Are You Pure and Holy?

2 Corinthians 5:21 Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God.

I was at church the other Sunday and the pastor, during His sermon, asked this question of the congregation: “Are you pure and holy?” I put up my hand and said “Yes, absolutely I am” and yet, I was the only one who did. People laughed. The preacher made some quip about “There goes Berni again …” and moved on with the rest of the message.

Can I tell you, I wanted to jump up and shout – What’s the matter with you people? Do you believe in Jesus … or not? Because here’s what God says about you, if you believe in Christ:

Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

In other words, Jesus who never sinned in His life, took our sin, yours and mine, on His shoulders so that on that Cross, He paid for every sin of yours (and mine) past, present and future – so completely, so fully, so perfectly – that you and I stand before God as clean and as pure and as holy and as righteous, if you’ll allow me to use that word, as Jesus Himself.

Look, if you go to court and you’re convicted of a crime, you’re guilty. Sentence is passed. But once you’ve done the time or paid the fine, you have a right standing with society again in the eyes of the law.

And when it comes to our standing, right or otherwise, before God, here’s how it works: Jesus did the time and paid the fine. That’s what Easter was all about. He paid the price. The one who had no sin in Him, became sin by taking our sin on Himself, dying the death that we deserved, so that we could be, what? Still guilty as hell? No, so that we could be right with God!

Look, I make mistakes every day. None of us will ever be on that super-spiritual, higher plane living the completely perfect life; where we can be completely pure and holy. But when you believe in Jesus, God wipes the guilt away. You have a right standing before God. You are, in His eyes, as pure and as holy as Jesus Himself.

And if you believe in Jesus, but don’t believe that about yourself – let me ask you this: What’s the matter with you?

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.

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Kimmy Fam

Hi Bernie, I found out quite recently – and this has me truly puzzled- that very few ‘traditional’ ...

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Hi Bernie,
I found out quite recently – and this has me truly puzzled- that very few ‘traditional’ churches subscribe to the idea that our God is a God of unlimited grace. When you go ‘past, present and future’ sins, they cut you off quite immediately. Is not our God unlimited enough to put right all that is wrong? If by one man’s disobedience ALL have sinned, can it not be so that by the Son of God’s obedience ALL , an unqualified ALL, who believe are saved and will be forever so?



Kimmy Fam

And maybe add this question “What actually did you think Jesus – God incarnate – died for? Many of ...

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And maybe add this question “What actually did you think Jesus – God incarnate – died for?
Many of us – me included once upon a time – find it hard to accept the extent of His grace. Everything for nothing. But the more we ponder, the more we can see that’s God’s character . Our God does not believe in half measures. Thank you, Bernie for saying it as it is, no holds barred.



Berni Dymet

😂

😂



Carol Bayley

Interesting, Berni. Bet you give the Pastor’s hell sometimes!! hehehe

Interesting, Berni. Bet you give the Pastor’s hell sometimes!! hehehe