Legalism vs the Reality in Christ

My youngest sons watches this one show called Spinjitzu. In one episode a want-to-be Spinjitzu master was showing off his "skills". He was obviously just making stuff up. When confronted, he was crushed. He tried to look like a warrior but just putting on a uniform and throwing his arms and legs around didn't make him truly a Spinjitzu master. In the same way just because someone does a few religious acts, that does not make them a Christian. 

"Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are just a shadow of things that are to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." Colossians 2:16-17 

Legalism, always seeks to lure us into it's pseudo religious forms. It has not changed from the early church to now. Legalism focuses on what you do, not faith in Christ who works in you. To me, legalism stems from our sincere desire to please God and walk with him in spirit and in truth. But, it is not always easy because the Spirit deals in the deepest parts of our inner beings, exposing and purifying areas that we have avoided our entire lives. 

Legalism appears to be a quick fix because if everyone just obeys the rules then no one gets hurt. The reality is that even if everyone does obey the rules, people still get hurt. Sin happens. Legalism does not produce spirituality or prevent sin. 

But, Paul says that all those "religious" activities are just shadows of the reality found in Christ. I have found that sometimes I sin despite the fact that I am reading my Bible on a daily basis, praying, going to church, trying to serve, and when the opportunity arises witnessing. I am not saying I shouldn't do those things, I am just noting that sometimes I can become legalistic in that "doing" spiritual things become more important than the connection to God in Christ that I was seeking when I first started trying to spiritually discipline myself.

What's the point? The point is that connecting with Christ by faith in his death on the cross is where spirituality happens, not in the observance of "spiritual" activities. The reality is that Jesus died for our sins and he ever lives to intercede for us. We are made holy by Christ's death. We accept this truth and live accordingly. God loves you. Be blessed today!

Father, thank you for the reality found in Christ. Open our eyes to see and our hearts to accept your grace in our lives. Praise be to you in us today!

The Opposition is Nailed!

The thing about being dead, is your dead. When you're dead you can't do anything. Your helpless to change anything. But, if you are alive, you can act. The Apostle Paul compares life before Christ to being dead and life with Christ to being alive. 

"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." Colossians 2:13-15

In order for us to become alive Christ had to die for our sins. The law, the powers and authorities that all seek to oppose us were dealt defeat at the cross.  True life, the abundant life is now available for us! 

Think about whatever it is that you believe makes being a good Christian difficult for you. Whether it is legalism or influences all of them were defeated at the cross. Do you hear what I am saying? That thing that hinders you from truly enjoying your walk with God has been nailed to the cross. Legalism will condemn you and influences will distract you. It is sort of like a dog on a chain barking at you. It can only bite you if you get close enough to let it.

Ultimately, there is nothing left to be done except for us to accept what Christ has done and live accordingly. Everything and anything that can stop us from living the abundant life is nailed to the cross. Every single "but what about", "but I" and "I just don't" is dealt with by the triumph of the cross.

Today, I encourage you to  remember that whatever it is that you think can stop you or that you believe is stopping you from truly enjoying life to the fullest, is nailed to the cross. 

Father, open our eyes to see the triumph of the cross. Praise be to you in us today!

The Core in you is full.

At the core of our belief is Christ. Faith in Christ is not a hollow and deceptive philosophy. "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is head over every power and  authority." Colossians 2:9-10

Christ is completely and fully God. The completeness and wholeness that is found in God is given to us in Christ. Fullness is a term that was used to describe a ship being "filled" with everything necessary for a voyage. In Christ we are given what we need. Even though we not be completely whole until we see him face to face and are given our new bodies, we do receive a foretaste of that which is to come in this present life. The healing to wholeness begins. 

You know, I love my wife and she is a great women who loves God, but her love can never make me feel fully whole and neither can my love make her feel completely whole. Only God can do that. It is true: we all have a God shaped hole that only he can fill. 

In Christ, since you are forgiven you are made whole in him. God sees you as holy because your holiness is Christ. God sees you as sinless because your sins were taken by Christ. 

I don't know of a trick to receiving all that God has for us. All I know to do is bow my head and pray and ask God to fill me with his Holy Spirit. Wholeness comes when I begin to believe that Christ died for me and that his forgiveness changes me into a new creation. As a new creation I forgive because Christ first forgave me. 

Father, we come to you and ask to be filled with the fullness of Christ. Thank you for wholeness in you. Praise be to you in us today!

