Let's look again at what Paul says about "glorying" in the cross of Jesus:
(a) He says, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14):
(b) This "glorying" was not a "work." It had no merit for him, in itself.
(c) It was his heart reaction, his heart-appreciation for what it cost the Son of God to save us.
(d) Herein we see the Bible definition of what faith is, the definition that transcends that of the learned tomes:
(e) Faith is a heart-appreciation of the love [agape] that drove the Son of God to His cross to die our second death for us.
(f) As with Paul, such "glorying" has no merit in it for us!
(g) We can never work our way into heaven; only by His "much more abounding grace" Christ will save us to eternal life.
(h) We would be utterly miserable living forever in the New Jerusalem if our hearts were still worldly, devoted to righteousness by works.
(i) Therefore, because the Bible says that "God is love" (1 John 4:8), He would never imprison any of us in the New Jerusalem where we would be miserable nursing our self-righteousness.
(j) The gates of the New Jerusalem, like the arms of Jesus, are open wide, and all who will may enter and no one will be denied; but no one will want to enter who is still devoted to the principle of righteousness by works.
(k) Therefore it is that the Lord will give everyone what he/she really wants above all else.
(l) And it follows that no one will perish at last in the second death who does not want to.
(m) Thank you, dear Lord, that you are agape-love!
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
