Key Scriptures:
Mark 10:18, Leviticus 20:7, 1 Peter 1:15-19, 2 Corinthians 5:21
Ask most anyone you meet if they think they’re a good person.
Most people will tell you that they are good. They may admit to not being perfect, but most of us believe that we’re essentially good people.
Many would be surprised to know that Jesus says we aren’t. In fact, He goes even further and says that there are no good people, not even one! In Mark 10:18, Jesus says, “No one is good except God alone.”
When we say we are good, we are usually comparing ourselves to others who we feel are much worse than us. Maybe we are comparing ourselves to people who have committed adultery, rape, assaulted others, stolen large sums of money, or even murderers.
But, we should know, God doesn’t compare us to others. His standard of morality, righteousness, and justice doesn’t come from man, but from Himself! Did you know that God demands us to be holy and perfect?!
In Leviticus, God tells us several times to be holy. He says in Leviticus 20:7, “Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.
In Matthew 5:48 we are told that we must be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.
This might sound crazy and impossible! If we look into 1 Peter 1:15-19, we will uncover the reality of what seems like an impossible demand.
When we open up this scripture, we read, …but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
It is by the Blood of Jesus Christ that we are made perfect and holy. When we surrender ourselves to God and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, it’s like we’ve received a blood transfusion and an adoption all in one! We are now reconciled to God, we know have the right to the name of Jesus!
His blood washes away all our sins, they are no more, we are now made righteous, holy and set apart for the Lord! 2 Corinthians 5:21 puts it this way, “For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
So, we can see that any and all good in us is of and from God. Any good gift, no matter who gave it, is from God. Everything truly good in our lives is from God!
Our selfish and rebellious sin brought upon us a curse, a sentence of death. Our sin separated us from our Holy and Righteous God who demands holiness and perfection.
By His great love and mercy, He gave us His only begotten Son to take upon all our sin and to pay the price for our transgressions so that we could be reconciled and made holy and perfect for Him!
There is a lot more that can be said on this subject, so I encourage everyone to pray and search the scriptures with God and see how He opens our eyes and our understanding.
Let’s pray:
Holy and wonderful Lord God, we thank you for your amazing grace and perfect sacrificial love through our Lord Jesus Christ. We know that without you, we’re no good. We thank you for every good thing in us and in our lives, we know that it is all from You and apart from you, there is nothing good.
Lord, help us to remember that you are the source and sustainer of every good gift, every joy, and every good thing and help us to give you thanksgiving and praise.
Keep our hearts from arrogance, pride and self-righteousness. Continue your perfecting work in us and make us to be holy and perfect, just the way you created us to be. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray. Amen!
