Okay so if awareness of sin is the first step n spiritual growth, what is step 2? Step 2 is realizing that we are helpless in our sin and are in need of a Savior. The spiritual condition of anyone who is apart from Jesus is not good. Some theologians use the term Total Depravity to describe this condition. In other words, incapable of doing ANYTHING to change their own spiritual condition. There are people who argue with this description, usually citing examples of people who are not followers of Christ, but are doing good things in their lives. I would argue in return, that Total Depravity has less to do with our day to day actions and more to do with the implications of those actions.
For example, a person who has not met the Savior feels guilty about their sin, and tries to do something, anything to make up for it. But there is nothing they can do to erase that sin and even their good works are tainted by selfishness- trying to make up for their sin- and further, denying their need for something outside of their lives to help them- in short, still their own God. If you really look at it, that is what we are trying to be apart from Jesus- our own god- with control over our lives and creating our version of heaven on earth.
In the middle of this struggle, God inserts Himself in the Person and Work of Jesus. We cannot undo our sins and God knows that. He has been aware of it from time eternal, and He has set in motion a plan to deal with it- a Savior. And He goes one step farther, realizing that in our condition we would never think of a Savior, He makes Him known to us. God reveals our need for a Savior from our sin and reveals to us that He is that Savior.
Ephesians 1 speaks of this reality so powerfully, especially in verse 9 where Paul writes that God "made known to us the mystery of His will." What is this mystery? The message of the Gospel, that Jesus came to save sinners.
That is the next movement in a journey to Spiritual Maturity- responding to God's revelation that you cannot save yourself from your sin and acknowledging that God has provided that Savior in Jesus. A person who is becoming spiritually mature realizes that their holiness and righteousness and standing before God are not dependent on them but on Christ and respond accordingly in humble repentance and awe that God would choose to save us from our sins.
Odds & Ends: May 2, 2024
16 hours ago
1 comment:
"In other words, incapable of doing ANYTHING to change their own spiritual condition. There are people who argue with this description, usually citing examples of people who are not followers of Christ, but are doing good things in their lives. I would argue in return, that Total Depravity has less to do with our day to day actions and more to do with the implications of those actions.
For example, a person who has not met the Savior feels guilty about their sin, and tries to do something, anything to make up for it. But there is nothing they can do to erase that sin and even their good works are tainted by selfishness- trying to make up for their sin- and further, denying their need for something outside of their lives to help them- in short, still their own God. If you really look at it, that is what we are trying to be apart from Jesus- our own god- with control over our lives and creating our version of heaven on earth."
Something I have learned too late in my life is that you never - ever - have the ability to judge the motives, thoughts, intent of anyone else. Ever.
I was only ever motivated by guilt when I was a christian. Ironic, isn't it? Now that I have no god to please, my actions are motivated by my own desire to see good done to others, to see justice accomplished. My actions are motivated by true compassion. What a different world it might be if the supposedly all-loving, all-powerful, compassionate god would choose to act as well.
Anyway, I can only speak for myself. But I know that there are many more like me. Just some food for thought.
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