For those of us who have experienced the gospel of abundant grace, it can be interesting to think back to the BG days (before grace). The Christian "religion" so often touts the need for believers in Christ to "do" things to maintain salvation and God's acceptance or approval ... while trying to work on finding the right combination of works to keep their faith alive. Bible verses get quoted with misapplied context and without people thinking them through.
As the song says:
Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk ...
Well now, I get low and I get high ...
Somebody help me ...
Religion screams that we need to demonstrate an outward walk as some sort of proof of our belief. Paul emphasized that we walk by faith and not by sight. We are *gifted* with God's righteousness—justification—and salvation apart from works. It occurs by grace through faith. "Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness" (Roman 4:4-5).
Let's confront the fear-based notion that faith is dead apart from works. If this were truly the case, it would require the application of grace plus law; and right standing with rules attached. It not only pushes people backwards and upside down to the time of their roller coaster Christianity during their BG days, but even further back to an obsolete covenant containing the impossible Mosaic law the Jewish people were under before the death and resurrection of Jesus. The faith that saves cannot be considered dead while salvation remains alive. They go hand in hand and cannot be separated. Religious legalists will suggest otherwise, but they fail to spell out precisely what works and exactly how much is required in the New Covenant in order to keep faith off of life support.
While works can be an important part of our life in Christ, the good news is that the gospel and our eternal redemption is rooted in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
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17:48
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17:48
1041. Even as People of Faith, It's Okay to Say, "I Don't Know"
We can all look back at the many things we've learned (or unlearned) about God, His love, the message of Jesus and His redemptive work at the cross. And yet, there seems to be so much we don't know when it comes to eternal things. Theology becomes a tangled mess full of twists and turns. We change our perspectives sometimes, especially when God's Spirit helps us in reaching a greater knowledge of the truth, perhaps one small bite at a time. But as humans, some of what we believe about Bible doctrine and things related to it may also just be a matter of opinion or perspective based upon what we know, think, or have been taught.
This week's program is rather unique as we discuss individual perspectives about faith, believing, and questions that may be difficult to answer. In the end, God is not frustrated with our ignorance ... and sometimes it's okay to say, "I don't know for sure what the answer is to that."
--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
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21:30
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21:30
1040. Is the Bible God's Word and Our Final Authority?
In our culture today, the collection of writings commonly referred to as The Bible has often been called God's Word. Some call it our final authority. Yet we see within the pages where it is Jesus who is specifically defined as the Word who was with God from the beginning—and was God—and He became flesh. In Him was life and light. Jesus never promised an addendum to the writings of the old, holy, Jewish scriptures ... but did indeed promise to send His Spirit as a helper and guide.
This is not to minimize the Bible or anything in it, whether it be Old or New Testament. The pages are a reliable source of truth that point us to the Life-giver. But there is much confusion amongst thousands of corporate Christian church denominations with a multitude of different opinions that do not align ... and yet they pretty much all consider the Bible as the source for their beliefs. God is not the author of that confusion. Considering the phrase, "the word" ... it can be defined in multiple ways when looking through the pages of the Bible. For example, there was a word of law for the Jews and there was something better that came along that Paul preached, which he called the word of faith. One was given for the Jews "to do" under what is now an obsolete covenant, while the other was given for anyone to believe in a new and better covenant.
But we are not on a divine path to become perfect interpreters of the Bible. This is not our destination. It's all about keeping our eyes on the person of Jesus with the help of His Spirit while getting to *know* Him. *He* is our final authority and the Author of faith, life, and salvation.
--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
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19:12
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19:12
1039. Is God the "Author" of the Publication Known as The Holy Bible?
A slogan heard quite often within Christian circles—used in various ways—is that God is the Author of the Bible. It's a concept that somewhat turns into a catchphrase without entirely taking into consideration what this specifically means.
For those who have listened to us for the past twenty years, you know how we embrace the truths found within the pages of this compilation of writings called The Bible. You also know how many things we've come to see differently from the beginning of our journey into grace and throughout the years as we grow in our understanding of the gospel of grace and the knowledge of the truth concerning Jesus. There are "concepts" about the Bible that are often handed down to all of us through religious mindsets that may not always be accurate and will have influence over us ... sometimes positively and sometimes negatively—depending on whether it is based on real truth or theorized assumptions that may be at least partially false.
For some, their belief is anchored in thinking everything in the Bible was dictated by God to humans who transcribed it in writing. Does inspiration really means dictation? Is the phrase "God-breathed" synonymous with "God spoke?" Is the Bible alive and able to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart? Let's be clear ... we continue to be cheerleaders for the Bible as we always have been. But our faith and confidence isn't contained in the writings themselves, but in the living One to whom the writings point to as the Author of faith, life and salvation.
--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
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19:52
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19:52
1038. A Case of Stolen Identity
Our former days from working in radio brings a reminder of something the FCC required at the top of every hour for broadcasters. It's called a "Legal ID," where each station airs their call letters and city of license.
From a Christian spiritual perspective, what would appear on your ID if it were printed out ... similar to a driver’s license or other form of identification? How do you see yourself inwardly? How are you described?
If your identity is based upon what you do, that might fall under the category of a "legalistic ID." Requirements and demands that need to be met in order to become something you think you have not yet attained are just examples of stolen identity that empty religion has tricked us into giving away out of ignorance.
On the other hand, one of the greatest discoveries found in the gospel of grace is coming to realize how God *already* identifies us in the here and now. Righteous, perfected, blameless, sanctified, and so much more ... and it's not just how "He sees you" but it is who you *are* as a child who has inherited without trying to do anything to make it happen. We can now live from this "God life" that abides within as God produces it through us.
--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
Growing in Grace is a weekly program featuring informal conversation to help with growth in understanding the gospel, and to live in the freedom that comes through Jesus Christ.
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