The King is distraught with people. He finishes this chapter with a cutting comment:
"This only have I found: God created humankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes." (7:29)
This is the cry of every staunch Calvinist! "There is none righteous, no not one" is how Paul summarizes the King in Romans. We have all messed up.
Of course the question is "were we born this way or do we become depraved?" I will admit, from my study of Scripture, I'm with the King and Paul - we are born sinners in need of salvation. No matter how wise or how smart or how rich or how able we might become in this life, ultimately, it is God's grace working in our life that saves us. We cannot ever be good enough to stand blameless before our holy God.
With this in mind, I can simply rest in God's grace and "When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other." (7:14)
Are you able to admit that you aren't good enough for God to call holy, but instead you are ready to embrace His grace and allow Him to make you a new creation? Are you able to humbly acknowledge God's holiness and see our need for a mediator to reconcile our relationship with Him? I have to do this daily.
Under the Mercy,
Jason
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