![]() ![]() It all comes down to the age old question of “Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?” So, are we saved from our sins on our own merit? No! Are we saved from our sins by being good enough? No! Can we do anything in our own flesh to earn or to deserve our own salvation? No! But our salvation is not absent of works, but they are the works of God which God prepared in advance that we should walk in them (Eph 2:8-10 Tit 2:14 Php 2:12-13). This is about God’s requirements of us for us to be saved from our sins and to have eternal life with him. This is not about being good enough to be saved by God. ![]() But this is not teaching works-based salvation. ![]() Selah” Applying this teaching to our SalvationĬan we apply this teaching to the gospel of Jesus Christ and to the New Covenant and to God’s grace and our salvation from sin? We most certainly can, as it is supported greatly by what is taught in the New Testament. Such is the generation of those who seek him, Prayer is no substitute for work: prayer IS work! God won't do for me what I am unwilling to do myself.Who does not lift up his soul to what is falseĪnd righteousness from the God of his salvation. We are to cleanse our own hands, and purify our own hearts through faith in the shed blood of Christ. Instead of asking for what God has already given, may we simply walk by faith in the truth. Let us seek to lay hold of the promises of God by faith. God has given you breath and life: you can go to bed earlier and set an alarm clock! The old adage " God helps those who help themselves" is not scriptural but still makes a valid point: though God works in us both to will and do of His good pleasure, by God we are held responsible to fulfill the duties He places before us in obedience. God does not exist for us to justify our laziness. Billions of people every day get up and arrive to work on time without seeking the help of God. I wish I could have seen my shocked expression. ![]() There was one youth worker who asked for prayer because he was struggling to get out of bed and was often late for work - which began at 10am! It seemed he was asking God to do something for him he was unwilling to do for himself. Years ago I attended a ECYWA meeting (just a little shout-out to my youth workers in East County!) during which prayer requests were shared with one another. He has given us the Holy Spirit who teaches, leads, and empowers us. He has made the way through Jesus: He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. God is not to be blamed for the fact we have dirty hands and impure hearts. The disconnect is we have not fulfilled our responsibility to trust and walk in faith. As I mused upon this fact, it occurred to me that we as Christians often request God to give us things He has already given. God gives us clean hands and pure hearts, but only when we meet His conditions: humility, confession, repentance, and faith. This cleansing only comes through repentance and faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The truth is we cannot clean our hands or purify our hearts through our best efforts. The song takes a more passive feel where the scripture dumps the reponsibility upon me. When I read the passage in James, these are things I have the responsibility to appropriate. When singing the song, I asked God to give me clean hands and a pure heart. Now don't get me wrong - I am not trashing the song by any means. Cleanse your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double-minded." When I compared the song to the verse, I saw a subtle but profound difference. Immediately my mind went to James 4:8: " Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. My mind focused on the phrase, " Give us clean hands and give us pure hearts." Give us clean hands and give us pure hearts let us not lift our souls to another." I thought carefully about the lyrics of this song I enjoy singing to God. We turn our eyes from evil things, oh Lord we cast down our idols. As I walked back home from dropping off the kids at the bus stop, I sang the words to the familiar song by Chris Tomlin: " We bow our hearts, we bend our knees, oh Spirit come make us humble. ![]()
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