One Perfect Life

All other religions will tell you
Of things that you must achieve
But all these religions will fail you
How many poor souls they deceive


Labor and work for salvation
The message of all human pride
But it ends in eternal damnation
Toward which many run in full stride


All human works are polluted
All ways of the flesh come far short
By many these paths are saluted
But they all are condemned in Gods court


God’s pure holy nature is slighted
Man’s sinfulness not understood
By the mystics who are so delighted
With their souls self proclaimed inner good


The Gospel of Christ is specific
Unique in its teaching of grace
It teaches man's sin is horrific
And helpless and hopeless his case


But outside of ourselves stands a Savior
So perfect, and wonderfully complete
His life is a sweet smelling savor
With merit His soul is replete

By one perfect life so amazing
He was all that a person should be
Then with the full force of wrath blazing
He bore sinner's guilt on the tree


One person made the transaction
Two natures made it complete
The God-man has made satisfaction
In His wounds wrath and mercy did meet


All who fall on the Savior
Flat out, trusting His work alone
Can know that Gods mercy and favor
Is theirs, they can call it their own


Those leaning full into his merit
His perfection as a robe falls around them
How peacefully now they can wear it
As His mercy and grace both surround them


This is the gospel of Jesus
This is the message of hope
That from sins enslavement God frees us
And doesn't add just one more rope


So turn from the worlds empty dreams
From their vain attempts make your flight
For only from Calvary is there a pure stream
That makes lovely in Gods holy sight

This poem was a finalist in the March 2018 poetry contest