GRACE BLOGS COLLECTION
One of the biggest deceptions in the world, especially in the Church, is that of performance-religion and self- righteousness. There’s a huge emphasis on maintaining the moral standards of the so-called “Judeo-Christian-value system.”
We hear: “I’m a good Christian.” “I belong to a church.” “I go to a home group.” “I read my Bible.” “I pray every day.” “I give my tithes.” “I try to live a good life and do my moral best.” “I don’t need to be set free because I’m already free.”
In reality, these are the people who need freedom the most.
I haven’t really struggled with knowing right or wrong and good or evil. For me, it was discerning between a life of self-righteousness and righteousness by faith.
Two Sides to Self-Righteousness
There are two sides to self- righteousness, both equally deceptive in keeping people bound.
The first area of bondage that self- righteousness produces is what Jesus called “making the word of God of no effect.” It’s the belief that I have it all together, and I’ve done my part or “better than most.”
Some people actually believe they have it all together and are fulfilling their side of a bargain with God. Jesus said to the Jews who thought they had it all together:
… “Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. … Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition ….” —Mark 7:9-13 (KJV)
The Jews taught that there was a way to be righteous by keeping the law, even if it meant they had to bend the law to do so.
But Paul said, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20 KJV).
The law was designed to draw man’s attention to his sin! What Jesus was saying to the Jews was that by bending the law to make it workable, they made the law or Word of God of no effect!
Simultaneously, there’s another side to this truth. JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD! Legalism and self-righteousness makes JESUS and His work on the cross of no effect in our lives. If we could keep the law by our own efforts, then we’d have no need for Jesus!
Legalism and self- righteousness create guilt, condemnation, and obligation. One of the purposes of the law was to make people see and understand that no one can be made righteous by keeping the law. The Jews were serving God, governed by rules, regulations and performance, which could never make them righteous before God. They needed to be set free, and so do many people today.
True Freedom:
We can never experience any form of freedom if we are not freed from the deception of performance-religion, legalism, and self-righteousness.
When Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32), He was saying: you will know “The Truth” (Jesus) and what He came to do. And Jesus will set you free from legalism, self-righteousness, and the condemnation and guilt of the law!
When we know “The Truth” about God’s love, we are set free from seeing an angry God who needs to be appeased and demands performance and sacrifice!
In Romans 3:21-25, Paul said:
“But now the righteousness of God WITHOUT the LAW is manifested … by faith of Jesus Christ … upon all them that believe… Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth … To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which BELIEVETH in Jesus.”
This is the freedom Jesus gave us. It’s this freedom we are to celebrate and grasp hold of every day!
Blessings,
Arthur Meintjes
John is known as the apostle of love. Let’s look at some well-known verses in one of his letters.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God….
—1 John 4:7-8
Unfortunately, this scripture has caused much confusion. We think this means that we should love other people so God can love us, and if we love others, it proves we love Him. Then He can love us back. No! This is what I call a dyslexic verse.
This verse says: If you know God’s love for you, only then will you be able to love others, and when you love others, you understand God’s love for YOU! You can only share or give what you’ve received.
I John 4:9 and 10: “In this was manifest ed the love of God toward us (This is how the love of God is shown toward us). Herein is love (this is what love is), not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (parenthesis mine)
When “the love of God” is mentioned, people think they need to do something because that’s what we’ve been taught. But it says the love of God is “toward” us. This is about how He responds to you, not you to Him!
God is not concerned about whether or not you love Him. What is important to God is: Do you know that He loves you? You can put on your mask and say the right things, but God sees your heart. He wants you to know that HE LOVES YOU! Once you know He loves you, loving Him is no problem. Understanding His love for you is what brings peace and changes you!
Most Christians have heard about the love of God, but few believe it. It’s easy to believe that He loved the world. But we question it as individuals. We find it difficult to believe that He loves us in spite of our shortcomings. Our shortcomings and failures actually cause us to believe we are separated from the love of God.
This is my charge to you today. Don’t just listen to what His love is about, believe it. Start persuading your heart of His love toward you today. Don’t wait a moment longer. Your very life depends on you understanding His great love.
