Grace, Foolishness, or Legalism: What's so Amazing about Grace?

 For if because of one man’s trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God’s] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) Romans 5:17 AMPC

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ...2 Corinthians 8:9a MEV

 We've begun a new series examining the practical Christian life lived under Grace. The practical Christian life is expressed in our thinking, our believing, our words, and our daily actions. We've established there are three basic ways of living in light of Grace; abiding under true Grace, abiding under Grace mixed with legalism, or abiding with a foolish understanding of Grace. 

 Let's look at what's so amazing about Grace. Words cannot always contain and express the wonder of His Grace when received in our hearts. We who once served our Lord Jesus in rigorous toil, hoping we'd be good enough to be accepted and approved on a daily basis, can now rest in His completed work on our behalf. 

 When we receive the free gift of eternal life in Christ, that is a time of rejoicing. Yet afterward, some believers struggle with the shame and pain of their past. Still, others, find themselves struggling with bad habits and attitudes that aren't of Love, and often find themselves laboring under condemnation.  

 Grace is so amazing because He stoops down right where we are and lifts us up to Himself. He doesn't wag His finger at us. His arms aren't crossed in displeasing disappointment. Instead, His arms are open wide receiving and accepting us and approving us to the Father. Not because of any good we've done but because of His Goodness and great Grace.

 Legalism sees Grace as momentarily amazing. This lost sinner with no hope of pardon for his many sins finds help and hope in a loving Holy God. He saves them gloriously. What a time of rejoicing. Then the party concludes and now it is time to get busy earning your place in the Father's house.

 Legalism diminishes Grace in favor of our performance, our achievements, and our disciplines exercised perfectly. Grace got us in but it's our actions and behavior that keep us in. Legalism seeks acceptance and approval on what we do and not on what He did alone.

 Legalism is like getting an invitation to a billionaire king's festive at-home reception. Once you have your invitation and enter the palace, you make merry momentarily that you are there but then you quickly begin straightening up the furniture, go help clean the dishes, prepare hor d'oeuvres, and sweep and mop the floors. After all, you're not a celebrity, you were a nobody before the invite, you best earn your place. Before Christ, we were lost and separated by sin, but His Grace remade us new and now we are accepted and approved all because of Jesus.

 Foolishness states no one was ever lost. No human was ever separated or apart from God because of their sinful condition. Some go so far as to say there never was any sinful condition. We were only separated in our thinking. The enemy lied to us telling us we were lost but in reality, we never were. If this is so why the need for the Cross? If this is true, Jesus' suffering, the stripes He took, and the death He died were a colossal waste of time. 

 The fallacy of the foolish-minded is that they believe they are proclaiming Grace but in reality, they are diminishing the impact of His Love, mercy, and Grace. If no one was an enemy of God, no one was lost, no one was born with a fallen nature, and no one was dead in their trespass and sins, then what is so amazing about Grace? 

 It is of no real consequence to show kindness, mercy, grace, and compassion to a good and decent person. How hard is it to forgive your spouse, your children, and your good friend if they make a minimal mistake? Even a stranger in public who mistakenly bumps into us, we are quick to pardon them and assure them it's ok, we know it was a mistake. 

 If God looks at men the same way, then the foolish's theory and theology unwittingly reveal God's Grace is not that amazing. I can hold no grudge against a friend or loved one. I myself can be merciful to someone who hasn't really wronged me. I myself can show Grace to someone who is a good person. It's clear if you ponder and consider that if one isn't really bad then it's not so amazing, so worthy of awe, so deserving of accolades to simply be kind to them. 

 The foolish relies heavily on human rationale, reasoning, and ratiocination. It draws conclusions, not from the Word of God, not from the Gospel proclaimed by Paul, but from emotional and intellectual reasoning. Allow me to illustrate.

 The Gospel says God is always Good. He is Love and merciful and His Grace is amazing. The foolish then rationalize and reason, God is Good, so He was always Good. Therefore no human was ever born lost or with a sinful nature. God is Love so therefore God could never have any anger or judgment whatsoever. God's Grace is amazing, so everyone must be saved, no one was ever lost either because Grace would never allow that to happen. The enemy must have lied to people to convince them they were. 

 None of these ideas or notions has any confirmation in Scripture. Because of this, the foolish rationalize the passages that proclaim the contrary aren't really true. Those words recorded were by men who didn't have an understanding of God and therefore we can reject them. 

 I trust you can see how the foolish misunderstand Grace and prop up mistaken ideas that are not confirmed with the authority of Scripture. Let's not diminish and dilute Grace by thinking we are preaching Grace by saying no one was lost or born in sin, or an enemy of God in our thinking and actions. 

This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Colossians 1:21 NLT

 We don't make Grace great by diminishing its impact on humanity. By proclaiming no one was ever separated in sin, or in need of a Savior we dilute and decrease the amazing Grace of our Savior. Grace is a free gift offered to all. It reveals our impossibly lost condition and offers a hopeful, freeing, and joyful way out. Grace says your sins may be many, your condition may be spiritual death, but I have a new life, the God kind of Life, that is freely yours if you simply accept and receive it. 

