When grace is mentioned, some invariably admonish not to forget God's justice. I had already reasoned before that justice is contained in grace, and actually was fulfilled by grace (Jesus) on the cross.
Here is a simple illustration of how justice is not separate from grace, but is only part of grace. Imagine a weight scale; on one side is our obedience, and the other God's reward. Under law (God's justice) we are rewarded according to our obedience, so the scale is even between both sides. It is fair and just. What grace does is not only giving the fair amount of reward, it gives us so much more to a point where no amount of our earning can justify the blessing. Grace is unfairly good to us because the righteousness of Jesus has been imparted to us by His blood on the cross.
On the flip side, picture a scale of our sin and God's punishment, on one side our sin, and the other punishment. God's justice sentences us to death because of our sin. It is fair and just. But what grace does is not only taking away (forgiving) the punishment of that one sin, but keeps taking away no matter how much sin we pile up on the other side. Grace is unfairly lenient to us, but not to sin, which exacts justice upon the body of Jesus Christ, stroke by stroke. He fulfilled the law, leaving not one letter or stroke unpunished on His body, nailing every last one of our sins on the cross so that we are made holy by His blood.
A "fair and just" mentality is every other religion, but not of the grace gospel. To continue holding on to that belief and teaching voids the spirit and essence of grace that is patently unfair, and far from just -- unfair to God and injustice to His holiness. But it is completely righteous in His love for us. How can we ever play fair (trying to be equal to His blessing) with the almighty and all loving? To attempt so is not to comprehend the scope of His grace where our part is not in anything else but acceptance and gratitude that comes from true repentance (not just turn from sin, but run to grace).
Grace is not equal to law, it is infinitely greater; grace is the light and truth where law is only shadow and reflection. Justice never imparts righteousness and blessing, and it takes away not one bit of sin. There is no greater knowledge of law and expertise than the pharisees (they are still around), but Christ called them brood of vipers. And truth is not in them (law), for Jesus said to them, " You shall know the truth, and truth shall set you free (from the law)." Therefore to balance law and grace is an unworkable concept: One demands and the other gives; they are incompatible in man, and creates the lukewarm faith Christ warns us about, one engraved on cold stone tablets, the other pours out from the fiery passion of God's heart. Mixing the two produces only confusion, and worse -- fallen from grace. And just from that, we know Paul is saying grace is higher than law, for to be under law is to fall from grace. Therefore the new covenant allows for no possibility for balance in trying to hold on to law. If we have flood light why hold on to a matchstick? It is a useless redundancy. If there is a car, why ride a tricycle? One cannot have both at one time. But it is so hard for man to see this contradiction and let go of the control-- all because of unbelief that God is that good and that just (both met on the cross), and that grace is the power that overcomes sin. What law demands, grace more than paid for and added much greater! What sin law cannot overcome grace swallowed up by the infinite love and unconditional forgiveness of our savior. This is good news few wholeheartedly believes in.
Christ had given His all to us: We don't deserve righteousness but have it fully because of His grace, just as to impart grace he doesn't deserve punishment, but took it all for us. But how are we to receive this grace? Only by truly accepting that law-keeping is no longer our cross to bear, completely trust by faith that He works in us to transform into His image, and walk in the righteousness that is already ours (even in sin), instead of constant condemnation and confession of sin to reach it. Then true fruit of the spirit flow freely outside our will and conscientious effort, which is the Christ-like obedience and only such that pleases God and gives full glory to Him. Jesus wasn't constantly thinking about obeying the law because He had the spirit of it in grace. And now through our faith we also have it; therefore do not reject it by going back to the law of behavior modification. Instead, focus on Jesus to give us the truth of heart transformation.
In righteousness there is no sin (condemnation of), but beware of those who want to bring sin to our remembrance by the constant call for obedience with warning of judgment. These are the messages approved by the Devil to keep believers in bondage and dust so that grace though given is yet unreceived, therefore powerless in our lives for victory. The high priest doesn't represent God to man in reproach, but represents man in appealing to God's mercy. Today's gospel messages shall also refrain from condemnation of believers, but only -- and only -- to point man confidently and unequivocally to that morning star who delivered us from the dark night -- our wonderful saviour Jesus Christ! Amen
James
Thursday, February 24, 2011
All about Jesus
Doing is all about our performance; being is all about Christ's life.
Obeying is all about our merit; believing is all about Christ's glory.
Trying is all about our effort; trusting is all about Christ's faithfulness.
Pleasing God is all about us; pleased in God is all about Jesus.
Obeying is all about our merit; believing is all about Christ's glory.
Trying is all about our effort; trusting is all about Christ's faithfulness.
Pleasing God is all about us; pleased in God is all about Jesus.
Obedience of the heart
A couple of recent response to my email on "good work" expressed concern about boasting of obedience in the heart, and the need to know the law in order to find clear boundaries. It seems to suggest that the heart is blind and only the law is wise, and that without knowing the law in all its details the obedience from the heart still falls short and boasts in ignorance and unfounded self-satisfaction.
