Originally posted here, January 9, 2007.
Gal 5:1-7
5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. 7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? NASB
"You were running well," Paul says to the body of Christ at Galatia. "You had rejected the works of the law (self-righteousness) in order to come to know Jesus by His grace and you were living your daily life in the same way, by grace and not by trying to maintain your salvation by your own works. So what's going on? Who has kept you from obeying the truth that you started in?"
"You know that if you try to keep even one ounce of the law," Paul tells them, "then you are obligated to keep the whole thing - every jot and every tittle (see James 2:10). But that's not what God called you to do. You had to die to Mr. Law in order to be married to Mr. Grace (Rom 7:4) (thanks to Steve McVey for the "Mr. Law/Mr. Grace" word picture). But now you're going back to the old way? You're trying to mix law and grace? You're thankful for Jesus, but yet you're thinking that it's your own works that somehow will keep you justified?"
"You have fallen from grace!"
The Galatians had known the truth. They had lived in the truth. They had trusted solely in the name of Jesus - in God's grace - for their justification and salvation. But some legalists had slipped in among them and were trying to persuade them that they had to keep the law.
"But," Paul said, "we through the Spirit eagerly await for the hope of righteousness by faith," not by our own efforts. If you have fallen from grace, get back up and put your whole confidence in Jesus, and Jesus alone. His grace holds all the power that our self-effort could never achieve. Remember you are married to Mr. Grace. Get out of that adulterous relationship with Mr. Law!
Grace Roots Blog
Showing posts with label God's grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's grace. Show all posts
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Aida's Grace Story
Before I get back into the full armor of God, I want to post this story from Aida. Early last year I asked to hear from YOU about your true stories of grace! So far I've received a few stories, and I want to thank those who have shared so far, and I'm really hoping that you will share YOUR story(s) as well so that others can be blessed and encouraged by hearing your real life experiences with God's grace. The above link explains it all.
Yesterday I heard from Aida. I hope her story encourages you as much as it encouraged me! It's amazing to hear the different paths we've all taken that have led us to where we are. If you have anything that you'd like to share about His grace in your life, you can email me:
Aida's Grace Story
As a child, I was raised Roman Catholic even though we didn’t go to mass nor did we follow the Catholic traditions. When I was in high school, a friend invited me to her Baptist youth group. Looking for a place to belong, I became active in the church and in the youth group. One day, the pastor’s wife asked me if I wanted to accept Jesus. Wanting to please her, I prayed the sinner’s prayer with her.
Even though I continued being deeply involved in their activities, I really didn’t understand what salvation was all about. Consequently, when I went off to college and I didn’t have the support of a local group of believers, I drifted away. While in college, I met my husband and married.
Although he had been raised as a believer, neither one of us was a follower of Christ. Several years later, we moved to my husband’s hometown in South Carolina. His parents were very active in a local fellowship and, seeing this, I began to yearn for a relationship with Jesus like I had once had. I became involved with a local group of believers but my husband did not attend the meetings with me. I continued to attend and took my two children with me. Since, I didn’t understand grace, I raised them deeply in religion. After a number of years, my husband began attending with us.
In time, I began seeking a deeper walk with the Lord and, in 1997, while in a bookstore, I was very strongly impressed to buy Charles Stanley’s book “The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life.” That’s when my adventure into this life of grace began. That book led me to other books about grace. I eagerly read them but, for some reason, it didn’t connect. Then, in 1998, Father led me to an Assembly of God church. It was there through the pastor’s teachings that I began to question a lot of what I’d been taught. This pastor is the one Father worked through to teach me how to think outside of the religious box.
Unfortunately, he was very insecure and very controlling and later became very abusive. I finally had to leave the group and wandered several months feeling like a little lost sheep. I finally ended up back with the previous group of believers but this time it was different. Although I tried fitting back in, I couldn’t because I could no longer accept a lot of what I had previously believed.