 Allow me to illustrate even further how Grace and legalism and foolishness can be seen using a real-life figure in history. Adolf Hitler, the German Chancellor, systematically brought about genocide, great suffering, and war across Europe during his reign until his death. Now imagine if Hitler had been captured alive and placed before a tribunal judge who had the power to imprison and execute Hitler or simply pardon him. 

 Imagine if you will while Hitler stood before this judge, suddenly a Jewish man entered the court and ask to appear on Hitler's behalf. Imagine if this Jewish man said though this man's sin is heinous, horrendous, and has brought about unspeakable horror, I'd like to take his place. I will take his punishment of death upon myself, he need simply to accept it. The innocent would freely take the place of the guilty. This is true Grace.

 Legalism would look like this, I will take his place either in a prison cell, or an execution chamber, but first I want him to earn this favor. If he promises to not make any more mistakes, not hate anymore, not try to conquer neighboring lands then and only then will I take his place. If he fails more than once, then impose the sentence of death upon him again. 

 Foolishness would look like this, Hitler guilty? What's wrong with you judge? No one can really be that bad. Hitler wasn't really that terrible a person. Surely, we've all made mistakes in life, there is no difference, and all mistakes are the same. I don't think any good judge would hold anyone accountable for their deeds. Any good judge would pardon everyone no matter what. In fact, if you find him guilty, he will be pardoned soon after, for all are pardoned...

 In summation, let's abide under true Grace and relinquish the bonds of legalism and the error of the foolish. Let's continue under Grace. Let's live life loved by our Great Shepherd Jesus Christ.  

 

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Bible evidence Healing is always God's will for you.

 for I am the Lord that healeth thee. Exodus 15:26b KJV

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 2 KJV

 We're continuing in our study of Divine Healing. We've looked at five proofs of God's will to heal all. So often many Christians believe God is able to heal, but they lack confident expectation that He wants to heal them. 

 This study is designed to help bridge that gap from unbelief to positive expectation in the power of a loving Father to supply all their need. So far we've seen two proofs of His willingness to heal. One is His merciful kindness and compassion. Jesus was moved with compassion when He healed. Secondly, we saw He revealed His will to heal in His redemptive name Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals.

 The third proof of His will to heal all is God's Word. The Bible is God's Word. Jesus is the Word made flesh. Grace and the Word are inseparable. Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ. Jesus said the Word is the Truth. Faith comes by hearing the Word, therefore Grace and Faith came through Jesus. As believers, we are to be under Grace, not Law, and walk by Faith. 

 God's Word is the Truth. God's Word is the final authority. Sola Scriptura. God and His Word are one. God's Word is speaking to you and to me. This is why the enemy through religious tradition wants to steal the Word sown in the hearts of anyone who hears it.

 Man-made tradition makes the Word of no effect. Man looking at experience, dogmas, and doctrines of religious orders and institutes from centuries past, giving attention to cessationist leaders ruling Christian media and airwaves, will elevate and exalt the traditions of men over God's declared Word every time. God's will revealed in the Word, will always be lowered to meet and match tradition's view of defeat, disappointment, and disbelief in a deity who neither hears nor answers the prayers and petitions of its followers.

 Throughout the Word, God confirms the Father's will and attitude about healing. The Word reveals the Father's view of sickness and disease. God in Christ decreed "I am willing be cleansed."  God tells us sickness and disease are a curse. 

 Let's look at the Word confirming God's will is your healing;

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that lives in you. Romans 8:11 MEV 

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your spirit, soul, and body be preserved completely whole and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Mounce 

 He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness. “By His wounds you were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 MEV

 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 2 KJV

 This is the decreed will of God for all to see. This is the will of God revealed to all mankind. This is God confirming His ways, will, and attitude concerning sickness disease, healing, and health. 

 God is the unchanging One. He is the existing One. His name is above all names. Yet He declared to us He has magnified His Word even above His own name! God's Word is the final authority, it has the final say over all areas of our life.

 God's Word is true and we can have a confident expectation of its reality and fulfillment in every area of our life. He magnified His Word above His name, and He is always the same. His Word is true whether we experience it or not. His Word isn't true because we sense it or experience something. His Word is truth because He declared it. Because it is the truth we, therefore, should experience it in our own life.

 We can build our life on His Word. We can trust it. Walking by Faith is simply being fully persuaded that what He said is the truth regardless of circumstance or what our senses tell us. God's Word is the sure foundation we can build our life upon. Feed upon it consistently and grow stronger and stronger possessing a confident expectation of good from our Good Father. 

 

Image by Pam Carter from Pixabay 

Is it God's will to Heal everyone, including You?