While I understand how one may come to that view, it is simply not scriptural if the supposition is that the heart remains the worldly one we possessed before baptism by the holy spirit. As a believer we must have faith that our lives are no longer ours but Christ's, and that neither our hearts are ours to own but His. (Ezekiel 36:26, "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart." ) In expressing faith we surrender completely to the indwelling spirit to guide us, mold us and to transform us. And in that true acceptance the heart is no longer blind but wise, and the mind is not filled with mere knowledge and rules but the truth of God. (Hebrews 10:16, "This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." )
A heart of faith is not boastful, but only boasts of the faith of Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:4, "Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring." ) Why hold a need for false humility when Paul proudly proclaimed that, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (Romans 1:16) Why did Paul have to defend His faith? Because there were people who criticized him for being boastful of faith and grace. I don't find anyone made to feel ashamed of the law, and certainly nobody advocating law feels the need to defend accusations of condoning sin, making light of sin, irresponsibility and spiritual laziness. Why did Paul need to constantly defend grace when he was, is and will always be the single greatest authority of the new covenant gospel? What is it about grace that continues to stir up such controversy and unbelief? What we need to be vigilant of is not being deceived by Satan on grace but, quite the opposite -- law. And I base that statement on the unerring revelation of grace to Paul by the holy spirit.
And when a heart is full in faith, it is a sincere heart. Sincerity is not boastful, it is humble and glorifies only truth. (Hebrews 10:22, "let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water" ) A renewed heart no longer harbors a conscience of sin and guilt. Do we think this means it is like a sinner with no remorse? Certainly not! How can the blood of Jesus and the washing of spirit do a incomplete work? What we have in our new heart is no longer do we need to be constantly looking out to avoid sin, because the heart is now pure and our conscience clear by the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and the washing of the holy spirit. We now walk righteously because we have been made righteous, and not made to walk righteously in effort to be counted righteous.
Now where do we find pride creeping in? In the law. Let us look at a few verses from Romans 2:
17You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. 18You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. 19You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.
And
23You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.
This is the inevitable conundrum of law -- the more we know it the less we can keep it. It is like the saying of a honest wise-man that "the more I know the more I know I don't know." and it is such realization that we are brought down to our knees in true humility and repentance. But to think that true knowledge is to know more and more is self-deception at best that what we already know is valuable, and there is value to knowing more. Anyone believing law can be perfectly kept doesn't know the law of God, and that belief is pride preventing the very God of law from living in our hearts to keep it perfectly.
29No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit.
While I understand how one may come to that view, it is simply not scriptural if the supposition is that the heart remains the worldly one we possessed before baptism by the holy spirit. As a believer we must have faith that our lives are no longer ours but Christ's, and that neither our hearts are ours to own but His. (Ezekiel 36:26, "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart." ) In expressing faith we surrender completely to the indwelling spirit to guide us, mold us and to transform us. And in that true acceptance the heart is no longer blind but wise, and the mind is not filled with mere knowledge and rules but the truth of God. (Hebrews 10:16, "This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." )
A heart of faith is not boastful, but only boasts of the faith of Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:4, "Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring." ) Why hold a need for false humility when Paul proudly proclaimed that, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (Romans 1:16) Why did Paul have to defend His faith? Because there were people who criticized him for being boastful of faith and grace. I don't find anyone made to feel ashamed of the law, and certainly nobody advocating law feels the need to defend accusations of condoning sin, making light of sin, irresponsibility and spiritual laziness. Why did Paul need to constantly defend grace when he was, is and will always be the single greatest authority of the new covenant gospel? What is it about grace that continues to stir up such controversy and unbelief? What we need to be vigilant of is not being deceived by Satan on grace but, quite the opposite -- law. And I base that statement on the unerring revelation of grace to Paul by the holy spirit.
And when a heart is full in faith, it is a sincere heart. Sincerity is not boastful, it is humble and glorifies only truth. (Hebrews 10:22, "let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water" ) A renewed heart no longer harbors a conscience of sin and guilt. Do we think this means it is like a sinner with no remorse? Certainly not! How can the blood of Jesus and the washing of spirit do a incomplete work? What we have in our new heart is no longer do we need to be constantly looking out to avoid sin, because the heart is now pure and our conscience clear by the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and the washing of the holy spirit. We now walk righteously because we have been made righteous, and not made to walk righteously in effort to be counted righteous.
Now where do we find pride creeping in? In the law. Let us look at a few verses from Romans 2:
17You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. 18You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. 19You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.
And
23You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.
This is the inevitable conundrum of law -- the more we know it the less we can keep it. It is like the saying of a honest wise-man that "the more I know the more I know I don't know." and it is such realization that we are brought down to our knees in true humility and repentance. But to think that true knowledge is to know more and more is self-deception at best that what we already know is valuable, and there is value to knowing more. Anyone believing law can be perfectly kept doesn't know the law of God, and that belief is pride preventing the very God of law from living in our hearts to keep it perfectly.
29No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit.
Let's not be concerned about obeying the letter of the law, but be fully dedicated to opening our hearts to Him whose spirit is the very law and very obedience of grace. And ours is to boast not of our faith for God, but boast in faith for the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ! Amen
James
James
Good work
Any good work we do do out of demonstration of faith, and not demonstration of righteousness; do out of witnessing for the grace of Christ, and not witnessing of our worth; do out of obedience of heart and not obedience to law.
