Nothing good

Romans 7:18 TPT

For I know that nothing good lives within the flesh of my fallen humanity. The longings to do what is right are within me, but will-power is not enough to accomplish it.

Getting it through my thick head - to see the reality of my self without Jesus - to know - really grasp that nothing good is in me.

The Cross of Jesus is not an optional extra to life, there is NO alternative, no merging of other faiths. It is the one vital passport to eternal life.

Without the Cross, Jesus' perfect sin-offering of Himself for each one of us, there is nothing but divine judgement and Hell fire awaiting!

This leaves no room for Allah, Buddha, Krishna or Confucius - they may have some grains of truth in their philosophies - but half-truths are more dangerous than outright lies.

Yet each of us are of extreme value to God, but not because we are intrinsically good.

In Isaiah we read all our good bits are like filthy rags. This means the best parts of us, the very parts we could be proud of, are indelibly and totally tainted.

Isaiah 64:6 TPT

We have all become contaminated with sin, and You see our self-righteousness as nothing better than a menstrual rag. We are all like fallen leaves, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.

In modern parlance, trying to impress the Lord with our good points is like waving a used tampon in His face! It rightly repulses Him.

Of course, none of us wants to hear that we're fallen and need a Saviour. We'd rather be wooed with Satan's flattering lies.

The Cross reveals just how lost we are, but also how precious and loved are we.

Jesus knew that there was no alternative than to pay our sin debt in His own body. What an amazing value He places on you and me. 

"Jesus, keep me near the Cross,

There a precious fountain,

Free to all—a healing stream,

Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.

In the Cross, in the Cross,

Be my glory ever;

Til my ransomed soul

shall find rest beyond the river

Near the Cross, a trembling soul,

Love and mercy found me;

There the Bright and Morning Star

Shed His beams around me."