Living As A Nonconformist

The excerpt below is from my new book, Walking In The Will of God. The book will be released by Harvest House Publishers on April 1. The first people who will be able to buy it will be those attending the Radical Sonship Conference in Atlanta on March 27-28. I'll have a few pre-release copies available then.



Living As A Nonconformist

As we present ourselves to God, the Scripture says, “Do not be conformed to this world.” What does it mean by “conformed?” It causes me to think of times I’ve seen concrete pourers prepare to pour a driveway or sidewalk. The first thing they do is to build a form that will hold the concrete so that it takes the shape they have designed. That’s what the world tries to do to us; even the religious world does it.

Structures are laid out and we are taught to stay within the bounds set for us. “If you want to know God’s will, there are certain things you must do. You have to do your part.” So we are told.

If you act outside those bounds, you will be sanctioned. Jesus ran into this challenge constantly. Everybody, including the religious world of His day, thought He had lost His mind because He didn’t go with the flow in terms of how they believed things ought to be. He was a nonconformist and his nonconformity provoked those around Him.

Paul is telling us something very important about how to know God’s will with certainly. It’s this: don’t stay inside the world’s form. Don’t be con (with) formed by the world. Get outside the box they have built for you. You don’t have to jump through a series of religious hoops to know God’s will. That’s nothing but a bunch of religious hype.

Take Paul’s advice and don’t allow the world, even the religious world, to press you into its mold so that you approach things in the same way. The Bible says that apart from God doing His work in us, our attitudes and actions will be formed by others. How we think and how we live will take shape because of influences other than Christ.

What practical implication does this biblical nonconformity have on your potential to know God’s will for your own life? The answer to that question varies from person to person. What prerequisites have you been told are necessary in order for you to know God’s will in your life? I’ve already given you one that I taught for years – that you should become holy although, in reality, you already are.

What other faulty ideas have “formed” the way you have thought about how to know God’s will that you now realize are wrong? Remember, knowing God’s will isn’t a hard thing. Religion will try to make it that way, but your loving Father certainly has no part of that. His yoke is easy.

We take on the philosophies, beliefs, values, and habits of the worldly and religious cultures in which we live. In another passage, Paul warns against being taken captive. “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

There are many traditions that we are taught are necessary to know God’s will, but many of them are empty deceptions consisting of the philosophy or man. If we allow it, these will influence the way we think about God’s will. They aren’t God’s way, but they attract those who believe knowing God’s will is a hard thing.

It is interesting to see how many Christians take a defensive stance against the behaviors of the culture around us — things like dress, music, entertainment, or other external things — while remaining seemingly unaware of the dangers of the world’s ideas. And yet, from our thinking, flow all the rest of our life’s decisions and actions. We must be aware and on guard, because the worlds of both the unrighteous and the self-righteous will surely try to conform us to their shape.

Living As Transformed People

Do you remember Trans-Continental Airlines? Their name reflected their flight routes. They flew across (trans) the continent. That’s how the Bible says we are to live in this world. A mold has been poured in which we are told to stay but, by the power of Christ, we have been set free and enabled to step across the form laid out for us. We are transformed people who don’t approach life the way others do.

You can know God’s will if you will live as a transformed person. Don’t buy into the snake oil they are trying to sell you. Knowing God’s will is easy when we trust the Christ within us who is the very personification of God’s will for our lives.

Don’t get bogged down in trying to know God’s will. This isn’t rocket science. You don’t have to be a theologian or a genius to know what He wants you to do. Consider the questions raised in this chapter as a starting place. What do you want to do? What are your interests? What are your strengths?

If you move ahead with both your heart and your eyes wide open, the Holy Spirit will make it clear to you where to go and what to do next. Just live one day at a time, trusting Him to make it all clear in His way and His timing. The big picture will most definitely start to become clear to you.

Your role is to yield yourself to Him. Don’t allow others to complicate this for you. Step across the traditional, demanding ways you’ve been told reveal God’s will and just live in simple faith in Christ. When “the fullness of time” according to God’s agenda comes, you will discover the plan He has for you growing in your heart and being evidenced in your circumstances

Radio Programs In Africa

For the past few days I've been recording radio programs to be broadcast across Africa and possibly other places. My relationship to Trans World Radio through my friend, Bill Mial, has been the hand of our Father at work. God is using Bill and Joan Mial to impact people around the world with the message of the grace walk.

