Day 166

Of Christ the Mediator.

Chapter 8, Paragraph 8.

“…in such manner, and ways as are most consonant to his wonderful, and unsearchable dispensation; and all of free, and absolute Grace, without any condition foreseen in them, to procure it.”

Scripture Lookup

John 3:8

Ephesians 1:8

Reflection

You’re not special.

Unique, yes. Made in the image of God, yes. Created for a purpose, yes. These give you worth and value, and should not be dismissed or denied.

But there is nothing special about you, nothing deserving, that would cause Christ to die for you. Not your family, not what clique you belonged to in high school, not your salary or your job have any influence on whether you are one of the elect. Not even your decision to follow Jesus determines whether or not you receive eternal redemption.

We soooo want salvation to be about us, though, don’t we? Desiring validation and affirmation, we listen to speakers and bloggers who emphasize how special we are. The gospel becomes a L’Oreal commercial: “…because you’re worth it.” Rather than preaching Christ and Him alone, we humble brag on social media about how blessed we are or share our “authentic” filtered photos. There must be something worthy in us!

The reality is that there is nothing about us that make us deserving of redemption. There is nothing we could do – we have a corrupt and fallen nature. We have no reason to boast in ourselves. We have every reason to boast in Christ! For His work as mediator on our behalf was not done for special people, but for those who don’t deserve one bit of it. The grace with which we are saved is free and absolute. Abundant, lavish unmerited favor, with no strings attached and no hint of change, is what Christ bestows on His elect.

Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument—it is Christ’s blood and merits.

Therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith.

We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by ‘looking unto Jesus.’ -Charles Spurgeon, “June 28 – Morning”, Morning and Evening

Questions to Consider

• Do you struggle with the idea that you are saved by grace, and that nothing in you has merited salvation?