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The Mirror of the Law

9/22/2012

What's the purpose of the Old Testament law? The answer to this question is one of the most important and yet most misunderstood principles of the Christian life. In Galatians 3:24-25, Paul wrote, "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." Amen! :-)

A question that often arises is, "Aren't we to be led by the law in our daily lives as Christians?" The answer is always, "NO!"

The law is for the lost, not the saved. In 1 Timothy 1:8-9, Paul writes, "But we know that the Law is good if one uses it lawfully, realizing that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers...." You get the point. :-)

The law is like a mirror. The mirror can show you that your face is dirty, but it can't wash your face for you. So it is with the law. It shows us that we're sinful and spiritually dead in our thinking, but offers no solution to either.

When we realize Christ's once-for-all payment for sin and His very life in us, our identity is clearly not that of a filthy wretched sinner. Our identity is that of a child of God - a forgiven saint. We are not required to live by the law to try to make ourselves acceptable to God - an impossible task anyway.

In Romans 6:14, Paul wrote, "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace."

When the law has done its work and led us to Christ, then it has fulfilled its function and purpose, and we never need to look into that mirror again. We're now led inwardly by the Holy Spirit. :-)

In Hebrews 8:12, the author wrote, (God speaking), "And I will remember their sins no more."

In Hebrews 8:13, " When He said, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete."

Paul refers to the 10 Commandments in 2 Corinthians 3:6-9, as the ministry of death and condemnation.

2 Corinthians 3:15-18, Paul wrote, "But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."

Are you resting in what Christ has already done for you, or are you trying to make yourself acceptable to God by living under law?

Stop trying to look in the mirror of the law - turn to Christ and see yourself as you really are - from His perspective: righteous, holy, blameless, and seated at the right hand of the Father. Thank you, Jesus! :-)

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Reconciliation-It is finished!!

9/20/2012

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When the prodigal son (Luke 15) was in the far country, who had the problem? It wasn't his father. It was him. He needed to be reconciled to his father. The father's heart toward him had never changed at all but he *believed* his father's heart had changed. In fact, one might say that he was "alienated in (his) mind" (Col 1:21).

When was he reconciled to his father? The Bible says that he came home to his father with a prepared speech about how he badly he had sinned and that, if his father would just accept him, he would become his lifelong servant. (See Luke 15:18-19)

But when he actually got there, the father wouldn't even listen to the speech. Instead, he fell on his son, hugging him. Was the son reconciled to his father then? YES! Did he know it? No, because he still tried to give his silly, "I'm sorry. I'll do better" speech.

His father would *not* let the boy give that speech. He shouted over his son's attempt, 'Bring out new shoes! Put a ring on his finger! Prepare the steaks for a big barbeque! We're gonna party like it's 99!"

So the boy was reconciled to his father, but he hadn't yet accepted it, so he benefited nothing at this point. Despite the fact that it was "finished" as far as the father was concerned, the son had to accept/believe/receive in what his father had done. Namely, forgiven him, embraced him, and totally accepted him.

Because we know how the story progresses, we understand that there did come a moment when the son *did* accept his father's acceptance. He gave up the silly notion that he had to do something to get back into his father's favor. He finally simply *melted in his father's love and accepted his (the father's) acceptance.*

The Bible says that "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not counting their trespasses against them"...was He simply making it possible for the world to be reconciled or was He actually *reconciling* the world to Himself? Of course, it's the latter.

We have all been reconciled to the Father by the finished work of Christ. We are "in the hug" of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

However, nobody can personally experience/enjoy that reconciliation without believing/receiving it. That's why the Bible goes on to say (after telling us that God was reconciling us all in Christ) that we are to appeal to people to "be reconciled to God!" In other words, stop resisting your Father's hug and stop trying to impress Him with promises about how you're going to do better. Just stop and melt in His loving embrace! Accept His acceptance! THAT is when reconciliation is what our God intends for it to be.

There's nothing left for Him to do. He HAS reconciled us all to Himself. Now we appeal to unbelievers to "be reconciled" to Him by simply accepting the truth about the matter, namely that we are all "accepted in the Beloved" (Jesus).

What comes with reconciliation? The same thing that came to that younger son in Luke 15. The whole farm. But, as the older brother showed us, it means nothing unless you know it's yours, stop struggling to prove something or earn something and just enjoy what has been yours all along. Amen! :-) - excerpts from Steve McVey

God is love! and that same love lives inside us!

One of my favorite verses is Romans 8:39. Paul tells us that NOTHING can separate us from the love He gave
us! NOTHING!! Thank you, Jesus!

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One of my favorite quotes from 'Pure Grace'...

9/13/2012

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'Pure Grace' Quote of the Week

“It is my opinion that this subject of righteousness and our understanding of it is the real tipping point for a life lived in freedom and spiritual abundance. It seems that if one receives the gift of righteousness and whole-heartedly embraces the truth of it, all the other points of truth associated with God’s great and magnificent plan of grace fall into place.” (Page 48 Pure Grace).

When one believes the truth that he or she is cleansed of all “unrighteousness ” and furthermore, has the righteousness of Christ imputed to him, and one becomes the very “righteousness of God” through faith, it allows us to come to rest in Him. It is at rest that we are able to hear Him speak and enjoy intimacy with our Heavenly Father. Believe the truth about yourself–that you are righteous–and you will begin acting like it!

Grace to you all,

Pastor Clark Whitten

Grace Church Longwood, FL.

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Salvation: The Imputation of New Life

9/1/2012

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Salvation is much more than the forgiveness of sins. Salvation is the imputation of new life - Christ's life. Jesus didn't come simply to get people out of hell and into heaven. His ultimate goal was to get Himself out of heaven and into people. We have been cleansed once and for all so that we could be filled with the life of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote in Colossians 1:27, "to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Once we have been filled with the life of Christ, we are sealed. Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:13, "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise." Stevie Wonder was onto something in the 70's with his hit song, 'here I am, signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours!' :-)

The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our salvation. Knowing that we've been sealed enables us to walk confidently in God's promise. In Hebrews 13:5, the author wrote, "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,' so that we confidently say, The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?"
Cleansing, filling, and sealing - a wonderful picture of salvation. It helps us to see that salvation is much more than forgiveness of sins. Jesus Christ gave His life for us, so that He could give His life to us, so that He could live His life through us. Amen! :-)

Christ has come to live in our hearts. Once we were just children. Now we're children of God. When we see that this is the true goal of salvation, the cross of Jesus Christ, where we have been cleansed once for all, takes on a whole new meaning.

John wrote in John 7:37-38, "Jesus stood and cried, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let Him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From the innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' "
We believe and we receive. Jesus does the rest. You've been cleansed, filled, and sealed. Enjoy the abundant life that God has promised. Amen! Thank you, Jesus! :-)

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