Why the irritation? Unforgiveness
Why the annoyance? Unforgiveness
Why the displeasure? Unforgiveness
Why the dislike? Unforgiveness
Why the dissatisfaction? Unforgiveness
Why the impatience? Unforgiveness
Why the frustration? Unforgiveness
Why the complaint? Unforgiveness
Why the gossip? Unforgiveness
Why the criticism? Unforgiveness
Why the resentment? Unforgiveness
Why the jealousy? Unforgiveness
Why the intolerance? Unforgiveness
Why the condescension? Unforgiveness
Why the prejudice? Unforgiveness
Why the ridicule? Unforgiveness
Why the judgment? Unforgiveness
Why the rebuke? Unforgiveness
Why the condemnation? Unforgiveness
Why the bitterness? Unforgiveness
Why the anger? Unforgiveness
Why the harshness? Unforgiveness
Why the hate? Unforgiveness
Why the vengeance? Unforgiveness
Why the retaliation? Unforgiveness
Why the insensitivity? Unforgiveness
Why the cruelty? Unforgiveness
Why the guilt? Unforgiveness
Why the shame? Unforgiveness
Why the rejection? Unforgiveness
Why the loneliness? Unforgiveness
Why the self-pity? Unforgiveness
Why the depression? Unforgiveness
Why the sickness? Unforgiveness
Why the suffering? Unforgiveness
Why the dying? Unforgiveness
Why the dead? Unforgiveness
Why the damned? Unforgiveness
Why the unforgiveness? Unforgiven
Why the unforgiven? unloved
How to be forgiven? faith in love
How to forgive? Love in faith
Loving God is being forgiven
Loving man is being forgiving
Rejoice and forgive, because we have already been forgiven!
Amen
Why the annoyance? Unforgiveness
Why the displeasure? Unforgiveness
Why the dislike? Unforgiveness
Why the dissatisfaction? Unforgiveness
Why the impatience? Unforgiveness
Why the frustration? Unforgiveness
Why the complaint? Unforgiveness
Why the gossip? Unforgiveness
Why the criticism? Unforgiveness
Why the resentment? Unforgiveness
Why the jealousy? Unforgiveness
Why the intolerance? Unforgiveness
Why the condescension? Unforgiveness
Why the prejudice? Unforgiveness
Why the ridicule? Unforgiveness
Why the judgment? Unforgiveness
Why the rebuke? Unforgiveness
Why the condemnation? Unforgiveness
Why the bitterness? Unforgiveness
Why the anger? Unforgiveness
Why the harshness? Unforgiveness
Why the hate? Unforgiveness
Why the vengeance? Unforgiveness
Why the retaliation? Unforgiveness
Why the insensitivity? Unforgiveness
Why the cruelty? Unforgiveness
Why the guilt? Unforgiveness
Why the shame? Unforgiveness
Why the rejection? Unforgiveness
Why the loneliness? Unforgiveness
Why the self-pity? Unforgiveness
Why the depression? Unforgiveness
Why the sickness? Unforgiveness
Why the suffering? Unforgiveness
Why the dying? Unforgiveness
Why the dead? Unforgiveness
Why the damned? Unforgiveness
Why the unforgiveness? Unforgiven
Why the unforgiven? unloved
How to be forgiven? faith in love
How to forgive? Love in faith
Loving God is being forgiven
Loving man is being forgiving
Rejoice and forgive, because we have already been forgiven!
Amen
Friday, February 18, 2011
Uncertain legalism
Dear ...
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. And what you brought up spoke to the heart of confusion many Christians are bound in even with a sincere heart to embrace the truth of the gospel.
The pitfall of legalism is acknowledged, preached and accepted by most believers. It is as clear as black and white. But how one interprets legalism often becomes the very justification of it -- and even unwitting reinforcement of the idea incorporated in the sermons and belief. This is where I insist we need a clear divide between law and grace by which a believer can escape that twilight zone of uncertainty. Then and only then a firm foundation of grace (and not just a cursory recognition and appreciation of it but still deeply rooted in law) can take hold in the hearts and minds of God's select in the truth of faith, hope and love.
But the separation and definition I urge goes beyond description of what is really meant by "law" in the new covenant, and how it is different from legalism. I have had feedback from brothers and sisters steeped in legalism insisting they are only for the spirit of law in the commandment of Jesus to love God and love our neighbors. If not for the insidious influence and subtlety that plays to our core nature as human beings most believers are intelligent and devoted enough to avoid legalism proper in not just following to the strict letters of law but needing the love to first flow out of our hearts.
What you wrote centered on clarifying what law really means in terms of the gospel; and you nailed it on the head. Law (or more specifically the spirit of it) is an outflow of love, and without love law is made moot and even becomes a curse. In your full description of the origin, essence and purpose of law you will find no disagreement from believers of all sides to the grace argument. Therefore that is what most responses to my thoughts on grace protest of -- that why bash them constant over their heads about law and grace when they already know what Christ really meant to manifest by "law" in the gospel?
What I (and Paul, I believe) speak to in terms of law is not of the external behaviors but the internal motivator. It is the mentality of law; a psychological, philosophical and even emotional belief steeped in the worldly tradition translated unchecked in to the spiritual walk. The world is a merit-based system where rewards need to be earned and all things need justification by equal value in return. Just the term: "I obey because I love God" seems innocent and reasonable enough but in truth is legalistic -- especially when what should be a devotional and worshipful promise from a revelation and acceptance of God's love becomes elevated to a doctrine of "should" from the pulpit. This in essence becomes law in terms of commandment from man. What Jesus describes as fruits of love morphs into terms of law that justifies love. This is prevalent when the teaching is based on how a Christian should look like, behave like and talk like if he is filled with love and the holy spirit. Then all this mad dash to convince, encourage, even coerce, observe and and the inevitable judging/condemning oneself and one another when any should fall short.
This is not the spirit of grace, which centers not on how we behave but just the faith God will work in us for the good of His will. Instead of "I obey because I love God (or God loves me)" grace teaches us that "the spirit of God that indwells me lives through me," or "Jesus living in me is my obedience." When our faith is in Him that works in us then it is no longer about our performances but His sovereign power to transform and sanctify us.