Love: The Foundation
The truth that most people seem to ignore is, love is the foundation for everything that God did.
John 3:16 is a wonderful reminder of this.
“For God so LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (KJV)
I John 4:16 tells us that “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
Love is not something God does. Love is who God is. Therefore, no matter what God does, Love is doing it. It makes no difference how or when you come into contact with God, you will be contacting love. There is never a time that God is not love. Have you ever opened your Bible and found that God has changed His mind, said He doesn’t love the world and takes back everything He’s ever said and done for mankind? No! He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever. —Hebrews 13:8 (AMP)
Blessings,
Arthur Meintjes
Editor’s Note: It’s with heavy hearts we report that Dudley’s beloved wife Betsy was escorted to her eternal home yesterday. We extend our deepest sympathies to our brother and adviser, and pray God’s peace on the entire Hall family.
Lincoln Steffens went to Russia after the Russian Revolution and saw the new collective form of government, known as communism, being tried. Things looked so good in the early days that he reported back home, "I have seen the future and it works." Of course, by 1989 the country was in big trouble, having witnessed millions of people dead in the tragic experiment.
However, the scriptures testify that we can see the future and it really does work.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. -- Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV)
In the real world described here, the spiritual and natural intertwine. When Jesus appeared, the eternal invaded the temporal. Or speaking from a linear perspective, the future broke into the present. Jesus announced, "The kingdom of God is at hand." A new era was beginning. A new age was dawning. Though the willfully blind can't see beyond the temporal and thus live based on observation and intuition, those born of the Spirit can see through the temporal to the eternal.
In the mystery of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus, believers share the very life of Jesus the Christ -- called "eternal life." They share his past, present and future. Because they are "in him," they are wherever and whenever he is. The apostle Paul is not talking nonsense when he says, "Your life is hidden with Christ in God."
Help us champion truth, freedom, limited government and human dignity. Support The Stream >>
This is confusing to those so focused on trying to get there by some form of merit, that they can't see the finished work of Christ. Many are afraid they will be left behind at his next coming. But, you can't be left behind if you are already there. We are so united with him that we sit with him now and will appear with him when comes. In the present, we are being trained by Jesus to live as "there" people while we are here.
Originally published on KerygmaVentures.com. Reprinted with permission.
The post We Are Here and There appeared first on The Stream.
Lincoln Steffens went to Russia after the Russian Revolution and saw the new collective form of government, known as communism, being tried. Things looked so good in the early days that he reported back home, "I have seen the future and it works." Of course, by 1989 the country was in big trouble, having witnessed millions of people dead in the tragic experiment.
However, the scriptures testify that we can see the future and it really does work.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. -- Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV)
In the real world described here, the spiritual and natural intertwine. When Jesus appeared, the eternal invaded the temporal. Or speaking from a linear perspective, the future broke into the present. Jesus announced, "The kingdom of God is at hand." A new era was beginning. A new age was dawning. Though the willfully blind can't see beyond the temporal and thus live based on observation and intuition, those born of the Spirit can see through the temporal to the eternal.
In the mystery of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus, believers share the very life of Jesus the Christ -- called "eternal life." They share his past, present and future. Because they are "in him," they are wherever and whenever he is. The apostle Paul is not talking nonsense when he says, "Your life is hidden with Christ in God."
Help us champion truth, freedom, limited government and human dignity. Support The Stream >>
This is confusing to those so focused on trying to get there by some form of merit, that they can't see the finished work of Christ. Many are afraid they will be left behind at his next coming. But, you can't be left behind if you are already there. We are so united with him that we sit with him now and will appear with him when comes. In the present, we are being trained by Jesus to live as "there" people while we are here.
Originally published on KerygmaVentures.com. Reprinted with permission.
I’ve been in one of the most exciting seasons of my life this past month, spiritually speaking. This is really starting to sink in for me which proves that we are all always growing in grace. I wrote this out recently and have now attached scripture references to it for you because I like you! […]
The post Growing in Grace… Everyday appeared first on Sandra McCollom.
