Easter Devotion #9 – I’m Not Unworthy, Am I?

Scripture: “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” – Acts 13:46

Examination: In this chapter, Paul preached his first missionary message to the Jews outside of Jerusalem, but they rejected the truth of the gospel. Due to that, Paul is sent by God to the Gentiles to share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Application: There have been many sermons preached about the unworthiness of mankind. Many hymns have been written about the same. But what exactly does it mean to be “unworthy” in the eyes of God?

Perhaps the most common response is found in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”  For whatever reason, it seems to be quite easy to agree with that verse, and say, “Yes, I am a sinner. I am unworthy of God’s grace.” However, it’s important to understand that being “unworthy” puts us all collectively in the same category.

God does not have degrees of sin. One particular sin is no worse than any other sin. As carnal beings, we tend to classify sins such as lying, gossiping, or cheating a little on taxes as small sins. The biggies tend to be murder, adultery, theft, and others like these. But to God, sin is sin. The smallest lie can separate a person from God and exclude him or her from heaven.

It is the same for our unworthiness. Like sin, we tend to categorize unworthiness into levels. A person who was involved in those seemingly insignificant sins is less unworthy than an abortionist, terrorist, or rapist. The latter group is hugely unworthy of God’s grace, right? Wrong. God doesn’t have levels of unworthiness.

The truth is each one of us is equally unworthy of God’s grace as the most heinous of criminals. I am as unworthy in the Lord’s sight as one who promotes pornography, manufactures and sells illegal drugs, or persecutes Christians.

Sin is sin. Unworthiness is unworthiness. Period. End of discussion.

According to Romans 6:23, the only thing we are “worthy” of is death. The first part of that verse states, “For the wages of sin is death;” If the story ended here, it would be a tragedy, but there is more to this verse. It finishes with “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Yes, we are all sinners. Yes, we are all unworthy of God’s mercy and grace. Yes, we are all powerless to do anything about it.

But God did something about it Himself.

1. God’s holiness demanded a punishment for sin, but we couldn’t satisfy that requirement because it is our very sin that makes us unworthy and unable to do so.

• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

2. Jesus took the punishment for sin in our place. His sinless body suffered the greatest of agonies through scourging and crucifixion for us to have the opportunity to be redeemed.

• “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24

3. Jesus rose from the dead becoming the Saviour of the world.

• “He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” – Luke 24:6-7

4. As the Saviour, Jesus forgives every sin… “big or small”… to all those who place their faith and trust in Him.

• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” – Romans 10:9-10

If we are so unworthy, why would God sacrifice His beloved Son to purchase salvation for us? The answer is found in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

We may be unworthy sinners, but we are loved by God beyond measure!

Memory Verse: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – Romans 10:13

Stretching your thoughts:

1. Sometimes the realization of how unworthy we are is overwhelming. What verses would you share with someone who felt unworthy of God’s love?

Unworthy am I of the grace that He gave,
Unworthy to hold to His hand;
Amazed that a King would reach down to a slave,
This love I cannot understand. 

Unworthy, unworthy, a beggar;
In bondage and alone;
But He made me worthy and now by His grace,
His mercy has made me His own. 

(from “Unworthy” by Ira Stanphill)