Grace...

A friend recently invited me to be a guest on her blog. That assignment got me stirred up about grace. There was too much to cover in one post, so here is part two.

Paul, speaking to the Galatians, used an interesting phrase to describe their error. He said, “...you have fallen from grace.” I don't know about you, but I've never seen anyone fall up. We always fall down. Grace is not a cover for sloppy living. It's a higher standard. It's living according to the Spirit.

There are two ditches on either side of sound doctrine. Grace is sound doctrine. To one side is the ditch of legalism, being justified by following a set of rules. The opposite ditch is licentiousness, living unrestrained and immoral lives. Paul tells us how to keep out of the ditches.

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery...But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. (Galatians 5:1,16-18)

In one breath Paul talks about being free from the lust of the flesh, and in the next breath he says “you are not under the Law.” What's that all about? The law was meant to show us what it looks like to behave like God. It highlights our inability to behave that way when our flesh is in charge. Christ died, rose again, and sent the Holy Spirit to abide and dwell in His disciples – the body of Christ. We are made spiritually alive by Christ's Spirit in us. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.(Gal. 5:25)

It was for freedom that Christ set us free! God wants you to be unshackled from your flesh. When you ask questions like, “How much of this is OK before it becomes sin?” you are putting yourself back under the law. You're looking for a minimum requirement to fulfill and still be OK with God. Minimum, “just-getting-by” religion dulls your conscience and leads to lukewarm. Don't let the enemy trick you! Become a radical. Blaze for God! Make people around you say, “Oh, you're one of THOSE Christians....”

Yes! I'm one of THOSE. I'm one that will lay hands on you in the name of Jesus and see sickness and disease disappear. I'm one of those that will pray for you and see demonic powers that enslaved you be crushed by the power of Christ. It's exciting. It's addicting.

Be one of THOSE.

It's an infection...

Why lukewarm is worse than cold.

Keep your love fervent.

-1 Peter 4:7-11