Martin Luther once said, “Be careful not to measure your holiness by other people’s sins.”
For most of my life, I did just this.
“My sins aren’t bad.” “I am a good person.” “Look at all the evil going on all around the world… I am far better than many.” “Surely if there is a Heaven, I am good enough to go there.”
Ever have these thoughts? Ever look at those who are, in your opinion, more sinful than you and simply think I must be pretty good, moral, and noble? I certainly did. I went about my day and looked at those who appear more sinful than me for my moral compass. If I can be better than most, I must be a righteous person.
But as Paul tells us in Romans chapter 3, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
I was an imperfect person, comparing myself to other imperfect people. I was in a sin competition. If I sinned, I sought to find someone who sinned more than me to justify my sin and maintain my level of goodness. My heart was hardened, and I didn’t even know it. I didn’t know Jesus.
But God works in ways beyond our own means of thought. God is seeking. God is working. God is saving.
When I was new in my faith walk; my Christian journey, I began to understand my sin. And I truly began to understand it is not imperfect people I hold my sin up too; it is a perfect almighty God; our Lord Jesus Christ. And why would He save a wretched soul like me? FAITH. Faith alone in Christ alone.
Why would a Holy, perfect, all-mighty creator save me or anyone that is unrighteous and imperfect? Jesus! Jesus imputes His perfect righteousness to all those who turn from believing they can sin better than someone else. Jesus imputes His righteousness to us, because He loves us, and we love Him. And when God looks upon those who place their faith and obedience in Jesus… God sees Jesus in us.
Beloved, Jesus is the only way to Salvation. Start your journey with Jesus and His Word, given to us in the Bible, today! The time is now! Step into the realm of obedience and experience God’s blessing.
The narrative of Scripture, God’s Word, from beginning to end is an unfolding of a perfect creator, sinful mankind, a promise making God who never breaks a promise, and real people being given the blessing of faith in Jesus for eternal salvation.
I would love to talk to anyone accepting Jesus Christ for eternal salvation! Take that leap of faith today! The Journey with Jesus starts today!
Pastor Jason Pauley
