[Jesus] bore our sins . . . so that we might
die to sins and live for righteousness.
—1 Peter 2:24
With focused attention, unyielding determination, concentrated self-discipline, unflagging hard work, and a few breaks, you can orchestrate your success. But there’s nothing you can do to expunge your failure.
But Jesus can. He didn’t come to be a cheerleader for your success; he came to take on your failure.
The heart of the Christian life isn’t bootstrap achievement; it’s being aware that we were dead in transgressions, have been made alive in Christ, and have been saved by grace (Eph 2:5).
God knew that we could regulate our successes but that we could not remedy our failures. That’s why he did what he did: “God made [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21).
Being rescued from failure is the ultimate success.