There are many statements in scripture which pass scathing comment upon ALL of us and our condition. Statements for which there is no apparent exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These statements from scripture are properly brutal. Fantastically honest, scathing and comprehensive. All<\/em> men are sinners, there is none<\/em> that does good and all<\/em> men are mortal. We may forget these scathing statements of truth, sitting around the bread and wine on a Lord’s Day morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How properly offensive scripture is to our human tendency which has us segment humankind into a hundred and one different levels and categories. It takes the rug from underneath of all of it. We are in fact, all in the same boat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Word of God is clear. There are no exceptions, all have sinned, all flesh is as grass and there is not one that does good. Not even, one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How glorious it is that in the face of these frightfully brutal statements about humanity there is in fact, just one exception. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The man Christ Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christ is exceptional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to all men having sinned and come short of the glory of God \u2013 Christ is the exception. Perhaps some men were more off course than others. But ultimately, as we scan the field for the arrow shafts of righteousness we find that they have all fallen short of the target. None of them have attained God\u2019s standard. All have sinned. All, but Christ \u2013 Praise God!<\/p>\n\n\n\n But was he not born of a women (Gal. 4.4<\/a>) \u2013 most assuredly He was \u2013 yet conceived of The Holy Spirit in a virgin womb! (Lk. 1.27<\/a>). But was He not tempted in all points as we are \u2013 for sure He was \u2013 yet without sin (Heb. 4.15<\/a>). Even the prince of this world had no hold over the Saviour (John 14.30<\/a>). Happy exception this is \u2013 that though \u2018by one man\u2019s disobedience many<\/em> were made sinners, so by the obedience of one<\/em> shall many be made righteous\u2019 (emphasis mine).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here in Psalm 14<\/a> The Spirit of God inspired David to characterise the whole of humanity as basically, unable to do good. \u2018They are all gone aside, they are altogether become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one\u2019. Because we are all born sinners, all that we do is marred by sin. What with our confused motives and pride fuelled endeavours, even the best of men doing the best of things, can all be characterised in this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Except, The best man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hallelujah brother and sister. He went about doing good (Acts 10.38<\/a>). Anointed by God, empowered by the Spirit, He went about doing, properly good things. Unimpeded by a sinful nature that complicated His pursuit of His Fathers will He well pleased Him and invoked praise to that effect, \u2018Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased\u2019 (Lk. 3.22<\/a>). There is<\/em> one that has done good. Exceptional indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Exception to Falling Short<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Exception to Not Doing Good<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Exception to Being like Grass<\/h2>\n\n\n\n