Legalism vs. Grace

I was thinking a little bit about legalism today. It ties into my testimony I posted recently, so I think I'll share my thoughts.

Legalism kind of gets the short end of the stick... in a way. Really, Christian legalism on it's best days is mankinds' greatest achievement. Its man doing his best to be righteous and obedient to the Lord. The problem is, man's righteousness is like filthy rags to the Lord. Even though it may have the best intentions possible, it's ugly, disgusting, and completely detestable to YHWH. That's because man can only fix his outward sin. Even though he may look quite pious and upright, on the inside he is still sinful.

Luther said that the law can't be obeyed just by doing what it says. We must obey from the heart! Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. What YHWH desires is a heart of obedience, and of this no man is capable. That's why Psalm 14 says "there is no one who does good, no, not one." We are incapable of true heart obedience!

The Pharisees are kind of the poster boys of legalism. They probably had good intentions. They followed the law to the very letter. But Jesus saw through their outward obedience and saw a heart full of pride. That's why He said they were like white washed tombs. On the outside, they looked quite righteous, but on the inside, they were rotting and disgusting, full of death. Their problem was they understand God's grace.

So what's the answer? How can a man be good? How do we crawl out of this disgusting legalism? The grace of God! When we have faith that God forgives us of our sins, He sees our faith and counts us as righteous. He looks at us, sees faith, and by His grace decides there never was any sin at all. And when we have faith to believe He can make us truly good, that He can actually free us from sin so that we obey outwardly and inwardly, He changes our hearts and makes us clean inside. Then we are holy! It's a matter of faith, believing God can/is/has made us good and whole.

Here's another thought- Legalists can't recognize they are legalistic. Why? They are obeying as best as they can! As far as they understand, they are doing what it right. The problem with people stuck in legalism is that they don't understand that inside, they are full of pride and lust and rebellion and etc. It's not until they are confronted with the reality of God's grace and goodness that they can possibly see the sinful state of their own heart. I couldn't get out of my legalism until I realized that in my heart, I didn't want to obey. I didn't really even love God. I saw that my obedience was empty, but God could make me good. God saw that bit of faith and changed my heart forever.

Are you like me? Are you obeying God simply because you know it's right? Check the condition of your heart. God can change you. Jesus' blood can make you good, inside and out. Just believe on Christ. Have faith, and the One who is faithful and true will do it!

The Full Functioning Body of Christ

This came to me the other day:

There are three chapters where we find lists of spiritual gifts in the New Testament:

Romans 12
1 Corinthians 12
Ephesians 4

All three of these passages are written in the context of unity in the Body of Christ. Paul is making the analogy of a human body to explain to people that everyone has a role to play in the church. Just like our physical bodies, if one part is missing, the body doesn't work properly.

I found it interesting that when Paul talks about working together in unity, he lists spiritual gifts. It seems he's saying that we need to use our spiritual gifts within the Body of Christ for it to work properly.

First Corinthians 12 explains it clearly. The chapter begins with Paul explaining that the Holy Spirit is the source of all the different gifts. He goes on to explain that each of us has a gift to help the Church. Next is a list of gifts the Holy Spirit gives to individuals. He complements this truth with the analogy of the human body, that all the parts are important and necessary for it to work.

Do you know what your gifts are? Paul tells the Corinthians that he doesn't want them to be ignorant of the gifts. That means he wants them to know what they are, how they work, and he wants them to know what gifts they personally have and where they personally fit into the Body.

Paul makes the point that we need all the parts of the body to function. We can't just have eyes or just heads. We need feet and hands and ears as well. We also need all the gifts God desires to give us. We can't just have teachers, apostles, and administrators. We also need prophets, healers, and pastors!

So here's the deal- Do you have a well functioning body? In your Corps/church, do you have teachers, prophets, healers, intercessors, apostles, tongues, interpreters of tongues, administrators, gifts of mercy, encouragers, workers of miracles? Without at least some of the gifts, you're probably a part of a disfunctional body, according to Paul. But the more well working parts you have, the stronger the body!

