SORRY BUT YOU CROSSED THE LINE

 

Friday, September 6, 2024

 

SORRY BUT YOU CROSSED THE LINE

 

Rom 3:23

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

 

Heb 4:1

4 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

 

          Last night’s NFL kick-off game at Kansas City ended with two disappointed teams. One breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that they almost lost a well-played game. They did well, but in the future would need to do better. The losing team knew that they almost won by the length of a toe, but that toe had crossed a crucial line. Shouts of jubilation suddenly became groans of defeat as the receiver’s toe proved to be out-of-bounds by probably two or three inches. Almost in but out.

 

          Those who hope to impress God by presenting to Him good deeds will discover that the measure of success is both difficult and impossible. In both scripture verses the words “come short” is translated from only one Greek word, the word hustereo which means “to fall short or to be deficient.”

 

          Winning salvation is according to verse 24 of Romans, not verse 23. “Because we are declared just freely [without strenuous effort] by faith [believing what Jesus has done] by His grace [unearned reward] through the redemption [purchased by another without contribution from me] and that by and from Christ.”

 

1 Cor 15:56

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth [not earneth] us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Lord, I may try hard to win Thy favor, but it is insufficient. You have paid my price. Thank you, Lord. AMEN