There’s a terrible inconsistency we Christians often have. Intellectually, we know that we’re saved by grace through faith. We know that “Salvation belongs to the Lord alone.” But then, we find ourselves trying to dust ourselves off, straighten our ties, sit up a little straighter, and clean ourselves up a bit before coming to Christ.
It is drilled into us as evangelicals that you cannot contribute to your salvation in the least measure. We know this particularly in reference to our initial salvation or conversion. Yet, as we go along we think that that order reverses. “Yes, yes,” we tell ourselves, “Come to Christ to be cleaned.” But then, our thinking drifts off into: “Clean yourself up and then come to Christ.”
There is, amongst evangelicals, an overused cliché. “Come just as you are.” This has been misused in large measure. It has justified all sorts of nonsense, laziness, and sin. Nevertheless, one of the primary principles conveyed in this meal set before you is that you must come to Christ, and continue to come to Christ, in order be made clean. You don’t get holy and then come to this feast. Rather, it is by coming to this feast by which Christ continues to cleanse you.
What Christ began in you, as symbolized in your baptism, is continued here. You are stained with the dark ink of sin, and there is no earthly bleach powerful enough to cleanse you. Apart from Christ there is no virtue in you strong enough to bring you to this table. This is why, Sunday after Sunday you are invited to come and welcome to Jesus Christ. Not because you were quite well-behaved this week, not because of your last name, pedigree, or diplomas. Rather, you are invited because “He which first won you still keeps you alive.”
So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ…
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