The spirit of law doesn't change and remains perfect. But it is our attitude and perspective that needs to be re-focused. And in such case we must be very forceful and decisive to extinguish law as a necessary part of faith from a believer's mind. Again, that is not to be critical of law and relegate it to irrelevancy. God found fault with the law (first) covenant, so we should as well even though there is no flaw in law. The flaw is in us but God's love delivers us from it where otherwise law only sentences us to death. Knowing the flaw and insufficiency of law to deliver His people God still conveyed law to us. Where the grand plan of salvation is of love, yet the original intent of Mosaic law was not love but to bring us to a fearful state of discovery of how inadequate we are. The law was meant to condemn us so we may be in need of salvation. No, God's love is found, magnified and glorified in grace and only grace, which we have no part in but faith. From faith (believe His grace redeemed us from the bondage/strength of sin -- law) we have hope (confident expectation of goodness and life, not just a baseless wish), and the sweet flow of love pours forth, not because it is commanded of us, but love commands us.
What you wrote in the last sentence is very lovely: "...we then complete the law out of love of God. This doesn't mean we are perfect, but every act of love is perfect in God's eyes." Moving as that statement is when view from the perspective and revelation of grace, it is ripe to be twisted to mean, "if we love God then we need to complete the law by obedience." Certainly the motivation is out of love, but once made a law in and of itself it voids the very love intended to express, and the propagation of a natural expression of love calcifies into a rigid doctrine that chokes the very life from that love. That is the true danger of a law-based belief -- it literally makes one's Christian walk into a litany of dos and dont's, cold as stone and lifeless. Worse it is in keeping a believer under condemnation of not good enough and not doing enough, and the daily chore of confessing, rededicating and failing instead of the effortless joy in trusting Jesus Christ living inside us and enjoying the intimacy we already have resting in His grace and redemption.
Some may view this as spiritual laziness, but it is the truest expression of faith, hope and love. There is no shame in waiting when we are in grace, but the flesh is stirred by law (mentality) to justify and return what is received, and interprets fruits of life to be fruits of the knowledge of good and evil for us to bear. By faith in grace, our hope is confidence that He will work in us according to His time and His way that love may bear fruits of the sweetest kind. Amen
James
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. And what you brought up spoke to the heart of confusion many Christians are bound in even with a sincere heart to embrace the truth of the gospel.
The pitfall of legalism is acknowledged, preached and accepted by most believers. It is as clear as black and white. But how one interprets legalism often becomes the very justification of it -- and even unwitting reinforcement of the idea incorporated in the sermons and belief. This is where I insist we need a clear divide between law and grace by which a believer can escape that twilight zone of uncertainty. Then and only then a firm foundation of grace (and not just a cursory recognition and appreciation of it but still deeply rooted in law) can take hold in the hearts and minds of God's select in the truth of faith, hope and love.
But the separation and definition I urge goes beyond description of what is really meant by "law" in the new covenant, and how it is different from legalism. I have had feedback from brothers and sisters steeped in legalism insisting they are only for the spirit of law in the commandment of Jesus to love God and love our neighbors. If not for the insidious influence and subtlety that plays to our core nature as human beings most believers are intelligent and devoted enough to avoid legalism proper in not just following to the strict letters of law but needing the love to first flow out of our hearts.
What you wrote centered on clarifying what law really means in terms of the gospel; and you nailed it on the head. Law (or more specifically the spirit of it) is an outflow of love, and without love law is made moot and even becomes a curse. In your full description of the origin, essence and purpose of law you will find no disagreement from believers of all sides to the grace argument. Therefore that is what most responses to my thoughts on grace protest of -- that why bash them constant over their heads about law and grace when they already know what Christ really meant to manifest by "law" in the gospel?
What I (and Paul, I believe) speak to in terms of law is not of the external behaviors but the internal motivator. It is the mentality of law; a psychological, philosophical and even emotional belief steeped in the worldly tradition translated unchecked in to the spiritual walk. The world is a merit-based system where rewards need to be earned and all things need justification by equal value in return. Just the term: "I obey because I love God" seems innocent and reasonable enough but in truth is legalistic -- especially when what should be a devotional and worshipful promise from a revelation and acceptance of God's love becomes elevated to a doctrine of "should" from the pulpit. This in essence becomes law in terms of commandment from man. What Jesus describes as fruits of love morphs into terms of law that justifies love. This is prevalent when the teaching is based on how a Christian should look like, behave like and talk like if he is filled with love and the holy spirit. Then all this mad dash to convince, encourage, even coerce, observe and and the inevitable judging/condemning oneself and one another when any should fall short.
This is not the spirit of grace, which centers not on how we behave but just the faith God will work in us for the good of His will. Instead of "I obey because I love God (or God loves me)" grace teaches us that "the spirit of God that indwells me lives through me," or "Jesus living in me is my obedience." When our faith is in Him that works in us then it is no longer about our performances but His sovereign power to transform and sanctify us.