The plan is to produce radio programs which will air in numerous languages. The content for the programs will come from the 101 Lies Taught In Church videos I did on youtube and am now working on in book form.

The approach in the programs is to follow the path Jesus took when He said, "You have heard it said that . . . but I say to you." I'm starting the programs with "You may have heard ... but the Bible says..."

The first two foreign languages being discussed are French and Vietnamese. It's thrilling to see how passionate our loving Father is about spreading the message of His loving grace.

Here's one of the chapters from the working manuscript:

Our Sins Are “Under The Blood of Jesus”

Just as there are trite statements in all cultures that sound true on the surface, but don’t necessarily convey the truth, so it is in the church world. We’ve heard some things said in church that have been stated so often and sound so logical that we believe they must be true. This is one of those statements. Take a close look at that statement: Your sins are under the blood of Jesus. What could possibly be wrong with that affirmation?

There’s a very good question you should get in the habit of asking, that will help you cut through the fog of vague and confusing talk. It’s simply to ask, “What do you mean by that?” Ask people what they mean by a phrase or term, and you’ll finally be able to pinpoint what the controversy or teaching is really saying. Often you’ll discover that you actually agree with what a person is trying to say, even though you disagree with how they say it. Other times, you’ll discover that what sounds good on the surface actually disguises a serious error beneath. Either way, you’ll not discover what you’re really dealing with until you ask people to clarify what they mean. Many of our shorthand expressions and clichés serve to promote errors and reinforce misunderstandings.

In this case, what someone usually means by saying that our sins are under the blood of Jesus is that we are forgiven. I would certainly do nothing but agree with that assertion, but I do have a problem with this way of trying to say it. It communicates a serious misunderstanding about the work of Christ.

TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURES

It is important to understand a major difference between the Old and New Covenants and how they describe the process of sacrifice and forgiveness. In the Old Testament period under the Law of Moses, forgiveness was indeed offered people of faith, but the dominant concept was that of atonement. Atonement literally means “a covering.”

You may remember how the priests would offer sacrificial animals for the sins of the people. There were many, many types of sacrifices, offered continually. There were daily, weekly, monthly, and annual sacrifices. The most important day of worship for ancient Israel was the annual observance called Yom Kippur, literally, “The Day of Atonement.” This was the one and only day of the year when a human representative, the High Priest, would enter the Holy of Holies, the innermost room of the Tabernacle or Temple, and approach the Ark of the Covenant.

The Ark represented the foundation of God’s very throne. When the blood of an innocent animal was poured on Ark, the Judgment Seat became the Mercy Seat. Men’s sins were considered “covered” by the blood, and the people were counted forgiven by God — for now only, however, because no sacrifice under the Law ever provided for tomorrow’s sins. At best, they were temporary and up-to-date.

However, things have changed with the coming of the new covenant. The Law’s observances were only shadows and previews of the work of Christ, who would accomplish a far greater work.

Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.Hebrews 9:23

Jesus’ offering of Himself was truly a “better sacrifice,” but that’s not all. Remember the scene when Jesus showed up at the Jordan River where John the Baptist was baptizing? John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29). That Old Covenant prophet, John, understood better than many Christians today that Jesus came to do something different than previous priests had done. He didn’t come to hide away our sins from God’s sight by putting them under the blood of a sacrifice. He came to do away with them completely. As John wrote, “And you know that He appeared to take away sins” (1 John 3:5).

The book of Hebrews teaches that Jesus was an infinitely better sacrifice than any of those offered in the Old Testament. In fact, He was the perfect sacrifice. When He offered Himself for our sins, His shed blood didn’t just “cover” our sins. By His sacrifice, our sins were taken away.

Hebrews 9: 26 says,But now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

The words “put away” are one word in the Greek language, which means “to disannul, to do away with, to completely destroy.” Jesus didn’t come to cover your sins. He came to take your sin away, and that’s exactly what He did.

