GET RID OF THE LAW IN YOUR LIFE
If we are to live the blessed, healthy and joyful lives that we all desire and believe Jesus for, we need to firmly establish ourselves in the truth that the purpose of The Old Testament Law was actually to expose Israel's self #righteousness (Rom.9:31-10:3). (Likewise today the Law can convict the self-righteous (both the religious & the atheist) who think that they are "alright" without #Jesusgrace, that they fall short and need grace and salvation).
Gal 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
We need to allow the Holy Spirit to renew our thinking. Despite what we grew up being taught, the Old Testament Law , including the Ten Commandments, IS NOT an external moral code for Christians to live by! (Shocking news to some!). It's purpose is to expose sin and self-righteousness and point to God's grace and #salvation.
As New Covenant believers in grace, we are lead by the #HolySpirit within us and He guides us and empowers us to live a Godly life (that naturally fulfills the Law and Ten Commandments), not the Law imposed from without. Sadly most of us still live in a mixture of Law and #grace and therefore experience both the #blessings and the #curses that come with the Law (Deut.28) - which is based on their performance or lack thereof. The Law is not good news people, it always finds fault and always demands 'just one more thing" of you. If you don't believe me simply read the book of Deuteronomy and see if you can do all that it demands, all the time.
The reason why we have to confront this Law issue in our lives is that for a consistently fruitful and blessed life, that glorifies Jesus, we have to get rid of Law living and get rid of the curse that comes through Law living (Gal.4:21-31). Dive completely into #Jesusgrace and receive blessing upon blessing daily (Jn.1:16-17). I don't know about you but I'm fed up receiving blessing that get robbed, healings that don't last and revivals that fade away. The explanation is the Law that is mixed in with our belief systems, causes our blessings to fade (see 2Cor.3 below).
Stay away from teachings that are a mixture of Law and grace ... why, because any ministry containing even a little bit of Law ultimately brings death, and death always manifests in sickness. It also makes us feel condemned (2Cor.3:16). Take a stand and stop allowing your #Jesusgift of grace to be contaminated by Law.
2Cor 3:6-9 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!
Have courage, say no to teaching that makes you feel condemned, that point out you are not DOING enough, giving enough, not good enough, not holy enough, etc., no matter who's preaching and how many times grace and Jesus are mentioned - you will find that deep down it is actually Law based, i.e. you have to DO more to get more from God or to keep right with God. Judge all teachings by the fruit within you. Here's how you recognize the two types of teaching:- 1. The underlying message is: A "you must" focus that produces condemnation, guilt, performance and anxiety = The Old Testament Law 2. The under laying message is : A Jesus focus that produces joy, peace, freedom, rest = The Gospel of Jesus' Grace Discern carefully what you are hearing and get rid of Law teachings that focus on compliance to external rules and regulations imposed and administered by others. Focus on what the Holy Spirit is saying in your heart how to love, and then obey - be wise by the Spirit. You will then experience ongoing daily #JesusLife. Its #goodnews full of #gracelovetruth.
Heb 10:15-17 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."
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GIVE THANKS FOR THE GOOD
This year let's be determined to focus on what is good in our lives - everyday - and give God thanks (even for the trials and hardships. They teach us spiritual toughness, if we allow them). It's one of the keys of living in faith and grace, by the Spirit. Thanks giving, rejoicing and trusting that God is working for our good in all things at all times - because he LOVES US and sees us as righteous in Christ. O yeah! Good News again. - You see, I even encourage and excite myself when I write of God's goodness.The alternative is to be sucked into a fleshy and worldly whirlpool of negativity that discolors everything and induces anger, self pity and robs us of life.
Php 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Be blessed today and draw on the LIFE that is Jesus.
2104 A YEAR OF FAVOR & JUBILEE
2014 will be a year of great blessing for those who accept Jesus' grace and the promptings of the Holy Spirit - But not only 2014, as we now live in a endless dispensation of God's love, grace and blessing through Jesus. Watch the video by clicking either link below.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151784336386736&l=6034214166669267413
2014 A YEAR OF FAVOR NOT LAWS
Most of Paul's letters were addressed to two distinct camps that divided the churches. Jewish background Christians who mixed grace with Law. And Gentile believers with a Pagan background who accepted grace without the need for the Jewish Law.
Paul never taught that those in Christ should come under the Law, he taught that we can live moral and righteous lives by the Spirit and in by loving. We all desire right actions. Amen to that. But the scriptures make it perfectly clear that keeping rules and laws can never be the root of righteous living and actions -as Israel discovered over and over (Rom.9).
The Law (the 10 commandments etc.) does have value - in exposing self righteousness and religious hypocrisy i.e. it reminds us ALL that we sin and in our self effort we all fall short of God Holiness and therefore continually need God's grace and love. Those who think they can mix grace and Law are mistaken , just like Israel was. Thank God, Jesus opened up a new way of living:- Rom.6:14 "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace". It is only His grace, empowering us by the Spirit to love, that can fulfill the law. (Rom.13:10) and God's Holy standards. We don't need religious rules and laws in the New Covenant - we have the Spirit and grace. Both of which we have in overflowing abundance through Jesus whose Spirit lives in us. Be confident that you are a blessed child of God and let 2014 be the year of grace and the Spirit. And see the abundant LIFE flow.
CONFESSION
1 John 2:12. I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
Confession of the sins that burden us is helpful and needful as it can help us off load our burdens of guilt and condemnation, heal relationships with others, and share with God the issues we need help with. However, we need to be clear in our understanding of confession: For a believer confession is no longer a prerequisite for God's on going forgiveness.
When we came to Christ we repented of our old life style and confessed our sin. We recognized our need to be saved from Sin and death. Now that we are in Christ ALL our sins are dealt with, past, present and future. The salvation and blood of Jesus is totally and permanently effective: we are forgiven, righteous and have eternal life. God no longer see us in Sin, He no longer calls us sinners, but sons. This is the offense the cross and His grace.
Sadly there is a false teaching which says that sin separates believers from God. It goes even further and says that if a believer dies without having confessed their current sins, they lose their salvation. Think about it, not only is this absurd but it totally denies the finished work of the cross, God's sovereignity and God's grace. It would mean that our sinful actions are more powerful than Jesus' atonement and righteousness which was imputed to us by faith when we chose to repent and believe.
The above cartoon shows in real and practical terms the absurdity of wrong thinking that makes our salvation conditional on our ongoing confession of sins. This wrong thinking causes believers to feel unworthy, condemned, unqualified to be intimate with God, and unable to receive any thing from God except His judgement and wrath. An unhealthy obsession with sin and confession actually leads to condemnation, insecurity and strangely enough, in the long run, to more sin.
On the other hand, putting our focus on Jesus and the finished work of the cross, brings true life and real change! So try confessing what Jesus has earned for you on the cross: "I am righteous, I am forgiven, I am loved, I am blessed, I am a child of God, I am Holy, I have eternal life, sin has no power over me". This will build you up, set you free from accusation and glorify Jesus and His death. He died on the cross for ALL our sins. We now have the ability to say no to sin and to live in holiness.
PS. The movie "Joan of Arc" is a good illustration of the bad fruit and instability which comes with the false doctrine that unconfessed sins separate us from God of condemn us to Hell.