen generation.
4. A
holy nation.
5. A
peculiar people (His own special people - NKJV)
6. Kings
and priests.
7.
Worthy
(1 Pet. 1:5,9; Rev. 1:6; 3:4)
Praise
be to God for what he has made us to be!
Yes,
even the most faithful Christians still sin at times, but they do not make
it their practice and they correct it as they go rather than wallowing in it
(1 John 1:7-10).
I prefer
to praise God for what he has made me into, rather than glorying in my
humility.
Other Articles by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr.
Holding a Church Hostage
What Can God do?
Undercover Agents for Christ
Reformation or Transformation?
Be Careful With the Blame
Game
Is Unrestricted Loyalty a Virtue?
A New Dogma
How to Raise a Heartache
The Right Baptism
Standing Alone
For Past Auburn Beacons go to:
www.aubeacon.com/Bulletins.htm
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