As if to make this point unmistakably clear, this contrast is described:

Every [Old Covenant] priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for all time, sat down at the right hand of God … For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Hebrews 10:11-14

CLARIFY YOUR THINKING

So it’s actually great news to know that your sins are not under the blood of Christ. His blood doesn’t cover them. The blood of Jesus Christ has taken your sins away! Some have said that the doctrine of justification is the teaching that because of Christ’s finished work, our status can be described as “just-if-I never sinned.” It’s really more than that, but that’s a good start. In the eyes of your heavenly Father, you have an unblemished record. He isn’t overlooking anything. He has rewritten your history by taking away the sins of your past and giving you the history of Christ Himself.

Believing that your sins are “under the blood of Christ” doesn’t truly honor the finished work of Jesus. Ironically enough, it actually diminishes His sacrifice. What He did is much greater than most Christians have understood. He doesn’t condemn us for our sins now because there are no sins to condemn. The cross has obliterated them! Your sins have been blotted out and you have been given the righteousness of God in Christ. You don’t ever need to be bogged down with a preoccupation about sins again.

Instead, you can now walk in the confidence of knowing that your life isn’t defined by sin anymore, but by the righteousness of the Christ who has become your very life.
So, though it sounds good to say that our sins are under the blood of Jesus Christ, it is a lie. The Bible says our sins have been taken away from us, forever, by the finished work of Christ at the cross.

How Far Does The Love of Christ Reach?

This picture is definitely a radical expression. I suspect it stirs up an "Amen!" with some and a "Yeah, but..." with others. It makes me both feel uncomfortable and give thanks to God at the same time. What's your take on it?

Valentine's Day

There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts say that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine." Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine.

I'm not sure about it's origin. I'm only sure of one thing - if you're a married man, there'd better be flowers or candy at your house before the day is done. I brought the flowers in yesterday, just to be safe.

Seriously, Melanie has been "my only Valentine" in life. From the time she was 15 years old, we've spent the day together celebrating our love. Today, we plan to go to Orlando where Mickey Mouse will remind us of how much we love each other (??? ... It all makes sense to a woman. Men just have to shut up and go with it.)

When I was a kid, we would make and then give red, paper hearts to each other. The tradition puts me in mind of what God said to His people about giving a new heart. ""Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26).

You don't have the same old sinful heart you used to have. By His grace, God has given you a new one. You have a heart that longs for Him and loves Him and the things He loves.

So, today, celebrate the reality of having received a new heart. But don't forget the flowers for your wife. You may not get as much grace from her as you do from God.

Grace And Sin

Does teaching pure grace encourage sin in people's lives?

I've offered the following quote many times because I love it. The great Bible expositor, Martyn Lloyd Jones wrote:

The true preaching of the gospel of salvation by grace alone always leads to the possibility of this charge being brought against it. There is no better test as to whether a man is really preaching the New Testament gospel of salvation than this, that some people might misunderstand it and misinterpret it to mean that it really amounts to this, that because you are saved by grace alone it does not matter at all what you do; you can go on sinning as much as you like because it will redound all the more to the glory of grace. If my preaching and presentation of the gospel of salvation does not expose it to that misunderstanding, then it is not the gospel.

Works -- it always has been a hot topic in the church. It was the subject that triggered the revolution that led to reformation in Martin Luther’s day and it’s the subject that the growing grace revolution hinges on today, five centuries later. Despite the fact that the Apostle Paul himself said that works and grace are impossible to mix, those who speak out boldly against works-righteousness as the basis of Christian living had better be prepared for resistance. The religious world hasn’t changed since Paul’s day or, for that matter, even Luther’s day when he addressed the subject as it relates to salvation.

Some have argued that “going too far with grace” can cause people to grow lax about sin in their lives. They imagine the Summer Youth Trip at the Local Community Church turning into a “Girls Gone Wild” video. That kind of assumption is totally ungrounded in reality. It ranks right up there with “There’s a boogey-man under my bed.”

Grace doesn’t cause people to go wild in sin. That’s a ridiculous idea perpetuated by two groups of people: (1) Those who are fearful because they don’t trust the Holy Spirit inside other people to lead them and (2) those who are afraid that they will lose control over other people if they actually begin to believe this grace teaching is true.

You can’t go too far with grace. That’s like saying, “don’t go too far with Jesus.” Paul wrote in Romans 5:17 that it is by the abundance of grace that we learn how to reign in life. The real threat to the church isn’t that we will go too far with grace, but that we won’t go far enough. Paul told Titus that the grace of God teaches us to deny ungodly behavior and empowers us to live like the righteous people we are. Show me somebody who is sinning and calling it grace and I’ll show you somebody who is telling a blatant lie. They’ve embraced disgrace and have given it a slanderous new name.

