Let those who boast, boast in only one thing: that they have the understanding to know Me. Jeremiah 9:24
By knowing God first, we come to truly know ourselves—that we are sinners saved by grace. When Peter witnessed the miraculous power of God, he acknowledged his sinfulness, saying, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" (Luke 5:8).
Similarly, when Isaiah saw the Lord seated on His throne, he cried, "Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips" (Isaiah 6:5).
In comparison to God's holiness, miraculous power, unfailing love, mercy, righteousness, and integrity, we must humbly admit that we are sinners. As Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick" (Matthew 9:12). We are spiritually sick, for "the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure" (Jeremiah 17:9).
From our hearts flow unrighteous thoughts, evil desires, pride, selfishness, greed, sexual immorality, idolatry, anger, unforgiveness, arrogance, and disobedience (Mark 7:21-23).
We need a physician to heal our hearts, and the blood of Jesus is the only remedy that can purge us of sin. His sacrifice is the sole cure for humanity's brokenness.
We need Jesus as an urgent necessity in our lives. Without a relationship with God through His Son, we have not truly lived. Our degrees, wealth, status, careers, and relationships amount to nothing if we lack a personal relationship with God through faith in His Son. Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse our hearts of our sins.