Jesus, Our Passport
Isaiah 64:6 (NLT), “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away.”
On my way to America last year, I remember standing at the JKIA airport (Kenya) surrounded by my luggage. And they said, "May I see your ticket?" "Yes, here it is." "May I see your passport?" I had to have a passport, and I did. You know, no passport; no trip. It was as simple as that. I will tell you that salvation is just as simple. Unless you have Jesus Christ you have no trip to heaven.
Heaven is the destination for our eternal vacation, isn't it? What is the Christians passport to heaven? Jesus is our passport. All other documentation is counterfeit. Only Jesus can get you through. No Jesus..... No Eternal Vacation!
"Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey the holy law. We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God."
Go to Isaiah 64 in the Old Testament and look at verse 6. In Isaiah 64:6 (NLT), “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away.”
The perfect Law of God demands perfect obedience. I cannot do anything perfectly. But wait! Jesus did perfectly keep the law. "By His perfect obedience He has satisfied the claims of the law, and my only hope is found in looking to Him as my substitute and surety, who obeyed the law perfectly for me. By faith in His merits I am free from the condemnation of the law. He clothes me with His righteousness, which answers all the demands of the law."
You see Jesus is my Substitute. Jesus stands in my place. Jesus' Righteousness meets all the demands of God's perfect Law. Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All have sinned. And then it defines sin: fall short. That's what sin is, falling short. How many have sinned? All have sinned. How many fall short? All fall short. Now, it does not say we fell short in the past; It says we fall short. In the Greek it means that they continue to fall short. We never achieve the sinless life that we're striving for; not at all. We keep striving, we keep putting forth effort, but we keep falling. Thankfully, Jesus did not fall. This does not mean we quit trying. No not at all. We keep striving and keep putting forth hard effort. But we keep falling.
Now, do you see how salvation works? Our efforts aren't going to save us. No! But should we quite trying? No! God loves the effort. Don't ever think that your good life will qualify you to receive salvation. Your righteousness is as filthy rags. So, does this mean you should quit trying? By no means! So what good are our works? Your efforts prove your love. The loving relationship itself is actually what makes the difference.
Jesus is the ticket to eternal life. John 14:6, Jesus said, I am the way. We aren't the way, are we? Jesus is the way. He's the passport. He is your ticket. If you have Jesus, you have eternal life. If you're depending on yourself, you're going to go the other direction. Therefore, depend on Jesus. Keep trying, yes, don't forget those efforts, but don't look at them with any amount of pride. Our pride ought to be in King Jesus..!
Amen! Amen!
Nang'
Heaven is the destination for our eternal vacation, isn't it? What is the Christians passport to heaven? Jesus is our passport. All other documentation is counterfeit. Only Jesus can get you through. No Jesus..... No Eternal Vacation!
"Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey the holy law. We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God."
Go to Isaiah 64 in the Old Testament and look at verse 6. In Isaiah 64:6 (NLT), “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away.”
The perfect Law of God demands perfect obedience. I cannot do anything perfectly. But wait! Jesus did perfectly keep the law. "By His perfect obedience He has satisfied the claims of the law, and my only hope is found in looking to Him as my substitute and surety, who obeyed the law perfectly for me. By faith in His merits I am free from the condemnation of the law. He clothes me with His righteousness, which answers all the demands of the law."
You see Jesus is my Substitute. Jesus stands in my place. Jesus' Righteousness meets all the demands of God's perfect Law. Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All have sinned. And then it defines sin: fall short. That's what sin is, falling short. How many have sinned? All have sinned. How many fall short? All fall short. Now, it does not say we fell short in the past; It says we fall short. In the Greek it means that they continue to fall short. We never achieve the sinless life that we're striving for; not at all. We keep striving, we keep putting forth effort, but we keep falling. Thankfully, Jesus did not fall. This does not mean we quit trying. No not at all. We keep striving and keep putting forth hard effort. But we keep falling.
Now, do you see how salvation works? Our efforts aren't going to save us. No! But should we quite trying? No! God loves the effort. Don't ever think that your good life will qualify you to receive salvation. Your righteousness is as filthy rags. So, does this mean you should quit trying? By no means! So what good are our works? Your efforts prove your love. The loving relationship itself is actually what makes the difference.
Jesus is the ticket to eternal life. John 14:6, Jesus said, I am the way. We aren't the way, are we? Jesus is the way. He's the passport. He is your ticket. If you have Jesus, you have eternal life. If you're depending on yourself, you're going to go the other direction. Therefore, depend on Jesus. Keep trying, yes, don't forget those efforts, but don't look at them with any amount of pride. Our pride ought to be in King Jesus..!
Amen! Amen!
Nang'