"No Worries" by Jason Borger

Let your mind be at ease for this week's Well Said and know that what I am sharing cannot hold a stick to the thought provoking, laugh-till-you cry entries of the past.  Rather this is a review of a conversation a friend and I had a while back; similar to conversations many who claim Christianity have had.

My friend was expressing the liberating feeling of knowing they have been granted the gift of heaven and as a result, are accepted by God just as they are.  I agreed wholeheartedly and we both shared how that knowledge of acceptance has relieved the pressures a merit-based Heaven creates.  The conversation strolled from big taboo sins of adultery, sexual perversion, hatred, to "everyday things" of white lies, impatience.  The common thread amongst these is that they are ingrained in our being.

The course of our conversation regarding heaven and its amazing acceptance policy should have brought us to discuss the great price that was paid for our acceptance; however we found comfort from telling ourselves "no worries" when it came to our sin, slapping the person of Jesus Christ in the face (it was our sins that crucified him).  In the same manner, those who claim a heaven that is merited for simply being you, are cheapening the gospel by failing to acknowledge all that was at stake for anyone to receive eternal life.  It is amazing we were accepted because the demand of God's holiness was satisfied in the crucifixion of Jesus.

It is a common theme throughout the New Testament that believers were purchased with blood.  The character of God could not have accepted anything less.  In the same way I and many other believers are quick to tout acceptance without considering what the bible asks in return: our lives.   "He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins." Ephesians 1:7

My encouragement therefore is to continue those conversations thanking God for accepting you just as you are.  You would be in a lot of trouble if that were not the case.  However, realize that the way you are now, a believer bought at a price, should be transforming your actions to the likeness of the person of Jesus; and not a free pass to continue being the old you.

As I forewarned from the beginning, this is nothing new, just a reminder to be thankful for the Gospel.    

 

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