Ruled or Released?

Some mornings I wake up carrying the heavy load of knowing what God wants from His people, wants from me, and knowing how far short we fall. I related to Paul’s words to the church in Galatia. They were believers, but instead of living by faith they had fallen back into living by law or rules.

These days we call it legalism. One pastor jokes, “I don’t smoke, and I don’t chew, and I don’t run with girls that do.” Joking aside, many are turned off by any so-called rules for being a Christian.

Paul’s first concern is the distortion of the gospel. Turning life in Christ into a system of rules is not only going backwards into old thinking, it is sinful.

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (Galatians 2:15–21)

The words are blunt and the contrast is sharply defined. Those who fall into legalism or a list of rules are foolish. They saw Jesus die. They suffered for their faith. Was living by rules going to make things easier?

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? (Galatians 3:1–6)

No doubt these words caught their attention. Then he switches to a logical appeal:

Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:21–29)

My load slips off as God makes it His load and not mine. Those who burden me with rules and laws for life are the ones who are burdened. I am free in Christ. I am His child, and the things that bother me now will vanish in the glory that is to come:

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:14–18)

PRAY: Jesus, lead me through this day in the freedom I have in You. Amen.

Faith -- for salvation and for all of life

Today's reading is confusing in that it speaks of Christians who live without faith. This needs clarifying. First, no one can be a Christian without faith. However, the NT letter to the church at Galatia describes those who believed in Christ and were saved, then fell into the notion that they had to live their Christian life in their own strength and their own efforts. Faith in Christ includes faith for all of life, but they thought they had to do something to earn God's grace. This letter addressed this concern in several ways. The first calls them to consider where this idea came from and how evil it is:

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:6–10)

Next, Galatians presents the true gospel. Salvation is by faith in Christ, never in ourselves or anything we do, no matter what it is, or who it is:

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2:15–16)

Then these believers who were trying to live by works were plainly told they had been duped into thinking their perfection came by self-effort. How could they think that would work. If self-effort could not get them saved, how could self-effort change their lives?

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:1–14)

The reading for today did not distinguish between people trying to perfect their lives by works and people who try to get saved by their works. The former happens to some Christians, but the latter cannot be called "Christian" for they never trusted the Lord for anything. I cannot 'try to act like a Christian' if I am not one. Not only that, once Christ saved me, He keeps me in His care and changes my life. My faith may falter and I might fail to act like what I am, but that cannot change what Christ has already done, nor does it change the reality that I belong to Him.

PRAY: Jesus, my assurance is in You. Always. If I put it in myself, I'm walking in the flesh and forgotten what You have done and are doing for me. You are my Savior; I am not. You are enough.

 

 

Will my ‘crop’ stand up to the test?

When I was in my teens, a vicious hailstorm came through our area. The stones were golf ball size but smashed through my uncle’s plywood pig shelter and killed some of his pigs. Our home, about two miles from his, had most windows broken and about two inches of water and glass on the kitchen floor.

My father had a crop of rye that year that was more than six feet tall. After the storm, it was less than six inches and basically worthless. I’m reminded of that stubble this morning with Tozer’s devotional. He says it is a solemn thought that some of us who fancy ourselves to be important servants in the kingdom of God may find ourselves standing before the judgment seat of Christ only to realize we have been busy harvesters of stubble.

This statement is based on a description of the bema judgment where the works God’s people will be evaluated. This is not to determine our eternal destiny because we are not saved by our works (see Ephesians 2:8-9) but a judgment of the value of what we have done after receiving eternal life through faith in Christ . . .

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11–15)

Obviously, the wood, hay and straw refer to stuff that has no eternal merit and will be burned up. Tozer says this is about everything we do in our own strength — by means of our own abilities. These might look good and benefit people in some way for this life, but the quality of eternity is not in it. Only what is done through the leading and power of God’s Spirit will abide eternally.

Jesus gives me the same eternal power which He possesses. His Church receives the very Holy Spirit that lives and works in Him. The Holy Spirit is a gift, our eternal life. We not only accept Him and believe in Him, we also think, act and talk in His power — but not always. Sometimes I get the foolish notion that I can handle something in my own strength. I have selfish attitudes, blurt out thoughtless words, do things for my own benefit and glory. Sometimes I mean well regarding important issues, but haven’t consulted God and my good intentions are mere wood, hay, and straw or stubble.

^^^^^^^^^^

Lord, help me to confess what I realize I’ve done without faith. This is sin. However, I should not spend a lot of time or energy examining myself. This too is a job for the Holy Spirit. My task is to trust You, pay attention, and act according to Your word.

