Photo: Adobe Stock
“It must also be admitted that it is a moral impossibility that God should do any thing that is not in strict accordance with His nature; for as is His nature, so of necessity is His will; and He can not put forth His power only as He wills to do it.”[1] – Norvell Robertson
God is the sole source of hope and restoration for any divine understanding. By nature, humanity is flawed and lacks comprehension of God and His attributes. Examining the ministry and life of Jesus Christ is a practical first step in getting out of such a blemished mindset. This brings one to the realization that Jesus Christ not only walked the earth like mankind but lived a sinless life and showcased His saving and heavenly power amongst His creation. Ultimately, His crucifixion and resurrection are at the core of the Christian doctrine.
It remains difficult to fathom how much God loves us. He was willing to live amongst such darkness (sin) and suffer for the sake of humanity. We should meditate daily on salvation found only in Him. In order to serve Him properly and share His redemption and atonement, we must profess His divine nature and true character—being God. Norvell Robertson taught, “The Son of God is supreme, and accountable to no other authority, for there is none above Him to whom He can be responsible… He has a sovereign right to do and submit to all that is according to His own sovereign will.”[2]
Daily, as Christians, we struggle with sin and the ways of the flesh. Sin is the biggest obstacle we face in this fallen world. The ways of humanity only disappoint and provide further pain and suffering, “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. James 3:5-6”
All Christians have asked themselves, how is salvation even possible? We know what wretched souls we are, mere creatures of the flesh. However, understanding the innocence of Christ and His atonement for humanity is the only assurance we have. We must regularly grasp this understanding and share it with others who encounter the same weaknesses we experience daily.
Jesus knew how difficult it was to live in darkness; He saw His own disciples struggle with doubt and sin. His promise of the Holy Spirit to combat the ways of the flesh is essential to understand for any hope of existing in this temporary world:
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. John 14:16-17”
Paul discussed the Spirit and flesh frequently, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Galatians 5:16-17.”
Recognizing our fallen nature as it leads us to the cross is healthy. When we pray, read the Scriptures, or sit in church, we need to remember that Jesus Christ is at the center of our salvation, and His death on the cross is the only reason we have any hope in our fallen state.
All Christians know the battles of the flesh and Spirit are genuine struggles, constantly challenging us to trust only in the Lord. In order to have any realization of our hope, we concede that Jesus Christ and His perfect nature are our only reliance in our short time on earth.
[1] Norvell Robertson, Handbook of Theology, (Harrisonburg: Sprinkle Publications, 1983), 231.
