God accepts you with all your bumps and bruises; he accepts you in Christ. Jesus makes it possible for God to justify you and write your name in the book of life.
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SHAUNA: Hi, this is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Lean in, because today Joni’s asking if we’re ready for boot camp!
JONI: Oh, I remember when I was maybe 11 or 12 years old, I went to my girlfriend’s church. My friend was named Kathy, and I wanted to be just like Kathy. She was popular in our 8th grade class and well-liked by everybody. Because of Kathy, I took ballet lessons. And, uh, I must confess, I think Kathy was the one who originally inspired me to even take piano lessons. So anyway, when this girlfriend asked me to come to her church on Sunday, I gladly went. I don’t remember much about the sermon, but I do remember it made me feel really good about myself. God liked me. In fact, God liked me just the way I was. I left that church probably feeling like Kathy did – that I was okay; I was cool; I was in with the Lord. He liked me just the way I was.
Oh, that was many, many years ago, but I still remember that moment. You know, feeling like God was really great and he really liked me, and so I liked myself and because of that, I was heading to heaven. Never mind that the real gospel was preached at my own church. That didn’t matter. This was Kathy’s church! I’m okay, so you’re okay, and God’s okay with that.
Like I said, it was decades ago, and you know what? Not much has changed in American preaching. Most preaching in the pulpit still encourages us to accept ourselves as we are. You know, not much has changed: we’re even told that God accepts us as we are. But is that so? True, sure, it’s right that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us; he took us just the way we were. But, from the very instant you said yes to Jesus, from the moment you were justified, it’s no longer – “Hey, God thinks you’re okay.” Instead, it’s – “Oh, so you’re justified before God? Great. Now, get about the business of your own sanctification – start now, work out that salvation of yours with fear and trembling; take up your cross daily and die to the sins that Jesus died for on his cross.” Friend, when we sign up in the army of Christ, true, God takes us just as we are. He loves us just as we are. Like a kid fresh out of high school signing up for the military, though, immediately you get sent to Boot Camp. And it happens the very first time that you as a baby Christian encounter a tough trial.
To be justified deals with your position before God. God accepted you with all your bumps and bruises; he accepted you in Christ. Jesus made it possible for God to justify you and write your name in the book of life. But then immediately, God tells you in 2 Thessalonians 2 and in 2 Timothy 2 to “sanctify yourself;” that is, start proving with your life what you believe. Start putting into practice all that you believe about the Lord. If God is to enter our lives, he must in some way make room for himself. He must hollow you out and empty you. As someone has said, the American church needs to see that God only gives sight to people who think they’re blind. You once were okay when God accepted you in Christ as you were, but now? It’s a constant moment-by-moment awareness of your blindness, your need, your poverty, your weakness, and your sin.
SHAUNA: Friend, this is what makes the good news so great. And if you want to find out more about the greatness of the gospel, visit us at joniradio.org. If you’re struggling as to how to grow, let us help you. We’ve got a great team of friends here at Joni and Friends who want to pray for you and help you make it through boot camp. Remember, that’s joniradio.org!
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