Build up your core!

Everyone believes something. They may not be able to articulate it, but everybody has certain core values that guide their lives. As Christians, all our values are to be built on Christ.  

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:8 

The reality is that we have an enemy that will use anything and everything to keep us from knowing God in Christ. I am not looking to start a witch hunt or to doubt your pastor. What the Bible says is to guard against beliefs that are built on and around human tradition and hollow, deceptive philosophies. Beliefs that in the end will not free you, but will enslave you. 

The basic principals of this world are all about cravings, lust and boasting (see I John 2:15-17). For example the world says we are animals. We have cravings, desires that undeniable and uncontrollable.  Men are dogs is how this sounds as an axiomatic belief. In the church boys are taught that they are dogs and girls should watch out for those boys who only think about sex. Well, the Bible see things a bit differently. I am a man. I am responsible for my choices. I teach my sons that they are responsible for their actions. If you want the Biblical perspective read Proverbs. Sin, is an equal opportunity destroyer. The Bible teaches purity to all and that means men and women have an ability to choose to sin or be holy. 

The principals of Christianity tells me that because Jesus died for my sins I am free from their dominion in and over my life. That does not mean I will not face temptations. The Bible says that Christ was tempted. Yet, he did not sin. Romans 5 highlights the truth that Christ's death on the cross brings salvation from sin because grace reigns in our lives. 

Build your life, your beliefs upon the truth. Jesus , is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (see John 14:6). 

Father, help us to build out lives on Christ. May your Holy Spirit lead and guide us into all truth. Praise be to you in us today!

Don't get out of the car!

If you are driving in a race, you can’t just get out of your car and walk across the finish line. You have to be IN the car. That is like our Christian lives.

 “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

 Think back to when you first gave your life to Christ. You knew that you were not good enough. Your sinful lifestyle was taking a toll on you and everyone around you. Christ was your only hope. You knew that he alone could save you from your sins. 

I remember beginning to read my Bible before I went to sleep. Then, I would read it and pray when I woke up. I was attending home Bible studies and going to church, looking for every opportunity to worship God. I just knew it was all of Christ and none of me.

I don’t know what it was like for you when you first gave your life to Christ, or if you have given your life to Christ (which I highly recommend you do). I do know that it was, it is, and always will be faith in HIS finished work on the cross, dying for our sins, that will be the foundation of our faith.

Wherever you are at in your Christian walk, continue trusting Christ to be your righteousness. Be thankful for his grace that still rescues you.

Father, thank you for the grace we have in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Thank you that you ever live to intercede for us. Praise be to you in us today!

Don't be Deceived, Be Blessed!

"Blessed is he 
     whose transgressions are forgiven
     whose sins are covered.
 Blessed is the man 
     whose sin the LORD does not count against him
 and in whose spirit is no deceit." 
Psalm 32:1-2 

Thank you Lord Jesus Christ, that you died for my sins and transgressions!
Thank you for forgiving my sins!
Thank you for covering over my sins with your blood!
Thank you for not counting my sins against me!
I confess my sins!

To me the only catch is that we don't deceive ourselves by not confessing out sins. Remember, we are not talking about your spouse, sibling or friend. We are talking about your sin. 

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:8-9

Be strong and take heart! God is your point man!

"Love the LORD, all his saints!
     The LORD preserves the faithful,
     but the proud he pays back in full.
 Be strong and take heart,
     all you who hope in the LORD." Psalm 31:23-24

Our job is to humbly love the Lord and be faithful. God preserves us. Because we know that God is faithful, even when we are not, we can be strong and take heart. 

Are you feeling alarmed? Are you feeling besieged? Do you feel like your problems (enemies) are surrounding you? That is exactly how David felt! 

Yes, there will be times when you just can't see a way out. There will be times when the more you try to figure things out, the worse it seems. From your finite perspective you can not, except by faith, see what God sees. 

You know the scene in a movie where, during an escape, the point man is telling someone else that the coast is clear and it is OK to run to safety. The point man can see but the runner can not. The one running to safety must believe that the coast is clear. Sometimes we look to God and trust him that the coast will be clear. 

God will preserve you. He is faithful and will accomplish in your life what he has purposed to do. 

Father, help us to see you and walk by faith. Help us to be strong and to take heart because you will work all things out for our good. Praise be to you in us today!