Great Truths - My Condition

Probably the most personally valuable 'truth' to come out of my conversations with Geoff. has been the confirmation that I am a genuine member of God's last-day church...Yay!

Laodicea... Not so Yay...

In our talks I have acted with the pride of opinion, self-justification and blindness of self-love that typifies the church of Laodicea. I would not have seen this without our emails, it was too painful to look at myself. I honestly thank Geoff for the timely drops of 'eyesalve' that have allowed me to see my real condition.

This has reinforced, for me, the value of 'priesthood of believer principles'. We cannot reach any great height alone, we need fellow church members, especially those who disagree with us and tell us the truth.

Providentially, as I slowly realised my condition, "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked", the quotes that he had me read were lifting up Christ as my only hope. Quotes like this one from The Signs of the Times , May 30, 1895, paragraph 3, Article Title: Christ Our Complete Salvation.

There is but one way of escape for the sinner. There is but one agency whereby he may be cleansed from sin. He must accept the propitiation that has been made by the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world. The shed blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." A complete offering has been made; for "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son,"-- not a son by creation, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but a Son begotten in the express image of the Father's person, and in all the brightness of his majesty and glory, one equal with God in authority, dignity, and divine perfection. In him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

Yes, there is hope in Christ! "The shed blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin." Yay indeed!

The next paragraph is full of wonderful promises too.

John said, "We have seen, and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." The Son of God took upon him human nature,--"the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." "God was manifest in the flesh." The union of divinity with humanity brings to the fallen race a value which we scarcely comprehend. The human and the divine were united in Christ, in order that he might represent those who should believe in him. He took our nature, and passed through our experiences, and as our representative he assumed our responsibilities. The sins of men were charged to Christ, and, innocent though he was, he engaged to suffer for the guilty, that through faith in him the world might be saved. "We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son." Christ reconciled the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. O, what compassion and love are here revealed! How is humanity exalted through the merits of Christ! His sacrifice was ample and complete. The Holy One died instead of the unholy. He clothed himself in our filthy garments, that we might wear the spotless robe of his righteousness, which was woven in the loom of heaven. He paid the whole debt for all who would believe in him as their personal Saviour. His blood cleanseth from all sin and purifieth from all unrighteousness. In him, through him alone, we have forgiveness of sins. Through faith in his blood we have justification in the sight of God. {ST, May 30, 1895 par. 4}

So that is the first 'truth'. I am a great sinner, but Jesus is a great Saviour. He alone can give me a humble faith in Him in place of my pride and His justification in place of my self-justification.

Thank your for pointing that out to me, mate.