People with guilt will either become religious or say that they don't believe in God, becoming hostile toward God. The one who becomes religious knows that he is guilty, but hopes that his good works will out weigh the bad. The one who is hostile towards God knows that he is guilty as well, but is hoping in his Godless self-delusion.
Neither religion nor Godless self-delusion will do away with guilt. The religious man works harder and harder at his sacrifices while the one caught up in Godless self-delusion lashes out at God all the more.
Christ Jesus demonstrated God's own love toward us by taking upon Himself the guilt of His people and dying in our place for our sins. That is good news! His people are all those who give up hope of any other means of justification and put their faith in Jesus alone. "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." No work required, and the wall of enmity has been torn down; rest from your labors in Jesus.
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.'" (Mat 16:24) The religious man will interpret this to mean; deny yourself of the things in this life and offer up sacrifices to God, which could come in many differing forms. But what The Lord is saying here is so simple, in fact I am beginning to see this in everything that He said. Come follow Me! Change your mind from thinking that you can offer anything pleasing to God (deny yourself, take up your cross) the only thing you can do that is pleasing to God is to put your faith in Jesus alone (follow Me).
So to the religious person I say drop your sacrifice where you stand and believe in the gospel. To the man who is hostile towards God caught up in Godless self-delusion I say put down your weapon and believe in the gospel.
“ Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy- laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” ~Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30)
Mike Peek a slave of Jesus Christ
