In Christ, God gives you a perfect score in law-keeping
Believers, when you are in Christ, having the Lord as your righteousness and forsaking that which comes from works of the Law, God gives you an A-plus in law-keeping and not because you worked for it. How? In Christ, the Law is fulfilled in us but not by us. Our Saviour Jesus Christ bore our sins in His own body, took our curse and died our death that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. He gave His life for us to redeem us from EVERY lawless deed (Titus 2) so in Him, sin no longer holds us captive. Our sins are no longer held against us. In Christ, we are righteous (by faith and apart from works) in the sight of God. This is the message of the cross. This is Grace- undeserved, unmerited favour.
But does this mean that we can now go on a sin rampage? CERTAINLY NOT! In Christ, under grace, you will not want to sin. This is the logic of heaven but it is foolishness to those who, in their own wisdom, hold on to their lawful deeds for their right-standing with God,
"For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." 1 Corinthians 1:21.
Paul preached the gospel of Christ (grace) boldly and people accused him of teaching that it is okay to sin because of Grace, as many religious people do grace preachers today. See Romans 3:8- "And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “Let us do evil that good may come”? Their condemnation is just."
The people accusing Paul were not godless people. They were religious leaders. Pharisees and Sadducees. They were under Law. They believed in God and religiously did works of the Law but did not believe in salvation through Christ. They did not believe Christ's finished work, much like many "godly" people in the church today who profess Christ but believe that their right-standing with God depends on what they do (law-keeping) and not what Christ has done ("For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous." Romans 5:19) or teach that a believer still has to fast and bring their childhood photos in order for them to be delivered from generational and other curses that Galatians 3:13 says Christ has redeemed us from. The Pharisees had it better than these "neither hot nor cold" yet beloved people in the church. Neither under Law nor under Grace.
In essence, like the Pharisees, such do not believe Acts 13:38-39-
"38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses."
All things! Freedom from all curses, sickness, sins, addictions, death, stress, depression, hell, much more. This freedom freely given to all who believe in Jesus.
The "godly" Pharisees could not accept this, much like their religious counterparts of today. People believing the gospel would make their high positions redundant! Nobody would need to come to them to ask how many days to fast to break a curse or what type of prayers to pray when trouble comes or what kind of animal to bring as a sin offering. The Lord Himself lives in all who truly believe. People would have direct access to our Lord God through our Saviour Jesus Christ and no longer need their middleman services since Christ freed everyone who believes from the Law in one fell swoop! So, in order to appear holy (fighting to keep the Law) but in reality fighting to keep their high positions, they accused Paul wrongly for his message, saying he was encouraging people to sin!
This is why Paul said in Romans 1: "16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith."
In Paul's time, no Jew in his right ("human-sensical") mind would touch the message of the cross (grace) with a ten-foot pole! Many thought the gospel to be foolish against the backdrop of the Law that they were brought up with! It takes grace to believe that we are made righteous by one Man's obedience. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
Grace is the power of God to salvation- salvation from hell, sins, addictions, sickness and everything else that is as a result of Adam's sin.
Today, many have replaced the gospel of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, (justification by faith) with justification by works of the Law. The "descendants" of the Pharisees in the church are still doing the same things - prescribing works of the law as a means to avoid judgment (that Christ died to save us from) just like old covenant priests, pointing the flock to the Law which kills, making people believe that God who freely gives us all things with Christ (Romans 8:32) will not give unless you "show your hand first" and saying that the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ-the power of God to salvation- is a license to sin!
Like the Accuser who deceived Eve that she would be like God if she ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ( a picture of the Law) many religious leaders are pointing people to the Law (from which we get our knowledge of good and evil) as the means of being godly! Paul expressed concern for this in 2 Corinthians 3:11 -
"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
Only "by one Man's obedience," Christ's are we made righteous. Only with our Saviour's "Neither do I condemn you" do we "Go and sin no more." Trying to keep the Law in order to be godly will only steep one in more sin; 1 Corinthians 15:56 says "...,the strength of sin is the Law."
