Today's encouragement comes from 1 Corinthians 1:18, which says this:
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perish-ing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."Why do some people fail to respond to the amazing truth that a perfect God-Man died on a cross for wicked sinners? Partly, because they think the message is foolish, (see the verse above). And why do they think this? Because they cannot conceive of themselves as that bad; and they want salvation mixed with their own works (or alleged righteous-ness).
Why, on the other hand, do other sinners receive the grace of the cross, and experience redemption in Jesus? Because God regenerates them by the Holy Spirit; and they recognize the truth: that their sins put the Beloved One on the cruel tree (cross); and that true atonement is pow-erful—strong enough to effect the forgiveness of their sins (all in Christ).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Where the aim and bent of the soul is to-wards God, there is grace, though opposed.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
