“When the gospel comes to you, it will come to you only if you only if you get rid of your middle class spirit and become poor in spirit. You cannot be a Christian unless you are poor in spirit. You cannot be a Christian if you are middle class in spirit. What do I mean by that? I will tell you. Religion appeals to the able. Religion appeals to people who say, “I can do it if I work hard enough.” But the gospel only comes into the lives of people who are poor in spirit who say I have absolutely nothing of value, and I have no power, and no choices, and I need to rely completely on the salvation and sheer grace of Jesus Christ. If you are middle class in spirit you cannot be saved. You’ll enjoy religion. You’ll love religion. But the gospel is not religion.” Tim Keller
In regard to being justified by our obedience, Jonathan Edwards says this, “It diminishes the glory of the grace of God and the Redeemer, and proportionably magnifies man.”
- A few more Edwards quotes -
“Faith abases men and glorifies God.”
“It is the delight of the believing soul to abase itself and exalt God alone: that is the language of it.”
I never tire of hearing the gospel. I read these Edwards quotes yesterday and found the Keller quote this morning in my desk. I am grateful to know that my obedience (even Holy Spirit powered obedience) does not qualify me for God’s presence. I spent so many years believing that obedience saved me. I am so thankful to know that God is glorified when I admit my only hope is the cross of Jesus Christ.
9/8/06
Our filthy righteousness
Isaiah 64:6
All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away
"The best obedience of my hands
dares not appear before Thy throne
But faith can answer Thy demands
By pleading what my Lord has done"
From 'I Boast No More' by Isaac Watts
I had a really good day today. Flat tires, unexpected meetings, and sickness were the rule and not the exception, but through it all the Holy Spirit gave me strength to bless God's name and turn to him when trials came. There was victory through the fight.
The good days present one of the worst temptations a Christian can face. Good days (and for lack of a better phrase - good performances)tempt me to approach God on my own merit instead of the sacrifice of Christ. As I was driving home from work and thinking of my day I realized my sin. I realized (by the Spirit's conviction) that I needed to repent for my trust in my "goodness."
One of my favorite gospel preachers says, "Pharisees repent for their badness. Christians repent for their goodness." Jesus said the prostitutes and tax collectors would enter the kingdom before the Pharisees because they saw their need for a savior. I am thankful today that God has allowed me to see that my righteousness is as a filthy rag before His holiness. I am broken and humbled to know that my best obedience does not dare approach God's throne. However, I approach him boldly tonight knowing my Redeemer lives and is interceding for me based on his perfect righteousness.
All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away
"The best obedience of my hands
dares not appear before Thy throne
But faith can answer Thy demands
By pleading what my Lord has done"
From 'I Boast No More' by Isaac Watts
I had a really good day today. Flat tires, unexpected meetings, and sickness were the rule and not the exception, but through it all the Holy Spirit gave me strength to bless God's name and turn to him when trials came. There was victory through the fight.
The good days present one of the worst temptations a Christian can face. Good days (and for lack of a better phrase - good performances)tempt me to approach God on my own merit instead of the sacrifice of Christ. As I was driving home from work and thinking of my day I realized my sin. I realized (by the Spirit's conviction) that I needed to repent for my trust in my "goodness."
One of my favorite gospel preachers says, "Pharisees repent for their badness. Christians repent for their goodness." Jesus said the prostitutes and tax collectors would enter the kingdom before the Pharisees because they saw their need for a savior. I am thankful today that God has allowed me to see that my righteousness is as a filthy rag before His holiness. I am broken and humbled to know that my best obedience does not dare approach God's throne. However, I approach him boldly tonight knowing my Redeemer lives and is interceding for me based on his perfect righteousness.
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