Tabernacle Lectures (106) Ornamental knobs

No matter how beautiful or pretty the flowers are, if the knobs that are supporting the flowers fall off or are taken away, the petals will fall or be blown away by the wind. In the same way, people who have beautiful, precious, and amazing faith or talents are not so because they are better or more outstanding than others. It is because Jesus, who is the ornamental knob which we cannot see, is behind them.

Some people put their actions as the basis of their spiritual life. For them, when they pray a lot or read the Bible or help others, they go forward to God with boldness. But when they do not do those things, they cannot go boldly to God. We did not receive the forgiveness of sins through our will or effort. Spiritual life after receiving salvation also is possible because we have the ornamental knob of Jesus Christ.

We were not justified before God through our actions. Like the ornamental knobs which are not seen, but which hold onto each and every petal of the flower, the basis for saying we are righteous is because all our sins have been forgiven through Jesus Christ dying on the cross, and that grace has become our support.