Father later used a women’s conference I attended to get me to continue searching. I started searching the internet and discovered that there were others who were also questioning what they had been taught. I made some online connections with believers who encouraged my search.
Several months ago, one of my friends sent me an article by Steve McVey. I enjoyed it so much that I did a google search and found his website. I bought some of his books and began to devour his teachings. It was what I had been searching for all of these years. Following a link on Steve’s website, I found Grace Roots and other blogs and websites that taught the truth about grace.
As a result, I have grown more in these last few months than I have in all of the 30+ years that I’ve been a believer. It’s finally making sense and I’m now learning how to live the grace walk on a more consistent basis. I find it amazing that what made no sense to me 10 years ago when Father first started teaching me about grace is now making perfect sense. I’m so thankful that he didn’t give up on me but took me on a different path that ultimately has led to where I am today.
Thanks for sharing, Aida!
Yesterday I heard from Aida. I hope her story encourages you as much as it encouraged me! It's amazing to hear the different paths we've all taken that have led us to where we are. If you have anything that you'd like to share about His grace in your life, you can email me:
Aida's Grace Story
As a child, I was raised Roman Catholic even though we didn’t go to mass nor did we follow the Catholic traditions. When I was in high school, a friend invited me to her Baptist youth group. Looking for a place to belong, I became active in the church and in the youth group. One day, the pastor’s wife asked me if I wanted to accept Jesus. Wanting to please her, I prayed the sinner’s prayer with her.
Even though I continued being deeply involved in their activities, I really didn’t understand what salvation was all about. Consequently, when I went off to college and I didn’t have the support of a local group of believers, I drifted away. While in college, I met my husband and married.
Although he had been raised as a believer, neither one of us was a follower of Christ. Several years later, we moved to my husband’s hometown in South Carolina. His parents were very active in a local fellowship and, seeing this, I began to yearn for a relationship with Jesus like I had once had. I became involved with a local group of believers but my husband did not attend the meetings with me. I continued to attend and took my two children with me. Since, I didn’t understand grace, I raised them deeply in religion. After a number of years, my husband began attending with us.
In time, I began seeking a deeper walk with the Lord and, in 1997, while in a bookstore, I was very strongly impressed to buy Charles Stanley’s book “The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life.” That’s when my adventure into this life of grace began. That book led me to other books about grace. I eagerly read them but, for some reason, it didn’t connect. Then, in 1998, Father led me to an Assembly of God church. It was there through the pastor’s teachings that I began to question a lot of what I’d been taught. This pastor is the one Father worked through to teach me how to think outside of the religious box.
Unfortunately, he was very insecure and very controlling and later became very abusive. I finally had to leave the group and wandered several months feeling like a little lost sheep. I finally ended up back with the previous group of believers but this time it was different. Although I tried fitting back in, I couldn’t because I could no longer accept a lot of what I had previously believed.
Father later used a women’s conference I attended to get me to continue searching. I started searching the internet and discovered that there were others who were also questioning what they had been taught. I made some online connections with believers who encouraged my search.
Several months ago, one of my friends sent me an article by Steve McVey. I enjoyed it so much that I did a google search and found his website. I bought some of his books and began to devour his teachings. It was what I had been searching for all of these years. Following a link on Steve’s website, I found Grace Roots and other blogs and websites that taught the truth about grace.
As a result, I have grown more in these last few months than I have in all of the 30+ years that I’ve been a believer. It’s finally making sense and I’m now learning how to live the grace walk on a more consistent basis. I find it amazing that what made no sense to me 10 years ago when Father first started teaching me about grace is now making perfect sense. I’m so thankful that he didn’t give up on me but took me on a different path that ultimately has led to where I am today.
Thanks for sharing, Aida!
Thursday, February 01, 2007
That I may know Him...
A friend and I are teaching a class at our church entitled "Who Are You - Identity Revealed."
