Legalism, Law, and Grace

¹⁶ And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.  ¹⁷ For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. –John 1:16, 17 (KJV)

Let me share more thoughts today on the grace of God in Jesus Christ.  If we are not careful, legalism can slip into our lives compromising our freedom in Jesus.  One problem is that many believers fail to comprehend the nature of true spiritual freedom.  We are not free in Jesus to be rebellious or to live lives of ungodliness, for this goes against our new nature.  Paul the Apostle states it this way: “What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid.  How shall we, who are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  (Romans 6:1, 2).”  Since we are new creations in Jesus with new hearts and new minds, it follows that we desire to serve God, not go against His will.  Freedom in Christ means release from the burden of trying to save ourselves, for this is the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.  He has secured our salvation through His death on the cross and subsequent resurrection from the dead.  Ours is to walk forward in faith, rejoicing in the Lord, sharing the gospel, and reaching out in love to those around us.

Legalism is a frame of mind that keeps us always trying to live within a set of rules and regulations much like the law of the Old Testament.  You must wear certain kinds of clothing, wear your hair a certain way, associate with certain kinds of people, eat certain kinds of food, and listen to particular kinds of music.  We become so involved in trying to keep these regulations that our freedom is stifled.  No longer are we walking in the joy of the Lord.  Instead, we are always worrying about God getting upset with us because we are not practicing prescribed rituals and ideals.  

Thank God that grace came through Jesus Christ!  He has released us from the chains of the law and the legalism that so often creeps into our lives.  Matters that have little bearing upon us no longer distract us and our service to the Lord, for Jesus Christ is our guide, judge, and Savior.  Dress modestly, eat healthy, stay in the Word, reach out in love, live holy lives, and worship the Lord with glad, grateful, and joyful hearts.  We practice these not to earn salvation, but because we have salvation.

Walk forward today in the blessed freedom Jesus brings.  He is Lord, and in Him there is joy, peace, and spiritual victory.

The Wonderful Grace of God

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.  –Galatians 2:21 (KJV)

The grace of God is what distinguishes followers of Jesus from those who either have rejected Christ or are trying to save themselves.  The typical way people attempt to earn salvation is through trying to be good.  Broad generalizations regarding personal conduct are uttered in statements such as, “I am not such a bad person.” People may also say, “I am a good person; I do not steal, lie, I have never killed anyone, and I do not cheat on my taxes.” All of this is admirable, yet practicing such high moral principles will not bring about the grace of God.  Only Jesus Christ can accomplish this for us. 

The key is recognizing that in Jesus Christ we are set free from the burden of trying to save ourselves.  The Word of God teaches that none of us, no not one, is worthy of salvation.  However, God chose to redeem us through Christ, and this redemption is a gift to all who believe on the Lord.  Keeping God’s laws and commandments to the letter in an attempt to earn salvation is not only burdensome, but also impossible.  The Pharisees of Jesus’  day made a valiant effort, yet they ended up developing a religious system that was devoid of the love, peace, and joy of the Lord in their lives.  They ended up looking down their noses at all who failed to live up to the holy standards they had created through a strict interpretation of God’s Word.  

The grace of God, which faith in Jesus Christ brings, is all about joy and peace.  We are free in Christ – not free to be rebellious or to do anything we want, but rather we are free to love, forgive others, have compassion, and to serve God as He has called us to do.  We are also free from the ultimate obligation of trying to save ourselves through good works, something we will never be able to accomplish.  What a blessing to know that God loves us so much that He took the initiative and made a way for us in Jesus Christ.  Like Paul the Apostle pointed out to the Galatians, we frustrate the grace of God when we try to walk forward in a mindset of earning our salvation.  Such an attitude will hinder forward spiritual growth and progress.  However, the grace of God in Christ liberates and empowers us to walk forward in vibrant, living faith.

Which will you choose; will it be law or grace?  The law, which is trying to save ourselves, shackles us.  The grace of God in Christ liberates us.  Choose grace!

Walking in the Light of Day

⁶¹ The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.  ⁶² At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.  ⁶³ I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.  –Psalm 119:61-63 (KJV)

The Word of God often speaks in figurative language about daylight and dark.  Nighttime is a time when evil deeds are committed and we know this is often the case.  The psalmist knew what we know today, and it is that the dark of night is as an attempt to conceal wickedness.  Consider how we as followers of Christ are to let the light of Jesus shine in the darkness, yet we also walk in the openness of the light.  We make no effort to hide our deeds in darkness, for the reverse is our desire – that we let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glory our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).  

