Memorial Moment - Lord Jesus Christ, by Your merit and benefits we are justified in God's sight

Memorial Moment

"Repent! We have refused to see sin, our own sin, focused as we are on our own illusions of self-generated piety and holiness. If we deny original sin, we will have reason to degrade or reject Christ's merits and benefits, as though we could be justified through our own works or efforts. If our holiness is unimpaired, what do we need Christ to die for?"

"--- Even today people deny the fallen nature of human beings! Over the last hundred years we have witnessed a denial of in-born human depravity, what we Christians call original sin. It is interesting then how all these basically good people have managed to slaughter multi-millions of their fellows over that time; often in the name of eugenics, women's health, ethnic cleansing, or religious jihad. Do we not yet have enough blood-stained evidence finally to agree with God? "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rm 3:23). O Lord, have mercy on us!"





WHAT DOES CHRIST DIE FOR?

"Even today people deny the fallen nature of human beings! Over the last hundred years we have witnessed a denial of in-born human depravity, what we Christians call original sin. It is interesting then how all these basically good people have managed to slaughter multi-millions of their fellows over that time; often in the name of eugenics, women's health, ethnic cleansing, or religious jihad. Do we not yet have enough blood-stained evidence finally to agree with God? "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rm 3:23). O Lord, have mercy on us!

G. K. Chesterton, the Christian apologist wrote, partly tongue-in-cheek (I think), "Certain new theologians dispute original sin, which is the only part of Christian theology which can really be proved..." The evidence is overwhelming. Just go to the gulags, death camps, killing fields and the Planned Parenthood abortion mills. This is supposed to be man at his scientific, rational best in the twentieth century! Dear God, have mercy! If this is man at his best, what would he look like at his worst? It cannot be conceived!

As Chesterton says, if it is true that a man can feel exquisite happiness in torturing a cat (and people do!), then we can only draw one of two conclusions. We must either deny the existence of God, as all atheists do; or we must confess a complete breach between God and man, as all Christians do. Modernists seem to think it a better solution to deny the cat! This is a ridiculous solution because the signs of human cruelty are all around us. The execution-style murder of a Harris County Deputy this past Friday evening while he was fueling his squad car tells the story. You think you're pure inside! Go into the street and see sin!

Repent! We have refused to see sin, our own sin, focused as we are on our own illusions of self-generated piety and holiness. If we deny original sin, we will have reason to degrade or reject Christ's merits and benefits, as though we could be justified through our own works or efforts. If our holiness is unimpaired, what do we need Christ to die for?"


Rev. Dr Scott Murray


Psalm 51:14-19 (ESV)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51%3A14-19&version=ESV



Augsburg Confession:

"Our churches teach that since the fall of Adam all men begotten in the natural way are born with sin, that is, without the fear of God, without trust in God, and with concupiscence. This disease, or vice of origin, is truly sin, even now condemning and bringing eternal death upon those not born again through baptism and the Holy Spirit.

"They condemn the Pelagians and others who deny that original depravity is sin, and who, to obscure the glory of Christ's merit and benefits, argue that man can be justified before God by his own strength and reason."

Augsburg Confession, 2


Prayer:

"Dear Lord Jesus Christ, by Your merit and benefits we are justified in God's sight apart from our own strength and reason. Help us to give glory to you alone by depending on you solely for our salvation. Free me from bloodguilt that I might use my tongue to proclaim Your praises. Amen."


Memorial Moment
What does Christ die for?
Rev. Dr Scott Murray
4 September 2015