I never have to do a moment’s labor to gain or maintain my justified status before God!
The following is an excerpt from Milton Vincent’s A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God’s Love, which I wanted to share from my morning with God today. I highly recommend this book for realigning your heart to the reality of the cross and resurrection. You can find the PDF version for free here, or purchase the print version here.
The gospel encourages me to rest in my righteous standing with God, a standing which Christ Himself has accomplished and always maintains for me.[1] I never have to do a moment’s labor to gain or maintain my justified status before God! [2] Freed from the burden of such a task, I now can put my energies into enjoying God, pursuing holiness, and ministering God’s amazing grace to others.
The gospel also reminds me that my righteous standing with God always holds firm regardless of my performance, because my standing is based solely on the work of Jesus and not mine. [3] On my worst days of sin and failure, the gospel encourages me with God’s unrelenting grace toward me. [4] On my best days of victory and usefulness, the gospel keeps me relating to God solely on the basis of Jesus’ righteousness and not mine.
[1] Romans 5:1-2, Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 1 John 2:1-2, My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
[2] Romans 4:5, And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, Hebrews 4:3a, For we who have believed enter that rest. Matthew 11:28, Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
[3] Romans 5:18-19, Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
[4] Romans 5:20, Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:1, What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 1 John 2:1-2, My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Craig Priestley 