I'm not perfect in my behavior--none of us is. I've got hang-ups--all of us do. There are things I've done that people hold against me, and I, too, have been hurt and had occasion to be offended, especially when people have either shut me out of their lives, or held grudges against me for years without ever honestly approaching me about them, or even both. But in recent months I've grown to move past the forgiveness that people normally offer, which is really only a platitude, to the importance of non-judgment and a willingness for restoration and reconciliation--all which more accurately represents the heart God desires us to have for each other. It's a result of applying Grace teaching. I just wish we were more patient and honest with each other than we are.
Recently, two friends have shared with me how the Gospel of Grace is being resisted at their respective churches. Topics such as sanctification, sinner vs. saint, and assurance of salvation are always at hand, and that's the case with these two friends who are preaching grace and bearing much fruit along with those who receive and apply the Gospel. What I find is that people flock to Jesus when the Gospel (and these topics) are taught aright. But, in contrast, those with differing views tend to -- and I mean no insult or condemnation -- these brothers and sisters tend to have their eyes focused on themselves, rather than Christ. They would never say that, but in some ways, it's as though we were all trained to look to ourselves and our resolve to live the Christian life. "Jesus is great, but you need to get to work." I think I'm seeing more and more that that kind of "living" is devoid of the life for which Jesus died and poured out His Spirit.
Joy? Miracles? Revelation of His love that causes you to weep? Experiencing His heart *for* you? Gifts of healing? Prophetic words of knowledge? Rest in Father?
Where are these among us? And why is each of them *not* a part of our daily life?
I believe it's because, 1). the Gospel is preached along with exceptions, and 2). we've been taught to be suspicious of good news. We've heard that God loves us, but that message is effectively cancelled when we're then told to do something for God. And why do we have to always be at work? Because when someone "qualifies" the Gospel message and limits the work of God's love toward us, we are essentially told that we're not good enough yet and that we haven't been sorrowful enough for our failures. That's the work that we're told we should always be about. We're told that it's us who needs to actively maintain our salvation and especially our righteousness and holiness. I don't know about you, but that's a heavy weight, but it's a burden we can't carry. Only Christ can.
"Learning to trust Him...is not something any of us can resolve in an instant; it's something we'll grow to discover for the whole of our lives, and He teaches us with more patience than we've ever known" Wayne Jacobsen
Because of the subliminal message that "the Gospel is too good to be true", or "Jesus is not enough, you need to sacrifice something else", I believe we're robbed of the full freedom which we're meant to live in. We can only experience that freedom when we trust. It really is that simple.
I remember that the first step I took on this road to freedom was when I understood the revelation that I no longer had a sinful nature. I likened my previous experiences to an attempt to remain stable on shifting sands; if the battle in me was on the two foundations of myself (two natures), then I never, never, never stood a chance for victory. But, because the sinful body has been removed, this revelation showed me that the battle was in my thought life, not in my nature, and Holy Spirit now sought to reveal this truth of my identity in Christ. I realized that I was a saint the moment I believed in Jesus, and if I sinned, it didn't change my nature, but that action was inconsistant with who I really was: a saint, not a sinner.
I didn't need to ask to be forgiven; I already was. I didn't need to be sanctified; I already was. I didn't need to climb the mountain of the Lord; I was already seated with Him in the highest of places! We're not bringing heaven's kingdom into our realm; we are bringing our real realm, the kingdom, into this natural realm.
This is victory; this is freedom. This is reigning in life and far, far, far, above simply avoiding sin and doing good, which has the fixated attention of most of the church.
Someone preached Grace to me, and Grace taught me. You may have heard someone also preach that John 1:17 says: "grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." The verb "came" is in the singular form in the Greek, not plural (grace and truth). The reality is that grace is the truth and the truth is grace; they are inseparable. It is KNOWING the truth through the preaching of grace that brings freedom.
So, if you've made it through reading this post to this point, I hope you'll take what I've said to heart and realize that the Gospel is probably a lot better and Christ in you more complete than you've thought. You're released from trying to fix your life. You're released from holding judgment against others. You're released to live loved. You're released to see Jesus, and Jesus only as your freedom, life, righteousness, holiness, and refuge. Paul focused on resting, and God did more through him than through any other apostle. Let's see what happens for you when you rest as well.
Grace=Peace,
Jeremy
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