Crucified with Christ

The life of faith is just that – a life of faith. Instead of relying on that sinful desire to ‘do it my way’ I am to live as God desires, even when His desires run at odds to mine and when they seem strange or confusing. That old life of using my own brain, common sense, rationale, or whatever else it might be called is no longer allowed to govern my behavior. The closer I draw to God, the more miserable I am when choosing “me and mine” instead of listening to and obeying the Lord.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Chambers notes that Paul does not say, ‘I have determined to imitate Jesus Christ’ or ‘I will endeavor to follow Him.’ Instead, he identifies with Christ in His death so that the Holy Spirit can impart to him the holiness, even the very life of Christ. I’ve often said that Christ lives in me, but that will make no difference to how I live unless I get out of His way and let Him live out His life through me. Think of a glove moving with the hand that is in it.

When Paul says “nevertheless I live” this indicates that my individuality remains, but the mainspring or ruling disposition is not the same. My human body is still here, but my sinful right to myself is destroyed.

“And the life which I now live in the flesh” is not the life that I desired, planned, or even prayed for at one time. Instead, it is the life that others see and I myself give focus to. It is a life of faith, and it is not even ‘my’ faith, but “the faith of the Son of God,” the faith that Jesus Christ gave me.

That means this faith is not ‘faith in faith’ or ‘faith in fate’ and certainly not faith like wishful thinking. It is a faith that has no boundaries and that trusts God who speaks to me, who tells me how to pray, what to think, when and how to speak, what to do and not do, and whose thoughts begin to melt and blend into my heart and mind so that I begin to trust “this is from Him” because I know that the “me” part has been crucified.

Bottom-line purpose

We leave soon for a different kind of holiday than we have ever taken before. I’m anxious. I do not holiday well. I’m adult attention deficit and being away from home and routine throws me off kilter. Besides a regular schedule, my scattered mind struggles without things to do and constant stimulation. I can take whatever I wish to keep myself busy while my hubby is golfing, but making those decisions seems difficult.

Today’s challenge is difficult too. I’m supposed to fill in the blanks: “For to me, to live is __________, and to die is _______.” If I am totally honest, at times my options have included:

• For to me, to live is having a sense of purpose, and to die can’t happen until the stuff on my to-do list is checked off.
• For to me, to live is a blast, and to die is the last thing I want to do.
• For to me, to live is far too difficult, and to die sounds like a better choice.
• For to me, to live is being creative, and to die is going to be hard on my kids who have to decide what to do with my artistic creations.
• For to me, to live is tiring, and to die is a good long rest.

Of course I know what should go in the blanks. It comes from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. He was in jail and a death sentence was possible. He wasn’t afraid to die, yet his generous heart wanted life. His reasons were far nobler than most of mine. 

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.  (Philippians 1:21-26)

If he lived, he could serve his brothers and sisters in Christ. They needed him and he was determined to help them. He wanted to be with Christ in glory, but was willing to put that desire aside and do what was best for the people around him.

I’m not that unselfish. Sometimes I want to be needed for the sense of purpose it gives me, not for what I can do for others. Sometimes I want to go to glory because I am tired of the work that God has given me to do here. When life goes well, I don’t want to die. When life is hard, I mutter that I want to go home.

Again, the apostle Paul is a rebuke. Being a Christian is not about me, but about making the best use of what God gives me so that I can glorify Jesus Christ, whether in life or in death.

As I pack up for this holiday, I’m trying very hard to listen for His direction and take what He tells me to take, and think as He encourages me to think. With Him in charge, experience has taught me that my worries are groundless. Faith says the same thing. I need to stop listening to my “what ifs” and just trust Him.

Head or Heart?

Last week I was challenged to evaluate my faith between two extremes. At one end of the scale is legalism or living by rules and regulations, all head and no heart. At the other end is living by experiences, what feels right or seems the best thing, all heart and no head. Both extremes are dangerous because both can keep me from hearing what God says, either in my conscience or in His Word, and both can keep me from simply trusting Him.

Legalism says you have to keep certain rules, and do or don’t do certain things. The list usually includes more don’ts such as movies, dancing, drinking and so on. Some mock legalism with, “I don’t smoke; I don’t chew, and I don’t run with the girls who do” but this is not funny. If I go to this extreme, I miss hearing God. For instance, He might counter a legalistic idea and tell me to “eat and drink with sinners” like Jesus did.