Trying to keep the Law to get right with God will get one cut off from Christ "For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace." Says Galatians 5:4.
Trying to keep the Law to get right with God will lead to more sin says Romans 7:5- "When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death." "Old nature" here is the sin nature that all inherited from Adam. Everyone is born with this nature ("by one man's disobedience, many were made sinners....") and are thus subject to the Law and its curse, no matter how well one keeps the Law.
But see the result when you become a new creation in Christ, relying on the righteousness of God and forsaking yours that comes from doing works of the Law. Romans 7:4
"So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God."
Let the Lord our Shepherd love you into wholeness and fruitfulness.
You might not have it all together right now but when you, by God's grace, totally move your focus away from what you must do in order to be righteous and look to Christ to save you from all of your "sinkings," as He did with Peter, He will transform you to walk on water (overcome/do the impossible.)
We cannot transform ourselves to be like God (attain righteousness) by doing works of the Law. Romans 3:20 says
"For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are."
The Accuser deceived Eve that she could do this and the result was death. The devil still goes around seeking whom to devour in this way - deceiving people that they have the power to do things that will make them be like God ( become righteous.) By God's grace, don't be deceived. His accusations can stand only in the lives of those who are trying to be godly or righteous in God's sight by doing works of the Law which condemns all who try to keep it; and after condemnation comes judgment.
In Christ, our Lord God gives us His righteousness as a gift (Romans 5:17) and apart from works (what you do or do not do.) He does the transformation as we are beholding Him (looking in the mirror of our lives and seeing ourselves as righteous in Him) as it is written in 2 Corinthians 2:18 -
"And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit."
Believer, when you look into the mirror of your imperfect life, see not your flaws and failings but what our Lord God by His word says you are in Christ: His righteousness, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21
Don't worry about how you will get your act together. Titus 2 tells us that Grace, in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ has this covered. In Christ, God is our Abba Father. When our kids have a problem or a need, they tell us and expect us to fix it! How much more our Father in heaven?
As the righteousness of God in Christ, your path is like the morning sun!
"But the path of the just (righteous) is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18.
Sins and addictions will melt away. Sickness, depression and oppression cannot withstand His glory. His Spirit dwells in us, giving life to our mortal bodies and transforming us to the image of His glory, from glory to glory.
The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.
Believe Right and you will Live Right.
But does this mean that we can now go on a sin rampage? CERTAINLY NOT! In Christ, under grace, you will not want to sin. This is the logic of heaven but it is foolishness to those who, in their own wisdom, hold on to their lawful deeds for their right-standing with God,
"For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." 1 Corinthians 1:21.
Paul preached the gospel of Christ (grace) boldly and people accused him of teaching that it is okay to sin because of Grace, as many religious people do grace preachers today. See Romans 3:8- "And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “Let us do evil that good may come”? Their condemnation is just."
The people accusing Paul were not godless people. They were religious leaders. Pharisees and Sadducees. They were under Law. They believed in God and religiously did works of the Law but did not believe in salvation through Christ. They did not believe Christ's finished work, much like many "godly" people in the church today who profess Christ but believe that their right-standing with God depends on what they do (law-keeping) and not what Christ has done ("For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous." Romans 5:19) or teach that a believer still has to fast and bring their childhood photos in order for them to be delivered from generational and other curses that Galatians 3:13 says Christ has redeemed us from. The Pharisees had it better than these "neither hot nor cold" yet beloved people in the church. Neither under Law nor under Grace.
In essence, like the Pharisees, such do not believe Acts 13:38-39-
"38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses."
All things! Freedom from all curses, sickness, sins, addictions, death, stress, depression, hell, much more. This freedom freely given to all who believe in Jesus.
The "godly" Pharisees could not accept this, much like their religious counterparts of today. People believing the gospel would make their high positions redundant! Nobody would need to come to them to ask how many days to fast to break a curse or what type of prayers to pray when trouble comes or what kind of animal to bring as a sin offering. The Lord Himself lives in all who truly believe. People would have direct access to our Lord God through our Saviour Jesus Christ and no longer need their middleman services since Christ freed everyone who believes from the Law in one fell swoop! So, in order to appear holy (fighting to keep the Law) but in reality fighting to keep their high positions, they accused Paul wrongly for his message, saying he was encouraging people to sin!
