But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
What the Old Testament reveals is that we are guilty beyond compare. Because we know the laws God requires, we are law breakers who do not do them. God's standards for holiness are so high that breaking even one law breaks all of them. We are prisoners to our own sin, deserving of death for our own wickedness. If you believe the Scriptures, you also must believe you are a prisoner of war.
But faith sets you apart for salvation.
It is not your works that save you-- it is Christ. It is not your worship that saves you-- it is Christ. It is not your joy or your piety that saves you-- it is Christ. It is not even your faith that saves you-- it is Christ and his faithfulness that brings you up out of the land of slavery.
Do not look to heaven to call down eternal blessing through your pitiful prayers, but look to Christ who hears them. Make no mistake, you are not at all worthy or important except for Christ who makes you worthy and important by the sheer fact that he designates you to be so. Do not be fooled, for you are nothing until Christ makes you something. Look to Christ so that he may grant you rest. Christ is your salvation and there is no other.
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