Two Possibilities
There are two possibilities. One is effective and the other is
ineffective. "For what the law could not do in that it was weak
through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of
sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that
the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do
not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans
8:3-4).
Back when I was a pastor, at communion, I used to issue an invitation:
"The only people we allow to take communion in this church are perfect
people. If you aren't perfect, you can't receive communion here." I
would pause to let that sink in. Then I would say, "There are two ways
to be perfect . . . one never works and the other always works. If you
decide that you are going to be perfect, that you are never going to
achieve. The only people we allow to take communion in this church are
perfect people. If you aren't perfect, you can't receive communion
here."
I would pause to let that sink in. Then I would say "There are two
ways to be perfect... one never works and the other always works. If
you decide that you are going to be perfect, that you are never going
to sin and are never going to be disobedient, and if you have done
that, you are welcome to this table. But I know that nobody here has
ever come to that point. You see, nobody ever reaches perfection with
his or her own gasoline. However, if you accept the imputed
righteousness of Christ in your life, God looks on you as perfect. In
other words, if you are a Christian, you aren't perfect but you are in
the eyes of God because of what Christ has done for you on the cross.
So, you are welcome to come to the table of the Lord."
If you are trying to be better, the law isn't going to help. If you are
trying to be perfect, nothing will help . . . except for the blood of
Christ. That is the premise of the conclusion that Paul reaches: "There
is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."
Romans 8:1
Today's Daily Wisdom is excerpted from "No Condemnation" by Steve
Brown from Key Life Magazine April-June, 200, Vol. 15, #2. Steve's
Key Life radio program is heard on stations nationwide.
(http://www.keylife.org)
Today's contribution was edited by Keith Todd who is moderator of the
Sermon Fodder list which shares Christian humor and modern day
parables for use primarily as sermon illustration material and fun
filler material in church publications. To subscribe drop a note to
Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@onelist.com.
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