The Proof of Our Holiness

          Admittedly, what I am about to write is not my own, but that of another, namely, Mike Mason. Listen carefully.

In the final analysis the proof of our holiness lies not in our conduct, but in the cross. It is the blood of Christ that redeems us, not our sinless lives. Dependence upon holy living will lead to frustration and ruin. Only dependence upon God pleases God and qualifies as righteousness. This is the gospel, and it is the only gospel by which sinners can be saved, This is the one loophole in the law, the one way (however illegitimate it may seem to strict legalist) to wriggle free of the law’s condemnation. This is both the door and the road to life, both the narrow door of justification and the narrow road of sanctification. It is the two rolled into one, and no other door or road is necessary. To a Pharisee this sounds like cheating. And it is! It utterly cheats a person out of any possibility of being good, leaving that achievement and all its glory entirely to God [The Gospel According to Job; Mike Mason; p. 244].

          For some reason, we simply refuse to relinquish control of our lives to Jesus, even when doing so would set us free from law’s condemnation. We, like Adam & Eve, much prefer trying to impress Him with our ability to obey the rules, even though we know we fail miserably. We refuse to be cheated out of the possibility of proving ourselves good enough to please Him.

          The fact is this: Jesus has already cheated us out of that possibility, and that is a good thing, a very good thing! “Cease striving and know that He is God,” or so said Someone much wiser than I!   

                   

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).