“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23-24
The Forgotten Five Hundred by Gregory Freeman (2008) tells a gripping story. Airman Claire Musgrave, after jumping from his plane into German-occupied Yugoslavia in World War II, found himself surrounded by Serbian villagers. Although he had no idea what they intended to do with him or whether they would turn him over to the Germans, he and hundreds of other airmen were forced to renounce confidence in themselves and place total confidence in the Serbian villagers who had found them.
Before God, we are somewhat like those airmen. As condemned sinners, we can have no self-confidence in making ourselves right with Him. “The greatest issue of all time is the answer to the question that is before us: ‘how is it possible for those who are guilty to be declared not guilty’? We come to Christ renouncing our ability to do anything worthy of God’s salvation. Rather, we trust only in Jesus’ sinless life, substitutionary death, and resurrection on our behalf” (Derek Thomas, 2011).
Our confidence is in Jesus and what He has done, not in ourselves!
Before God, we are somewhat like those airmen. As condemned sinners, we can have no self-confidence in making ourselves right with Him. “The greatest issue of all time is the answer to the question that is before us: ‘how is it possible for those who are guilty to be declared not guilty’? We come to Christ renouncing our ability to do anything worthy of God’s salvation. Rather, we trust only in Jesus’ sinless life, substitutionary death, and resurrection on our behalf” (Derek Thomas, 2011).
Our confidence is in Jesus and what He has done, not in ourselves!
Scripture Focus
Philippians 3:2-11
Insight
“Nothing in my hand I bring;/ simply to the cross I cling/ … helpless, look to thee for grace.” (Augustus Toplady, 1776)
Bible In A Year
- 1 Samuel 15-16
- Psalm 127
- 2 Corinthians 8
