Jesus Paid it ALL

Is the title of this post a hard message for some of you to swallow? I mean...I think that all of us would say we "know" that He paid it all...but do you truly believe it to the point of living like it? Do you truly believe it to the point that it affects your attitude. Do you believe it to the point that it affects your worship?

I feel it is very important to have the proper perspective on Christ's redemptive work. I think one of the tools/tactics of satan is to get us to think that, when we're "doing good", we're somehow making outselves more worthy of heaven. This is a lie. We are never more worthy or less worthy. We are always unworthy...

Always...

Always...

Is that hard for some of you to acknowledge? We are ALWAYS unworthy. I don't care how "sinless" you feel you have lived the past week-month-year-whatever. We are as filthy rags. The only reason we can approach the throne is because of what Jesus did.

Sin can not enter into the presence of God.
We're men.
Men sin.

So how can we be reconciled?

We're allowed to put on the robe of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Let us rejoice as we start this new week!


No one can ever boast in the presence of God (1 Corinthians 1:29, NLT).

Dear friends:

It is an insult to God to try to add anything to Christ's finished work.

Imagine a boy swimming in a lake one day, and suddenly he yelled for help. Another young man on shore ran to the water and swam out to rescue the first fellow. In the process of saving the life of the boy who was drowning, the second young man lost his life.

The two families, who had been observing all of this, were overwhelmed by the unexpected turn of events. The father of the youth who had been saved approached the father of the dead young man to offer his sympathy. "I really can't express how much I appreciate what your boy did, and how sorry I am that he lost his life. But I just happen to have $1.83 on me, and want to offer this to you as an indication of my feelings.

Was the salvation of this man's son paid for by the other boy's life, or by the measly $1.83?

Also, imagine a man before a judge who has been given the choice of paying $100 or serving 90 days in jail. The man doesn't have any money, but he does have an invalid wife and five hungry children at home who are depending on him and him alone. He tells such a heartrending story that the courtroom spectators are moved with pity. They take up a collection to help pay the man's fine. Although it is unlike him, even the judge chips in. Altogether they raise $99.95. Even though they are only five cents short, the judge declares that the entire $100 must be paid, and orders the bailiff to take the man to jail. He dejectedly walks out of the courtroom, thrusting his hands deep into his pockets -- where he finds a nickel! Elated, he rushes back into the courtroom and slaps it on the bar before the judge, declaring, "I'm free, I'm free!"

In his mind, what had saved him?? The $99.95, or the measly five cents?

Any works that we might add to our salvation do not even add up to $1.83, or $.05. In fact, each amounts to zero, and 0 + 0 = 0.

If we did anything to merit our salvation, we would be forever boasting about it in heaven, which can never happen. "No one can ever boast in the presence of God" (1 Corinthians 1:29, NLT).

The fact is that we can do nothing to earn our salvation. Jesus paid it all.

Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission each year until our Lord returns,

Bill Bright