                 

 for I am the Lord that healeth thee. Exodus 15:26b KJV

“But you—you serve your God and he’ll bless your food and your water. I’ll get rid of the sickness among you; there won’t be any miscarriages nor barren women in your land. I’ll make sure you live full and complete lives. Exodus 23:25 MSG 

 

 

God is a Good God, He is a Good Father. God is the author of life, He's not the author of death. God is the healer, He isn't the creator of sickness and disease. In God dwells no darkness or deeds of evil. He is our Good Father. This is the foundation for Grace, Faith, and trusting Him alone for eternal life. 

 This should be a sure foundation, but sadly it is not even an established truth in the minds of many religious leaders in the Body of Christ. Honestly, it's even considered controversial in some religious traditional circles of the Christian Faith. Some would even dare say it's a heretical point of view.

 I recently witnessed a panel discussion among some religious leaders. They were sounding alarms and red flags concerning  Charismatic ministries in the Church today. One of their greatest concerns was the notion that believers could dare to believe that their Faith in God would cause healing to manifest in the body of the sick and afflicted. 

 In essence, how could mere man have the gall to believe God would actually heal when we ask Him in Faith? Who are we, the created, to dare ask of our creator anything? Don't you know that we are mere worms in the dust, we have no right to ask anything. He is God, the Sovereign One. Just sit still, silent, and satisfied with whatever comes your way in this life. Yours is not to question, just be glad you exist at all. Be thankful He sovereignly chose to even allow you to be saved.

 This mindset is the obstacle that we as Christians must overcome in order to see God as Good. To know Him, as our Father. To trust that He has our good and well-being at heart. 

 These tradition-minded believers, much like the Pharisees and Sadducees of old, think they are "protecting" God and His Word from error. Therefore they view themselves as some form of watchmen. In reality, they are deceived into a subtle form of self-righteousness. 

 They see themselves as watchers on the wall holding back any contrary words to the traditional view they were taught. This deceptive, subtle self-righteousness makes them see themselves as virtuous. They also in their self-righteousness, are unwittingly saying they are more loving than God. 

 These religious leaders would never want their own children to suffer debilitating disease, lingering sickness, and suffering pain and anguish. Had they the power, they would never afflict their children with impoverished conditions, disease, and sickness. Yet, they believe God our Father willingly afflicts His own kids. In essence, they then are more caring, compassionate, and loving than God is.

 This is the twisted theology of religious tradition. They would do anything to help alleviate the suffering of their own children and loved ones, but they don't believe God would do that for His own children. The question then is it really God's will to heal, or is religious tradition right?

Healing is God's will, all the time, in every situation

 God in His infinite wisdom and Love has made a way for us to know His will concerning anything that pertains to life and godliness. Faith begins where the will of God is known. Look at John's promise of answered prayer. According to the standard of the Word, asking according to His will means God obligates Himself to reveal to us His will. 

 He has done just that. He has given us His Word and the life of Jesus to reveal His will to us. God has not left us in the dark concerning His perfect and best for us His children. 

 Faith, trust, and belief can only exist where the will of God is known. If there is any uncertainty or doubt concerning God's will to save you, to totally forgive you, to make you Righteous, to fill you with His Spirit and bestow His Gifts, to secure your salvation, to heal you and make you whole, to protect and deliver you, to increase and prosper you, Faith cannot exist. You will never be fully persuaded wherever there is an if involved in anything you're trusting God for. 

 God can be trusted. He is a Good Father. How can I say with such boldness that it is God's will for you to be healed?

...and He healed them all. Matthew 12:15b NKJV

 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. Luke 6:19 NKJV

 God was willing for all to be healed then and He's willing today. He hasn't changed. God wants you well.

 In upcoming studies, I want to give you five proofs of God's all-the-time willingness to heal you. Five is the number of Grace. God in His Grace has made a way for your healing. 

 We will also uncover the root reason many deny it's God's will to heal. If you have concerns or questions about God's will to heal you won't want to miss these studies. 

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Undone: Can a Finished Work be undone?

 

When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. John 19:30 MEV

 One of the extraordinary revelations of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is the truth of the once for all sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. When He hung on the tree for all mankind that meant no other sacrifice for sin will ever be needed. Jesus' substitutionary work was enough.

 The basic foundation of Christianity is that Jesus' work of redemption is a Finished Work. The total price of redemption was paid in full by the Lord Jesus Christ. It is done. Finished.

 This should ring loud from the rooftops. From every mountaintop, this great truth should be heralded. The work is finished. The price was paid in full. 

   With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. Hebrews 9:12 NLT

 The Word confirms it. Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection proved it. The Work is finished. Redemption is a done deal!  

 In spite of this overwhelming evidence, why does it seem when hearing the sermons of many preachers, reading their books, and attending their services, that somehow this finished work can become undone? The work seems to be complete yet so many in their communication of the gospel make it seem salvation and fellowship with God are on an unstable, and unsteady foundation. That what's been done once for all time can become undone for us personally.

 I've listened to messages where the pastor has told the whole congregation that 3/4ths of them needed to come to the altar and make sure they were even saved! This wasn't a small church, this service had thousands in attendance. This is the work of religion and not Grace. 

