Being a Christian has convinced me of two things:
1) That I am absolutely, utterly wretched and sinful to my core.
2) That I am loved and considered precious and priceless anyway.
That’s the paradox that I am coming to see in my life. Each day, it seems, I recognize my own sinfulness more and more. I disappoint myself by every day, “for I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (Romans 7:15 esv).
But, instead of sinking into despair over my condition, with each passing day, I become happier and happier.
I realize I am bad, I put myself lower, and exalt the Cross higher.
With each abandonment of self, I come to know myself better.
With each experience of dying to myself, I come more alive.
With each day that I put my own happiness aside in favor of the glory of God, I find more happiness than I ever imagined.
This is the paradox of the Cross.
“O, the wonderful Cross – bids me come and die, to find that I may truly live”
Excellent post. Earlier today, I read a very indepth post over at Challies.com:
http://www.challies.com/christian-living/real-guilt-and-sinfulness
It focuses on the first part of what you brought up. The question is, are we sinners because we sin, or do we sin because we’re sinners? In other words, are we sinners at our core?
And as you said, yes, we are… but we’re loved anyway. And that is why I’m a Christian.
I loved your more concise outline of it, Emily. You nailed it (no cross pun intended). :>)
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Thanks! Also, thanks for the link to that article – I really enjoyed it. I have been having a discussion of sorts with my sister about this whole idea. She believes wholeheartedly that there’s no way that we can be sinful to our cores because we are “made in the image and likeness of God”, and that my view is faulty and self-deprecating. I haven’t been making much headway with the subject, mostly because I’m so terrible at explaining it lol. I think this will be helpful
Yeah, I’m still am not totally convinced either. Right now, I think of it like this.
We might be 99% perfect because of God’s wonderful craftsmanship, but that 1% of lousiness affects and ruins the whole thing. Some examples that come to mind:
-Like a rope that’s infinitely long (perfect) except for one cut (one imperfection). The line’s severed, so the rest of it’s ruined. One side isn’t connected to the other.
-Like a glass of water that’s 99% pure (perfect) except for one drop of poison (one imperfection). That one drop of poison ruins the whole thing.
Not sure if that helps you, but it gives me a metaphor at least. Still a tricky subject.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Thanks to Marshall’s blog for providing you a space to comment so that I could visit your blog
I disappoint myself every ten minutes, it seems. Yep, sometimes I’m TOO self-deprecating. That, too, is sinful. I’ve got to avoid the sin of perfectionism because of the tendency to legalism and works centric salvation.
Redeemed in Him. Totally screwed up in me.
The greatest gift ever for any believer is the gift of Redemption. Christ died for Me (when i recall and think about this, It brings me to my kneel weeping) He Paid the price for me
I enjoyed the post and the great picture of the cross on the beach. I am a missionary to Scotland and have put that picture with the passage of scripture found in I Corinthians 1:18. I would like to print it but I need a release from you to do so. i tried to get it done already, but the printers would not do it without the release. Can I plead with you for that release? Thank you
I would, but the picture is actually not mine, sorry!