law and grace – Page 59

3 amazing facts about God’s Grace!

August 1, 2015 by Steve Edwards

I was excited to receive a message on my Facebook page today from a sister in Christ who’s had a revelation of God’s radical grace.

As I was responding to her message I realized there are 3 amazing things we should know about God’s grace.

No Fear!

Do you think God wants us to live in fear?

There is no fear in love but perfect love drives out fear – because fear has to do with punishment. Whoever fears is not made perfect in love.

– 1 John 4:18

How are we made perfect in love?

We are perfect in love when we have no fear.

When we know our salvation is secure…

When we know and understand how wide and high and long and deep is the love of Christ…

When we understand that nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love…

When we realize that we can no more limit God’s grace than we can set a time limit on eternity…

When we know that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ…

And finally when we are assured that we can never, ever be punished for our sin ever again.

There is no fear in love but perfect love drives out fear – because fear has to do with punishment. Whoever fears is not made perfect in love.

– 1 John 4:18.

Change Your Mind!

A question that comes up a lot with people who oppose the ‘hypergrace’ movement is repentance. People seem to think that hypergrace teachers are against repentance. Not true! It’s not that we’re against repentance, it’s just that we’re against using the word in the wrong way. The biblical word in Greek was metanoia which means ‘to change your mind.’

Biblical repentance means to change your mind about God’s grace.

Tweet that!

Martin Luther thought the same. He said –

Metanoia signifies a changing of the mind and heart – not only a change of heart but also how it is changed, that is by the grace of God.

Amen!

An article on Metanoia Ministries website says this:

The Reformation saw the new church fathers begin to go back to the Classical Greek. Both Luther and Calvin wished to remove the concept of penance from the meaning of repentance. Repentance meant “to change the mind.” Specifically—to change our minds about Christ.

– link to article.

This ties in with Paul. In his letter to the young church at Philippi he said he was a ‘perfect’ Pharisee. He obeyed all the laws. He was legalistically perfect:

Circumsized on the eighth day, of the tribe of Benjamin, of the people of Israel, a Hebrew of Hebrews. As for zeal, persecuting the church. As for legalistic righteousness – perfect!

– Philippians 3:6

Which leads us nicely on to —

The Law is Rubbish!

When Paul discovered he was ‘righteous by faith’ he called his law-obeying ‘rubbish’:

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of knowing Christ. More than that, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in Him – not having a righteousness of my own that comes from obeying the law but that which is through faith in Christ – a righteousness that comes from God and is by faith!

– Philippains 3:7-8

Paul ‘changed his mind’ about his legalistic righteousness. He used to think his self-earned righteousness was perfect. But now he considered it rubbish compared to being ‘righteous by faith.’

This was Paul’s ‘grace’ revelation!

He realized that nothing he could do could add to the righteousness God had given him – as a free gift.

Summing up –

We too, like Paul, have to change our minds about our own ability to be perfect.

We must rely totally on Christ and His grace.

If we think we can ‘get in God’s good books’ by ‘being good’ and stopping sinning we are trusting in our own ability rather than in Christ’s cross.

But, if we ‘change our mind’, admit we have no chance of getting in God’s ‘good books’ by ourselves and rely totally on God’s grace, then we are free.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!

– Galatians 5:1

If we think our place in Heaven depends on our ‘being good’ we have lost all sight of the gospel. We are trusting in ourselves rather in Christ.

Summing up then, we cannot win, keep, or earn our place in Heaven…but thanks be to God! He loves us and He has saved us to be with Him forever.

Hallelujah!

Amen.

Filed under: Grace

God and Ant Man

July 26, 2015 by Steve Edwards

I watched Ant Man yesterday.

It was brilliant.

Really fun.

Great story, superb dialogue, awesome action sequences. You’ll love it!

But it also carries the Gospel message.

Scott has just got out of jail. He’s a thief. Not a common robber but a high tech ‘cat burglar’ with a Masters Degree in electrical engineering.

It’s a real normal guy becomes super-hero story – the hero’s journey.

Scott’s got a daughter – Cassie – who he loves dearly but his ex-wife tells him he can’t see his daughter until he pays child support.