Religion vs Redemption

Religion wants to strip the full assurance of redemption from the believer. Religion points out the flaws, foul-ups, and failures of the believer to attempt to prove they've somehow undone the Finished Work. Religion says Redemption is a flimsy work, not a finished work. Religion says Redemption is not a once for all work but a downpayment. That the remainder of the price is to be paid by the currency of the believers' performance, good deeds, faithfulness, and abstinence from sinful thoughts, words, and actions. 

 Religion says our works can undo a finished work. Jesus has a proverbial rescue line tied firmly to us. Religion says our doings, our actions, and our unfaithfulness can undo and untie that line. 

 Redemption reveals that He who began the work will complete it in you. Jesus is the author and finisher of our Faith. If He is the author and finisher how then can we undo it? 

 Redemption is a completed work. It is finished. It is done. There is no more sacrifice for sin. There is nothing we can do to complete the work. We can't add to "finished." If a building has been completed there is no brick, no cement, no nail, no wood, that you could add to the building. It's finished. It's done. 

 If we can't add to our redemption, then we can't undo it. How can we undo what we had no part in its beginning, no part in its working, and no part in its completion? It's Jesus from start to finish. 

 This is Good News! This means we can't add to or undo our salvation. We can't undo or add to our Redemption. We were redeemed from the curse. Therefore we can't undo our redemption from poverty and lack. We can't undo our redemption from sickness and disease. We can't undo our redemption from spiritual death.

 In summation, we who have believed are redeemed. It's a Finished Work. It is a completed work. It cannot be undone. Rejoice in His Faithfulness. We are redeemed eternally. It is forever settled. We are His forever, we can't undo it, it's all because of Jesus. 

 

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What does it means to be Holy?

But you are not like that, for you have been chosen by God himself—you are priests of the King, you are holy and pure, you are God’s very own—all this so that you may show to others how God called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 TLB

 Have you ever had someone look at you with contempt or bewilderment, and tell you that you are different? At one time or another, all of us may have a similar experience. Maybe we just didn't fit in with a certain group, with co-workers, or perhaps someone we knew and over time we realized we were two different people with differing likes and interests. 

 As we continue in our study we are going to see being different can really be positive. Today, it seemed good to look at holiness and examine it in light of the Gospel of Grace. Some tend to think holiness and Grace are contrary to one another. That is an untruth.

 Grace gives us the power and desire to walk out our true identity in Christ. Grace is what actually made us holy. The challenge with holiness is that tradition and religion have defined holiness as some somber joyless life where keeping all the rules and even finding new ones to observe is what holiness looks like.

 The other challenge with holiness is that the Church still believes holiness is something we aren't and is something we must obtain. Some teach Righteousness is what He did but holiness is what we do. We can't walk out holiness in our life if we don't even know what it is.

 Hebrews reveals the Grace that already made us holy. Hebrews 10 details this Finished Work of Grace. Hebrews tells us those who believe are already made holy.

For by one offering He has forever perfected those who are sanctified. Hebrews 10:14 MEV

 We are perfected and sanctified already because of Jesus. We are in Him. 

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse them from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22 MEV

 We are already cleansed by the Blood. We are redeemed. We are His. We are set apart. This was done at the Cross. This was realized and received when we partook of His free gift of Grace by Faith.

 So why do we still sin? Why do we still miss it? Why do we still have bad habits and make poor choices? These aren't deep questions that take much pondering, extended times of fasting, and isolation in prayer to search for an answer. 

 We blow it sometimes, we miss it, and we still deal with bad habits. Does this mean we aren't holy? Some would say yes. However, that contradicts what the Word proclaimed. We still make mistakes, but that isn't a reflection of our identity in Christ.

 Why do we miss it? One thing we must continually do is renew our minds. Right believing is the key to right living. We miss it when our mind isn't renewed in various areas of our life. We miss it when we forget our true identity. We miss it when we allow legitimate needs to become perverted, and/or try to get legitimate needs met apart from God and His Grace.

 The problem with religion is they consider the Christian life as an easy bake oven. That the proverbial cake should be done in an hour. As soon as one is saved they should cease all the stuff they are involved in. That's not God's way.

 Our Father paid a high price for us. He recreated and reformed and refashioned us from within. We are brand new in Him. We are made Righteous, we are forgiven and sanctified or set apart for Him when we believed. We are progressively maturing into who He already made us. The focus is on our own growth and no one else's. Relax and enjoy the ride.

 Now, what does this look like in daily life? How do you know you are maturing? Recall how I mentioned being different. This is the real holiness of God. What do I mean?

 Where religion only focuses on rule-keeping God sees our whole life as growth in holiness. I want to encourage you and show that you're more holy than you realize. Holiness means we aren't common, we are uncommon.

 Holiness practically realized is that we are uncommon people. We are different! Though we may still be overcoming in differing areas of our life, I want to show you how you are progressing. 

