E
Okay, I read the rest of your post EG.
I look at the verse about poor in spirit in a different way. You say we must become poor in spirit/spiritually bankrupt. I think we already ARE poor in spirit but just haven't realized it yet sometimes. That's how it went with me anyway. I had to keep trying to be good because I couldn't see or admit yet that I had nothing with which to accomplish being good. I just thought He had saved me and I owed it to Him to do as He said.. (There were some other motivations mixed up in that too, but the main one was a desire to actually BE good after what He'd done for me.)
I look at the verse about poor in spirit in a different way. You say we must become poor in spirit/spiritually bankrupt. I think we already ARE poor in spirit but just haven't realized it yet sometimes. That's how it went with me anyway. I had to keep trying to be good because I couldn't see or admit yet that I had nothing with which to accomplish being good. I just thought He had saved me and I owed it to Him to do as He said.. (There were some other motivations mixed up in that too, but the main one was a desire to actually BE good after what He'd done for me.)
he tax collector realized it, that's why he fell unable to even look up in shame. And asked God to show mercy,
while your right, we all are spiritually bankrupt, unless we actually believe it, like th tax collector, we will continue to fail to come to saving faith, Because we will still think we have something to offer