Come Ye Sinners

This past week, as I was reading and praying through James 1:27, which says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this, to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world," I was reminded and convicted of the pollution of my own heart - my pride, my lust for comfort and pleasure, my complacency, and my seemingly relentless pursuit of approval and acceptance in the eyes of others. At the same time, as I was preparing for the class I am teaching on Wednesday nights, I was also reminded of God's unconditional, sovereign love for me - extended to me by grace alone, through Jesus Christ alone; I am accepted by God through faith in Who He is and what He alone has done to atone for my sin - I have not earned God's acceptance because of who I am, not on the basis of what I have done or not done, not because of how well or how poorly I preach, not because of how engaged or disengaged I am as a parent or husband. I think Tim Keller says is best:

When my own personal grasp of the gospel was very weak, my self-view swung wildly between two poles. When I was performing up to my standards - in academic work, professional achievement, or relationships - I felt confident but not humble. I was likely to be proud or unsympathetic to failing people. When I was not living up to standards, I felt humble but not confident, a failure. I discovered, however, that the gospel contained the resources to build a unique identity. In Christ I could know that I was accepted by grace not only despite my flaws, but because I was willing to admit them. The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved that Jesus was willing to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less. I don't need to notice myself - how I'm doing, how I'm being regarded - so often.

Here are a few lines from one of my favorite hymns, which speak of Christ's gracious work of redemption:

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready, stands to save you, full of pity love and pow'r.

Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome, God's free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance, every grace that brings you nigh.

Let not conscience make you linger, nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth is to feel your need of Him.

Come, ye weary, heavy laden, lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you're better, you will never come at all.

I will arise and go to Jesus, He will embrace me in His arms