Realizing Who We Really Are—Juxtaposed to Who Christ Jesus Is
Family trees can reveal a great deal about people. In searching through marriage licenses, death certificates, family albums, cemeteries, and even historical societies, one can discover both the beautiful and the scandalous details. If we are honest, then there may just be many outcasts within our family tree, and the same can be true within the Bible. In fact, if we are honest, WE ARE ALL OUTCASTS IN THE FAMILY OF GOD.
See the words written by the apostle Paul to Timothy.
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer
(The First Letter of Paul to Timothy 1:12-14 NASB)
and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.
Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.”
Paul is clear in his letter, revealing how he is humbled that the Lord Jesus Christ saw fit to save him, for Paul knew his past. So did Jesus. Paul knew how he persecuted Christians. So did Jesus. Paul knew he had blasphemed God. So did Jesus. Paul knew he had traveled the known world, aggressively hindering the ministry and faith. So did Jesus. Paul realized exactly who he HAD BEEN as an unbeliever. So did Jesus, and Jesus offered Paul mercy and grace anyway. That’s the love of Jesus. Despite who we were, and no matter who we are in our unbelief, or even who we are headed to become as future non-believers—
JESUS OFFERS US GOD’S SALVATION.
This can only be received through Jesus, for the Bible is clear.
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.”
(The Gospel According to John 14:6 NASB)
This is exclusive to all who believe in and ask for forgiveness of sins. Either a person has Christ or he does not. There is no middle place. The apostle Paul dealt with people who believed their past alienated them from the love of God, who thought their past living kept them from being accepted. That is just not true. The family of God is filled with individuals (like Paul, like Abraham, like Judah, like Rahab, like David, like Solomon, like . . . (the list goes on and on) who had devastating flaws. Yet each was able to see the salvation of God and believe by faith in God’s offer.
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I [the apostle Paul] am foremost of all.
(The First Letter of Paul to Timothy 1:15-16 NASB)
Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example
for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”
Each one of us are outcasts by our very nature, and each (like Paul) not deserving of God’s gift of salvation offered through the shed blood of Christ Jesus. We are not so good, in and of ourselves. Deep down, we know this to be true. So does God. We cannot be saved because of our goodness, because of our works on this earth, nor because of our good character. Way down deep, we recognize how lost we really are, and So does Christ Jesus. We realize our sinful nature, and (maybe) we claim it to be our family’s fault, or society’s fault, or a host of reasons. Yet, we know the truth of who we really are: Sinners in need of a Savior. The Lord is willing to accept us just as we are, and God’s Holy Spirit convicts our heart, calling us to receive God’s gift of salvation.
The Question Becomes: Will We Accept Christ’s Offer to be Saved?