 When others are out golfing, or day sailing, or sleeping in, usually on Sundays you're found in the house of God fellowshipping with other saints, exalting God corporately. That's being different. When others are spending money on new gadgets, or the latest and greatest new thing, you're sending money to support missions. You're sending money to help feed and clothe orphans. You're funding ministries and Bible schools. That's being different!

 When the doctor's report is of a negative nature, your response is one of trusting in God and not one of fear, panic, and giving up. Whereas others are feeling hopeless, you know where your trust resides. You speak the Word of Faith where others are speaking fear and dread. That is different!

 Are you walking in holiness? Take a second look at your life. Examine it in light of Grace and the Finished Work. You're going to see how different you are in comparison to those without Christ. That is walking in holiness. 

 God is not looking for dutiful servants who mind all the rules. He's not looking for slaves, He's looking for sons and daughters. God's Love for us is overwhelming and unconditional. We speak of the first love, the amazing truth is that we are God's first love. He has a fire burning in His heart for you and me. His heart beats out of his chest when He thinks of you and me. He is Holy and He is Love. 

 In summation, be glad we are different. Being different is a good thing. It reveals our minds are being renewed and "updated" if you will. It serves to remind us we are the Righteous and the ones made holy because of the Blood, the Grace of God, and His Finished Work. Be different, because He is different! This is Good News! 

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

Grace vs Law: Lazarus raised from the dead.

 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 MEV

 We've been in a series contrasting Grace versus Law. We've seen how the Gospels have hidden gems revealing just how Jesus came to fulfill the Law, bring an end to the Old, and usher in the New Covenant and Grace. Jesus' life represents God's heart to mankind.

 In John's Gospel, we see the power of God on display for all to see. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. John 11 details this wonderful miracle of God's Love and Goodness. Looking closer we can see once again how Jesus reveals His work of Grace and completion of the Old Covenant and the Law. 

 To begin with many have questioned and come up with traditional answers to explain why Jesus waited four days before He came to Bethany. God wasn't delaying His coming to create some new theology where God delays intervening in His children's lives to teach them patience, or to create catchy phrases like "delayed, not denied", so preachers can elicit an emotional response from their audience. He didn't wait four days to prove some type of sovereignty principle, that He alone is God and can do whatever He wants.

 When we understand that Jesus knew the end from the beginning, that He spoke out His confession of Faith the moment He heard the news of Lazarus' sickness, we can gain better insight as to why He waited. Jesus spoke the end from the beginning. His confession was the sickness wasn't unto death but for the glory of God.

 Now don't get goofy, Jesus wasn't implying that sickness and disease bring God glory. Don't adopt some man-made theology, some ridiculous concept, that leads one to speak out thankfulness that they or a loved one is sick or diagnosed with a disease. Jesus was speaking the end from the beginning, He was speaking Faith. He was speaking forth the end result of the situation. Jesus knew He'd raise Lazarus from the dead.

 With that understanding, we can see that Jesus took an opportunity to not only bring about a miracle to demonstrate God's Goodness, and Love but also to give mankind an illustration of His full redemptive work. He remained for four days as the first picture of redemption. Mankind at this time had been spiritually dead for four thousand years from the time of Adam to this point.

 Peter reveals a thousand years is as a day with the Lord. Mankind had been dead for 4,000 years, but what about what Paul said in Romans 5:13? Paul was speaking of how God dealt with man through these years, but mankind was spiritually dead for 4,000 years but didn't know it. The Law came to reveal to man his sinfulness and separation, and need for a Savior. Jesus waiting four days was a type of His appearing after 4,000 years.

 When Jesus came to Bethany, He declared to Lazarus' sisters that He was the Resurrection and the Life. He went to the tomb and instructed them to roll away the stone. Then He called Lazarus forth from the dead. A miracle of the dead being raised was seen by all.

 Too often we stop there. We aren't seeing what God is revealing. Jesus came after 4,000 years of spiritual death to roll away the stone of the Law. The Law kept man entombed in spiritual death. 

 22 But the Scripture has confined all things under sin, that the promise through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were imprisoned under the law, kept for the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 So the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Galatians 3:22-25 MEV

 The stone being rolled away from Lazarus' tomb was a picture of Jesus removing the Law and bringing forth a new and living way to approach God. Jesus called him out of death unto life. He commanded those old grave clothes to be removed. We who believed must remove the old grave clothes of dead religious works, trying to earn God's Love, trying to gain favor through performance, and seeking to warrant the blessings of God by spiritual disciplines or actions. Jesus wants us to rest in His Righteousness not our works.

 The stone is a perfect representation of the Law. Look at the words Paul used to describe the Ten Commandments and the entire Old Covenant, and all the 613 commands of the Law in general.

who has made us able ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. If the ministry that brought death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, the glory which was to fade away,  how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation is glorious, the ministry of righteousness much more exceeds it in glory. 2 Corinthians 3:6-9 MEV  

 The Law is the ministry of death and condemnation. This ministry entombs people into spiritual death. It can't supply Righteousness. It can't supply forgiveness of sin. It can't provide the power to overcome sin and live in abundance. The ministry of Grace and Righteousness on the other hand supplies us with all we need to reign victoriously in life. 

