For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
Galations 3:10
Long ago, a friend recommended to me an interesting song — Shane & Shane’s “Embracing Accusation.” It’s a song about the devil giving us a theology lesson. It may sound odd for anyone to say that the devil sometimes gets his theology right, but James 2:19 kind of says just that…to some extent: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”
But it’s never the whole story, is it? Even when he does stumble upon a truth, it is a lie in his mouth, twisted and manipulated for his own purposes. Jesus warns us all when he says, “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (Jn 8:44).
So when the devil preaches, you can bet it’s only half-truths on a good day. And one of his favorite sermons goes like this: “You’ll never be good enough. No matter how hard you try, you’re still going to come up short and wander off like the dumb sheep you are.” A lot of us know that it’s true. By personal experience we know it’s true.
Of course, that’s not the whole story. Look around. Anyone can tell you that we’re constantly at the business of making a mess of things. It’s in our nature. If you think you’re some kind of sweetheart who always does the right thing, you’re deluded. I don’t mean to sound overly soured on people here. I love people. I’m just being realistic. Even if you think your sins are just the tiny ones that don’t really hurt anyone, the cumulative effect of them across all of humanity — some in greater severity than others — shows our trajectory as creation itself groans beneath their weight.
But, what about the rest of the story? Well, it’s actually quite simple. Paul writes it in his second letter to the Corinthians (5:21) — “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
In other words, and as the famous saying goes, Jesus really does save. That’s all part of the gospel — God glorified in his mercy for us.
Take heart in this: that, despite your failures, you can still enjoy the fruits of heaven and the very presence of God through Jesus Christ. I assure you, it gets no better than that.
The father of lies
Coming to steal
Kill and destroy
All my hopes of being good enoughI hear him saying
“Cursed are the ones who can’t abide”
He’s right
Hallelujah, he’s rightThe devil is preaching
The song of the redeemed
That I am cursed and gone astray
I cannot gain salvation
Embracing accusationCould the father of lies
Be telling the truth
Of God to me tonight?
If the penalty of sin is death
Then death is mineI hear him saying
“Cursed are the ones who can’t abide”
He’s right
Hallelujah, he’s rightThe devil is preaching
The song of the redeemed
That I am cursed and gone astray
I cannot gain salvationOh, the devil’s singing over me an age old song
That I am cursed and gone astray
Singing the first verse so conveniently over me
He’s forgotten the refrain…Jesus saves!
He redeemed us from the curse of the law…