Self Mortification
February 20, 2010
Why does self mortification not work? Well, I think it makes us have the mistaken impression that we in some way are paying for our sins, and are making ourselves suffer for them when in reality the only real payment for sin is death. What is the ransom for a man’s soul?
The ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough
Psalm 49:8
It seems to be vanity to hope that we can in some way contribute to Christ’s payment on the cross for our death, destruction and eternal separation from God. Still, there is a yearning to know God’s punishment, for us to feel justified in some way. Even the Psalmist says “In your faithfulness you have afflicted me.” I guess it’s the attitude we take. We don’t take pride in our affliction, or justification in our discipline; we should realise what fools we are, how stubborn and how insufferably arrogant we are to take Christ’s love for granted and humble ourselves, contrite our hearts and repent. And be ashamedly humbled by the love and mercy of a God who cares for us, dresses our wounds and washes our sins away.
Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.
Isaiah 1: 18
