My friend, the Scriptures though expressed in the imperfect words of man is the medium by which we are brought into connection with the infinite mind of God. The message alone does not transform us, but it is as we are brought into connection with our Redeemer, our lives are transformed by Him.
The Scriptures reveal to us our true condition before God and our need of a Savior. The law of God was given to us not to save us, but that the character of God may be revealed and a check upon sin may be placed upon the world. Though the law is perfect, it can only reveal to us our imperfection. As we look upon the law we see what we are to be, but does not enable us to keep its holy precepts. As such the law does not save, but leads us to One that can.
Our problem with sin is not that we have transgressed the law of God, but that our natures are inherently sinful. We commit sin, because it is in our nature to do so. Just as an apple tree can only produce apples, so too in our fallen condition do our lives produce unrighteousness. God is righteous and a life disconnected from the source of all righteousness cannot produce righteousness. Sin is defined as the transgression of the law of God, but sin is deeper than any action. Sin is a state of being that produces acts of transgression. Thus the remedy for our us is not in controlling our behavior but a transformation of heart.
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Ezekiel 36:26).
Christ came not that He might be our example, but that He may impart to us a righteous and holy nature. He took upon Himself the likeness of sinful flesh but retained His holy divine nature that He may overcome sin and impart that perfect life to us. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." (1 John 5:11).
My friend, it is not enough for us to know of Christ, but He must live within us. It is only by His life living within us that we may be saved. The law is holy and good, but we cannot keep the law of God unless Christ is abiding in us, for Jesus is the fullness of the law embodied in human flesh. As Christ lives within us, our natures are transformed and as such the things that we do are in harmony with the law of God. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16). If Christ is living within us, the light that shines from us will glorify our Father in heaven.
May you invite Christ into your life today.
God bless,
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