Scott complains he can’t find a job, to which his ex-wife replies:

You’re a hero in her eyes. Be the person she already believes you are.

And that’s us and God!

To God, you are a hero.

He already sees you as a hero.

We may see ourselves as sinners and failures but that’s not how God sees us.

God sees us as His beautiful children.

Not only that, He sees us as mighty warriors for the kingdom of God.

Heroes!

Look at Gideon. God calls him a mighty warrior, and Gideon’s like: “Who? Me?”

Let’s see ourselves as God already sees us:

By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who have been made holy.

– Hebrews 10:14

He sees us as perfect and holy.

If only we could see ourselves that way.

Surely great things would happen in our lives, in the lives of those around us and in the Kingdom of God.

Like Scott in Ant Man, let’s be the person God already believes we are!

Filed under: Grace

Are You Lukewarm?

July 23, 2015 by Paul Ellis

Here’s a favorite question of some preachers: “Are you a lukewarm believer?” You’d better have a good answer because if you’re not sure – “Am I lukewarm?” – Jesus may spew you out of his mouth. What does that mean? He’ll reject you, you apathetic Christian! You may think you’re saved, but if you’re not […]

An Open Letter to Pastors from the Author of The Hyper-Grace Gospel

July 20, 2015 by Paul Ellis

Dear Pastor, Over the past couple of years, much has been said about the so-called hyper-grace gospel and the effect this message is having on the church. Apparently the hyper-grace gospel is the deception Jude warned about. According to some it’s a destructive message preached by godless men. Here are some of the claims made […]

Forgiveness and Jesus’ blood.

July 20, 2015 by Steve Edwards

Look, what I’m saying is this.

I’m not saying that asking God for forgiveness is wrong.

What I’m saying is our forgiveness doesn’t depend on our asking.

If it did forgiveness would be conditional.

We would have a part to play in our own salvation.

We would achieve salvation by ourselves.

But the fact is, we could not achieve salvation by ourselves so Jesus achieved it for us – all by Himself.

That’s right, folks – we didn’t help Him.

We have no part to play in our own salvation.

Jesus saved the whole world – single-handedly – on the cross.

That’s why we know we have been forgiven once for all.

It was a once for all sacrifice.

Sure we’re gonna feel bad when we screw up.

Yes we’re gonna want to get down on our knees and confess to God and ask for forgiveness as we promise never to do it again.

But God has already forgiven us.

And next time we screw up again He’s already forgiven us for that, too!

In fact, the very moment we screw up it’s forgotten. Tossed into the eternal fire. Consumed, dead and gone.

Our sin dissolves in Christ’s blood like a snowflake in a fire.

We may feel terrible.

We may feel unworthy of God’s love and forgiveness.

We may feel we need to get on our knees and confess until we receive God’s peace again.

But that’s us.

That doesn’t come from God.

God has forgiven us already, once for all, on the cross.

So when we pray we don’t have to say “Dear God, I messed up again. I know, I know, yep, that again. Please forgive me again!”

Instead we can pray:

Jesus, I screwed up again, but thanks to the cross I know that you have forgiven me once for all. I accept that forgiveness. I know I’m a new creation in Christ and that my right standing with God doesn’t depend on what I do anymore but on what you did for me.

How amazing is that?!

We are righteous not by our own self effort but because of Christ.

We are righteous as a free gift from our amazing, awesome, breath-takingly beautiful God – whose name is Love.

Amen!

Filed under: Grace

Leading People To Christ Made Natural, Easy And Fun

June 19, 2015 by Bas Rijksen

In this post we’ll expose the dirty lie that says that you need to befriend people to lead them Christ and exchange it for the clean truth of how to lead people to Christ in the right way, which makes it natural easy and fun.

Have you ever been challenged how to integrate your private faith life with your public life?

For example, you believe people come to faith by hearing the good news of Jesus Christ, yet in a social setting you don’t bring the conversation around to a “spiritual” topic. Then you wonder why you don’t share your faith…

Or you believe it’s God’s will to heal, yet when you come across a sick person you don’t always ask if they would like prayer. Then later you feel puzzled and condemned because you didn’t offer to pray.

Jesus did command us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:15-18).

