TRYING TO BALANCE THE SCALES

"Well, the church I grew up in doesn't believe the way

you folks do."

Peter wrote his first letter to people who had grown

up with strong religious traditions. He wrote,

"And if you call on the Father, who without partiality

judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves

throughout the time of your sojourning here in fear;

knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things,

like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by

tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of

Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

(1 Peter 1:17-19 NKJ)

Whatever your previous religious traditions, God is

not impressed with your attempts to bribe Him with "silver

or gold", or with attempts to "balance the scales" by

trying to pile up good deeds to offset your sins.

The prophet Isaiah wrote, "All of us have become like

one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a

filthy garment." (Isa. 64:6 NAS)

If your hope is in "scales", you need to know that

your "good deeds" pile up on the same side as your sins.

That system doesn't work.

You need to change systems. Trust Messiah Jesus as

your sin-bearing Savior and Lord. Quit trying to "balance

out" or bribe God, and ask Him to wash you clean from your

sin. "The blood of Jesus, God's Son, cleanses us from all

sin." (1 John 1:7)

God the Son, the Creator and sustainer of the

universe, became a human being and was rejected by His

covenant people. He died as the perfect sin-bearing Lamb

of God, and arose again in victory from the dead. And to

as many as receive Him as Savior and Lord, He gives eternal

life, the indwelling and empowering Holy Spirit, and the

status of Spirit-born children of God. He will come again

to earth to rule actively as supreme King and Judge. You

need to submit yourself to Him voluntarily before that

time.

God's dealings with His people in the Scriptures

demonstrate His long-suffering, His forgiveness and grace,

His desire to bring rebellious sinners back to Himself.

You can never work off your own sins: you are a

sinner, and need a Savior.

Jesus Christ says, "I am the way and the truth and the

life. No one comes to the Father except through me." He is

the ONLY Savior available.

Read about Him yourself in the Gospel of John or the

Gospel of Matthew. Admit to Him that you need His help,

His salvation, that you cannot do it on your own. Become a

real child of God, and then take the Good News of free and

perfect salvation back to those folks who are depending

vainly on their traditions.

 

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