Come Just As You Are: A Lowly Beggar Under The Wrath Of Almighty God

                                                     Come Just As You Are:
                            A Lowly Beggar Under The Wrath Of Almighty God 
                                                       By Joel Sexton

" We are beggars. This is True."
 - Dr. Martin Luther-
[Luther's Table Talk]

 The Gospel, in a nutshell, is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1Cor 15:1-4) The Gospel of our "Salvation" [Rom 1:16]

Gospel means "Good News." The good news is that Jesus took upon himself God's wrath for OUR sin. He was treated as we deserved, that we might be treated as He deserved. He died our DEATH so that we might have His "Righteousness" (2 Cor 5:21). The Great Exchange, his death and holiness for our sin!

Not only by Death. But also Jesus eternal God came down to earth in his Incarnation (becoming a man), born of a woman, lived a perfect life in accordance with the law. Died a substitutionary death in the place of mankind. Raised from the dead on the third day securing death over the grave for those that would believe, those that would receive. John record's John the Baptist during his ministry stating, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”" [Jn 3:36]

This in a similar vein is asserted by Paul in His letter to the Church at Ephesus that we are by "By nature children of wrath,." [Eph 2:4a] This is the dilemma of mankind.

 Eternal Life Is A Free Gift

It is vitally important to understand we have NOTHING to offer to God for our eternal life but our sin! We receive it with an empty hand as a "FREE GIFT" CAN'T BE EARNED! We come as to God as beggars with nothing but an empty hand to receive the free gif of eternal life, through the blood of Christ, shed in our place.

Standing Before the Judge

The sinner must recognize the awesome Holiness of God and his hatred for sin thought word and deed. His wrath is on all mankind for their utter failure to keep God's Law. [Rom 1:18; Rom 3:9-20; Eph 2:4; 4-6]. Christ died for the "helpless (Rom 5:6). God cannot overlook sin and His broken law because of His Justice and Holiness. Satisfaction must be meet, so Jesus became a ""Propitiation" for us. This means by his sacrifice on the cross he satisfied God's justice and wrath fully in our place. Thus, God does not compromise His justice, It is met fully when He poured out His fury upon Christ in our place. [Rom 3:24-26].

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ'' [Rom 5:1]

Once one has faith in Christ, believes the Gospel, God "justifies" us. He declares us as not only not guilty before His throne but sees us as completely without sin. Our sins have been covered by the blood of Christ. As a result, we have "peace" with God. The idea is not two nations ending hostility but we have TRUE peace with God our maker for the sake of His dear Son. Again, "And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross." [Col 1:20] We have been Reconciled to the Father by the cross. Our sin separates us from God. That is why we need a Substitute. Someone who has lived a sinless life to the Law of God, and who by His death satisfies the Justice of God. And by FAITH ALONE Christ's perfect life and death have been credited to my account. God sees Christ, not my sin!

The Results of Being Declared Not Guilty and Righteous

In [Rom 5:1-11] Paul assures us we have the verdict RIGHT NOW for the last judgment when we stand in the awesome presence of God. The only way one can do so is if one is clothed in the Righteousness of Christ. Like snow covering a dunghill. God does not see the sin of the one that trust's in Christ alone for their salvation. Not guilty is the pronouncement for the sake of His son!

 If we recognize our plight in sin and are bound to it, and deserve nothing but the wrath of God. But of we trust in Christ, that He bore our sins in our stead and was raised defeating death for us, we have passed from "death to life". We are born again! Saved child of God adopted into the Covenant Family of God (Rom4; Gal3) This truly is "Good News!"