Ephesians 4:22 - 24
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
One of the biggest questions about hearing the Message of God's Grace has to do with sinful desires after being born again. This falls into the subject of "sanctification". The big word Christians use when referring to the process of becoming more "Godly".
Unfortunately, it has become one of the biggest issues in Christianity and "the church" worldwide over the last 500 years, because preachers and theologians have emphasised that the effort to become more Godly rests on us, and if we do not become more Godly we endanger our salvation. This has put millions of Christians in bondage. Especially in the past 60 years or so. Your regular, "everyday Christians" who just want to please God would focus so much on whether they are getting it right with God that it just becomes too much of a burden, and many eventually crash and burn, buckling under the pressure of self-effort.
But what about the words of Jesus? What did He mean when He said "My yoke is easy and My burden is light"? (Matthew 11:30) When one looks at those words, it seems rather clear that one shouldn't have such pressure to buckle under. So why does the Christian life seem to hard?
Well, in my opinion it is because many preachers have focussed on Christians trying to life a good life instead of what Christ has accomplished on their behalf. (Not all preachers, there have been many great Gospel preachers, modern and gone-by, who have focussed on the Finished Work of the Cross. There just haven't been enough preachers!)
Here's the thing, as a preacher and pastor, I do believe that Christians still have choices to make. And those choices will always lead to 3 possible outcomes:
1) Destruction (sinful acts)
2) Positive Outcomes
3) Completely Neutral
The key is understanding that those choices do not affect one's status in the Throne Room of Heaven. When we get that clear, it becomes much easier to make the positive choices.
As a Christian, it is obvious to everyone that we should be making as many positive choices as possible. Especially if we are to be making an impact on this world. (In fact, you don't even need to be a Christian to inwardly know what choices you should be making.)
But let's be honest, the next natural question for many would be; "well, how many positive choices should I be making as a Christian?" This is exactly the point! Under The Law, it was never enough! We always fell short. And this is why it is so important to understand that the New Covenant believer does not live under any Law at all!! Not moral law, not New Testament law, not Mosaic Law! Otherwise, there will always be more to do!
We must rest! Jesus wants us to be at rest! And so He fulfilled everything required before God and pleased Him entirely so that we can stop trying to gain favour with Him! When it comes to satisfying God: Jesus did it all on our behalf!
This means today that the New Covenant believer doesn't have to try and live up to any external standard. Every Christian is different as they live out their lives doing what God has gifted them to do, following their heart's desires. Daddy is pleased, so go out and enjoy life! Go and take over the world!
But here's the thing... And it's a difficult subject for us "Grace preachers" to tackle.... The choice still remains with us.
As Christians, we still have the ability to choose to do something "sinful" that would lead to negative consequences, or we can choose to do something positive, and we could even choose to do nothing at all. We still have the choice!
Now, the logical question for many would be; "but if Jesus accomplished all that was required of mankind, then what's the point of making the effort of positive choices?" This question would highlight the asker's ignorance of the Work of the Gospel. If you have received the Sacrifice of Jesus as your own, and have believed it, something powerful took place in your heart. God by His Spirit recreated you internally. In the spirit realm you are entirely new. And this "new creature" in the spirit is now entirely empowered to make positive choices and say no to negative ones! (It is empowered because it is One Spirit with the Lord. 1 Corinthians 6:17).
There is Something internally that is inspiring the Christian to make positive choies and say no to the negative ones.
This is what true sanctification is all about! And this is what preachers should be focussing on: The Power of the New Creation within a believer to live a life that can and will transform world. That Power is a direct result of the death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus!
If we focus on making choices without ever bringing in the Cross, then we are mere motivational speakers. Not true preachers. We become like any other religion encouraging their followers to make the right choices.
Absolutely! Make the positive choices! But know that there is a Force at work within your heart that can and wants to inspire you and empower you to make those choices!
We'll continue with this next week.
Until then, rest in His Finished Work!