Someone asked me the other day if this class is similar to the "Purpose Driven Life." I really hadn't thought of it that way. The reason for that is... it has nothing to do with being driven in this life by purpose. :)
As you can probably tell by the title, our class is about God's grace, and our identity in Christ, which are inseparable. Knowing our identity is crucial to what we "do" in this life. I know... I know... it's true. So many of us looooong for purpose. We think we'll be fulfilled if we can find our purpose in this life, and then live out our purpose. And it's true that God has given each of us "purpose." Each 'member' of the body of Christ has a purpose within the body (see Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12).
But what if you're going along your day one day, and you don't really feel like you're living out the purpose that you feel that God's given you within the Body? What if this lasts for more than a day? A week? A year? Or more???? Have you ceased to be a member of the Body of Christ? Of course not! Has God forgotten about you? NOOOO!!
Is it possible that you can live your life in Christ without regards to PURPOSE?
I believe so.
And that's because I believe the purpose of our lives are not to have purpose... but to know God.
Again... we all have purpose within the Body. But I don't believe that our day to day lives are meant to be driven by purpose.
Can't we just...
KNOW Him?
In your relationships with people... Do you feel you have to have purpose at every moment? Can't you just be friends, and know each other, and love each other - with no particular agenda?
True... in your relationships you like to DO things with people. Many times there is a particular purpose for you to spend time together. But one of the great things about true, close friends, is that they often don't need to find a purpose in everything they do. Maybe you've just gotten old. I don't mean your age, but your way of thinking. In order to be "mature," you've got to have a reason (a purpose) for everything you do. But think back to your childhood friendships. You didn't always get together because you had some wonderful purpose in mind for your time together.
Ok, I think I've made my point. :)
I think I have a special "part" within the Body of Christ. I think we all do (see previously mentioned scriptures). He lives and moves in us, and we have our entire being in Him... and sometimes that means an obvious expression and movement of the 'body part' that we are. As He works in us, our "purpose" is fulfilled.
But yet the essence of our lives is not purpose. The essence of our lives is that we know Him. The apostle Paul had counted all things as LOSS, including his Jewish heritage and status, his godly zeal, his righteousness, and I think even his own perceived purpose in this life... "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings..." (Phil 3:10).
When defining Eternal Life, Jesus didn't speak of us finding our "purpose in life." He said, while praying to the Father, "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
We all have desires... we long for purpose in this life. I don't think there's anything wrong with seeking God to fulfill His purposes in us. But there is something so much greater... something that in our day to day life supersedes, and is so much more important that purpose. It's "that I may know Him."
Again, the question...
Can't we just KNOW Him???
Someone asked me the other day if this class is similar to the "Purpose Driven Life." I really hadn't thought of it that way. The reason for that is... it has nothing to do with being driven in this life by purpose. :)
As you can probably tell by the title, our class is about God's grace, and our identity in Christ, which are inseparable. Knowing our identity is crucial to what we "do" in this life. I know... I know... it's true. So many of us looooong for purpose. We think we'll be fulfilled if we can find our purpose in this life, and then live out our purpose. And it's true that God has given each of us "purpose." Each 'member' of the body of Christ has a purpose within the body (see Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12).
But what if you're going along your day one day, and you don't really feel like you're living out the purpose that you feel that God's given you within the Body? What if this lasts for more than a day? A week? A year? Or more???? Have you ceased to be a member of the Body of Christ? Of course not! Has God forgotten about you? NOOOO!!
Is it possible that you can live your life in Christ without regards to PURPOSE?
I believe so.
And that's because I believe the purpose of our lives are not to have purpose... but to know God.
Again... we all have purpose within the Body. But I don't believe that our day to day lives are meant to be driven by purpose.
Can't we just...
KNOW Him?
In your relationships with people... Do you feel you have to have purpose at every moment? Can't you just be friends, and know each other, and love each other - with no particular agenda?
True... in your relationships you like to DO things with people. Many times there is a particular purpose for you to spend time together. But one of the great things about true, close friends, is that they often don't need to find a purpose in everything they do. Maybe you've just gotten old. I don't mean your age, but your way of thinking. In order to be "mature," you've got to have a reason (a purpose) for everything you do. But think back to your childhood friendships. You didn't always get together because you had some wonderful purpose in mind for your time together.
