Lawless Ones
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
Romans 3:20 New International Version (NIV)
Whenever I think of the law, I inevitably want to speak of grace. Grace is what makes us free from the grip of the law. But things should be taken in order. The law precedes grace just like faith precedes works. You really cannot have one until you have met with the other.
According to this verse, the fact is that we need the law. The law is two fold: It is a revelation of the mind and character of God and it reveals sin. More importantly, the law reveals my sin! When I see that I am soiled, beaten and bruised by my sin, this is where grace becomes so powerful. For without a revelation of sin, full grace cannot be known.
Today I will embrace God’s law and let it do its work in my mind so that I can also fully embrace God’s favor. And I believe that will pave the way to a full measure of God’s unmerited grace.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
War & Peace
War & Peace
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 New International Version (NIV)
When I examine my time with God I find a few things that one might not consider to be “Christian”. One of those things is that we argue. I tussle with God mostly about His will and how it rarely matches my own. I have not yet convinced God that my ideas are better than His. And as much as God and I fight, I know at the end of the day we are at peace with each other. I know that peace with the Father is the direct result of having a relationship with His Son.
Before I was a believer, I may have thought I was at peace with God. I did good things and even went to church. But the truth is that without knowing God’s son, I was at war with God. Without a healthy and thriving relationship with Jesus Christ, you are not a friend, but a foe; not an ally, but an enemy.
You know, I loose every fight I have with God and I am a believer. What chance do you think I would have as an enemy?
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 New International Version (NIV)
When I examine my time with God I find a few things that one might not consider to be “Christian”. One of those things is that we argue. I tussle with God mostly about His will and how it rarely matches my own. I have not yet convinced God that my ideas are better than His. And as much as God and I fight, I know at the end of the day we are at peace with each other. I know that peace with the Father is the direct result of having a relationship with His Son.
Before I was a believer, I may have thought I was at peace with God. I did good things and even went to church. But the truth is that without knowing God’s son, I was at war with God. Without a healthy and thriving relationship with Jesus Christ, you are not a friend, but a foe; not an ally, but an enemy.
You know, I loose every fight I have with God and I am a believer. What chance do you think I would have as an enemy?
Friday, October 14, 2011
Set Free
Set Free
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2 New International Version (NIV)
Do you know what it is like to be free from something? When I think of freedom, I think of slaves in the US or Jews and Polish people being released from concentration camps at the end of WWII. But I also think of women and children coming out of homes that only meant pain and degradation. My mind thinks of the redeemed homeless and those that get a reprieve from emotional or mental instability. I think of those that have been freed from addictions.
Just like there is slavery to be liberated from in this world, there is also a sin-slavery. In my mind, sin is, more than anything else, our living in opposition to the life God has designed and sanctioned. And those of us that have accepted God’s offer to eradicate our sin condition (that which is found in Christ alone) then we are indeed emancipated. For the scripture says that those the son sets free are free indeed. Freed from what? Free from a sin conviction that results in a permanent separation from God.
If you knew you were unequivocally free, what would you do with your new freedom? If you knew for sure, beyond the shadow of a doubt that you would not get a guilty conviction on your sin infractions, would you sin more because you were free? Would you get even with those that have hurt you? Would you take a walk on the wild side?
Now I will say something that might make some angry. If you aren’t free to commit sin, free to “walk on the wild side”, then it is no freedom at all. If we aren’t free to destroy ourselves, then it is no freedom at all and that indeed is the choice that some make. However, keep in mind that this verse does not say you are free from consequences. There is no mention of freedom of chastisement.
Think about this. I once heard a man speaking on freedom and of all things, he mentioned Abraham Lincoln. He said that Lincoln purchased a slave and immediately had her shackles removed. He told her she was free. The newly freed slave asked what free meant. He told her that you are a "free person". She asked, “I can do whatever I want?”
He nodded his head.
“You mean I can go where ever I want?”
Lincoln chuckled and said, “Yeah, you can go where you want.”