The person who relies on their experiences and emotions falls into a different trap. This one is all about emotional perception. For instance, if I perceive that God is only love and sentiment without judgment, I could be tolerant of sin when I should cry out against it. Or if I think that hugs are all a person needs, I might neglect to give them some information that would help them solve their problem.

The early church had to balance things too. Many of these new Christians came from a background of idolatry. In that former life, they offered meat to idols, then cooked and served it at their table. For some, this meat was unclean and eating it was a terrible sin. For others, they knew the meat was nothing and the idols were nothing, because the Bible says so. While they also knew the evil power of demons behind idolatry, for them, eating the meat had nothing to do with demons so ate freely. To these extremes, Paul wrote the following:

I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. (Romans 14:14-23)

As I read this, I’m hearing God say that legalism and the other extreme of living by the heart’s perception are not a matter of either/or but both/and. Sometimes a person’s conscience will condemn something that the Word of God does not condemn. Even though the Bible says it is okay to do it, this person does not feel that freedom, yet if they ignore their feelings and go ahead and do it, they have sinned. How can that be?

On the other hand, a person who has no sense of it being wrong (and the Bible agrees with their assessment), can do the same thing (in this case, eating the meat offered to idols) and does not sin. What is this? Is it situational ethics? What is the issue? Does God’s Word contradict His Spirit by saying one thing to the eyes that read and another to the heart that feels?

I remember hearing of a man whose idol was baseball. He loved it, indulged in it, went to all the games, spent a lot of money, ignored his family, etc. for this idol. Then he became a Christian and deeply aware that he had wrong priorities. He dropped this idol and began giving more attention to his family and making wiser use of his money. Then two men from his church invited him to a baseball game without knowing his prior problem. He was deeply offended. This story explains to me why God is so careful to allow those weak in faith to pay attention to their conscience. For that man, baseball was a sin even though for the other two it was not.

However, it doesn’t work the other way. That is, if I feel something is right and the Bible says it is not, no matter how I rationalize, the Word of God is my guide. I cannot break a clear command from God just because I feel like it or it seems okay, or my heart has no sense of wrongdoing.

I also cannot flaunt any freedom that I do have. The Bible does not condemn many things that Christians often do condemn. If I’m free to watch a television program, but someone else is drawn into sin by that program, then God wants me to turn off the TV. It is about loving others and not putting a stumbling block in their path.

The last line, “whatever is not from faith is sin” is the test. This is not about extremes but about the basis for my actions. God wants me to do things (or not) because I read His Word and hear His voice. From Him I might get a written ‘rule’ or He may offer a principle that puts in my heart a deep sense of what is right or wrong. Either way, to keep from sin I need to trust Him (not ‘rules’ or my fickle heart) and do what He says.

Do good to your enemies. . .

“‘Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,’” says the LORD Almighty. ‘Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,’ says the LORD Almighty.” (Malachi 4:3, NKJV)

The day is coming when God’s people will rejoice in His judgment against those who do evil. They will leap like a calf released from confinement, not only free from oppression and persecution but allowed to put the boot to those who harmed them.

Right now, it is not like that. In fact, it has taken God a few years to make me even want to “love your enemies” and “do good to those who hate you.” I still complain about those who do evil, denounce their deeds, pray that they repent or ask God to use what they are doing somehow for good, but even so, I’m not comfortable with the idea of trampling them under my feet. That seems so anti-Christian.

However, from Bible prophecies I can see that a time is coming when those who oppose God will severely persecute His people. Persecution happens now, but we in North America experience very little. Social norms and civil laws keep our “enemies” from much more than verbal insults, ignoring and ridiculing Christian ideas and principles, and making fun of our beliefs. Very few die for our faith. Not so in other parts of the world.

If I’m alive when things go downhill all over the world, I wonder how will I handle persecution? Will I stand firm in my faith? Or think God has abandoned me? Will I turn to promises like this one? Or will I run in terror looking for a place to hide?

As a child Corrie Ten Boom, a woman put in a Nazi concentration camp for her faith, asked her father a similar question. Would she have what it takes to stand for Jesus if put to such a test? Her father reminded her about their train travel and asked her when she received her ticket. She said, “Right before I need it.” The older man said that was what God’s grace is like, that He gives it to us, not ahead of time, but when we need it.

Living by faith is about believing that God is sufficient for whatever happens—when it happens. It is trusting Him for everything, all the time, but mostly knowing that He will supply all that I need, that He is here for me, not only for the future, but right now—this very minute. And this very minute He still asks me to pray for those who oppose me, and do good to any who might persecute me. The trampling part will be later, I hope much later!