The spirit of law doesn't change and remains perfect. But it is our attitude and perspective that needs to be re-focused. And in such case we must be very forceful and decisive to extinguish law as a necessary part of faith from a believer's mind. Again, that is not to be critical of law and relegate it to irrelevancy. God found fault with the law (first) covenant, so we should as well even though there is no flaw in law. The flaw is in us but God's love delivers us from it where otherwise law only sentences us to death. Knowing the flaw and insufficiency of law to deliver His people God still conveyed law to us. Where the grand plan of salvation is of love, yet the original intent of Mosaic law was not love but to bring us to a fearful state of discovery of how inadequate we are. The law was meant to condemn us so we may be in need of salvation. No, God's love is found, magnified and glorified in grace and only grace, which we have no part in but faith. From faith (believe His grace redeemed us from the bondage/strength of sin -- law) we have hope (confident expectation of goodness and life, not just a baseless wish), and the sweet flow of love pours forth, not because it is commanded of us, but love commands us.
What you wrote in the last sentence is very lovely: "...we then complete the law out of love of God. This doesn't mean we are perfect, but every act of love is perfect in God's eyes." Moving as that statement is when view from the perspective and revelation of grace, it is ripe to be twisted to mean, "if we love God then we need to complete the law by obedience." Certainly the motivation is out of love, but once made a law in and of itself it voids the very love intended to express, and the propagation of a natural expression of love calcifies into a rigid doctrine that chokes the very life from that love. That is the true danger of a law-based belief -- it literally makes one's Christian walk into a litany of dos and dont's, cold as stone and lifeless. Worse it is in keeping a believer under condemnation of not good enough and not doing enough, and the daily chore of confessing, rededicating and failing instead of the effortless joy in trusting Jesus Christ living inside us and enjoying the intimacy we already have resting in His grace and redemption.
Some may view this as spiritual laziness, but it is the truest expression of faith, hope and love. There is no shame in waiting when we are in grace, but the flesh is stirred by law (mentality) to justify and return what is received, and interprets fruits of life to be fruits of the knowledge of good and evil for us to bear. By faith in grace, our hope is confidence that He will work in us according to His time and His way that love may bear fruits of the sweetest kind. Amen
James
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Not understanding grace
Hi Yxxx,
When you first responded to this email I sent, I also received another one from a sister. She simply added, "and, humble obedience."
I believe this is a similar sentiment as your statement, "God's law serves as the checkup or boundary for us not to be deceived by the Satan. So you may not boast of having(or believe you have) obedient heart, but break God's law at the same time."
It seems you and others hold the opinion that, without the law (I believe apart from what Jesus commanded about love, because boundary was not defined, and only the written law -- ten commandment and other behavior-related terms -- is the clearest definition of what is right or wrong) as checkup, one is prone to self-interpretation on good and devil even in grace. And a step beyond that is the pride that is apparent for disregarding the written law.
Implied in the response was that the heart remains in the dark even after salvation and the indwelling of the holy spirit. Of course, if one is self-deceived about how grace works in his life, such may be the case. And we can very well determine that even one who professes acceptance of grace but whose actions run counter to law, and is unrepentant and unashamed about it, or even unaware of obvious transgressions, this believer does not understand grace in its full glory, and is obviously unmoved by the spirit.
But the solution to the disconnect is not using more law to make sure of conformance, which is only an exterior-driven behavior that moves not the heart. If by knowledge and commandment we come to obedience, it is empty of heart; yet if we appeal to the heart, the spirit living inside wills to learn of such knowledge without commandment.
And the only narrow doorway to such work of the spirit is by grace. When we have full revelation of grace, it is no longer our own heart that governs but the heart of Christ. The Bible is clear that we now have a new heart, a soft heart with God's law written in it. What is faith then but to believe God's word and trust that we are no longer masters of our hearts but God Himself. This is true obedience in humility, and no more worrying about being boastful.
In grace we have nothing to boast about; but in law we do for it is our performance that is measured. And if we view grace as licensing sin and irresponsibility, then no wonder some are quick to warn to be careful not to be blinded and flaunt it with abandon, and that grace must be weighted with the clarity and instruction of law. But this is pure human reasoning that is not substantiated by the scripture where Paul emphatically warns about the danger of law and not grace!
We must let grace shine, and be patient with it even if it works slowly in the heart than law with the mind. True obedience is to have no boundary demanded, but an unwillingness to stray from the will of God who gives us the spiritual wisdom to walk in light and not stumble into darkness. Amen!
James
When you first responded to this email I sent, I also received another one from a sister. She simply added, "and, humble obedience."
I believe this is a similar sentiment as your statement, "God's law serves as the checkup or boundary for us not to be deceived by the Satan. So you may not boast of having(or believe you have) obedient heart, but break God's law at the same time."
It seems you and others hold the opinion that, without the law (I believe apart from what Jesus commanded about love, because boundary was not defined, and only the written law -- ten commandment and other behavior-related terms -- is the clearest definition of what is right or wrong) as checkup, one is prone to self-interpretation on good and devil even in grace. And a step beyond that is the pride that is apparent for disregarding the written law.
Implied in the response was that the heart remains in the dark even after salvation and the indwelling of the holy spirit. Of course, if one is self-deceived about how grace works in his life, such may be the case. And we can very well determine that even one who professes acceptance of grace but whose actions run counter to law, and is unrepentant and unashamed about it, or even unaware of obvious transgressions, this believer does not understand grace in its full glory, and is obviously unmoved by the spirit.
But the solution to the disconnect is not using more law to make sure of conformance, which is only an exterior-driven behavior that moves not the heart. If by knowledge and commandment we come to obedience, it is empty of heart; yet if we appeal to the heart, the spirit living inside wills to learn of such knowledge without commandment.
