Without One Plea

“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath… But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast…

“Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated.., having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ… So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” Ephesians 2:1-9,12-13,19

The love of God shines in the cross. There Jesus opened the way to Him, freeing us from sin’s shackles by suffering its penalty. As spiritual aliens lost in darkness and without hope, we have no other plea before Him. Only because of His astounding affection set upon us, and His blood that named us His beloved, are we saved unto His immeasurable riches and kindness. Shall we ever get over it? (Isaiah 53:4-10; Hosea 2:23; Romans 9:25)

“Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:10

The guilty need to be pardoned. It is not by pleading guilty, but by pleading Jesus, that we receive that pardon. His crucifixion, not our confession, effects the power of salvation. We cannot muster faith, but can muster praise that by grace His gift of faith prompts us to believe unto everlasting life. (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10)

What will it take to remove us– our performance, positive thoughts, nice deeds, even faith- from the spotlight, and put the cross in? Would we bow and thank God this day for His amazing, undeserved, life-giving love?

“Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.” ~Charlotte Elliot (1789-1871)

My Savior, may I never forget and always sing of Your gracious, costly gift of salvation, to Your highest honor and praise.