 The ministry of Law is a ministry of death and condemnation. Yet in so many churches and ministries throughout the world pastors and leaders cite the principles and statutes of the Law as the way to come before God. As the means by which we receive answered prayers, healing, provision, protection, and wholeness.

 They look at Deuteronomy as a guide for New Covenant Christians to receive abundance and blessings. If you diligently hearken to God. If you obey all His statutes you'll be blessed, if not you're cursed. Want healing in your body? They point you to Exodus, heed the voice of God, do what is right in His sight, and keep all His statutes, then you will be healed.

 You can readily see under Law, that receiving from God is all contingent upon your doing, your hearkening, your diligence, your observance, and your obedience. Where is Jesus in all this? Where is the Finished Work of Jesus? Where is His sacrifice? It's not the focus.

 Jesus rolled away the stone of Law. He called us out of the tomb of death and condemnation. Let us not go back to the tomb and roll the stone of Law back and imprison ourselves to our works and performance. 

 In summation, Jesus came to fulfill the Law and complete the Old. The New has come. Jesus' perfect Finished Work has provided a new and living way. Let's embrace the New and no longer cling to the Old. Jesus provided a better way. Let's exalt and honor His Finished Work and New Covenant. Our freedom, our wholeness, and our everlasting joy are found only in the new and living way of Grace and Righteousness. It is glorious! 

Image by Jondolar Schnurr from Pixabay 

Grace vs Law: Jesus' temptation

 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 MEV

 We've begun a study contrasting Law and Grace. Grace became a much-studied topic over the last few years. Yet with all the emphasis on Grace, many believers and various ministries still cling to Law in some form or fashion. 

 What is the Law? What is Grace? The Law refers to either the Ten Commandments or the whole of the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch. Some mistakenly claim the Law was only the Ten but tradition made it into the 613 commands Jesus lived under. Not so, the Law has 613 commands given by God, not tradition.

 So what is the Law? The Law is the 613 commands given by God to the Hebrews. The Law is God's perfect standard. It is rigid and unbending. It demands and never supplies. Being under Law is living the Christian life legalistically. This speaks of one who follows, keeps, and abides in outward rules and regulations that produce no inward change. The Law is also any action, performance, or behavior engaged in, with the intent to gain God's love, goodness, favor, acceptance, mercy, and blessing.   

 What is Grace? Grace is the unearned, undeserved, unmerited favor of God. When this unearned favor is received, it produces empowerment, releasing His divine influence upon the heart. Jesus is the person of Grace. Jesus is the center of it all. Grace reminds us that the work is already done, finished, and has nothing to do with us, our part is to trust in, believe, and just freely receive.

 With this understanding, we can further examine the contrast between Law and Grace. With this rooted in our hearts and minds, we can readily see the dangers of mixing Law and Grace. 

 As we study the Scriptures, we can see illustrations of Jesus (Grace), and the Law. How Jesus is greater than the Law. How Jesus came to fulfill and finish the Law bringing a new and living way to our Father. 

 Look at the temptation of Jesus in Matthew's Gospel chapter 4. Jesus was in the wilderness and the enemy came to tempt Him. Note the first thing the enemy said to Jesus. 

 And the tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones be turned into bread.” Matthew 4:3 MEV

 The enemy is crafty and clever. Note how the enemy addressed the Lord Jesus. The enemy said, "if you are the Son of God..." This is the first clue the enemy gave away about his works of temptation. The enemy didn't call Jesus what the Father called Him. 

 This is what the Father Said to Jesus;

And a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 MEV

 The enemy didn't want to remind Jesus of what God said about Him. His temptation wasn't to break the fast. It's not a sin to eat or break a fast. Where was the command the Father had given Jesus to not eat for more than 40 days? So often tradition has read it into this passage that the temptation was to eat and break the fast. 

 Still others claim the temptation was to perform a miracle at the whim of the enemy. To prove His Sonship by doing a miracle. This is not plausible because of the response Jesus gave to the enemy satan. 

 What exactly was this temptation then? The enemy, refused to refer to Jesus the way God, the Father did. The enemy told Him to turn stones into bread. The temptation was for Jesus, the person of Grace, to find sustenance and life through the stones, that is the Law. 

 Take note of Jesus' response;

But He answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 MEV

 Jesus knew what the Father spoke over Him. He rebuked satan. He showed him that He was sustained by the Words spoken by God and not by performance, not by following the ministry of death and condemnation written on stones.

