"In all my years as a Christian, I have never heard anyone say, "I've had it! I am sick to death of the love and grace of God. I'm sick of other Christians loving and accepting me. I'm giving up this Christian life." No I've never heard that. But I couldn't count the number of Christians I've known who have given up because of being under law, who have been broken by the crushing burden of trying to be good enough to earn God's acceptance, who have been mangled by the competition, the judging, and the demands to conform to some group's standards. "We'll accept you if you look like, walk like, talk like, and act like us." And the implication is always, "And God will, too." So what are we to do?
Jesus Christ came to free us from the burden of the law by calling us to a life united with His. We are beloved, accepted children of God, who have been called to His "banquet table" to experience Jesus Christ living in and through us every day. Abundant life is not "pie-in-the-sky" or nebulous theory. It is real, and it is ours for the taking if we will only believe. Let's not settle for anything less. "
- Bob George (Classic Christianity)
11 comments:
"But I couldn't count the number of Christians I've known who have given up because of being under law"
Maybe they ain't christians?
Ike - I think there are Christians living under the law like the Galatians did. Paul had to rebuke them with a strong language...
Commingling of Law and Grace is more prevalent than living only under the law (like the Pharisees did)... Majority of Christians believe in grace for salvation, but when it comes to the life after that (the so called 'sanctification'), they fall into law.
Thus Paul says,
Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? - Gal 3:3
I believe Paul was addressing Christians.
I love this book!!
"the so called 'sanctification'"
I'm curious what you mean by this? After we are saved our new heart responds to the Word of God. And there are a lot more commandments than just ten.
Jamie - Me too... Thats where I started the journey! :)
Ike - By saying "the so called sanctification', I was referring to the sanctification taught in churches today. Someone told (can't remember who) that sanctification is nothing but getting to know your salvation. In other words, knowing who you are in Christ and live according to that identity. There is no 'written code' we follow to sanctify ourselves. We live out the New reality - the reality that we are already a partaker of divine nature. We have given EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness. So we live a life of rest, abiding in Him, and letting Him live it out through us...
Hi Bino,
Thanks for posting this! You have made me want to take my copy off the shelf and re-read it.
Gary
Thanks Bino...I think that might have been your buddy Steve.
Gary - Yes, it's worth re-reading it!
When the entire world is trying to make the Gospel so complicated and confusing, very few authors, tries to keep it's simplicity and explain things in everyday language. That's what I like about this book.
I gave up on the grace of God just one week less than 3 years ago. I wrote about it here on the Grace Walk Forum. It's a must-read; I hope it helps many people. ;)
Ha ha Joel! That was very funny. The apparent sarcasm speaks volumes..
simple set of holy rules to live by? LOL!
Joel, you said "grace is for the weak, I am strong", its funny that it was the same thing I was trying to get to in my recent post I just posted. :)
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