This is why Paul said in Romans 1: "16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith."
In Paul's time, no Jew in his right ("human-sensical") mind would touch the message of the cross (grace) with a ten-foot pole! Many thought the gospel to be foolish against the backdrop of the Law that they were brought up with! It takes grace to believe that we are made righteous by one Man's obedience. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
Grace is the power of God to salvation- salvation from hell, sins, addictions, sickness and everything else that is as a result of Adam's sin.
Today, many have replaced the gospel of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, (justification by faith) with justification by works of the Law. The "descendants" of the Pharisees in the church are still doing the same things - prescribing works of the law as a means to avoid judgment (that Christ died to save us from) just like old covenant priests, pointing the flock to the Law which kills, making people believe that God who freely gives us all things with Christ (Romans 8:32) will not give unless you "show your hand first" and saying that the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ-the power of God to salvation- is a license to sin!
Like the Accuser who deceived Eve that she would be like God if she ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ( a picture of the Law) many religious leaders are pointing people to the Law (from which we get our knowledge of good and evil) as the means of being godly! Paul expressed concern for this in 2 Corinthians 3:11 -
"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
Only "by one Man's obedience," Christ's are we made righteous. Only with our Saviour's "Neither do I condemn you" do we "Go and sin no more." Trying to keep the Law in order to be godly will only steep one in more sin; 1 Corinthians 15:56 says "...,the strength of sin is the Law."
Trying to keep the Law to get right with God will get one cut off from Christ "For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace." Says Galatians 5:4.
Trying to keep the Law to get right with God will lead to more sin says Romans 7:5- "When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death." "Old nature" here is the sin nature that all inherited from Adam. Everyone is born with this nature ("by one man's disobedience, many were made sinners....") and are thus subject to the Law and its curse, no matter how well one keeps the Law.
But see the result when you become a new creation in Christ, relying on the righteousness of God and forsaking yours that comes from doing works of the Law. Romans 7:4
"So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God."
Let the Lord our Shepherd love you into wholeness and fruitfulness.
You might not have it all together right now but when you, by God's grace, totally move your focus away from what you must do in order to be righteous and look to Christ to save you from all of your "sinkings," as He did with Peter, He will transform you to walk on water (overcome/do the impossible.)
We cannot transform ourselves to be like God (attain righteousness) by doing works of the Law. Romans 3:20 says
"For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are."
The Accuser deceived Eve that she could do this and the result was death. The devil still goes around seeking whom to devour in this way - deceiving people that they have the power to do things that will make them be like God ( become righteous.) By God's grace, don't be deceived. His accusations can stand only in the lives of those who are trying to be godly or righteous in God's sight by doing works of the Law which condemns all who try to keep it; and after condemnation comes judgment.
In Christ, our Lord God gives us His righteousness as a gift (Romans 5:17) and apart from works (what you do or do not do.) He does the transformation as we are beholding Him (looking in the mirror of our lives and seeing ourselves as righteous in Him) as it is written in 2 Corinthians 2:18 -
"And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit."
Believer, when you look into the mirror of your imperfect life, see not your flaws and failings but what our Lord God by His word says you are in Christ: His righteousness, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21
Don't worry about how you will get your act together. Titus 2 tells us that Grace, in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ has this covered. In Christ, God is our Abba Father. When our kids have a problem or a need, they tell us and expect us to fix it! How much more our Father in heaven?
As the righteousness of God in Christ, your path is like the morning sun!
"But the path of the just (righteous) is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18.
Sins and addictions will melt away. Sickness, depression and oppression cannot withstand His glory. His Spirit dwells in us, giving life to our mortal bodies and transforming us to the image of His glory, from glory to glory.
The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.
Believe Right and you will Live Right.
Comments
Post a Comment