 Jesus showed us a powerful point that will help us walk in victory during times of temptation or seasons of accusations by the enemy and religion. We must come out of agreement with the lying words of condemnation and death. We must come into agreement with what God declared over our life. He said we are His children. He said we are the Righteousness of God in Christ. He said we are accepted and approved. He said we are forever forgiven and made new in Him. He declared He is Faithful, even when we are faithless. We are secure in Him for all eternity.

 The enemy wants to tempt the Church into finding its sustenance and nourishment from the Law. Some teach that we need the Law to grow. That we are saved by Grace but sanctified by Law. 

 The enemy tries to convince believers that sure we begin by Grace, but our nourishment spiritually is to follow and abide under the Law. This is why so much preaching and teaching isn't centered around Jesus' Finished Work, but rather on our works, and performance. Jesus is removed from the focal point and our actions, achievements and accomplishments are exalted to center stage. 

 Grace counters this by reminding us of who we are, and what He said about us. Grace compels us to place Jesus back to the central focal point of our Faith. Grace reminds us we can't live up to the demands of the Law, but Jesus did and fulfilled it. We are no longer under Law but Grace. 

 In summation, let's not continue looking for our sustenance and nourishment and growth by living under Law. Let's live by the Words spoken by our Father. he declared it is Finished. Let's agree with that. Let's live life loved by our Savior, not by trying to become our own savior through, our doing more, performance, or good works. Jesus is our Savior not our behavior. Grace!

Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay

Nothing but the Blood

19 And so, dear brothers, now we may walk right into the very Holy of Holies, where God is, because of the blood of Jesus. 20 This is the fresh, new, life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us by tearing the curtain—his human body—to let us into the holy presence of God. Hebrews 10:19-20 TLB  

One of the greatest revelations of the New Covenant is exactly what happened on the Cross and the subsequent resurrection. That God Himself took our place and shed His perfect blood on our behalf. The Blood of Jesus is what made our redemption and salvation a reality. 

 Do we really understand the magnitude of the Blood? How powerful this perfect Blood is? What this shed Blood has done for us? 

 We sing songs about the Blood of Jesus. We write about the Blood. We may even hear a message about the Blood. Yet when the song ends, the book is finished being read, the sermon concludes, how do we approach God? How do we pray? How do we see ourselves before God?

 Allow me to ask, does the knowledge that Jesus shed His perfect blood alter the way you approach God or see yourself? Or is the truth that His precious blood was shed for you, merely an abstract concept that is far off in the distance and really isn't in the forefront of your thinking and the very foundation of your Faith? 

 The Precious Blood of Christ is merely a theological concept to so many because we aren't taught the fullness of what Jesus actually accomplished for us. When we understand fully what Jesus' Blood procured for us, our lives will be radically transformed. Condemnation ceases to rule over us. Powerless, anemic faith is revitalized into powerful, dynamic Faith that overcomes and lays hold of the victory Christ purchased.

 Legalism flourishes when the Blood of Jesus is not given preeminence. Our performance takes center stage when the Blood of Jesus becomes a mere theological concept, or a stage drama once a year during Easter. Our achievements, our accomplishments, and our actions are what matter most when the Blood loses the focus of our attention, our adoration, and our adulation. Our sacrifice isn't what matters, it's the Blood of Jesus that justifies.

 The Blood of Jesus has become so far from center stage in our theology, that many believe the Blood isn't even powerful enough to completely cleanse us from all our sins. Tradition has convinced many that the Blood merely covers sin, (like placing a rug over a stain on the floor), and doesn't actually cleanse sin. Still, others claim the Blood has such limited reach and power, that it only cleansed us from our past sins up to the point of accepting Christ, but our future sins require our efforts, confessions, apologies, repentance, in order to be cleansed and forgiven. 

 When we recognize the fullness of the power of the Precious Blood of Jesus we will walk in the freedom and acceptance Christ procured for us. We will no longer look to our performance but trust in Christ's. We will cease our efforts to earn and achieve acceptance and approval and simply rest in Christ's Finished Work.

 Now, when sins have once been forever forgiven and forgotten, there is no need to offer more sacrifices to get rid of them. Hebrews 10:18 TLB

 Whose sacrifice are you trusting in? Your own? Your labor of getting up early, engaging in Bible study, or devotion? The amount you gave financially? Your ability to abstain from sinful actions? Your kindness toward others?  Or are you counting your own labor as secondary compared to the once for all sacrifice of Christ Jesus?

 18 For you know that you were not redeemed from your vain way of life inherited from your fathers with perishable things, like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19 MEV

This passage makes it evident that the Blood is the source of our very redemption. Notice Peter cited silver and gold. What's the significance? Silver and gold perish or aren't eternal true, but they also represent something that is earned and achieved. Our redemption is based on Christ alone, not Jesus plus our works and efforts. 

 In summation, let's put the Blood back at the forefront of our thinking and theology. Let's give the Precious Blood of Jesus the preeminence it deserves. What cleansed us from our sins? Nothing but the Blood! What made us accepted and approved by God? Nothing but the Blood! What made us whole? Nothing but the Blood! It's not about us, it's all about Him! It's all about Jesus and His perfect, Precious Blood shed for us. 

see even more about the Blood here.

