The following article is from Chris Kratzer. A link to his blog may be found at the end.
Grace=Peace,
Jeremy
We are no longer to live an "obedience of trying and striving" to follow the rules, but rather we are to live an "obedience of faith," clinging on to the loveliness of Jesus and His performance, not our own. For the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about Jesus, not about us. The Law presupposed there is something you can do, the Gospel presupposes there is nothing you can do, but Someone you can believe who did it all, and does it all on your behalf!
It's all Jesus, all Him, all Grace, all His performance, all His work, all His faithfulness, all His mercy, favor, and blessing, received through faith alone, or it's not the Gospel. If it's any other version, it's a perversion.
In the Bible passage above, Paul identifies the true perverts of the world. Not sex offenders, not homosexuals, not child porn viewers, as evil and terrible as they are. No, rather, he speaks of Christians who turn away from or turn the Gospel of God's Grace in Jesus Christ into another Gospel that is, in fact, not a Gospel. At this point, you should either say, "Amen!" or "Ouch!"
The only documented places in scripture where Jesus gets mad or the Spirit is grieved is when Grace is not extended. Not rules, condemnation, religious activities, performance steps, or obedience speeches. Paul echoes God's heart and view on the matter as he declares that those who turn the Gospel of Grace into any other version should be "accursed."
Right believing leads to right living. You can't live the Gospel day to day until you believe it all the way. An obedience problem is at heart an identity problem. You will never know who you truly are until you believe in the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Faith is what pleases God, not your performance. Faith is what makes His performance become your performance. Faith is the root, obedience is the fruit. We walk by faith, not by sight, or might.
Are you a Christian pervert? Repent (change your mind) and believe in the Gospel.
http://chriskratzer.com/are-you-a-christian-pervert/
No comments:
Post a Comment