And the only narrow doorway to such work of the spirit is by grace. When we have full revelation of grace, it is no longer our own heart that governs but the heart of Christ. The Bible is clear that we now have a new heart, a soft heart with God's law written in it. What is faith then but to believe God's word and trust that we are no longer masters of our hearts but God Himself. This is true obedience in humility, and no more worrying about being boastful.
In grace we have nothing to boast about; but in law we do for it is our performance that is measured. And if we view grace as licensing sin and irresponsibility, then no wonder some are quick to warn to be careful not to be blinded and flaunt it with abandon, and that grace must be weighted with the clarity and instruction of law. But this is pure human reasoning that is not substantiated by the scripture where Paul emphatically warns about the danger of law and not grace!
We must let grace shine, and be patient with it even if it works slowly in the heart than law with the mind. True obedience is to have no boundary demanded, but an unwillingness to stray from the will of God who gives us the spiritual wisdom to walk in light and not stumble into darkness. Amen!
James
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Good work 2
Dear ...
Thank you for putting so much thought into this. I hope to come to a closer understanding of God's will in grace.
If by practical life everyday you meant the ceremonial law, then no question they don't apply anymore because the significance of those laws found substance in the person of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. But the spirit of the ten commandment (law written in stone) certainly are not done away with because it represents the righteousness of God in our everyday living. I agree that law is not destroyed but fulfilled by Jesus Christ; but in Him we are no longer bound by the law of doing but on a higher plane of being.
If your emphasis is finding out the boundary of God's law in detail description, you will spend the rest of you life searching for a definitive line and not find it. Can you say with confidence that you have discovered it, or come close? Or more so than those who live not to know the law by by the spirit of grace? And even if you find it and are able to define it, what then? Our problem is not in knowing right or wrong, but abiding in the right and not the wrong. The mistake of the pharisees were not that they didn't know the law clearly enough! They were blinded by their knowledge of law in not being able to see grace even when He was right in front of them. The same mistake can be made -- and is being made -- by believers today, trying to know the law in order to obey the law so as to live righteously when the only true righteousness is found abiding in grace. Paul clearly stated in Galatian 5:4 that such is fallen away from grace. In order to live by grace we must have the confidence in grace to guide us by the spirit. Law consciousness is the veil that blinds us from full revelation of grace! It keeps us in judgment. Look at the church in its present state.
And the spirit of law is not that difficult to know and understand: Love God and love one another. There, is your boundary, but more than that -- it is a law without boundary, for to have boundary is to do just enough where love overflows what is minimally required. Law is not separate from grace, and grace contains all that law can be and much more. Otherwise you have to say that grace is not enough and we still need law, which is saying Jesus is not enough, or grace is not the entire truth. For grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. The spirit of law is in grace, but the requirement of law is not. Jesus fulfilled the requirement of law on the cross for us already. What are we doing keep on trying to meet that requirement ourselves? It is a sign of unbelief or at least nonacceptance of His redemption.
As always, I uphold the law as perfect and holy. But it's purpose is not for us to obey, for we can never do it to a standard God requires. Otherwise Jesus didn't have to come to die for us. And if you want to keep the law you are consigning to the consequence of any failure on your part. For as you said, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. How confident are you about keeping perfectly the requirement, and staying within the boundary of God's law -- even if you know it? Is trying your best good enough for God? And if you stand on both grace and law it is mixture that frustrates grace. No, only grace can give us rest that we are righteous even in our sinful state, and that the holy spirit will sanctify us to become truly holy, and knows and needs no boundary nor constraint. Jesus doesn't need to know the boundary of law -- and we can as well when we surrender completely to Him. Trying to keep the law is not complete surrender.
It is true that for a new believer, many of what they do they view not as sin. And as they grow in knowledge of Christ more of their imperfection is realized. As such, if one is not standing on firm ground of his righteous in Christ, such growth of one's sin awareness becomes even more of a bondage instead of the freedom Christ's blood was intended to bring us. We don't stop growing just because we are in grace. But let's grow in grace to know the heart of God and not grow in our knowledge to be acceptable to God. For if one is sincere in the search of law it never fails that one becomes even more under its condemnation in not being good enough. No, we don't need to know how sinful we truly are when we are in grace, because faith in grace is already acceptance of that fact, and the blood of Jesus cleansed us of all of it. God's goodness leads us to repentance, and His forgiveness empowers us to love.
And when we have His love flowing out of us like rivers of living water, law has already done it's job and should depart like Moses did on the mount of Transfiguration, and not to follow the people of grace into the land of rest. In keeping law it is not of love; and love above all is the heart of God.
James
Thank you for putting so much thought into this. I hope to come to a closer understanding of God's will in grace.
If by practical life everyday you meant the ceremonial law, then no question they don't apply anymore because the significance of those laws found substance in the person of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. But the spirit of the ten commandment (law written in stone) certainly are not done away with because it represents the righteousness of God in our everyday living. I agree that law is not destroyed but fulfilled by Jesus Christ; but in Him we are no longer bound by the law of doing but on a higher plane of being.
If your emphasis is finding out the boundary of God's law in detail description, you will spend the rest of you life searching for a definitive line and not find it. Can you say with confidence that you have discovered it, or come close? Or more so than those who live not to know the law by by the spirit of grace? And even if you find it and are able to define it, what then? Our problem is not in knowing right or wrong, but abiding in the right and not the wrong. The mistake of the pharisees were not that they didn't know the law clearly enough! They were blinded by their knowledge of law in not being able to see grace even when He was right in front of them. The same mistake can be made -- and is being made -- by believers today, trying to know the law in order to obey the law so as to live righteously when the only true righteousness is found abiding in grace. Paul clearly stated in Galatian 5:4 that such is fallen away from grace. In order to live by grace we must have the confidence in grace to guide us by the spirit. Law consciousness is the veil that blinds us from full revelation of grace! It keeps us in judgment. Look at the church in its present state.
