Horror

This is a serious problem. To realize that our very identity is sinful. Unholy. In opposition to God.

We are united with - we are part of - a fallen race.

In Ephesians 2, Paul makes this clear:

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."

No one seems to have that on their LinkedIn profile!

"Child of wrath, like the rest of mankind."

And it doesn't seem to be a popular Tweet: "I follow the prince of the power of the air."

Ultimately, recognizing our sin leads to horror - an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust. I am a traitor in rebellion against the Creator - the King - the Holy one. I am not right with God. It is not just a few wrong things that I have done, but my very being is oriented in rebellion against my Creator.

But when we grasp these sobering realities, we are prepared to understand why Jesus experienced the horror of the Cross.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Meditate on the connection between understanding your sin and understanding the Cross. How does one illuminate the other?