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
One of the biggest questions about hearing the Message of God's Grace has to do with sinful desires after being born again. This falls into the subject of "sanctification". The big word Christians use when referring to the process of becoming more "Godly".
Unfortunately, it has become one of the biggest issues in Christianity and "the church" worldwide over the last 500 years, because preachers and theologians have emphasised that the effort to become more Godly rests on us, and if we do not become more Godly we endanger our salvation. This has put millions of Christians in bondage. Especially in the past 60 years or so. Your regular, "everyday Christians" who just want to please God would focus so much on whether they are getting it right with God that it just becomes too much of a burden, and many eventually crash and burn, buckling under the pressure of self-effort.
But what about the words of Jesus? What did He mean when He said "My yoke is easy and My burden is light"? (Matthew 11:30) When one looks at those words, it seems rather clear that one shouldn't have such pressure to buckle under. So why does the Christian life seem to hard?
Well, in my opinion it is because many preachers have focussed on Christians trying to life a good life instead of what Christ has accomplished on their behalf. (Not all preachers, there have been many great Gospel preachers, modern and gone-by, who have focussed on the Finished Work of the Cross. There just haven't been enough preachers!)
Here's the thing, as a preacher and pastor, I do believe that Christians still have choices to make. And those choices will always lead to 3 possible outcomes:
1) Destruction (sinful acts)
2) Positive Outcomes
3) Completely Neutral
The key is understanding that those choices do not affect one's status in the Throne Room of Heaven. When we get that clear, it becomes much easier to make the positive choices.
As a Christian, it is obvious to everyone that we should be making as many positive choices as possible. Especially if we are to be making an impact on this world. (In fact, you don't even need to be a Christian to inwardly know what choices you should be making.)
But let's be honest, the next natural question for many would be; "well, how many positive choices should I be making as a Christian?" This is exactly the point! Under The Law, it was never enough! We always fell short. And this is why it is so important to understand that the New Covenant believer does not live under any Law at all!! Not moral law, not New Testament law, not Mosaic Law! Otherwise, there will always be more to do!
We must rest! Jesus wants us to be at rest! And so He fulfilled everything required before God and pleased Him entirely so that we can stop trying to gain favour with Him! When it comes to satisfying God: Jesus did it all on our behalf!
This means today that the New Covenant believer doesn't have to try and live up to any external standard. Every Christian is different as they live out their lives doing what God has gifted them to do, following their heart's desires. Daddy is pleased, so go out and enjoy life! Go and take over the world!
But here's the thing... And it's a difficult subject for us "Grace preachers" to tackle.... The choice still remains with us.
As Christians, we still have the ability to choose to do something "sinful" that would lead to negative consequences, or we can choose to do something positive, and we could even choose to do nothing at all. We still have the choice!
Now, the logical question for many would be; "but if Jesus accomplished all that was required of mankind, then what's the point of making the effort of positive choices?" This question would highlight the asker's ignorance of the Work of the Gospel. If you have received the Sacrifice of Jesus as your own, and have believed it, something powerful took place in your heart. God by His Spirit recreated you internally. In the spirit realm you are entirely new. And this "new creature" in the spirit is now entirely empowered to make positive choices and say no to negative ones! (It is empowered because it is One Spirit with the Lord. 1 Corinthians 6:17).
There is Something internally that is inspiring the Christian to make positive choies and say no to the negative ones.
This is what true sanctification is all about! And this is what preachers should be focussing on: The Power of the New Creation within a believer to live a life that can and will transform world. That Power is a direct result of the death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus!
If we focus on making choices without ever bringing in the Cross, then we are mere motivational speakers. Not true preachers. We become like any other religion encouraging their followers to make the right choices.
Absolutely! Make the positive choices! But know that there is a Force at work within your heart that can and wants to inspire you and empower you to make those choices!
We'll continue with this next week.
Until then, rest in His Finished Work!
Awesome Post James :)
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