It’s plain and clear Jesus expects us to tell about Him and operate in supernatural signs and wonders. Contrary to what most Christians think, however, He does not expect you with your will-power an determination to lead people to Him.

This might come as a shock to you but you are NOT suppose to “befriend” people or act friendly towards them or do stuff for them in order to lead them to Christ!

The vast majority of Christians does belief the lie that they should do something (like trying to be nice) in order to lead them to Christ.

You know what the result is?

Feeling guilty and condemned.

Why? Because there are always more unsaved, sick and hurting people you come across then you have time to minister to or that you are able to talk to or reach with your “evangelistic” attempts.

If you persist in the “leading-people-to-Christ-all-depends-on-me-doing-my-best” type mindset you’ll end up feeling condemned because there will be times – after meeting an unbeliever, a sick person or discouraged person – that you didn’t offer prayer, you didn’t lay hands to heal the sick, you didn’t cease the opportunity to mention Jesus, you didn’t steer the conversation to a “spiritual” topic.

As a result you feel bad about yourself, after all you belief that you’re not that great of an advertisement for Christianity. You might even be thinking God isn’t happy with you and isn’t proud of you since you’re falling short of His command to preach Him to all creatures.

The truth, however, is that it’s not up to you – yourself – to supernaturally reveal Jesus and His love to people!

What I’m about to show you next, might forever change the way you look at evangelism and lift a heavy, unhealthy religious burden of your shoulders.

Should you feel pressure because you know it’s a commandment to witness, offer prayer, encourage and lay hands on the sick?

Should you befriend people just to lead them to Christ?

The answer is a resounding NO!

Let me explain why it’s not a good idea to go out of your way to “befriend” people or act friendly towards them…do stuff for them…in order to lead them to Christ.

Click on the image below to watch the Vlog:

Click HERE to watch the video on YouTube

Understand Your True Identity

The answer is found in understanding your true nature – who you really are and to learn to just be yourself.

Who is Christ…and…who are you?

God is Love – Christ is God – Christ is Love.

Christ is in you – He is your true nature now.

So your true nature is to be LOVE.

Because you ARE Love, it comes natural to love people – without conditions.

Because you nature is to BE unconditional love towards people you should have no ulterior motives.

In the days I hadn’t tapped into the unconditional love of our Father I would say things like, “When we do evangelism we have an “hidden” agenda and that is to bring the “J” word into the conversation to get people closer to pray the sinners prayer.”

Now I say, “To understand God’s unconditional love leads us to having absolutely NO REASON to listen and talk to people!” There is just no “hidden” agenda when unconditional love is understood.

Consequently there is ZERO PRESSURE to perform a certain way in order to reveal Jesus and His love to people.

How then are we to go about the command to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, deliver the oppressed, etc.? You just simply allow Christ (who is Love) to be expressed through you – to whomever you may meet each and every day.

When Christ was approached by the rich young man who wanted to know what he must do to inherit eternal life, scripture is clear about how He treated the man.

Mark 10:21 says, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.”

How did Jesus approach this man? Jesus loved on him. You might be thinking, “Yes, but shouldn’t I try to lead them to Christ?” No.

Here’s what will happen: when you love unconditionally you are allowing Christ to express Himself through you. And people will notice. They’ll be magnetically drawn to you.

Side note: if you’re a guy women will definitively be magnetically drawn to you. Look at Jesus’ ministry, He always had women following Him around wherever He went. Why? Because He had NO ulterior motive for loving woman. (Most guys, however “act nice” or pretend to “love” a woman because they want something from that woman).

Jesus just simply loved them and they couldn’t get enough of Him. And they’ll want to know where this love comes from. They wonder “how can you be that way?” That’s when it’s time to tell them where this Love comes from…

That it comes from Christ who is now your life and identity and that you’ve a relationship with Him since He lives in you. You’ve exchanged your old life for His and now you’re just letting Christ love people through you each and every day. This is how you “win people to Christ.”

Let me ask you this question: Did Jesus ever start preaching to someone or healing someone before He showed them love? No. He first showed them love…showed them grace, compassion, forgiveness and sympathy (all of which come from love). Then people wanted to know “WHO ARE YOU?” And that’s when He introduced Himself as the Messiah.

