It still blows my mind how the idea of God's grace goes against the grain of modern society and thought and personally sometimes the way i operate. It is so lopsided to think that WE are the ones who sin on a daily basis but Jesus sent from God is our answer. My performance mentality always yields itself to "what can i do to fix this; or what can i bring to the table that will offset this negative?" Yet God knows that nothing i bring is sufficient enough so he provides what the Israelites were required to bring for so many years, an unblemished lamb.
I got triggered onto this when reading the excerpt "John is asserting that the new relationship of God and humanity in Christ is based upon the fulfilment of promises contained in Genesis 22:8. That God would provide the lamb which would make atonement for universal sin. Jesus is the Lamb" (20).
So yeah God, i'll take all of your love and i'll take your forgiveness. OH and i'll take your son Jesus as my perfect sacrifice because what i was doing isnt good enough to begin with. What a rip off! What a blow to my pride. After acknowledging this on a daily, moment by moment basis, i have hope for change like Johnson talks about in his last paragraphs of the first chapter
You remind me that to live like Jesus is impossible and yet the spirit of Jesus who makes all things possible is revealed through us. Thus, that which seems impossible is made possible by the one who makes all things beautiful & good. Thanks for reminding me how beautifully humiliating it is to have Christ somehow by grace reveal Himself through me, in spite of me. Thanks again.
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