Image by kropekk_pl from Pixabay

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Why you can have bold Faith even when you fail.

Praise the Lord, all you nations! Exalt Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord! Psalm 117 MEV    

 Have you ever had a need but were hesitant to pray for it to be met? Have you had a crisis situation arise suddenly but lacked the confidence to call out to God in the midst of it? Has someone ever asked you to pray with them or for them but felt your prayers would be hindered and ineffective?

 In these times, times that I dare say all believers have experienced, what was the cause of the lack of confidence? What was the root of the feelings of inadequacy? Why the hesitancy to pray? Why the sense that our prayers would be hindered and ineffective?

 The reason for all the uncertainty is the thinking that we weren't qualified at that moment to receive from God. We believed that God would not hear us or that our Faith would falter. Why?

 The reason is there is a teaching in many many Christian circles that has caused us to disqualify ourselves from receiving from God. This teaching is pervasive throughout the many quarters of the Body of Christ. The teaching that our sins and shortcomings and failures will cause God to break fellowship with us and not hear or answer our prayers.

 This teaching is rooted in two passages of Scripture.

Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withheld good things from you. Jeremiah 5:25 MEV 

 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me; Psalm 66:18 MEV

 Take note these passages were written during the Old Covenant. A Covenant that was rooted in man's ability to keep the commandments and observe the Mosaic Law. These passages are in direct contrast with the entire premise of the New Covenant.

 The New Covenant is rooted in Christ's performance not our own. The New Covenant is founded upon the Finished Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The New Covenant is based upon the Father fully accepting the substitutionary work of His only Son. God affirmed that to all those who believed He would be God to them and they would be a people to Him. Because of Jesus we are accepted and approved by God our Father.

 He made the New Covenant superior to the Old when He also decreed as a result of the Work of His Son He would not remember our sins any longer. This aspect of the New Covenant is seemingly dismissed or neglected by so many believers. How can I say this? Because the teaching that God will not hear or answer prayer because of our sins is so pervasive throughout the Church.

 This Old Covenant teaching about sin and the corresponding unanswered prayer is why so many struggle in Faith. They look so often at their own works, their own performance, and their own behavior. They see failure, shortcomings, and sinful deeds and conclude surely God would not respond to any request to answer prayer, to bless, to heal, to deliver, or to provide. 

 This is natural reasoning based on Old Covenant thinking. Many Bible teachers use these passages to disqualify God's people from receiving from Him. It's not that they are malicious or trying to harm people. They are just repeating what they were taught. These beliefs are strongholds that can only be pulled down by a fresh understanding of the New Covenant and the Finished Work of Christ.

 David's words recorded reveal something that leads us to the correct understanding concerning this New Covenant. He stated if he regards iniquity in his heart God won't hear him. David reveals that his sin consciousness caused him to shrink back believing that God wouldn't hear him. God didn't tell David this, he just believed this. Many today, are doing the same, disqualifying themselves. 

 The answer to disqualification is to remember who we are now in Christ. Jesus gave us His Righteousness. He made us Righteous in this new creation. What does it mean to be Righteous?

 Righteousness is God's gift of no condemnation. Righteousness is that gift whereby we can stand before God without any sense of condemnation, guilt, shame, insecurity, or inferiority. Righteousness is that gift where we who believed are in perpetual right standing with God. Righteousness is that gift that grants us perfect acceptance and approval from our Heavenly Father. Righteousness is that blessing David spoke of, the person who God no longer imputes sin or uncleanness. This is the Gift of Righteousness.

 Here is the good news, we can have bold Faith even when we fail. Why? Because Jesus has made us Righteous. Because God is no longer imputing sin to us. 

 Faith is having a good opinion of God. That God loves us so much He gave us His Son. If He gave us His best, there is nothing He will withhold from us. Faith is being fully persuaded that what God said He will do, He will do. Faith is unwavering confident trust in His Word. 

  Even David describes the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness without works: “Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” Romans 4:6-8 MEV

 Why can we have bold Faith even when we fail? We have bold Faith because He remembers our sins and iniquities no more. Because we have been forgiven of all our sins, past present, and future. Because He is not imputing sin to us. We have a good opinion of God because of Jesus!

 In summation, no longer accept anything disqualifying you. No longer accept the concept that your sin is a barrier to your Faith. No longer shrink back seeing yourself as not good enough or worthy to receive. Come boldly before the throne of Grace and freely petition the Father because Jesus made a new and living way for us to come to the Father.

 This New Covenant is rooted in Jesus' work and the Father has accepted that work. You can have confident Faith that God hears and answers your prayers because you're declared Righteous. You can stand before God without any sense of guilt or inferiority or condemnation. You can ask boldly and be fully persuaded you will receive, all because of the Finished Work of Christ, and the Gift of Righteousness.   

 pastor Joseph Prince has a whole message he taught on this, highly encourage you to listen. 

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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