With Christ, we get the good that we do not deserve.

Believers, bad things NEVER happened to sinners who rolled with Christ in the gospels. "The same yesterday, today and forever" was and is still Saviour and friend to sinners who believe in Him. He transforms lives for good forever. He came to save us from our sins, not condemn and punish us for them.

Think about it - from Zacchaeus the reviled tax collector and the prodigal son to the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-12 and the thief on the cross that was destined for hell- no sinner ever got the punishment that they deserved from our Saviour in the gospels. Upon meeting Him, they all got the good that they did not deserve and freely too, as we who are in Him do today. No "go and sow seed and fast for ten days so that you can be "delivered" and escape judgment." Christ got the bad that we deserve.

Are you bogged down by sins and addictions? Are teachers of religious law in the church (aka accusers) telling you that Christ demands that you do certain things like sow seed, obey the law and starve yourself in order for you to avoid the coming judgment or be free from the bad things that are happening to you? Beware of such teachers. Picture yourself as the sinner woman that was brought to Christ by her accusers. He saved her from the judgment that she deserved without making any demands of her. He will save you today. Only believe.

The law demands and no human can ever meet its righteous demands (Romans 3:20.) Satan the Accuser knows this and is actively trying to get believers to reject Christ's gift of righteousness (Romans 5:19) and depend on their puny efforts at keeping the law to get right with God, even through accusers on the pulpit. See what Galatians 5:4 says about this keeping the law to get right with God:

"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."

Many in the church are still trying to keep the law in order to get right with God and escape judgment. “Yes we are saved by grace but we still have to obey the law in order to maintain our salvation” is the message that is prevalent in many places of worship. This is the wide gate/broad way that leads to destruction and many who profess Christ are on it. Remember the thief comes to "steal and kill and destroy." Satan the destroyer wants everyone on this broad road that leads to destruction. The letter kills.

Believer, we are saved by grace through faith and not by works says Ephesians 2:8-9! Also see Romans 3: 26 "...and He makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. 27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law."

Grace (Christ personified) is the narrow gate/hard to find way that leads to life; many in the church find it hard to believe that there is nothing left to do in the story of our salvation. People want to be under law. But the letter kills.

Grace supplies utterly: "And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity." 2 Cor. 9:8.

Jesus Christ the Light of the word does not shine to condemn sinners and expose sinners to judgment. He shines to expose sinners to His love; to save sinners from their sins, condemnation and judgment, just as He saved the woman caught in adultery. His "Neither do I condemn you" makes us "go and sin no more."

It is the goodness of God leads to repentance, not threats of hell, mishap and judgment. Christ saves from sins (Matt. 1:21,) condemnation (Romans 8:1) and God's wrath (Romans 5:9.)

Christ does it all. Only believe.

Believe Right and you will Live Right.