Stop Pulling The Not Under The Law Card

“It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom.” Galatians 5:13-14 – The Message Bible

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the misuse of our freedom in Christ and how some Christians will use the "not under the law" verse to justify something that we want to do, that may technically be legal, permissible (allowable and lawful) for us; but may not be spiritually appropriate or helpful (good for us to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). (1 Corinthians 6:12, 10:23-24)

So often times the Christian will say as a means of justification for something that they want to do, that may not be the best thing for them or others around them, “We are free. We are not under the law we are under grace”, instead of truly praying and seeking God about whether it is HIS WILL for them to do whatever it is that they are contemplating, even if it is technically legal.

"[Many things] are not specifically condemned by the Scriptures, and thus we must apply other criteria. For example, would these matters cause us to sin, or harm our bodies, or cause a brother to stumble, or tempt us to fall into a pattern we could not control? Clearly if those things occurred, then it would be wrong for us to do them. If not, then we have the liberty to enjoy these activities" - Curtis C. Thomas

I love how The Message Bible translates 1 Corinthians 6:12,

“If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims.”

The Perfection & Renewal Process

Philippians 1:6 (Amplified Bible) And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

Last night I was up late watching TBN and I felt lead to mute the television and read the book of Philippians again. I love the Holy Spirit because He is always so faithful to lead me right to the perfect place in the Word of God so that I can receive His comfort, revelation, and confirmation for my situation. Thank you Lord! The scripture above reminded me that I am a working progress and so are you. He is not finished with us yet. In fact He will be working on us until the day our Lord returns.

The reality is that we are going to make mistakes, stumble, and sin. We are imperfect people living in an imperfect and corrupt world full of temptation. The awesome part is that even though we sin we do not have to worry about being under a spirit of condemnation. You see we have to remember that our High Priest, Christ Jesus, understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings that we do, yet He did not sin. So we can go boldly before the throne to receive His mercy, forgiveness, and grace to help us when we need it most. We can confess our sins to Him because He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (Hebrews 4:15-16, 1 John 1:9)

However, I want to be sure to clarify that just because we know that our Lord is constantly working on us and we are going to make mistakes because of our old sin nature, this does not give us an excuse to compromise the Word of God or to keep on blatantly sinning. The good work that our Lord started in us is that He has created in us a new spirit and given us a new nature. We have new lives in Christ Jesus. This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! Our new nature is born and created to be like God-truly righteous and holy. (Romans 6:1-4, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 4:24)

Although our spirits have been born again and we have this new nature, this doesn’t mean that we will not still have sinful thoughts, desires, actions, or reactions. This is where Christ will be continually developing and perfecting us through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. The perfection and renewal process that our Lord wants to take us through requires that we willingly put aside our selfish ways and follow Him. We can chose to stay baby Christians controlled by our sin nature, acting and living like people of the world, and still needing someone to teach us the basic things about God’s Word. Or we can grow up in the Word and into a full experience of salvation, teaching others to follow Christ. (Hebrews 5:12-14, 1 Peter 2:2, 1 Corinthians 3:1-3)

The Word of God has promised that He would continue the good work but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have to do our part. Our part is to choose to throw off our old sinful nature and our former way of life which is dominated by sin. Instead, allow the Spirit to renew our thoughts and attitudes as we meditate on The Word of God. This is how our Lord is transforming our minds, making us complete, and developing us for His good works and service. The Word of God washes and cleanses us. It is His Word working in us giving us the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. (Ephesians 4:22, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 5:26, Philippians 2:13)

None of us have arrived at perfection. But because we know that our Lord is working in us daily renewing and transforming us into vessels of honor used by our Father in heaven to bring glory to Jesus, we should press on to posses that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed us. Let us all like Paul forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead, pressing on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:12-14)

Happy New Year!!

Start this New Year off by rejoicing in our Lord. Rejoice because He is faithful to us. Praise Him because His mercy and grace endures forever. Lift up the name of Jesus because He continuously shows us His kindness and intercedes on our behalf. Shout for joy because we have a new year to keep fighting the good fight of faith. This year will surely be better than the last.

I am so excited to see what the Lord will unveil this year. What new revelations will I receive? How much more of His plan will He show me? How much more will I grow and be transformed? How will He choose to use me?

Every new year we have here on this earth is another year of opportunity to grow in the knowledge of Christ and help win souls for the kingdom of heaven. If there is any resolution or promise that is made this year let it be that we promise not to let the Word of God depart from our mouth; but that we will meditate on it day and night, so that we may be careful to do everything that is written in it. Then we will be prosperous and successful. If we promise to do this then everything else will fall into place. (Joshua 1:8)

As we draw closer to the Lord He will draw closer to us. As we read His Word and meditate on it Christ will be more and more at home in our hearts, He will be living in us as we trust Him. Our roots will begin to go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and we may be able to feel and understand, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is. We will experience this love for ourselves, though it is so great that we will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it.

This year I pray that we will grow up in the Word and continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Christ, strengthened in the faith, and overflow with thankfulness. May we live our lives worthy of the Lord and may we please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. Then we will be equipped to fulfill the Great Commission our Lord gave to His disciple and to us all.

“He told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and earth. Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you, and be sure of this-that I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

So let your roots grow down deep into the Word this year and allow the Lord to continue the good work that He has started in your life. You have no idea the good things that He has prepared for you this year. He has so much He wants to show you and pour into you. Your cup will overflow so that you can pour into others. So rejoice and expect our Lord to reveal more of Himself and His love to you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!