If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10)

Finding Purpose In What I Am – A Sinner Needing Saving

Finding abundant life in Jesus means knowing He came to save all men and give them eternal life. Jesus said He is the door, and all who enter will be saved. Like a shepherd, the Lord will lead the obedient to pastures of green along the still waters. All of those in the flock of God will be fed abundantly, protected from the ravages of wolves, and be secure hearing the voice of the shepherd calling their names.

Jesus is not just a shepherd. He knows the frailty of the human spirit. In the beginning, man was created in the image of God. Through the Father’s promise, Jesus came to give His life as the good shepherd because all men needed the saving grace of Jesus’ blood. Animals could not redeem sinful man. No works a man could do would save him. God so loved the world that He was willing to give His Son as the blood sacrifice to redeem sinful man.

Finding purpose in Christ alone begins with man seeing himself for what he is. First, he is an eternal creature. Second, he is a failed eternal creature. When Eve took of the fruit and gave it to Adam, the tragedy of man’s story was highlighted in the requirement of a blood sacrifice to redeem them back to God. Through the ages, God allowed sacrifices to lead men to Him for salvation. All these sacrifices, multiplied by thousands, could not remove the debt of sin. Jesus is the abundant life because He abundantly gave of Himself to redeem those who killed him.

Sinful man can never find the grace of God until he admits he is a sinful creature. A man who refuses to acknowledge he is lost does not change his circumstance but shows the folly of not recognizing the state he is in. Jesus came to give the abundant life of salvation in the gospel. On the Day of Pentecost, no greater acknowledgment is given than those who cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Everyone is a sinner needing saving. Only through the abundance of God’s grace can a man imagine eternal life.

Finding purpose in life is understanding what I am. There is nothing I have done to merit the grace and love of God. All that a man can do in life is empty compared to the goodness and severity of God. “For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22b-23). The abundant life in Christ Jesus comes with a cost. It cost God His only begotten Son. Saving man required the death of God’s Son. The reason for the death of Jesus on the cross was because of sin. He paid the final cost to redeem man because there was nothing sinful man could do. Man was a creature needing saving.

Life must have a purpose to be full. The Christian has a full life as they see God’s grace in their hearts, cleansing them of sin, lifting them from the dregs of wickedness, and blessing them with the eternal message of forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. Salvation does not come from works, lest anyone boast. Sinful man has been saved by the grace of God to be His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). That is where the abundance of God dwells. Jesus came to bring the abundant life to save a sinner from the wrath of God. Thank God for Jesus Christ.