The girl thought for a moment and said, "I want to be with you.”
“You can go anywhere. Why would you want to follow me?"
"Cause I wanna be wit' the one who set me free."
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2 New International Version (NIV)
Do you know what it is like to be free from something? When I think of freedom, I think of slaves in the US or Jews and Polish people being released from concentration camps at the end of WWII. But I also think of women and children coming out of homes that only meant pain and degradation. My mind thinks of the redeemed homeless and those that get a reprieve from emotional or mental instability. I think of those that have been freed from addictions.
Just like there is slavery to be liberated from in this world, there is also a sin-slavery. In my mind, sin is, more than anything else, our living in opposition to the life God has designed and sanctioned. And those of us that have accepted God’s offer to eradicate our sin condition (that which is found in Christ alone) then we are indeed emancipated. For the scripture says that those the son sets free are free indeed. Freed from what? Free from a sin conviction that results in a permanent separation from God.
If you knew you were unequivocally free, what would you do with your new freedom? If you knew for sure, beyond the shadow of a doubt that you would not get a guilty conviction on your sin infractions, would you sin more because you were free? Would you get even with those that have hurt you? Would you take a walk on the wild side?
Now I will say something that might make some angry. If you aren’t free to commit sin, free to “walk on the wild side”, then it is no freedom at all. If we aren’t free to destroy ourselves, then it is no freedom at all and that indeed is the choice that some make. However, keep in mind that this verse does not say you are free from consequences. There is no mention of freedom of chastisement.
Think about this. I once heard a man speaking on freedom and of all things, he mentioned Abraham Lincoln. He said that Lincoln purchased a slave and immediately had her shackles removed. He told her she was free. The newly freed slave asked what free meant. He told her that you are a "free person". She asked, “I can do whatever I want?”
He nodded his head.
“You mean I can go where ever I want?”
Lincoln chuckled and said, “Yeah, you can go where you want.”
The girl thought for a moment and said, "I want to be with you.”
“You can go anywhere. Why would you want to follow me?"
"Cause I wanna be wit' the one who set me free."
Friday, October 7, 2011
Your Right to Choose
Your Right to Choose
Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
Romans 6:13 New International Version (NIV)
When I read the words, “do not offer” I get the feeling that I have a choice that I never had before. In the past (Before Christ) I had no choice except to sin. Remember that old movie, The Blob. The blob just kept growing and eating. Likewise, before Christ I imagined my very existence as one big ongoing sin-blob that kept growing. Once Christ came along (after acceptance) my existence changed. Or, I’ll put it a different way; I was changed from a sin condition to a saved condition. This new freedom I have in Christ is so radical that I have a choice. Today, I can “choose” whether to give into sin’s beck and call or I can choose to answer God’s call to obedience.
No, I do not think this is a sense of duality (two equal opposites fighting to win my soul). The reality is that God has already won by one, for the many. And if you have accepted God’s offer of reconciliation (Jesus Christ), then you get to choose. You are no longer locked into obeying your sin impulses and thoughts. For the first time, you are free to choose godly righteousness.
Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
Romans 6:13 New International Version (NIV)
When I read the words, “do not offer” I get the feeling that I have a choice that I never had before. In the past (Before Christ) I had no choice except to sin. Remember that old movie, The Blob. The blob just kept growing and eating. Likewise, before Christ I imagined my very existence as one big ongoing sin-blob that kept growing. Once Christ came along (after acceptance) my existence changed. Or, I’ll put it a different way; I was changed from a sin condition to a saved condition. This new freedom I have in Christ is so radical that I have a choice. Today, I can “choose” whether to give into sin’s beck and call or I can choose to answer God’s call to obedience.
No, I do not think this is a sense of duality (two equal opposites fighting to win my soul). The reality is that God has already won by one, for the many. And if you have accepted God’s offer of reconciliation (Jesus Christ), then you get to choose. You are no longer locked into obeying your sin impulses and thoughts. For the first time, you are free to choose godly righteousness.
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