Apr 19
29
Is There Any Real Hope For Real Sinners?
Is there any real hope for real sinners? I know that men and women who
think of themselves as good moral people have no problem in this matter.
They think they are okay. They look upon their good works, their
religious devotion, and their moral integrity with much approval. In
their proud self-righteousness they presume that God owes them something
and that he will accept them. They are highly offended when they are
told by a plain spoken preacher that they are sinners and that their
supposed righteous deeds are filthy rags, abominable in the sight of
God. I am not speaking to you of good people”.
I am speaking to you men and women who know yourselves to be guilty
sinners before a holy God. You have no good deeds to boast of. Your life
is as vile as your heart. You are an outcast of society. Both your
family and friends avoid your company. You are so abominably evil that
you can hardly endure living with yourself. You know that you are guilty
before a holy God. You know that if you had your just reward from him,
you would be in hell. Is there any real hope for real sinners like you
and me?
I know that we have no hope in ourselves. We have all tried religious
decisions and moral reformation. But these things cannot atone for our
sins. These things cannot silence our guilty consciences. Preachers tell
us to join the church, or start living right, or start serving the Lord.
You may have tried it all. But the fact remains that you cannot do
anything that God will accept. You may have joined the church and become
religious, but your conscience still torments you. You have no peace
with God. Is there any real hope for real sinners?
Yes, blessed be God, there is real hope for real sinners like us! That
Hope is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He came to this earth to
be the Friend of sinners. He came to be the sinner’s Substitute before
God. As the Substitute for sinners, the Lord Jesus Christ lived in this
world accomplishing a perfect righteousness, the only righteousness
which God will accept. Then he willingly laid down his life in the place
of sinners at Calvary. As the Substitute for guilty sinners the Son of
God took our sins upon himself, and in his death he paid the penalty due
unto us. Now it is promised that all who believe on him shall be saved
and have everlasting life. “He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life” (John 3:36). That includes both you and me. If we, as
guilty sinners, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as our only Savior, our
only Righteousness, and our only Pardon for sin, we shall be saved!
Jesus Christ is the only One who gives real hope to real sinners. I
trust him. Most gladly do I trust Christ. I have no righteousness but
his righteousness. I have no cleansing from sin but his blood. I have no
pardon but his pardon. I have no acceptance before God but Christ. I
have nothing to plead before God but this, Jesus Christ lived and died
for me. Though I am a real sinner like you, I have a REAL HOPE BEFORE
GOD. My Hope is Jesus Christ the Lord. And HE GIVES HE REAL PEACE BEFORE
GOD. Will you trust Christ alone? THERE IS REAL HOPE FOR REAL SINNERS IN
CHRIST.
Don Fortner