And the spirit of law is not that difficult to know and understand: Love God and love one another. There, is your boundary, but more than that -- it is a law without boundary, for to have boundary is to do just enough where love overflows what is minimally required. Law is not separate from grace, and grace contains all that law can be and much more. Otherwise you have to say that grace is not enough and we still need law, which is saying Jesus is not enough, or grace is not the entire truth. For grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. The spirit of law is in grace, but the requirement of law is not. Jesus fulfilled the requirement of law on the cross for us already. What are we doing keep on trying to meet that requirement ourselves? It is a sign of unbelief or at least nonacceptance of His redemption.
As always, I uphold the law as perfect and holy. But it's purpose is not for us to obey, for we can never do it to a standard God requires. Otherwise Jesus didn't have to come to die for us. And if you want to keep the law you are consigning to the consequence of any failure on your part. For as you said, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. How confident are you about keeping perfectly the requirement, and staying within the boundary of God's law -- even if you know it? Is trying your best good enough for God? And if you stand on both grace and law it is mixture that frustrates grace. No, only grace can give us rest that we are righteous even in our sinful state, and that the holy spirit will sanctify us to become truly holy, and knows and needs no boundary nor constraint. Jesus doesn't need to know the boundary of law -- and we can as well when we surrender completely to Him. Trying to keep the law is not complete surrender.
It is true that for a new believer, many of what they do they view not as sin. And as they grow in knowledge of Christ more of their imperfection is realized. As such, if one is not standing on firm ground of his righteous in Christ, such growth of one's sin awareness becomes even more of a bondage instead of the freedom Christ's blood was intended to bring us. We don't stop growing just because we are in grace. But let's grow in grace to know the heart of God and not grow in our knowledge to be acceptable to God. For if one is sincere in the search of law it never fails that one becomes even more under its condemnation in not being good enough. No, we don't need to know how sinful we truly are when we are in grace, because faith in grace is already acceptance of that fact, and the blood of Jesus cleansed us of all of it. God's goodness leads us to repentance, and His forgiveness empowers us to love.
And when we have His love flowing out of us like rivers of living water, law has already done it's job and should depart like Moses did on the mount of Transfiguration, and not to follow the people of grace into the land of rest. In keeping law it is not of love; and love above all is the heart of God.
James
Answer to "Law is our boundary."
Dear Yxxx，
Thank you for putting so much thought into this. I hope to come to a closer understanding of God's will in grace.
If by practical life everyday you meant the ceremonial law, then no question they don't apply anymore because the significance of those laws found substance in the person of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. But the spirit of the ten commandment (law written in stone) certainly are not done away with because it represents the righteousness of God in our everyday living. I agree that law is not destroyed but fulfilled by Jesus Christ; but in Him we are no longer bound by the law of doing but on a higher plane of being.
If your emphasis is finding out the boundary of God's law in detail description, you will spend the rest of you life searching for a definitive line and not find it. Can you say with confidence that you have discovered it, or come close? Or more so than those who live not to know the law by by the spirit of grace? And even if you find it and are able to define it, what then? Our problem is not in knowing right or wrong, but abiding in the right and not the wrong. The mistake of the pharisees were not that they didn't know the law clearly enough! They were blinded by their knowledge of law in not being able to see grace even when He was right in front of them. The same mistake can be made -- and is being made -- by believers today, trying to know the law in order to obey the law so as to live righteously when the only true righteousness is found abiding in grace. Paul clearly stated in Galatian 5:4 that such is fallen away from grace. In order to live by grace we must have the confidence in grace to guide us by the spirit. Law consciousness is the veil that blinds us from full revelation of grace! It keeps us in judgment. Look at the church in its present state.
And the spirit of law is not that difficult to know and understand: Love God and love one another. There, is your boundary, but more than that -- it is a law without boundary, for to have boundary is to do just enough where love overflows what is minimally required. Law is not separate from grace, and grace contains all that law can be and much more. Otherwise you have to say that grace is not enough and we still need law, which is saying Jesus is not enough, or grace is not the entire truth. For grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. The spirit of law is in grace, but the requirement of law is not. Jesus fulfilled the requirement of law on the cross for us already. What are we doing keep on trying to meet that requirement ourselves? It is a sign of unbelief or at least nonacceptance of His redemption.
As always, I uphold the law as perfect and holy. But it's purpose is not for us to obey, for we can never do it to a standard God requires. Otherwise Jesus didn't have to come to die for us. And if you want to keep the law you are consigning to the consequence of any failure on your part. For as you said, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. How confident are you about keeping perfectly the requirement, and staying within the boundary of God's law -- even if you know it? Is trying your best good enough for God? And if you stand on both grace and law it is mixture that frustrates grace. No, only grace can give us rest that we are righteous even in our sinful state, and that the holy spirit will sanctify us to become truly holy, and knows and needs no boundary nor constraint. Jesus doesn't need to know the boundary of law -- and we can as well when we surrender completely to Him. Trying to keep the law is not complete surrender.
