“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
II Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Many believers view themselves as unworthy to be in God’s service. They say, “I’m not worthy of God’s blessings or His mercy. I’m just a poor sinner, saved by grace.” That’s a gloomy and discouraging view of God’s life-changing power. Is that really how God wants us to see things? Through the eyes of a worthless sinner whom He can save, but He can’t change? No. We trust in God’s saving power. Without it, we can’t be saved. Now it’s time to trust in His changing power.
But how does God view you? What makes you worthy in the eyes of the Lord?
Once you’re saved, you are a new creature in Christ, and you are now clothed in the worthiness of Christ. You’re no longer a slave to sin and when God looks at you, He sees you through the righteousness of His dear Son.
Remember what II Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
All things! You are now a child of God, adopted into His family.
Romans 8:16-17 says, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
The only way that a believer can be unworthy is to be living a life of disobedience to God.
In I Corinthians 11:26-27, Paul is talking about the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” Then verse 30 says, “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”
If we are still unworthy, even after we accept Christ as Savior, who then can partake of the Lord’s Supper worthily? No one. Yet, in verse 26, we are told to observe this ordinance on a regular basis.
Then in Colossians 1:10-11 we’re told, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.”
Why would God tell us to “walk worthy” if it’s an impossibility? And when we “walk worthy,” we’re “being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” We’re not capable of “walking worthy” in our own strength or power, but we can do all things through the power of Christ. Why would God tell us to “walk worthy” if we’re not worthy no matter what we do?
But I still sin, so how can I be worthy in the sight of God?
I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” All unrighteousness! If you’re cleansed from all unrighteousness, then you are now righteous in the sight of God. That makes you worthy.
You’re a new creature in Christ. You’re a child of God. You’re an heir of God. You’re a joint heir with Christ.
And I Thessalonians 2:12 says, “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”
God expects us to “walk worthy” because of all the things He has done for us. To “walk worthy” is not an unattainable ideal or even a suggestion; it’s a commandment.