Ok, I think I've made my point. :)
I think I have a special "part" within the Body of Christ. I think we all do (see previously mentioned scriptures). He lives and moves in us, and we have our entire being in Him... and sometimes that means an obvious expression and movement of the 'body part' that we are. As He works in us, our "purpose" is fulfilled.
But yet the essence of our lives is not purpose. The essence of our lives is that we know Him. The apostle Paul had counted all things as LOSS, including his Jewish heritage and status, his godly zeal, his righteousness, and I think even his own perceived purpose in this life... "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings..." (Phil 3:10).
When defining Eternal Life, Jesus didn't speak of us finding our "purpose in life." He said, while praying to the Father, "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
We all have desires... we long for purpose in this life. I don't think there's anything wrong with seeking God to fulfill His purposes in us. But there is something so much greater... something that in our day to day life supersedes, and is so much more important that purpose. It's "that I may know Him."
Again, the question...
Can't we just KNOW Him???
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Fallen from grace
Gal 5:1-7
5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. 7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? NASB
"You were running well," Paul says to the body of Christ at Galatia. "You had rejected the works of the law (self-righteousness) in order to come to know Jesus by His grace and you were living your daily life in the same way, by grace and not by trying to maintain your salvation by your own works. So what's going on? Who has kept you from obeying the truth that you started in?"
"You know that if you try to keep even one ounce of the law," Paul tells them, "then you are obligated to keep the whole thing - every jot and every tittle (see James 2:10). But that's not what God called you to do. You had to die to Mr. Law in order to be married to Mr. Grace (Rom 7:4) (thanks to Steve McVey for the "Mr. Law/Mr. Grace" word picture). But now you're going back to the old way? You're trying to mix law and grace? You're thankful for Jesus, but yet you're thinking that it's your own works that somehow will keep you justified?"
"You have fallen from grace!"
The Galatians had known the truth. They had lived in the truth. They had trusted solely in the name of Jesus - in God's grace - for their justification and salvation. But some legalists had slipped in among them and were trying to persuade them that they had to keep the law.
"But," Paul said, "we through the Spirit eagerly await for the hope of righteousness by faith," not by our own efforts. If you have fallen from grace, get back up and put your whole confidence in Jesus, and Jesus alone. His grace holds all the power that our self-effort could never achieve. Remember you are married to Mr. Grace. Get out of that adulterous relationship with Mr. Law!
5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. 7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? NASB
"You were running well," Paul says to the body of Christ at Galatia. "You had rejected the works of the law (self-righteousness) in order to come to know Jesus by His grace and you were living your daily life in the same way, by grace and not by trying to maintain your salvation by your own works. So what's going on? Who has kept you from obeying the truth that you started in?"
"You know that if you try to keep even one ounce of the law," Paul tells them, "then you are obligated to keep the whole thing - every jot and every tittle (see James 2:10). But that's not what God called you to do. You had to die to Mr. Law in order to be married to Mr. Grace (Rom 7:4) (thanks to Steve McVey for the "Mr. Law/Mr. Grace" word picture). But now you're going back to the old way? You're trying to mix law and grace? You're thankful for Jesus, but yet you're thinking that it's your own works that somehow will keep you justified?"
"You have fallen from grace!"
The Galatians had known the truth. They had lived in the truth. They had trusted solely in the name of Jesus - in God's grace - for their justification and salvation. But some legalists had slipped in among them and were trying to persuade them that they had to keep the law.
"But," Paul said, "we through the Spirit eagerly await for the hope of righteousness by faith," not by our own efforts. If you have fallen from grace, get back up and put your whole confidence in Jesus, and Jesus alone. His grace holds all the power that our self-effort could never achieve. Remember you are married to Mr. Grace. Get out of that adulterous relationship with Mr. Law!
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