He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.** Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV)**
Apart from Christ within there is nothing in man that is truly good or acceptable to God – we all remain big fat sinners in need of a Savior. We are not inherently good. Prior to Christ in a soul, we are in a sinful and miserable state. Our hearts loving what they should hate and hating what they should love. Our fleshly human natures are corrupt apart from Christ - so much so that it grieved the Lord that He had even made man on the earth. Having fallen into the hands of the great adversary of our souls, our affections became disordered and our selfish, sinful natures became rampant. Our consciences seared as with a hot iron – corrupt, apart from Christ - and filled with all sorts of selfish ambitions and vain conceits. We all remain a hopeless brood apart from the saving blood of Jesus – the perfect sacrifice for our sin sick selves. Every.last.one.of.us.
We need a total change of nature – a new heart, new affections and a desire to be more like the Master. And this change cannot be made by human nature – no human industry is capable. It comes only through Jesus and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. It is only this nature that is accepted by God and pleasing to Him. No human effort will make us like Jesus. Indeed, the Apostle Paul tell us in Galatians 2:20-21 (NIV) we are to crucify our inner selves so that Christ can live through us: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” There is no other path to righteousness. Jesus Himself states in John 14:6 (NIV): “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6 (NIV) The way to the Father is through the blood of His Son – the perfect and willing sacrifice for the sins of the world.
We are to admire the Lamb Who brought us from wrath to glory through the sacrifice of His blood. He died to give us life and life to the full. What a wonder! What a Savior! Only He could take us from death to life and from the dung heap to the palace. Never think lightly of sin and its power to wreck a soul or what it cost our Lord Jesus to save our scrawny necks.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)