It's the law, but you will break it anyway.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 ESV)

How high can you count? Tomorrow, try to count every time you disobey God or any law for that matter. Use an app on your phone, a piece of paper and pen, a calculator, or whatever helps you keep an accurate number. See how high the number is, and be honest. Go through your day like you normally would.

Praise God for His mercy on us as sinners. Every one of those violations you count is a death sentence before an all-holy God. We know this to be true: God hates those who commit sinful acts (Psalm 5:5). If it were not for the possibility of a wicked man being redeemed through faith in Christ and the grace in his act of justification, all of humanity would be in hell a thousand times over.

We should also be thankful for God’s patience because that destruction could happen immediately upon committing the act of sin. If you do not believe me, look at Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. They were a couple who lied to the Holy Spirit and faced immediate consequences. Be thankful for God’s patience and mercy; that could be you.

My point is that we cannot obey the law. Paul also told us this in Romans 3:23: " None are good.” It seems that this week, God has put mercy and grace on the hearts of the contributors at In Messiah. It may be repetitive, but it is crucial to remember: There is salvation in Christ. The inevitability of sin in our lives underscores the necessity of God's mercy and grace.

We teach mercy and grace because we understand their need and the assurances that come with them. We each write what God puts on our hearts, not from some schedule of topics. As you can see, we want you to know that mercy and grace are what we receive as a result of our faith in Christ.

Christ died so that those who place their faith in Him, which means believing in His teachings, following His example, and repenting of their sins, can be made righteous before God. The shed blood of Jesus cleanses us. This is the gospel; this is the good news. If God is calling to you, if you found In Messiah by accident or from a friend and want the things we write about, accept Christ as your Savior.

If you are unsure what to do, remember that we at In Messiah are here for you. We can guide you on your journey to Christ. Do not worry or be anxious about it; we are here to help—it is what we do!

Grace and Peace!