Enough?

It is my belief that the devil, that serpent of old does everything is his power to make us doubt the power of Christ's sacrifice. Since the serpent could not stall or stop Salvation from happening, he must convince us that it is insufficient, that we must do more penance (acts to make us right with God). This cycle is easy to fall into for a Catholic and Charismatic, it merely manifests in different forms. For Catholic there is already a system of atonement apart from Christ that requires the Sacraments of Confession and penitential deeds. For Charismatic it happens when they must seek out healers, prophets, and even perpetual presence of Holy Spirit to feel loved, connected, and complete; as if the absence of feeling God means separation.

There is great danger in embracing the devil's deception. The Apostle Paul confronting a penitential act to make one right in sight of God said this, "Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all." (Galatians 5:2). Circumsion was sign of covenant making before God, it was instituted with Abraham and Isaac. Paul is addressing as church that believes you must believe in Jesus Christ, and be circumcised to be saved. The apostle goes further, describing what will happen should you choose penance in addition to All Sufficent sacrifice of Christ, "Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." (Galatians 5:3-4). Those words should shake a saint! Severed from Christ is you  seek justification by the works of the Law (pennace)! Fallen from grace! Oh my this is incredible consequence!

The Apostle Paul uses such language to denote and describe the dangerious trap you fall in if you believe anything beyond the Blood of Christ and Him Crucified can save you. It is written, "Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit," (1 Peter 3:18 NLT), "For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God," (Romans 6:10), and "so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." (Hebrews 9:28). These verses make it clear that Jesus has made the full justification for our sins. There is nothing more to be done! What it means by "he will appear a second time to bring salvation to those waiting for him," is that salvation will be completed. A Pastor put it this way, "you are saved (when you first believe), you are being saved (endure daily), and you shall be saved." Salvation is a holistic process in our Savior, this is why Jesus says, "but the one who endurs (stands firm) to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 24:13). He isn't saying endurance saves you, it means you keep believing Jesus Christ "died once for all sin," and that in Him you are free of sin and renewed daily; it means to keep having relationship with Jesus Christ until he appears; know him (see Matthew 25:13).

Oswald Chambers best summarized why people struggle to believe Christ did enough. He says, "The gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equally intense resentment, because the truth that it reveals is not palatable or easy to swallow. There is a certain pride in people that causes them to give and give, but to come and accept a gift is another thing. I will give my life to martyrdom; I will dedicate my life to service— I will do anything. But do not humiliate me to the level of the most hell-deserving sinner and tell me that all I have to do is accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ." (Utmost For His Highest, November 28th). This dual nature fights inside us, and we must anchor ourselves to former disposition of the longing, joy and gladness, rather than the pride Chambers identifies, otherwise the devil may lead many astray and shipwreck them. We have to believe what Jesus Christ did was enough, that "It is Finished." (John 19:30). There is nothing more we can do beyond the shedding of God's blood and His death to be saved. We do bear good works (James 2:14-26), but not out of trying to earn salvation, God's approval, or to become righteous. The good works we do, and righteous behavior we exude comes from good fruit (Luke 6:43-45) within us. But in order to even bear good fruit we must believe that Jesus Christ did enough to save us, that Christ cleanses of sins, that Christ did what makes us right in Trinity's sight, spares us from wrath of God (propitiation), and gained God's approval. Until we believe this, we are trapped in a circle of circumcision that leads to being "severed from Christ; fallen from grace!" (Galatians 5:3).

One would think that this would not be an issue for most Christians. That believing the primer words, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son (Jesus Christ), and whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). Every Christian is obligated to confess this and believe it in their heart (Romans 10:9), and yet somehow the gospel of works, salvation by penance still finds its way in, like the Serpent in Garden of Eden. Part of the problem is that sin has dulled our confidence, made us insecure, and giaven us a bad self image. We have negative view of ourselves called condemnation. Now the apostle Paul says, "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." (Romans 8:1-2). Condemantion does not come from Christ, it comes from Catigorica (Satan) who wants you to live like your sins are not forgiven, to believe every sin you do requires some work beyond Christ's blood, and to behave like someone who has to earn (John 3:16) rather than simply believe it.

My parents taught me two easy ways  to determine the voice you hear, if it be of God or the devil. My mother said, "There is the Adocate (Christ), and the Accuser of Brethern. If you feel accused its the devil, if you feel advocated it is Christ." My father extrapolated on this and said, "There two voices, Conviction and Condemnation. God convicts, makes you want to change and mend your ways with joy, gladness, and happiness, while the devil condemns to make you feel unworthy, like a worm, and that you must do things to make ammense but it will never be enough." Christ is are Advocate and He convicts you via The Holy Spirit. Conviction spurs us with holy zeal and passion to change, while condemnation makes you feel like you deserve hell and no matter what good works you do, they cannot help, which actually is true, because Christ died once and for all your sins! For this is what is written, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). It was while you deserved hell and judgment that God showed His greatest mercy by dying for your sins!

We have to  believe what Emmanuel did on cross was enough. We have to trust in Christ Crucified and Christ Risen to save us. Anything more we do out of fear, obligation, and a belief we can merit it ourselves through acts is self righteousness. Your sins were covered by the Savior, not your saintly service! We do good works from a heart that trusts "It is finished." We do righteous deeds because He who alone is righteous lives in us! (Galatians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 3:16, John 15:4-7). It is God working through us, His character, will, and desires that motivates us to do good, for only God is good (Mark 10:18). We have been washed from sin, and made white as snow, "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1:18). Do not believe the devil who tries to convince you to bite a second forbidden fruit, this time he will lead people into a death that is spiritual and leads to Second Death (Revelation 20:14). Instead speak like Martin Luther did, "So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know one who suffered and made satisfaction in my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, son of God, and where He is, there I shall be also!" (Luther 2003). Martin Luther is quoting this words, " any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour," (John 12:26 KJV), and "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3;2). Where Christ is we His children shall also be! Believe in Jesus Christ, believe He did enough to save you, keep believing it and you shall be where He is.