Our assurance is anchored in the love and grace of God expressed in the glorious exchange: our sin for His righteousness.

My observation of Christendom is that most of us tend to base our relationship with God on our performance instead of on His grace.

Thankfully, while our self-righteousness reaches far, God's grace reaches farther.

Legalism says God will love us if we change. The gospel says God will change us because He loves us.

Many people inside the church think God cares only that we obey. In fact, many believe that it is even more honorable--and therefore more righteous--when we obey God against all desire to obey Him. Where did we get the idea that if we do what God tells us to do, even though 'our hearts are far from Him,' it's something to be proud of, something admirable, something praiseworthy, something righteous? Don't get me wrong, we should obey when we don't feel like it. But lets not make the common mistake of proudly equating that with the righteousness that God requires.

Your identity is firmly anchored in Christ's accomplishment, not yours; his strength, not yours; his performance, not yours; his victory, not yours.