◆ ◆ ◆
“Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” – Acts 26:17-18.
◆ ◆ ◆
I’ve noticed a growing trend—people in contemporary culture seek to be justified through virtue signaling. Political beliefs have become forms of doctrine. It’s also alarming how the religious hold sheer contempt and hatred for people.
Sexual shame has plagued my life ever since I was conscious of my sexuality. The education I received from my middle school, Hollywood, and current politics (especially the LGBTQ+ community) instilled a belief in me that sex and I were inherently flawed. Society encouraged that I was a “white, heterosexual male who is defectively unlovable,” and if found expressing interest in women, would be labeled as a “rapist, sexist, creep.”
Sex, in turn, was taboo, a “gross” expression of love worth slandering, and gave anyone who did it a high chance of contracting various STIs that could potentially harm—even kill them.
Sex and I were, therefore, a “cancer” to society that needed to be dismissed. A lack of a healthy sexual education made a young boy seeking answers find solace by doing activities behind closed doors.
For years, I was a slave to something I hated yet craved. The more I tried to suppress my desires, the more I gave into them. I was ashamed of who I was, what I was doing, and what I was becoming.
I wanted to be accepted and loved for who I am. And I thank God that I discovered biblical Christianity.
I began studying the Bible two years ago and have since found the truth that God so loved the world—so much that even while we were yet sinners, He sent His Son Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, who came in the flesh and died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the scriptures for our justification (Jn 3:16; 1 Cor 15:1-4).
This means that Christ paid the sin debt we owe to God as a free gift.
Right standing with God has nothing to do with our works, self-effort, prayers, emotions, actions, or intentions. If there was something we could have done to save ourselves, Christ died in vain (Gal 2:21).
One receives right standing before God by faith in Christ and His finished work alone. It is this incorruptible message one must believe to receive eternal life.
I was barraged by various religious arguments while learning this truth, especially from those in the Christendom camp. It’s amazing how the religious zealots rail at Christians.
“You’re saying I can live however I want and still get to heaven?! You’re just using grace as a license to sin!”
“No. You can’t just go to heaven by believing in Christ alone! Even the demons believe! You have to do His ‘holy works!’”
“There are many ways to heaven. Whatever gets you through it…”
Surprisingly, many people claim to be Christians but are, in fact, not. Most so-called Christians consistently proclaim one must be water-baptized, turn from sins, or receive communion to be saved from hell. Others believe that simple persuasion in the gospel is not enough and that true faith will cause someone to live a holy life.
How ironic that the majority of churchgoers sound like those who judged me based on my race and sexual orientation!
I’m not opposed to someone living a good life. I am asserting that a Christian has believed God’s testimony concerning His Son (i.e., the death, burial, and resurrection) as the entire payment for their sins alone (1 Jn 5:10-13).
It’s incredible how this message produced love, joy, and peace in me rather than the church sermons I listened to locally. What a relief I felt knowing my sin debt was paid in full and I wasn’t condemned anymore. Christ had died for the sins of the whole world, and I knew heaven would forever be my home.
I was initially very sin-conscious as a new believer. I was always concerned about how God felt about my actions. Exploring my sexuality was always challenging, even after I was saved. I consistently felt condemned.
“Was God mad at me?” and “Am I pleasing to Him?” persistently circled my mind.
Yet, He worked with me and showed me how sufficient His grace was for a sinner like myself.
As I studied the scriptures, they concluded that not only does believing in Christ permanently secure the believer heaven, but it also grants them access to God both now and forever by faith through the renewal of their minds and reminders about their identity as God’s children.
For example, “Thank you, God, that I am your child and a heir of Jesus, that I am blessed with all spiritual blessings, and that I have peace with you through the blood of Jesus.” (Gal 4:7; Eph 1:3; Rom 5:1-2).
God—as bizarre as it seems—was not upset at me when I sinned, wasn’t displeased with me, or mad with me. Sure, my sexual desires may not have been justifiable, but God gave me Jesus as my advocate.
This is the weapon we are to wield to overcome sin.
To clarify, I’m not advocating sin. I am declaring that there is liberty in Christ. He loves me perfectly even while I’m consistently imperfect.
The Bible states that our flesh is so broken beyond repair that it cannot be fixed, improved, or perfected through our efforts. We are to reckon it “dead” and remind ourselves we are complete in Christ. He is sinlessly perfect and has imparted His righteousness upon those of us who have believed on Him (Rom 6-8; Col 2:10).
My flesh can never be justified. The demand is on Christ to fulfill God’s righteousness on my behalf to satisfy Himself. We, as believers, are, in essence, beneficiaries of a covenant that God made with His Son, who was promised to save the world from their sins. He has, therefore, shared His inheritance with us, His children, by faith in His accomplishment. And we walk in these truths by faith—walking in the Spirit—not to be saved, but to experience the joyfulness of our salvation that God has given to us freely (Gal 2:19-20; 5:22-26).
That is undeserved grace and mercy.
I am grateful to have a faithful Shepherd—a loving bridegroom—who always picks me back up and nourishes me under His lovingkindness. He allows me to acknowledge, embrace, and forgive my faults whenever I fall short.
I have been blessed to have moved away from the institutional church system and now associate with a grace community on YouTube and VR Chat, a virtual reality game where people can hang out in various worlds—including churches. God has put brothers and sisters on my path with whom I can have fellowship to grow in the faith. Our ministry aims to share Christ’s riches to spread proper rest and peace found only in Christ, just as God exhorts in His Word—building one another into the full knowledge of Christ (Eph 4:11-15).
It is true. Jesus gives peace that the world—both the unrighteous and self-righteous—cannot provide. He has saved believers from the penalty for sin, the ability to overcome the power of sin, and ultimately, the promise of being moved away from the presence of sin upon glorification when they’ll receive sinless, glorified bodies in the afterlife.
The world needs unconditional love. That’s what Christ has provided. He is touched by the weakness of our infirmities, is not surprised when we sin, and has judged our flesh on the cross. Wisdom is not found in an object or in transmogrification. Neither is righteousness, sanctification, or redemption. It is found in the Person, Christ Jesus, who is pleased with oneself by faith that is in Him (1 Cor 1:30).
I am perfectly imperfect. I believed on Him. That is enough.
I am an overcomer.
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. – Acts 16:31
