We Don't Deserve To Be Saved!
Reading the Bible has made it clear that none of us 'deserve' to be saved. This is because our sins are too great for any amount of work on our part to pay back that debt. Fortunately, Jesus came down from Heaven and died then rose again so that all of mankind's sins could be forgiven. We are forgiven only out of love, not out of any idea that we are 'good people' that 'deserve to be saved'. Before reading the Bible, that idea doesn't seem particularly amazing. But after reading the Bible, it is absolutely astounding. The Bible gives us a glimpse of God and Jesus. They are sinless and to them sin is abhorrent and repulsive. Therefore, for Jesus to die on the cross displays unbelievable humility, during which he took on all of our sins, causing his Father God to turn away unable to bear the sight.
This would be a bit like if you were healthy (and disliked illness in any form) and came to help a leper colony, all of whom were wanting to be near you and reach out to you. They might even all be arguing about who had the least amount of leprosy but the fact remains that all are still lepers. Supposing that in order to save them, you had to willingly take on all their leprosy, rendering you such that even your own father would turn his face away in horror?
Another way of looking at the awe of God's love is to take a good look at what Jesus became when he came in the form of Man. C.S. Lewis describes this process as "The Eternal Being, who knows everything and created the whole universe, became not only a man but (before that) a baby, and before that a foetus inside a Woman's body. If you want to get the hang of it, think how you would like to become a slug or a crab." - C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, Chapter 5 "The Obstinate Toy Soldiers".
Yup, imagine becoming a slug to save the slug population - it doesn't sound very appealing!
If you found this post interesting, you might also like these related posts on this blog:
This would be a bit like if you were healthy (and disliked illness in any form) and came to help a leper colony, all of whom were wanting to be near you and reach out to you. They might even all be arguing about who had the least amount of leprosy but the fact remains that all are still lepers. Supposing that in order to save them, you had to willingly take on all their leprosy, rendering you such that even your own father would turn his face away in horror?
Another way of looking at the awe of God's love is to take a good look at what Jesus became when he came in the form of Man. C.S. Lewis describes this process as "The Eternal Being, who knows everything and created the whole universe, became not only a man but (before that) a baby, and before that a foetus inside a Woman's body. If you want to get the hang of it, think how you would like to become a slug or a crab." - C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, Chapter 5 "The Obstinate Toy Soldiers".
Yup, imagine becoming a slug to save the slug population - it doesn't sound very appealing!
If you found this post interesting, you might also like these related posts on this blog:
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