The bondage of the law and the bondage of sin.
The bondage of the law and the bondage of sin.
The word Gospel means "good news". The good news is we are saved by grace. How is it then that so many people(not all) grossly misinterpret salvation and works as if they are not related. Salvation is through grace alone. Yes and amen! But how quickly people want to throw away the law after being set free from it's bondage. God demands holyness. Walking in a newness of life. Not the old life of sin.
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
- 1 Peter 1:15-16
When we receive the grace of forgiveness do we then continue to live in unrighteousness? No. We follow God's commandments because we love Him and our neighbors.
Jesus declared, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
- Matthew 22:29-32
"All THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS HANG ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS" vs. 32
This is following His commandments summed up in love, not the bondage of the law like the Pharisees, but in spirit and in truth. Spirit in the mind. Truth in the heart.
This is how we love God.
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” - 1 John 5:3
They are not burdensome. His commandments set us free from the bondage of sin, how then can we continue in them after Jesus paid such a high price for our freedom.
"What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life."
- Romans 6:1-4
This newness of life is required for all who call Jesus Christ(Savior).
...“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.” - 2 Tim. 2:19
This is the new life you are called too.
"And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better." — Luke 5:36–39
Jesus also says in this scripture you don't want the new wine right away meaning you are still comfortable in your old ways. This is where faith in Jesus and His strength comes in.
This is growth in Jesus by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Putting off the old man.
That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
- Ephesians 4:22-24
In the spirit of the mind our mind is now in Christ. We must put our faith in Jesus to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When we turn to Him, He fills us with the Holy Spirit to lead us to every good work. Not our work but His work in us.
He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
- Titus 3:5
But we must accept this gift and not grieve the Holy spirit by living in sin.
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." - Eph. 4:30
So live like you ought. You are a new creation in Christ.
This takes heart work and a renewal of your mind in Christ. This is the grace of God in faith. This is His plan of redemption to renew you. But we must humble ourselves. Asking God to reveal any shortcomings.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. - 1 John 1:8
God is faithful to reveal where we fall short. Call upon Him. He will wash you clean.
"Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." - Psalm 51:7
(hyssop - a medicinal plant - properties as an antiseptic, cough reliever, and expectorant, it has been used in traditional herbal medicine.)
Look deep into my heart, God, and find out everything I am thinking.
- Psalm 139:23
Reveal my heart.
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. - Psalm 139:24
Cleanse me and lead me.
Drawing near to God is work. Living according to His will written in scripture.
"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
- James 4:8
Being a friend to sin and God is not possible. Because.
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
- James 1:8
I pray for your walk. Trust Him, claim His promises. Open your heart to Him. He does not despise a humble and broken spirit. Jesus calls this blessed.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” - Mt. 5:3
The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.
- Psalm 51:17
It is work to keep the commandments. But when we let Him take the proverbial wheel, He will guide us. So turn from all unrighteousness. And do the first work. Repentance. Then obedience(with His strength).
Take up your cross and follow Him.
Put on the full armor so you can stand(Ephesians 6).
Walk with Him like Enoch(Gen. 5:24). And He will take you.
God bless.
