Our Sinful Selfs

     On my blog post from September 5, I wrote about copying verses, chapters, and even entire books from the Bible. How doing that would help a person better understand the word of God and remember those Words. 

After I wrote that post the first Sunday in September, I started transcribing the book of Romans into my journal. The book of Romans has some great verses; I’ve blogged about many of them here. In fact, some believe that Romans is one of the best books of the Bible. The apostle Paul wrote the book Romans to explain just what salvation through belief in Jesus Christ really means.

I’ve gotten through the first chapter, and it paints a pretty bleak picture of who we are.

   21-23 They know God, but they do not give him the honor that belongs to him, nor do they thank him. Instead, their thoughts have become complete nonsense, and their empty minds are filled with darkness. They say they are wise, but they are fools; instead of worshiping the immortal God, they worship images made to look like mortals or birds or animals or reptiles [or money or houses or cars or other possessions].

 24-25 And so God has given those people over to do the filthy things their hearts desire, and they do shameful things with each other. They exchange the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever!

   29-32 They are filled with all kinds of wickedness, evil, greed, and vice; they are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, deceit, and malice. They gossip and speak evil of one another; they are hateful to God, insolent, proud, and boastful; they think of more ways to do evil; they disobey their parents; they have no conscience; they do not keep their promises, and they show no kindness or pity for others. They know that God's law says that people who live in this way deserve death. Yet, not only do they continue to do these very things, but they even approve of others who do them.

And though you all read those verses, thinking, “oh, yes, there are so many horrible people in this world,” you also have to admit to yourself that those lines describe you as well. I know I can put my name next to many of those sins, and I am so ashamed.

Yes, we need to try harder, we need to read God’s word, we need to pray, we need to put others first in all things. But the Good News is that God will still forgive us; He knows how imperfect we are, and that’s why He sent His Son to die on that cross.

Lord, God, Heavenly Father, please forgive my many sins. Send Your Holy Spirit into my heart to keep me from constantly disobeying Your commandments. And thank You for saving me through the Grace of Jesus Christ. Amen.