11 20 08 Good for Nuthin’

“It is written,
‘No one is right with God, no one at all.
No one understands. No one trusts in God.
All of them have turned away. They have all become worthless.
No one does anything good, no one at all.’ (Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20)
‘Their throats are like open graves.
With their tongues they tell lies.’(Psalm 5:9)
‘The words from their lips are like the poison of a snake.’(Psalm 140:3)
‘Their mouths are full of curses and bitterness.’(Psalm 10:7)
‘They run quickly to commit murder.
They leave a trail of failure and pain.
They do not know the way of peace.’(Isaiah 59:7, 8)
‘They don't have any respect for God.’(Psalm 36:1) What the law says, it says to those who are ruled by the law. Its purpose is to shut every mouth and make the whole world accountable to God. So it can't be said that anyone will be made right with God by obeying the law. Not at all! The law makes us more aware of our sin.” (Romans 3:10-20 NIrV)

All throughout the Old and New Testament, as read above, we can see that in and of ourselves, we are nothing but filthy rags. Even our best work, without the leading of God the Father, is worthless. Only those things done for Christ…for the Kingdom, will last. As human beings, created with sin nature, we are bent toward selfish desires, jealous schemes, and plans to take care of me and mine first. We are trained and instructed to look out for number 1; love yourself first; and what’s mine is mine and you can’t have it! Yet God instructs us to put others first, love our neighbor as ourselves, and sacrifice what we have for the comfort of others. God’s laws reveal how short we come to His standards! Apart from God, we are GOOD FOR NUTHIN!

“‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good except God.’” (Mark 10:18 NIrV)

Paul, in all His abilities and service for the Lord, says no one is good. Even Jesus, when walking in human flesh, replied to the rich, young ruler “No one is good but God.” The young man was not acknowledging Jesus as God, but as a good teacher. Without the saving blood of Christ, no one can ever be good or do any good. His blood makes us holy. Once cleansed, we can do the things of God and live out His will so others will see our good works and want to know Him themselves. One who is forgiven of his sin, sealed by God’s Holy Spirit, and positioned in the Body of Christ, can then do good!

As His Law reveals our need for God, we humbly seek His grace. Once forgiven, we use His power to live in that grace in a world full of sin. Otherwise, we’re GOOD FOR NUTHIN!