As Jesus’ disciples, we live openly as witnesses among the world.  The lost among us, those without Christ, need to see the light in us and from this light we bear witness to Christ who indwells us. 

The psalmist stated that if he did anything in the night other than sleep, it would be to rise and give thanks to God.  We have a picture of one so devoted to God that sleeplessness results in prayer and meditation.  Let us not forget that God is ever looking upon us.  God knows our thoughts as well as our deeds.  Therefore, let us strive to live lives of holiness as we daily walk in the light of Jesus Christ. 

Living the Abundant Life in the Lord

⁷ Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.  ⁸ Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God…¹⁰ And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.  ¹¹ As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.  -Joshua 14: 7, 8, 10, 11 (KJV)

I was concerned after my last blog entry that some of you may have gotten the impression that my father had passed away.  I apologize if I conveyed this.  I did not mean to speak of dad in the past tense.  My father is alive, living with my mom in Ohio, and doing exceptionally well for 87 years old.  I can only hope that if I reach such advanced years that I too will enjoy such good health and quality of life.

When I think of people who have reached what we would refer to as elderly, I consider Caleb of the Old Testament.  Caleb was 40 when Moses selected him as one of the twelve spies to search out the Promised Land.  45 years later the people of Israel were ready to finish the task of taking and settling in the Promised Land, and Caleb, then 85, spoke of the vitality with which the Lord had blessed him.  What I sense Caleb was communicating was this; I am now 85 and I am just as fit as I was in my 40’s, so give me a sword and lets’ show these Canaanites a thing or two.  That is loosely translated, yet that is the gist of it.  He was willing to take on a challenge many younger men would have avoided.

I love this no quit, go forward, never stop growing, and never stop fighting attitude Caleb displayed.  To sit down and do nothing will result in a stagnant, dull, and hollow life.  To live the abundant life to which Jesus Christ has called us involves rising up and going forward over the long haul of life.  Like Caleb, do not fear taking on new challenges and new adventures.  Serving the Lord is a blessing in which we continue to grow in the knowledge and grace of Christ.  God is calling His followers to rise up in faith and walk forward with a renewed sense of Christ’s power.  Regardless of whether you are 20 or 80, the Lord has a unique plan for your life.  Settle for nothing less than the fullness of God’s grace in Jesus Christ.  Stop surviving and start living the abundant life in Christ today.

Now is the time and today is the day.  It is a big world out there with spiritual needs all around.  The Lord is calling us to shine His light in a world darkened by sin and evil.  So, what are you waiting for?  Get up and get going – in Jesus’ name.

Set Free by the Power of God

⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  ⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  -Isaiah 55:8, 9 (KJV)

Something I have inherited from my father is a compassion for animals.  Had he not been a welder by trade I believe my dad would have made a fine veterinarian.  The house in which I grew up had a chimney that we never used, but birds would sometimes find their way down the chimney and become stuck.  We always knew when another bird was stranded in the chimney because we could hear it flapping its wings and thrashing around inside.  When this happened Dad would open the flu of the chimney which allowed the bird to fly into the house.  Dad would then calmly wait until the bird had landed somewhere, in a corner or on a chair, and he would then catch the bird with his bare hands.  Following this was their safe release outside.  Sparrows, pigeons, doves, and blue jays were the usual suspects.  Needless to say, the event always generated at least some excitement.

All of this came to mind a week or so ago when a small Carolina Wren became stuck in a light fixture on our carport.  The cover to the carport light is missing, and we have been using the new type of circular fluorescent light bulbs.  Somehow this little fellow managed to get his leg caught between the coils of the light bulb.  I found him thrashing around up there and he would have surely died.  Like my father had done countless times before, it was time to put my bird rescue skills into action.  I stood on a chair and using a small cloth I carefully enclosed the struggling bird in my hand.  With my other hand I was then able to gently free the bird’s leg, which I fear may have been broken by all his thrashing about.  The operation completed, I carried him into the yard and unfolded the cloth.  The wren needed about a second to realize he was free and he flew like a shot toward the nearest tree and out of sight.  If the bird could talk he might have been shouting, “I’m free, free, free!”  Dad would have been proud of my handling of the situation. 

As I reflected on this, I tried to place myself in the bird’s place.  What did he think of all this?  Here I am, stuck in a hopeless situation.  All of a sudden this being, larger and stronger than my mind can comprehend, approaches me.  I have no idea his intentions.  Suddenly, I am enclosed in his huge hand, yet he is not harming me.  My mind races as I try to understand what he is trying to do.  I feel his powerful, yet gentle touch.  I am engulfed in his presence.  Now the light shines and I am free – I can fly away!  I have been rescued!  Thank you for saving me from my desperate plight.