No Pressure But Free To Be You

You might ask yourself, “Is there a place to tell people upfront about Jesus or offer prayer to heal the sick?” Of course. You’re free to express who you are and what you belief in any way, shape or form.

Or, you might ask yourself, “how can I ask strangers up front or in the middle of the conversation if they know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior or if they are sick and in need for prayer?”

As soon as we try to answer these type of questions we inevitable get stuck in steps, principles and formulas. For example,

12 Strategies for effective evangelism.
8 Steps to start conversations and successfully share the Gospel.
4 Spiritual laws to help people understand God’s love and forgiveness to lead them to Christ, etc.

We already have seen that this is NOT what Christ had in mind when He said to make Him and His love known to the world.

Usually these steps, formulas and spiritual laws put pressure on you and make you feel insecure relating to people since you’re constantly thinking (read: worrying) if you’re doing it the right or wrong way.

The truth is that there is no wrong and right way, there is only the Jesus way.

How can you do life the Jesus way, thus be a great advertisement of love and grace to the world?

Just be yourself; allow Christ to express His love through you.

That’s the only way for you to be truly FREE to relate to people as you see fit in context of your unique personality.

No pressure to perform.

No condemnation.

If you think that you should befriend people just to lead them to Christ then your fooling yourself…but you’re not fooling anyone! People can tell if you’re being authentic. They can tell when you have a “hidden” agenda or ulterior motive.

You know how you feel when a Mormon knocks on the door, acts nice, and wants to talk with you. They’ll tell you, “If you need anything, anything at all – just give us a call!”

You KNOW exactly WHY they’re being so nice. They want to make you a Mormon too! It’s fake…a pretense…and act to try to get what they want from you.

It’s the same feeling you get from a salesman who really doesn’t care about you, but is acting REALLY nice. (my apologies to all the Mormons who watch this and are offended – I of course love you too – I am just making a point).

Here’s the downside of believing this lie that you should befriend people, act friendly and do stuff for them to lead them to Christ – it gives Christians a bad reputation…

And then what happens? You screw it up for the rest of us Christians who really are aiming at letting Christ express His love through us to people.

And unbelievers think, “Yeah, he’s just being nice because he wants to turn me into a Christian and make me go to church, and give up drinking, cussing, smoking, sexing, etc.,…I’m not falling for that one again!”

So, it seems you have two options my friend:

1) You can just be who you REALLY are – which is unconditional LOVE.

2) You can come off as a sleazy salesman or Mormon.

I know which one I’m choosing.

If you’re choosing the first option with me, you’ll live from the no-condemnation zone since there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.

Enjoy just being who you are and watch the world being transformed as a result without strain and stress.

This message will self destruct in 10 seconds,

P.S. BasRijksen(.com) is taking a summer break. That means you will receive your next Grace-filled post September 1.

P.P.S. If you know anyone who could benefit from this post make sure you share it by using the buttons below.

Leading People To Christ Made Natural, Easy And Fun

June 19, 2015 by Bas Rijksen

Have you ever been challenged how to integrate your private faith life with your public life?

This might come as a shock to you but you are NOT suppose to “befriend” people or act friendly towards them or do stuff for them in order to lead them to Christ!

The vast majority of Christians does belief the lie that they should do something (like trying to be nice) in order to lead them to Christ.

You know what the result is?

Feeling guilty and condemned.

Why? Because there are always more unsaved, sick and hurting people you come across then you have time to minister to or that you are able to talk to or reach with your “evangelistic” attempts.

The truth, however, is that it’s not up to you – yourself – to supernaturally reveal Jesus and His love to people!

What I’m about to show you next, might forever change the way you look at evangelism and lift a heavy, unhealthy religious burden of your shoulders.

Should you feel pressure because you know it’s a commandment to witness, offer prayer, encourage and lay hands on the sick?

Should you befriend people just to lead them to Christ?

The answer is a resounding NO!

Let me explain why it’s not a good idea to go out of your way to “befriend” people or act friendly towards them…do stuff for them…in order to lead them to Christ.

Click on the image below to watch the Vlog: