Jewels From Judy

Why Are We Christians?

Is it by grace that we're saved or is it what we do?

Let us discover God's character and person NO MATTER WHAT!

Let us discover the truth, the way, the life - Jesus - NO MATTER WHAT!

As far as God is concerned - the pressure is off.

Why?

Is it because of His law?

Is it because of His Liberty?

Don't pursue the idol - pursue God!

GOD WANTS YOU - NO MATTER WHAT!

There is a fork in the road - which way do you want to go?

Old way -------- The Law of Linearity, pressure to do what you should be doing, live by rules, do things (read the Bible, pray, serve, etc.) to get results - to get God's attention and approval. Do things 'right' so you can be right in God's sight. This way looks for ways to get things from God. This way never delivers. You have to do A to get B. Draw near to seek God's hand not His presence. If you are looking for what you can get out of God - blessings - START OVER! This makes Christianity about what you do and not what God's done

New way------- Law of Liberty! Hope! It is a desire that values God's presence over His blessings. This way knows that it is Christ who set us free from the bondage of sin and the law. This is a ?come to God dirty and let Him clean you' invitation. This is a Father/Child relationship of trust and love and DEEP and RICH intimate knowledge of one another. On this road we draw near to God because we want to know His heart. This is a ?better hope' not necessarily a better life ($, fun, worldly gain). Having God in your life is what makes life better! Then we desire to do right because we KNOW the Father's heart and we want and desire what the Father wants and desires.

Let's ask ourselves:

Why am I a Christian?

What am I living for?

Are we really loving or are we trying to get our own way? (With God and/or man)

What must I do to be a better Christian?

Hebrews 7: 18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. NKJV

18 The former way of doing things, a system of commandments that never worked out the way it was supposed to, was set aside; 19 the law brought nothing to maturity. Another way - Jesus! - a way that does work, that brings us right into the presence of God, is put in its place. MB

Drawing near to God is the better hope. Jesus is the better hope! The Galatians got into bondage by trying to get to God by obeying the Law of Moses - the Law of Doing and they were deceived. They hadn't even been raised in the law and yet they we corrected by Paul who said they had been bewitched! (See Galatians 3) The word tells us the law was weak and unprofitable. It was given to teach us that we needed Christ to save us because we can't save ourselves through obedience to the law. If we break only one little part we are guilty of breaking all of it!

Jesus fulfilled the Law and all its requirements. He writes His word on our hearts so that we will never separate from Him. So when we try to live by the Law of Moses we are saying to God that Jesus' sacrifice isn't enough and we need to fulfill it. You can see why Paul came down so hard on the Galatians! Romans 6 is a great chapter to read about this too. Here is a snip-it: 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!

This is because Christ set us free from sin and to go back to it would be like placing yourself in jail! You would be placing yourself in the enemy's lair! To walk like that would be like going through life in a coma. We can't take both roads! We can't live with Christ and with rules of the law. We are used to being ruled, but we can't put new wine in old wineskins.

This will set you free!

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

We can come to God free! Jesus fulfilled the requirements. He did the work. The selfish life is behind us because we have been given the awesome gift of knowing God's heart! We can throw our checklists away and live a life of grace and peace and love in Christ Jesus!

Do people see grace and peace and love when they look inside of you?

This is a teaching that came from my notes taken over the past couple of Sundays along with some thoughts from me. I thought it would bless you and encourage you in your walk with Christ. In all that we do, may we do it to glorify God the Father. Be blessed as you are a blessing to me!

Love in Christ

Judy