The One and Only Thing

THE ONE AND ONLY THING

Those who preach the gospel have a singular focus. That focus takes precedence over everything else, to the point of excluding everything else and finding no value in anything else.

The focus of the gospel message is simply, Christ. It is Christ, our substitute. Christ our satisfaction to God's law and justice. Christ our redeemer. Christ our surety. Christ our righteousness. Christ our life.

This gospel is despised and hated by sincere, well meaning, religious folks everywhere because all human effort and merit is excluded. The message of Christ alone is simply not enough for those who see themselves as new and improved.

To those who believe that they can find acceptance before God through their own efforts at obedience or "good" works, let the record be clear.

Romans 3:10-12 As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one:
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

This is maddening to the religious humanist, who will seek to "yeah but" the Word of God to death. Who doesn't want to feel good about themselves while ignoring what maggots the Word of God reveals us to be?
Obedience that is acceptable to God, must be understood in the light of the Word of God and the perfect, eternal obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ. Anything less than that is filthy rags.

That is not to say that we do not desire good works, or strive to do good works, for this is certainly the believers desire. However, when honestly considered in the light of the perfect work of Christ, we cry out with the apostle Paul.

Romans 7:24-25 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

I have heard many say that we earn rewards based on our obedience, but I shudder to think of the kinds of rewards I would merit from God based on my greatest sacrifice on my best day. In light of the glories of Christ, the believer is repulsed by the thought of bringing our works before our God. It is an abomination to believe that we can add one thing to the perfect work of Christ. This is rank idolatry and it can not and will not escape judgement.

Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

It is amazing to me that Christ alone is never enough for this religious generation. While the child of God rests in a finished work that is perfect in every attribute, the religionist is frantically seeking to catch God's eye or win his favor by the works of the flesh.

The issue is not now, nor will it ever be, have you done enough for God? The issue has always been, do you rest in the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, to the exclusion of all human effort? If Christ is not your righteousness, you can certainly never produce one through the efforts of this sinful flesh.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The only righteousness that ever was, was accomplished by Christ, in his obedience to the cross and never produced in any measure by rank sinners. His perfect, spotless obedience is charged to the child of God apart from any works of their own and they are accepted, perfect and holy, in the Beloved.

My hope is built on nothing less,
than Jesus' blood and righteousness,
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

- written by Kenny Dyess, via his Facebook page