It is true that for a new believer, many of what they do they view not as sin. And as they grow in knowledge of Christ more of their imperfection is realized. As such, if one is not standing on firm ground of his righteous in Christ, such growth of one's sin awareness becomes even more of a bondage instead of the freedom Christ's blood was intended to bring us. We don't stop growing just because we are in grace. But let's grow in grace to know the heart of God and not grow in our knowledge to be acceptable to God. For if one is sincere in the search of law it never fails that one becomes even more under its condemnation in not being good enough. No, we don't need to know how sinful we truly are when we are in grace, because faith in grace is already acceptance of that fact, and the blood of Jesus cleansed us of all of it. God's goodness leads us to repentance, and His forgiveness empowers us to love.
And when we have His love flowing out of us like rivers of living water, law has already done it's job and should depart like Moses did on the mount of Transfiguration, and not to follow the people of grace into the land of rest. In keeping law it is not of love; and love above all is the heart of God.
James
Thank you for putting so much thought into this. I hope to come to a closer understanding of God's will in grace.
If by practical life everyday you meant the ceremonial law, then no question they don't apply anymore because the significance of those laws found substance in the person of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. But the spirit of the ten commandment (law written in stone) certainly are not done away with because it represents the righteousness of God in our everyday living. I agree that law is not destroyed but fulfilled by Jesus Christ; but in Him we are no longer bound by the law of doing but on a higher plane of being.
If your emphasis is finding out the boundary of God's law in detail description, you will spend the rest of you life searching for a definitive line and not find it. Can you say with confidence that you have discovered it, or come close? Or more so than those who live not to know the law by by the spirit of grace? And even if you find it and are able to define it, what then? Our problem is not in knowing right or wrong, but abiding in the right and not the wrong. The mistake of the pharisees were not that they didn't know the law clearly enough! They were blinded by their knowledge of law in not being able to see grace even when He was right in front of them. The same mistake can be made -- and is being made -- by believers today, trying to know the law in order to obey the law so as to live righteously when the only true righteousness is found abiding in grace. Paul clearly stated in Galatian 5:4 that such is fallen away from grace. In order to live by grace we must have the confidence in grace to guide us by the spirit. Law consciousness is the veil that blinds us from full revelation of grace! It keeps us in judgment. Look at the church in its present state.
And the spirit of law is not that difficult to know and understand: Love God and love one another. There, is your boundary, but more than that -- it is a law without boundary, for to have boundary is to do just enough where love overflows what is minimally required. Law is not separate from grace, and grace contains all that law can be and much more. Otherwise you have to say that grace is not enough and we still need law, which is saying Jesus is not enough, or grace is not the entire truth. For grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. The spirit of law is in grace, but the requirement of law is not. Jesus fulfilled the requirement of law on the cross for us already. What are we doing keep on trying to meet that requirement ourselves? It is a sign of unbelief or at least nonacceptance of His redemption.
As always, I uphold the law as perfect and holy. But it's purpose is not for us to obey, for we can never do it to a standard God requires. Otherwise Jesus didn't have to come to die for us. And if you want to keep the law you are consigning to the consequence of any failure on your part. For as you said, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. How confident are you about keeping perfectly the requirement, and staying within the boundary of God's law -- even if you know it? Is trying your best good enough for God? And if you stand on both grace and law it is mixture that frustrates grace. No, only grace can give us rest that we are righteous even in our sinful state, and that the holy spirit will sanctify us to become truly holy, and knows and needs no boundary nor constraint. Jesus doesn't need to know the boundary of law -- and we can as well when we surrender completely to Him. Trying to keep the law is not complete surrender.
It is true that for a new believer, many of what they do they view not as sin. And as they grow in knowledge of Christ more of their imperfection is realized. As such, if one is not standing on firm ground of his righteous in Christ, such growth of one's sin awareness becomes even more of a bondage instead of the freedom Christ's blood was intended to bring us. We don't stop growing just because we are in grace. But let's grow in grace to know the heart of God and not grow in our knowledge to be acceptable to God. For if one is sincere in the search of law it never fails that one becomes even more under its condemnation in not being good enough. No, we don't need to know how sinful we truly are when we are in grace, because faith in grace is already acceptance of that fact, and the blood of Jesus cleansed us of all of it. God's goodness leads us to repentance, and His forgiveness empowers us to love.
And when we have His love flowing out of us like rivers of living water, law has already done it's job and should depart like Moses did on the mount of Transfiguration, and not to follow the people of grace into the land of rest. In keeping law it is not of love; and love above all is the heart of God.
James
Monday, February 14, 2011
Good work
Any good work we do do out of demonstration of faith, and not demonstration of righteousness; do out of witnessing for the grace of Christ, and not witnessing of our worth; do out of obedience of heart and not obedience to law.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Scarlet grace
it is not enough to just see Him,
not enough to know.
it is not enough to listen to Him,
not enough to obey.
it is not enough to listen to Him,
not enough to obey.
we must touch, and be touched by Him,
taste, and savor His form;
to caress the body scarred, and feel the splinters sharp,
to be held in the open wounds, deep in His tender hands.
we in Him and He in us,
drink, and bathe in the scarlet grace.
it is then we come to so love Him...
the love we find our rest.
All about Jesus
Doing is all about our performance; being is all about Christ's life.
Obeying is all about our merit; believing is all about Christ's glory.
Trying is all about our effort; trusting is all about Christ's faithfulness.
Pleasing God is all about us; pleased in God is all about Jesus.
Obeying is all about our merit; believing is all about Christ's glory.
Trying is all about our effort; trusting is all about Christ's faithfulness.
Pleasing God is all about us; pleased in God is all about Jesus.
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