THE DOOR TO LIFE
27/08/24 08:15
If we plan to give Bible studies, it helps to know what the Bible is about. The Bible is not about the Bible. Nor is it about religion. The Bible exists to bear witness to Christ and the life that Christ is for us. Genuine Christianity is not some version of the knowledge of good and evil which means its main focus is not morality. Kingdom Life as distinct from religion is about life without limit in Jesus Christ. Just to be clear – the law/morality and religion is not the end point of Bible revelation. Its purpose to explain the truth that we are included in the fellowship of God in the person of Jesus. The point of a Bible study is not to explain our gospel but the Gospel of Christ and the Christian Church.
WHY SO CONFUSED?
So, since there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, why do so many of us live from a contractual relationship of imagined entitlement and formulae? Why is it so easy to imagine we are whole or holy because we live from a trio of church distinctives or from a bunch of culturally established Christian behaviours. Could it be that we are married to the idea of self-salvation or some formulaic version of the knowledge of good and evil? Unless we are living Christ out life, this lesser version of life is what we are living in – except that we are not alive.
NOT ABOUT OUR PERSISTENCE OR WILL POWER
“The law of perfect liberty does not rely on man’s ability and disciplined performance to obey and perform routine regulations and commandments. Like the law of gravity, this law works spontaneously within a specific ‘magnetic’ field of influence. Living under the law of Moses or any moral law for that matter, depends entirely upon the individual’s willpower and self-discipline to consistently adhere to and obey the requirements of the law. Thus, the law of obligation became the basis of man’s experience of condemnation, and a sense of failure and shortcoming. What keeps religion enslaved to this law is fear of punishment and a hope for reward, whether it is the thought of escaping hell and gaining heaven one day, or at least the pious feeling of applause and recognition now.” (1)
NO CONDEMNATION AND ALL LIFE
‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit’ Romans 8.1 KJV. We see that the basis of salvation is not a checklist of good deeds done and bad deeds avoided but our living in the Spirit of Christ who forgives us and expresses Himself in us. The heart of Godliness is to live as an expression of Christ – which is to say that Jane and George live in Christ’s grace to multiply life as their true selves, giving glory to God.
So if there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, why are we living in forms of religion that condemn ourselves and others. The reasons are stated above. But basically they boil down to misguided teaching and/or a sense of entitlement we think we have as the result of living from our contractual formula. One can live this kind of life without Christ. But when Christ is our life we are alive in oneness with the Christ of God. A big difference for personal joy and kingdom fruitfulness. So if we are giving Bible studies make sure that you have eyes that see the nature of Kingdom Life and that you are not stuck in some legalistic mindset that makes you bind people instead of setting them free.
(1)Du Toit, Francois. God Believes in You . Mirror Word Publishing. Kindle Edition.
WHY SO CONFUSED?
So, since there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, why do so many of us live from a contractual relationship of imagined entitlement and formulae? Why is it so easy to imagine we are whole or holy because we live from a trio of church distinctives or from a bunch of culturally established Christian behaviours. Could it be that we are married to the idea of self-salvation or some formulaic version of the knowledge of good and evil? Unless we are living Christ out life, this lesser version of life is what we are living in – except that we are not alive.
NOT ABOUT OUR PERSISTENCE OR WILL POWER
“The law of perfect liberty does not rely on man’s ability and disciplined performance to obey and perform routine regulations and commandments. Like the law of gravity, this law works spontaneously within a specific ‘magnetic’ field of influence. Living under the law of Moses or any moral law for that matter, depends entirely upon the individual’s willpower and self-discipline to consistently adhere to and obey the requirements of the law. Thus, the law of obligation became the basis of man’s experience of condemnation, and a sense of failure and shortcoming. What keeps religion enslaved to this law is fear of punishment and a hope for reward, whether it is the thought of escaping hell and gaining heaven one day, or at least the pious feeling of applause and recognition now.” (1)
NO CONDEMNATION AND ALL LIFE
‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit’ Romans 8.1 KJV. We see that the basis of salvation is not a checklist of good deeds done and bad deeds avoided but our living in the Spirit of Christ who forgives us and expresses Himself in us. The heart of Godliness is to live as an expression of Christ – which is to say that Jane and George live in Christ’s grace to multiply life as their true selves, giving glory to God.
So if there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, why are we living in forms of religion that condemn ourselves and others. The reasons are stated above. But basically they boil down to misguided teaching and/or a sense of entitlement we think we have as the result of living from our contractual formula. One can live this kind of life without Christ. But when Christ is our life we are alive in oneness with the Christ of God. A big difference for personal joy and kingdom fruitfulness. So if we are giving Bible studies make sure that you have eyes that see the nature of Kingdom Life and that you are not stuck in some legalistic mindset that makes you bind people instead of setting them free.
(1)Du Toit, Francois. God Believes in You . Mirror Word Publishing. Kindle Edition.
