knowing Christ and faith

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on April 2, 2014 at 6:29pm

The new heart brings us into a new life with an awareness of the living God that includes an understanding of our sin that caused our separation from God. The new heart (life) brings with it the indwelling of God Himself (Holy Spirit) who will convict and convince us regarding the way we should live. The new life is meant to be in harmony with the Living God and the Word of God. Though we receive the new heart and have the indwelling of God we still live in the old flesh which will war against us the rest of our lives. We are told to crucify self, which is basically to surrender ourselves wholly and solely to God that we may walk in the power of the Spirit. To your specific question regarding legalism the answer is no. We must be taught of the Word and of the Spirit to walk in the newness of life apart from legalism, but we also must remember that in this liberty that we have in Christ does not mean that we can choose to live anyway we feel like. There is a right way to live and a right reason to live that way. Thus, when we talk about legalism I think it I beneficial to at least attempt to give a working definition or comparison to freedom in Christ. At the core there are two real factors. They are motive and reason (my choice of words). 1) Motive deals with the why we choose to do the right thing. Is it because I am fearful of condemnation and/or am seeking to appease God with my behavior? Our motive should be driven by love for God and a desire to please Him, not appease Him. 2) Reason deals with whether the principles I am trying to live by are God given or man created rules/principles. This part is often more difficult to discern than our motives IMO. Most of Jesus' harsh words in the gospels were pointed at the religious leaders who had created a whole system that enslaved the Jew and sought to exclude the Gentiles. Today we find religious people and leaders who have in essence created a set of rules and regulations that are man driven and not ordained. Often a tell-tale sign of a man driven rule is that it will seek to appease God.

Your second question deals with an interesting point. We are told to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. It does not ask us to examine ourselves to see if we are living according to a set of rules (especially man given rules). The starting point of self-examination is how is my relationship with Jesus doing? Then how am I relating to brothers and sisters in Christ? There are some other questions that can easily be included, for example. Am I pleasing Jesus? How is my life glorifying Christ?

The main point I would like to emphasize is that there is a great difference between living to please Jesus and living to appease Jesus. Most other religions seek to appease a god. Christianity has a God who appeased Himself by dying on the cross in our place so that we may have new life, a life that can be lived out to please Him.

I hope this helps at least some.

Lord Bless,

LT

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Permalink Reply by Jenny on April 4, 2014 at 12:31pm

There's lots in here i need to wrap my brain around for a while. 

What stands out as really important for me right now is identifying motives and if what i do is to appease Jesus or please Him. 

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on April 4, 2014 at 2:09pm

That is a good question for us all to ask ourselves. Please feel free to inquire further if and when you are ready.

Lord Bless,

LT

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Permalink Reply by Jenny on April 4, 2014 at 7:03pm

thanks,

honestly, there are times when i try to please Jesus from a place of joy and faith, but there are also times when i try to appease Him. and this is just a guess, but it might be 50/50. i guess my question is, will the ratio that a Christian tries to please vs. appease naturally become wider and wider as their faith grows?

50/50 seems like a dangerous place to be and makes assurance difficult when i observe myself trying to appease the one who died for me and gives free grace. i guess i had expected that a Christian will 100% of the time be motivated by trying to please Him and never try to appease Him.

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on April 4, 2014 at 7:10pm

The fact that your asking and are now aware of the difference puts you in a good place to move toward pleasing and becoming free of appeasing. It is a journey, but one that is in His hands to finish.

To your specific question the answer would be some find freedom and grow more and more in love with Christ and seek to please Him as they mature, while others get stuck in the appeasing mode, most often because of a particular brand of teaching that lays the burden on the person, rather than freeing them to live for Him in joy and wonder. I trust because of your questioning and awareness you will see growth in the right direction and be better prepared to keep from being ensnared by legalism.

Lord Bless,
LT

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Permalink Reply by Jenny on April 4, 2014 at 9:02pm

thankyou LT, if you would please say a prayer for me i'd appreciate it

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Permalink Reply by Richard L. Broch, Sr. on April 2, 2014 at 9:56pm

Hi Jenny,

FIRST QUESTION = The Book of Galatians is Paul's letter to the church at Galatia which started out well enough....BUT, then some of the converted Jews wanted to bring in elements  of the Law, traditions, and LEGALISM into this new Christian church.

Gal. 4:19-20, " My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you." (KJV).

Even with a new heart, as we are being formed in Christ, it is a time of sanctification. This is ridding  ourselves of "old baggage"......and this could take a long time....maybe the rest of our life.

SECOND QUESTION = Remember, doubt is (IMO) Satan's favorite card to play in dealing with a new Christian.

Consider Gal. 5:16-18, "This I say then,"Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (KJV). 

If you can, Jenny, Read all six chapters of Galatians. It will help with answers to your questions.

Grace and Peace.

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Permalink Reply by Jenny on April 4, 2014 at 12:34pm

its reassuring to remember that the process of getting the old baggage out isn't going to be a quick thing and that its a long-term thing

thanks

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