Do you feel an inner defense mechanism suddenly kick in when you are told about how works aren’t the basis of the Christian life? If so, I encourage you to ask yourself why. Is it because you’re afraid that grace might cause people to become lazy or even passive? Grace won’t do that. The Apostle Paul commented on his own level of work when he said, “I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Paul was willing to put his works ethic in the Christian life up against anybody. What was it that he said gave him such a strong motivation for works? It was the grace of God at work in him. You don’t have to be afraid that grace will make people lazy. True grace never does that. To the contrary, it motivates us toward authentic righteous works as opposed to mandating artificial religious works that only masquerade as being righteous.

It's Not About Us

Have you ever noticed how that when we read the Bible we try to make it be about us? The bent of the flesh toward taking the prominent place is consistent, if nothing else. Take the way we read the parables as an example.

In the story of "The Good Samaritan," what is the most common application you've heard of that passage when it has been preached? Probably what I used to teach about it - that we ought to be Good Samaritans. The point of the story, though, isn't that we ought to become something. The Good Samaritan is Jesus. We were the one who was lying on the side of the road, broken and bleeding. We were the one that religion and the Law couldn't help.

Or consider the story of the pearl of great price. Matthew 13:45-46 says, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."

Many times it has been said that the Pearl of Great Price is Jesus and that we ought to be willing to give up everything for Him. There's one glaring problem with that application though: this pearl was bought by the one who ended up with it. Obviously, you and I didn't pay anything to have salvation through Christ. It is a free gift. On the other hand, Jesus did pay everything to have you. The amazing thing is that you are the pearl of great price. The story is about His goodness in buying us, not our goodness in seeking Him.

A similar story exists in Matthew 13:44. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man had found, he hid it, and for the joy thereof goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field." Many have believed that Jesus is the treasure, but that doesn't fit. You are the treasure and He bought you.

Over and over again we can see how self-centered our traditional interpretations have been. One more example: We say it's the story about The Prodigal Son and that we need to come to our senses, get up and come home. The fact is that it's the Story of The Accepting Father who embraced his son without giving him a chance to make his empty promises.

We want to make the hero of the stories be ourselves, but the fact is that we're not the heroes. Jesus is. The Bible is a book that shows His greatness, not the need for us to call forth some imaginary inherent goodness we fancy ourselves having.

It's not about us. It never has been. It's all about Him and the amazing grace He has poured down on us all.

An Upcoming Grace Walk Resource

I made the decision not to travel as much this year so that I'll have more time to produce materials to help people grow in their grace walk. This is the newest resource I'm working on at the moment. It's called Journey Into Intimacy. The book is formatted like the Grace Walk Experience book. It consists of an eight week study divided into five daily studies for each week. There will be videos to accompany the book for small group use. It will be available within a few months. The next resource to be released is my new book, Walking In The Will of God. (To be released by Harvest House Publishers on April 1)

Who Accepted Whom?

It may be that the greatest single misunderstanding about the nature of salvation is the teaching that its essence revolves around a person accepting Christ into his life. "Won't you accept Christ into your life?" unbelievers are so often asked. The idea that Christ wants to come into our lives is almost universally taught in most evangelical and charismatic churches.

"What's wrong with that?" you might wonder. "Doesn't He want to come into a person's life?" The startling answer if we really take biblical teaching seriously is "no." Salvation isn't about us accepting Him into our lives. Instead, the gospel is the proclamation that Jesus Christ accepts you into His life." "You did not choose me, but I have chosen you," Jesus told His disciples.

The flesh loves to cling to the notion that we cast our vote for Jesus at salvation and that He then moved in and has been thankful to us ever since. The essence of salvation isn't that you accept God, but that God has accepted you. Think about it - this triune God who has enjoyed eternal intimacy within the Godhead has brought us into the inner circle! He has accepted us in the Beloved!

