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.

Living the Gospel

 

Yesterday’s devotional began with the author saying, “Leading others to Christ should be a top priority in your life.” He is talking about unbelievers, but lately my priority has been pointing believers to Christ. So many are forgetting His power. They are focused on personal comfort, or filled with fear of ‘what if’ and not relying on the God of the impossible. My need to focus on Christ is greater than I’ve ever experienced before. I also realize not everyone enjoys the luxury of unlimited time to worship or study the Bible every day.

As for evangelism, Andrew began with Peter, his own brother. While the Bible does not give a set pattern of where to begin reaching out, family and close friends are a good place to start.

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). (John 1:35–42)

Andrew didn’t stop there. “Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.” (John 12:20–22)

Philip knew that Andrew had some experience, but if this is the same Philip mentioned may times in Acts, he also became known as an evangelist.

These early disciples didn’t always know how Jesus would deal with a particular person or situation, but they continued to bring others to Him. They had different gifts yet this was a common goal — desiring others to know the One who saves from sin all those who come to Him. They may hear and not respond, which should not surprise me given the negative reactions in the Gospels, yet positive results are numerous and it is that hope that should occupy my thinking. How do I know what is going on in the human heart? Not everyone is antichrist.

MacArthur asks when was the last time I shared Jesus with an unbeliever. As already noted, many Christians have serious issues with their faith. However, the last time I shared Jesus with a non-Christian was with a family member who belongs to a cult. Mostly, I pray for him, yet each conversation shows a change in attitude, a greater willingness to praise Jesus and speak of His power. I’d love to see him totally trust Jesus for every issue and problem in life, the same desire for Christian friends also. So many are caught up in worldly thinking and distracted from His power to save.

PRAY: Lord Jesus, my heart can be distracted too. Daily news can bring me to my knees, or it can turn me from trusting You to despair and even fear. Pain and weakness can produce greater reliance, or it can produce whining and self-pity. As I encounter anyone, believers or not, enable me to identify with their situations yet grant me the ability to point both of us to You, the best and even the only answer to all our needs. The Gospel truly is ‘good news’ and all of us need to hear it and share it from our hearts that believe and live it.

READ: Colossians 2:6-15. Consider how the Gospel should affect the way I live as well as changing my eternal destiny. How can I encourage others by this passage?