Do you know what gifts you have? Do you use your gifts? If you're not using your gift, you're not helping the body. You might be like a numb limb that won't work. Now there is no condemnation in Christ. Don't feel bad or guilty. Just seek out your gift. Pray to our God and ask Him to show you your spiritual gifts and where you fit in the Body of Christ. When He shows you who you are, walk that out! Pray, listen, do! Then you will be a well working part that works with the rest of the Body to do Christ's work in the world!

One more thing- be proud of who you are! God made you the way you are for a purpose! Don't be ashamed of your gifts! The Body needs the eyes as much as it needs the feet. We need toes just as much as we need the lungs! Be glad for who you are! You are important!

I know I'm saying stuff some won't agree with. But I'm taking it all out of three like passages of scripture. I'm working within the analogies Paul used to describe how the Church works together and how spiritual gifts fit in. So it isn't my own stuff, and it certainly isn't unorthodox. If you think my theology is off, please show me my errors so that I might walk in light and truth. I'm still young and growing in Truth. Lets work together for victory!

All praise and thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

This is my testimony

So I've been busy and haven't blogged here for like a month or so. I know you missed me!!!

So I have a testimony to tell you. I've come to a greater realization of where I have been and where I am now. So here I go.

I said the sinners prayer at 6, I was converted at the age of 13, and I was saved at 20. That's to make a long story short. Now to make a short story longer....

When I was six years old, I was given an opportunity to say a prayer to ask Jesus into my heart. I didn't quite get it, but I said it. Later that night I said it in my bedtime prayers to show my mom. She was so exicted that she took me to the garage to say it to my dad. He was glad too. What parent wouldn't be glad to hear their young child accept Jesus?

I continued to go to church. At church I learned to pray. I came to realize that if I prayed well people would tell me I was a good prayer. It was good to be encouraged to pray, but it also gave birth to something dark in me. Something evil was born out of something good. Sin loves to abuse the good to make itself more wicked and more corrupt.

As I grew in the church, I learned to do what was right. I never strayed very far. I never got wrapped up in some great, obvious sins. But I was sinful nonetheless.

At 13, I really dedicated my life to Christ. It was the first time I had a desire to do something great for the Lord. The speaker was talking about Booth and his commitment at a young age to live for Christ. I wanted to do the same so I could be used as he was. Booth's example led me into closer devotion with the Lord. I began to read my Bible and made my faith mine. But I was still missing something. There was obediance, but I knew deep inside that there was something more.

I grew in odebiance and knowlege. I was devoted to following Jesus. But what I lacked was an understanding of His grace. I was still under the law! I was obeying commandments, and it looked good on the outside. I had very good of intentions. I thought my obediance was good, and it was, but it was my own righteousness. My own righteousness was as a filthy rag compared to who I truely was in Christ. I was like a Pharisee. The problem with the Pharisee's wasn't that they were outwardly wicked. In fact, they followed the law more closely than anyone else. But their own righteousness created in them great pride. They were as whitewashed tombs, clean on the outside, but dead and rotting within. And that's where I was, having my sin in secret and my obediance zealous, but on my own strength.

I went to the War College simply because it was an environment I knew I would grow in; a year devoted to God and growing in Him. Early in the year He showed me where there was pride inside. He taught me His power to change me and I began to rely on His grace. Then I began to grow, not in obedience and knowlege, but faith and understanding. Through my faith in His complete grace, I became free from the law which bred the sin of pride leading to death. I became free in grace! God has made me like Him. Instead of pride, now there is love. Instead of zealous obedience, I have faith in the work He will do in and through me. His grace covers all sin! I am free! I am free from the bondage and slavery I was in under sin. I am now free to walk in true righteousness, righteousness that begins in the heart.

That's my testimony of the work of His grace in my life. He is truely good and His love for me had endured and will endure forever! God be thanked and praised for His goodness and His ultimate gifts!