Come As You Are

     
     Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with Me (Revelation 3:20)."

      Many people think that in order for them to come to God, they must first do more righteous acts, start acting better, go to church or do more good deeds. The truth is, Jesus wants you to come as you are-with all your baggage, your bondage, pride, your addictions, your selfishness, shame, greed, lusts, anger and bitterness. 
     Friend, you nor I could never be good enough or do enough good works that would amount to anything. In fact, the Bible clearly tells us that "our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)." Or basically that our righteousness, when compared to the holy, sinless, perfect God does not even compare. When you come to Jesus, He is the One that cleanses you from the inside out. He is the One that transforms you into a new creation. He knows everything about you. He knows everything you have done. There is nothing hidden from God. Yet, He loves you just the same. There is nothing you have done that the blood of Jesus won't cover. God demonstrates His wonderful, amazing love in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). In other words, when we were dead (spiritually) in our sins and transgressions, Jesus died for us even though we did not deserve it. He took the punishment of all our sin and shame. This is a display of the great grace and mercy of God so that we could have a relationship with Him. "But now in Christ Jesus, you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13)." 
     The words of this song come to mind:

      "Oh the blood of Jesus, 
      Oh the blood of Jesus,
      Oh the blood of Jesus, it washes white as snow."

      The stain of sin is on each and every one of us, but the blood of Jesus washes us white as snow. It makes us pure and complete. It washes away all of our shame and guilt so that we no longer have to live in defeat and condemnation. It is by His blood and His blood alone. To be saved doesn't mean Jesus plus good works, or Jesus plus religion~it is solely in Christ. 
     When Jesus died on the cross over two-thousand years ago, He took all of our sin and shame and nailed it to that cross forever. "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed (1 Peter 2:24)."
     The message of the gospel is simple, however, you have to make the choice my friend. Do you believe? "Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26)." It is by faith because we have not yet seen God. We are told this in His word and it is for all who will believe. "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:22-24)."
     You may be thinking you have gone too far or God could never forgive you or you have backslidden one too many times. My friend, listen to Jesus as He calls you....Make the choice today to live and be forever free in Him. "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away calling on His name (Acts 22:16)."
     I want to leave you with these words from the Psalms:
     "Praise the Lord O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's (103:1-5)."
     

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