“I don’t believe I’m a sinner. But you say that I am, so I believe you.”

That was how one person recounted the story of the beginning of their life’s transformation. At the time, they didn’t feel like they were a sinner. They didn’t consider themselves to be living in sin. Yet, despite their personal feelings and beliefs about who they were, they were being drawn to Jesus. To His voice in His Word. Their honesty was their faith; their faith was their honesty.

They told me that shortly after, they awoke to seeing the world differently and from that point on they were different.

Recently, I preached a sermon in which I read Paul’s words from 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. I noted that some present might be worried I was being offensive. My response was that if it was offensive, they likely weren’t ready to hear it. But, I continued, I didn’t say it for them. I said it for those who were ready to hear it. “Such were some of you,” preached Paul. In that moment I preached, “Such ARE some of you. And Jesus is present to forgive and make clean, to clothe and make right, to welcome and make brand new.”

Since we are “born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable,” (1 Pet. 1:22-23) Christians don’t lower the Word of God or their theology to fit their feelings and experience. They raise their feelings and experience to the Word of God. To Christ Jesus. To confess with their mouth and believe in their heart: “I believe you. I believe what you say. I believe who you are.”

Dear Elim Grace, you may not feel you are that bad. You may not feel you are that good. You may not feel washed and forgiven. You may not feel strong and courageous. You may not feel welcomed and “a new creation.” You may not feel called and equipped. You may not feel filled and empowered by the Spirit. You may not feel God is leading and providing for you. You may not feel God is present and for you. You may not feel you are in the wrong. You may not feel you need to ask for forgiveness. You may not feel God is real. You may not feel like you need to obey.…

So you turn your heart to God’s Word and God’s revelation in Christ Jesus, and you confess, “But you say…, so I believe you. I put my faith in you.”