But why do we have to expose or realize our sin? Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is [spiritual] death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Our eternal existence is either life with Jesus Christ forever or eternal separation from Him (see Isaiah 59:2). God’s Word gives us a hint about what eternal life might look like as Jesus Christ spoke and John recorded in the book of Revelation:
“Look, I [Jesus Christ] am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:12-15).
A.W. Pink shared a story about a Buddhist priest who knew nothing about the Christian faith.[1] One day he came across a transcription of the book of Matthew. He admired the verse, “Blessed are the pure of heart; for they shall see God.” Even though he was convicted by the words written in the book of Matthew, he would say to himself, “I shall never see God, for I am impure in heart.” Finally, the Buddhist priest fled the temple and went to a town where a Christian missionary resided. The priest asked, “Is it true that only those who are pure in heart will see God?” “Yes,” replied the missionary, “but the same book which tells you that, also tells you how you may obtain a pure heart.” The missionary shared how that “the blood of Jesus Christ His [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin.” The Spirit of God quickly came upon the priest’s spirit, and he rejoiced that he could then see God in his spirit, since it’s the blood of Jesus Christ that can make us all pure. The Word of God was alive that day in the priest’s spirit, actively changed him forevermore, and introduced a relationship with Jesus Christ which would last for eternity. We each have a choice to make about our eternal destiny. We can choose to acknowledge God’s Word and the Lord Jesus Christ, or not. But if we do choose to acknowledge Him and His Word, then that relationship starts by realizing our sin nature, confessing it, asking Christ for forgiveness of our sin, and then trusting Him and His Word.
[1] Arthur W. Pink, The Divine Inspiration of the Bible, (Swengel, PA: Bible Truth Depot, 1917), 57-58.