God Almighty, a being above and beyond our comprehension, has made Himself known to us in Jesus Christ.  Through faith in Him the Lord takes us into His hand, He engulfs us in His presence, and in so doing He sets us free from sin, death, sorrow, and hell.  In Christ we are now free to fly, yes, to soar with wings like eagles, for we are now free, free, free!

Overcoming Worry and Fear

²⁵ Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  ²⁶ Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?  ²⁷ Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?  -Matthew 6:25-27 (KJV)

Worry is the great robber of the peace and joy Christ intends for us to have.  We know that worry creates problems such as unease, restlessness, stomach problems, and hypertension, yet we often worry anyway.  I once heard it said that most of what we worry about never happens and I have found this to be true.  Jesus warned us of the futility of worry.  We add nothing to our lives by worrying.  Indeed, we suffer and miss the joy and fullness of life when we allow worry to rule us. 

  

What would it take, short of leaving this world, for us to stop worrying?  The other day I finally heeded the advice of my dentist and began the process of having a crown placed on one of my teeth.  This involved a good amount of drilling and would be an involved and potentially painful procedure, so along with having the tooth numbed I agreed to use nitrous oxide, also known as laughing glass.  I had never used nitrous oxide before, so this was a new experience for me, and I will say a pleasant one.  As I lie there, breathing the gas and undergoing the ordeal of having my tooth drilled, I tried to come up with something to worry about.  Amazingly, I could not think of anything that was causing worry, stress, or fear.  “Wow,” I thought; “this stuff really works!”  I then decided to contemplate an asteroid the size of Texas hurtling toward earth.  Nothing; I could have chuckled at the idea. 

What a shame it took a drug to get me not to worry.  Here I must pause and consider the power of faith in Christ.  Faith empowers us to rise above anything that hinders our joy in the Lord.  The dark forces in our lives need not detract from our faith, but instead can strengthen faith.  The late Adrian Rogers once said that “faith is like film; it develops in the dark.” 

No doubt you are facing situations that are creating fear and worry.  Allow Christ to strengthen your faith in those difficult times.  You may feel dark forces are overwhelming you, yet Christ is able to strengthen your faith in these trials.  Cease from worrying and do not fret, for as the Scripture says it leads only to evil (Psalm 37:8).  Trust the Lord and walk forward in faith and claim the peace of Christ.  We are not alone, for the Lord is always with us. 

Physical and Spiritual Health

¹And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  ² I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  ³ For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  -I Corinthians 3:1-3 (KJV)

I have noticed an interesting phenomenon lately in fast-food commercials.  They depict young, seemingly healthy people laughing, dancing, and eating fast-food hamburgers and French fries.  The irony being that if people continue eating this kind of food over a period of time they can say goodbye to being fit, healthy, and happy.  Their days of being able to dance will probably end as well.  These days as I head into my 50’s I am more aware than ever of the need to be physically healthy.  If you are looking for a few tips on maintaining proper nutrition and fitness please have a look at my other blog, “Health, Happiness, and a Brighter Outlook” which can be easily linked from this page.  Feel free to peruse the archives.

Physical health is important, yet so is spiritual health.  If we desire to stay spiritually healthy then we must commit ourselves to prayer, worship, and daily time in God’s Word.  Neglecting prayer and time in the Word is akin to not eating right.  Failure to maintain a proper diet results in physical weakness and declining health.  The same occurs when we fail to maintain a proper spiritual diet.  Do not settle for skimming the surface in prayer and daily Bible reading.  Take the time to delve deeply into God’s Word so that the riches we find there can adequately make their way into the heart. 

Countless believers walk daily in frustration and spiritual weakness because they have neglected their spiritual health.  Where are you today in terms of these vital disciplines?  If you are like many people you could greatly benefit from rearranging your schedule to allow for more time in the Word and in prayer.  When we commit ourselves to daily time with the Lord we soon find our problems, trials, fears, and daily frustrations no longer look so large and imposing.  Instead, we realize the promise of God that with Him all is possible. 

Paul the Apostle bluntly told the church in I Corinthians that they were not ready for the meat of the Word because they were so worldly.  As followers of Christ we are called to be lead by the Holy Spirit.  God’s Spirit will lead us toward peace, joy, and soundness of mind.

Okay, who’s hungry?  Be sure to eat something healthy.  Who’s hungry for the Word of God?  Open the Word today and seek the Lord in prayer.  Make definitive steps to grow in spiritual health.