GRACE BLOGS COLLECTION
We examine Paul’s revelation of the good news from Romans chapter 1, where we discover that right-standing with God isn’t something people work for as the Jewish people attempted to do under the law. Righteousness pursued us, and came as a gift in the Person of Jesus for those who believe. Another reason why the New Covenant is better than the first one.
Many of the struggles that we have in life originate in our inaccurate and sometimes erroneous beliefs we have regarding the nature and character of God.
There is also an equally inaccurate, belief regarding the true identity and value of man.
In the book of Psalms David writes:
“When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established, What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?”
When people are deeply involved in a legalistic, performance-based religion, they invariably end up with little or no sense of identity or self-worth.
Performance-based religion destroys man’s identity, dignity and worth!
We will not be able to experience God in a meaningful way if we aren’t taught a proper biblical sense of identity, based on the truth of the Gospel.
Many believe that being a model Christian or a truly “spiritual believer” is about becoming something other than a human being. We’ve been taught that human beings are evil, weak or deeply unspiritual.
In many ways, spirituality is believed to be about denying, disowning and escaping our humanity through religious legalism and moral discipline. Christians have been encouraged to disown and reject their humanness, and to do everything in their power to reject their human emotions, passions and instincts.
I like what C.S. Lewis said,
“We do not become more spiritual by becoming less human!”
In legalistic, performance-based religion, our worth is earned by rule keeping, good works, moral disciplines and “so called” holy living. And according to this kind of religion, holiness means to deny almost everything to do with being human—staying away from everything that could be fun and having as little as possible to do with people in the world around us!
In this kind of religion, God seems disconnected and contrary to our human desires and dreams. As a result, we struggle to make the connection between who God is and who we are as human beings!
In the minds of so many believers, being human and enjoying life cannot possibly go hand in hand with being spiritual and having a relationship with a holy God!
For many, it is unthinkable that a Holy God would have any connection to our deepest human passions and dreams of enjoying everyday life!
What we don’t realize is that our passion for living and enjoying life is only fully realized when we see the intimate connection we as humans have with a holy God, sharing in His (Zoë) life. It’s in our union with God that the joy of living and the significance of being human is fulfilled!
Unfortunately because of our religiosity and legalism, we’ve become confused and disconnected from knowing and relating to God based upon our human identities. Therefore, we go through life trying to be or become something we’re not.
If we correctly interpret Scripture, especially the New Testament, we find that God’s whole purpose for creating us is to be HUMAN. In the eyes and the economy of God, the very fact that we are HUMAN defines our true identity and worth to God!
“Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.” —Philippians
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is an emphatic declaration that GOD NOT ONLY LIKES “HUMAN,” HE LOVES “HUMAN” SO MUCH THAT HE ACTUALLY BECAME ONE!!
The post God Loves Human! appeared first on Arthur Meintjes.
In today’s society, fear has become a normal part of life. It seems to be mans’ ever-present companion. We are continually anxious about the soaring crime rate, the failing economy, wars and rumors of wars and social tensions. These fears leave us feeling out of control, and our hearts fail us because of fear.
Man’s first words in the Bible were what Adam said to God right after he sinned, “I was afraid,” (Gen. 3:9-10). Sin brought fear that man was never supposed to live under. We were not created to live with fear.
Anytime we believe the enemy’s lies, we allow the devil to torment us. More importantly, the lies of self-righteousness and independence from God generate all kinds of fear, distorting our reality.
All many have ever known is fear, and it becomes the motivating factor for every action.
We are distrusting, tormented by thoughts of betrayal and infidelity.
We worry—about money and our children.
We are distressed with fear of losing our jobs or fear of getting a job.
We are anxious, so we arm ourselves, being aware of violence and crime.
We are angry with the world and ourselves, and we take it out on those we love.
In most cases, we’ve lost a sense of normalcy.
We were created to find our fulfillment in God alone, to be responsible, and to respond to God’s loving presence in every situation, circumstance and arena.
The Bible teaches that to be a normal human being is to “fear God,” (Prov. 9:10; 19:23; Deut. 6:13).
The fear of God simply means to respond to God with reverence, honor, respect, and awe. In other words, to worship God in obedience.
God intended for us to respond to His loving presence with reverence, respect, honor and worship, being constantly aware of His love and presence.
But the fear plaguing us today is rooted in man’s sin—when man began responding to God’s presence with fear and dread. Why? Without God on our side, everything in this world becomes hostile to us, and we’re left alone and vulnerable in a hostile world.
Fear has been passed down from generation to generation in the world and the Church because most find it difficult to believe the gospel.
Isaiah proclaims, “Who has believed our report?”
The same can be said today.
Every religion promises peace and has the illusion of freedom from fear. They all offer salvation, but you will never be secure. You are promised peace, but will never be peaceful. Only Jesus delivers true peace. The gospel accomplishes our peace and gives us salvation. We are truly secure.
Luke announced the gospel of peace:
But the angel said to them, DO NOT BE AFRAID; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. For to you is born this day … a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord! … Then suddenly there appeared … an army of the troops of heaven (a heavenly knighthood), praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased….—Luke 2:10-14 (AMP)
God announced that after 4,000 years of hostility, there is peace between God and man. And He did it by being born as an infant! What could be less threatening, hostile and dreadful than a baby in a manger?
It’s important to understand that God always intended to end the reign of terror in our lives. The devil kept people enslaved to fear through lies and deception for a long, long time. But not anymore.
Jesus destroyed him! There is no need for dread or fear!
The post Be Not Afraid! appeared first on Arthur Meintjes.
This week we’re wrapping-up our series on Paul’s many exhortations about salvation as a gift by grace through faith, apart from works … and how it contrasted with what James and other Jewish leaders believed during many of those years in the early church. Paul puts the icing on the cake with the gospel in a nutshell when he reminds Titus:
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).
Paul went on to say that foolish discussions about the law should be avoided because it was useless and unprofitable. Why? The law had been put aside and ended with Christ. So, while Paul exhorts believers to good works—which can be profitable—they are a byproduct of our new identity in Christ as righteous and justified people. They contribute nothing towards our justification. A legalistic mindset will suggest that faith without works is dead—but Paul was repeatedly trying to show it’s the other way around—works without faith is dead.
As Paul explained to the churches in Galatia, it was a tutor to bring people to faith. Once faith is in place, people are no longer under the tutor (law). The hypocrisy of modern-day law advocates within the Christian church can be easily exposed—as they are selling a weakened version of God’s original, perfect standard, while ignoring the vast majority of what was given to Israel. Partake of either law or grace, but they were never meant to be mixed. One brought death, the other provides life.