The Power of No

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

Titus 2:11-12 NIV

One aspect of the grace of God that we often overlook is the power we are given to say no. The world does not teach you how to control desires. Think about things we have heard our whole lives. "Falling in love." "Men are dogs." "It's only natural." 

The grace of God means that we are no longer slaves to sin. Desires, emotions and passions are all subject to faith in Christ. He is above all things (see Ephesians 1:19-23). That does not mean you won't ever feel things, have desires or be passionate. But, Christ is Sovereign and his grace frees us from all other masters. We are free to, by faith in Christ, be self-controlled, upright and godly in this present evil age. 

The power to say no gives me the grace to say yes to serving others and loving others in Jesus Name. 

I Now Live

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

Galatians 2:20 NIV

I now live... I live by faith. I live by faith in the love of Christ who gave himself for me. 

Paul, in effect, is telling us, by his example, to live as crucified men and women who are alive in Christ. I take that as my flesh, my sinful nature is crucified with Christ but my spiritual nature is alive with Christ. This is so deep I know I can't do it justice, but, I can remember that as I approach this day I approach it from not just the cross, where my sins are forgiven, but also from the empty tomb where I am resurrected to a new life in Christ. I live by faith in this body until I am made fully new. 

Repelling and Remaining in Christ

   And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. 

   If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

1 John 2:28-29 (NIV)

My youngest son and I went on a zip-line adventure a few weekends ago. It was a blast! The tour also featured a few rappelling sections. I have to tell you that feeling of leaning out backwards just freaks me out. I could tell it made my son feel a bit unsure too. You just have to trust the guides are not going to ask you to do something you can't do.  

Now we know that the Father is not going to ask us to do something we can't do by faith. Remaining or abiding in Christ is not dependant on my righteousness. But, remaining or abiding in Christ produces the fruit of righteousness. Living by faith in Christ's as my righteousness, is remaining in him. I sometimes get the paralysis of analysis. For example in this case I realize my own sinfulness to the point that even if I do the right thing I probably do it with self serving motives. The truth is that God is not asking me (you) to be perfect, he is asking me (you) to act in faith that he will work all things for the good. 

Yes I was a bit unsure when I leaned back to repel down that tree, hanging in mid air, but the rope held and I repelled down to the next landing. In the same way acting in faith sometimes puts us out in midair trusting that the Lord will keep us from falling. Love as best you can and trust Christ to do what he died and rose again to do, make us children of God righteous in him. 

Father, though our sins be a scarlet and our righteousness like filthy rags, you make us righteous in Christ. Thank you and praise be to you in us today!

Faith Is Not a Second Chance

As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—eternal life.

1 John 2:24-25 (NIV)

I remember when I first gave my life to Christ. I knew that my salvation was all about Jesus. Although I had attended church virtually my whole life I recognized that something was definitely missing. 

One of the well meaning but false teachings I had to overcome was that in Christ we have a second chance. What that turns into is that we have a second chance to be good enough. Of course we can never be good enough because our best, our righteousness is at best filthy rags. God does not give you a second chance to be good enough. That would be salvations by works. He gives you salvation by faith. He offers you forgiveness in Jesus Christ. 

Your work is to remain in Jesus. In a sense this is like driving a car in a race. You have to finish the race in the car, you can't get out of the car and walk across the finish line. In the same way, you don't spend your life having faith in Christ as your Savior and Lord and then finish in your own righteousness. What I heard from the beginning of my life in Christ was that it was all about Jesus, he is my righteousness, holiness and redemption (I Corinthians 1:30). That never changes. That is the good news, the gospel. 

If you have gotten out of Christ, get back in Christ. Remain in him. Remember to remain in Christ is to live by faith in his finished work on the cross. 

Father, thank you for salvation, that we can live by faith in Christ. Help us to walk by faith in Christ, to remain in him. Praise be to you in us today!