Christians Not Perfect, Just Forgiven?

I've never liked the bumper sticker that says, "Christians Are Not Perfect -- Just Forgiven". It's true we're not perfected yet, but it's not true that we're just forgiven. A lot more has been accomplished with our regeneration, our "new birth". We are a new creation. Old things have passed away, all things have become new.

He has made us "fearfully and wonderfully". There is sometimes a real pride in self-abasement How's that for an oxymoron? (see Col.2:18, "Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement...").

I have a couple friends who are so into self-abasement that they actually say that God didn't send Jesus to die for us because He loved us, but only for His own glory. He certainly did it for His own glory, but how absurd to deny the very clear John 3:16,"For God so loved the world, that...".

One friend even claims his favorite Bible verse is in Job 42, when Job says, "I abhor myself". When it's pointed out that "abhor" is an incorrect translation, he says it's still his favorite verse.

We need to be Christ-centered. Indeed, the more Christ-centered we are, I believe the more we will be amazed at what He has done in us. And the more Christ-centered we are, the more we will walk by the Spirit. Yet, I believe that, ironically, to deny what God has done in and to us, is a sort of unbelief that quenches the Spirit.

Glory and credit is another matter. Who should get the glory and credit for all this? Well, the one who did it all, of course. Whatever we are is by grace.

"What do you have, O man, that you did not receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7)"

"You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power;For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and werecreated." (Rev. 4:11)

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