We have two subtle and Deeply Embedded needs. We need relief from guilt, shame, and a sense of failure. We also need to know we are valuable, significant, worthwhile. The former removes something bad from us, and the latter gains something good for us.
Though these are separate needs, they are connected. The former eats away and diminishes our sense of the latter. Feeling like a failure is to feel worthless; a loser as some like to say.
How would we describe the Father's love for His Son? Whatever way we describe it, it is the same love the Son has for us. This kind of love is not possible unless we are perfect in God's eyes. A perfection lived out by Christ and fully credited-assigned to us. Just as Christ was treated as the rebels we are - condemned - we are now perfect in the eyes of God in the same way Christ is.
For an extended discussion of our guilt and shame, click here and here.
For a further discussion on being hard wired for greatness, click here.
Though these are separate needs, they are connected. The former eats away and diminishes our sense of the latter. Feeling like a failure is to feel worthless; a loser as some like to say.
When we speak of Christ's work on our behalf, we usually focus on the former - God's removal of the just condemnation for our *rebellion. Our awareness of this need, more than the need to have a sense of value, may be due to the pain of constant and deeply embedded feelings of guilt and shame. Being relieved of pain can feel more urgent than gaining something we strongly desire e.g. We are not going to be concerned about our appearance or achievements right after dropping a large rock on our foot.
The need for acceptance and approval is not often thought about when we consider what Christ offers us but is at least equal too, if not more important when it comes to our long-term faithfulness to God.
Christ lived a life of Perfect faithfulness (obedience) to His Father, to the point of enduring the most shameful death and feeling abandonedby Him. This perfect life of faithful obedience is now fully assigned-credited to us if we are in Christ. We are now viewed by God as perfect in ourfaithfulness - though we are far from it.
We are now equally admirable and loved by the Father as Jesus.
Christ lived a life of Perfect faithfulness (obedience) to His Father, to the point of enduring the most shameful death and feeling abandonedby Him. This perfect life of faithful obedience is now fully assigned-credited to us if we are in Christ. We are now viewed by God as perfect in ourfaithfulness - though we are far from it.
We are now equally admirable and loved by the Father as Jesus.
John 15:9 as the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
How would we describe the Father's love for His Son? Whatever way we describe it, it is the same love the Son has for us. This kind of love is not possible unless we are perfect in God's eyes. A perfection lived out by Christ and fully credited-assigned to us. Just as Christ was treated as the rebels we are - condemned - we are now perfect in the eyes of God in the same way Christ is.
For a further discussion on being hard wired for greatness, click here.
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*i.e. Our rebellious distrust of God. Distrust leads to unfaithfulness in giving God his rightful and due recognition as the one and only all-glorious God.
