7. The Work of Restitution
“I’ve done a lot of bad things in my life so I need to go back and take care of it.”
I had a man tell me once that he went several years without tithing and now he is paying God back. “I’ve hurt some people in my life and I need to go and ask their forgiveness. I’ve stolen from people so I need to go to them and make things right. I need to go back and take care of the wrongs in my life. Once I’ve done that, then God will forgive me.”
8. The Work of Affliction
This looks like beating yourself up, or penance. “If I give myself hell here and now, then God won’t give me hell later.” Martin Luther, in an attempt to be saved, used to beat himself with a whip, literally, he used to flog himself until he realized that the just shall live by faith.
9. The Work of Meditation
“I can just go on a retreat and be quiet and still before God. He connects with me when I clear my mind. When I’m poised and quiet, God comes and meets me where I am. “
10. The Work of Seeking Affirmation
“I don’t know whether or not I’m saved but if I can get the elders to say that I am, or if I can get anybody else who is saved to tell me that I am, then I will find rest before God.”
Why would human pride tend to choose a works-based salvation?
Unsaved people add countless other contributions to their resumes in order to be right with God. By nature, we all feel like we need to do this. Our sinful pride says that, with God’s help, we have what it takes to get there. We just need to apply ourselves because, after all, I’m me.
But as reasonable as this seems, it’s wrong. In fact, it’s the opposite of the truth because even a drop of ink dropped on an Elvis autograph renders it trash. And any work which you try to contribute to your salvation, your justification before God, annuls the grace of God and insults the God of grace. You have absolutely nothing that God wants.
So come to Christ, but come to him with nothing.
This article originally appeared here.
