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We are not under law but under grace
Rm6:14b In St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians Paul talks about a church alienated from Christ. A church that seeks to be justified by the works of the Law is fallen from grace. We cannot earn grace. That is a contradiction. We receive grace by faith. When we are under grace there is no pressure to follow laws or rules. To be under laws and rules is bondage. To be under grace is freedom. Grace is the privilege of those whom Christ has freed from sin, the fear of death, and the Law and to whom has been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. These are the people we call the church and are living by faith. To those whom God has called, he has justified, and to those he has justified, he shares his glory. Justification is granted to those who live by faith apart from the works of the Law. Learning to live by faith is a life long process. It was with Abraham and so it is with us. Living by faith means following the leading of the Holy Spirit, learning how to discern the voice of God, and overcoming peer pressure, fear, and human logic as God takes us deeper into his hidden ways and will. Our righteousness is based on faith in Christ and not based on works of law. He whose righteousness is faith shall live. The tendency for a new convert is to follow the teaching of the church and unless the church is preaching and teaching freedom and grace and not bondage to rules and regulations that person is once again under the dominion of sin because the strength of sin is the law and being under law, he is subject to sickness, poverty, lack, and the devil. We must learn to live under grace. We must learn to live without judgment and condemnation. We must learn to live in love and joy and peace. All the law is summed up in one commandment. Love your neighbor as yourself. Just as the blood of Christ washes away our sin and covers the believer, love, too, covers a multitude of sins. Our experience of the love of Christ brought us life. The law is there to condemn. We as ambassadors of Christ are to give life. When we live under grace, our message our life, gives life to the world. Don’t fear making a mistake. God knows the flesh must be crucified. Seek those things that are above where Christ sits at the right hand of God. The carnal mind is death. The spiritual mind is life and peace: for you have died and your life is hid with Christ in God. Become people of the word. Spend time with God. Spend time with nature. Be still and know that I am God Ps46:10. Live under grace and live in freedom. Amen |