Apart from Him, we have no life in which He could possibly dwell. In our co-crucifixion with Jesus, our old self was crucified with Him in order that the source of sin might be destroyed. (See Romans 6:6) You have been crucified with Christ and you no longer live. (See Galatians 2:20) Now Christ is your life and in Him you find your very existence. (See Colossians 3:4 and Acts 17:28)

Christ in your life? Not a chance. We have entered into His life and now share in the koinonia of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When we were God-hating, self-centered, blind-as-a-bat and dead-as-a-doornail sinners, Christ died for us. (See Romans 5:8) By His grace and through His finished work on the cross, the eternal God has brought us into the eternal lovefest. We weren't seeking God. Let's not flatter ourselves. Nobody seeks Him, not one of us. (See Romans 3:11) But he clothed Himself in the garment of humanity and came here to bring us home, where we belong. He came to seek and to save us while we were lost. (See Luke 19:10)

He chose you. He came for you. He died to reconcile you to Himself. He raised you from a walking death. He made you alive and has seated you at the right hand of the Father, squarely situated in the middle of the eternal party that will never end. Only one response fits such a reality - Hallelujah!

Is There Not A Cause?

When David saw his brothers cowering before Goliath, he was troubled that nobody had confronted him and brought an end to his brutal regime. Goliath had caused the people of God to become overwhelmed with a sense of their own inadequacy. He had caused them to forget that the source of their victory was their Heavenly Father. He had caused them to act like scared little girls instead of like the soldiers they were. He had paralyzed them in their progress.

Does Goliath sound familiar? Look again at the things I've described he did to them. Those are the exact things that legalism does to God's people today. Legalistic religion towers over us, causing us to feel inadequate, to focus on our own inabilities instead of on God's ability, forgetting our true identity and bringing us to a standstill in our grace walk.

When David questioned them about the problem, they turned on him as if he were the enemy. "Who do you think you are?" they sneered. The same often happens to grace revolutionaries to stand up today and speak out against the legalism that intimidates God's people.

David wasn't deterred by their criticism though. He asked them, "Is there not a cause?" He knew there was a noble cause that cried for a response. The enemy had to be confronted. The people had to be set free from its tyranny. God would do it if somebody would trust Him, rise up and go forward. So he did, and you know the rest of the story.

You may be criticized at times when you speak out against legalism. Your brothers may accuse you of pride and think you are arrogant to take a position different from theirs. But, remember, there is a cause. Christians are being persecuted by the heavy hand of legalism. We must stand up and come out against it "in the name of the Lord." Our God is on our side. Be bold. Stand strong against the legalistic culture of the modern church. You may be opposed by some, but do it anyway. Is there not a cause?

Sunday Preaching

Our Sunday Preaching broadcast is going very well. Last week there were 671 computers that logged on to watch the message. We can't know exactly how many people are watching the messages since there are sometimes groups who watch together. Here are a few of the encouraging emails I've received about this new ministry.


We are around 15-25 people, and it's so inspiring to see what the grace of God is doing in each and everyone's lives. What you teach about healing in lives through the grace teaching is so correct. The old is gone, it’s a new life, new freedom, it’s a Holy Spirit life.It's the goodness of God which leads people to surrender to Him. So, Christ has really set us free. Fantastic, THANK YOU, Steve. - Oddmund and Bente in Norway

Back on August 20, 1983 God gave me this promise from Habakkuk 2:3..."But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day." Here 25.5 years later, we are seeing and hearing with your Sunday night preaching, the fulfillment of that promise. We can now see and hear, what we only could believe (and sometimes doubted) would happen, for so many years. We are spreading the word to as many as we can. (Not an easy task up here in the Northeast) We believe this is only the beginning. The best is yet to come. In Christ's Love, Dot and Bill Schroeder

My wife and I listen every Sunday, we live in Longview, Tx., where there is no Grace Walk teaching, so it's a great delight to hear from you on Sunday. - Cliff & Pat Hill

Hi I’m in Parksville British Columbia, and this is church for me. I know I’m not perfect and if there was a perfect church, when I got there it no longer would be. You don’t need the long dreary story. I would just like to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND GOD BLESS YOU. Heather

Hello, I have been watching your Sunday video stream every week from San Diego CA. Its been been a real blessing; as far as I know they're aren't any churches in the area teaching the grace walk message. Is there any way to view past Sunday video messages? Thanks, and keep it coming. T. Sullivan

In the beginning of your speech on Sunday 25th, your wanted to know where we watch your teaching from. Well, I'm from Norway. I know several Norwegians linked to your blog on their blog, so I guess there's more people than me watching.
Thank you a lot for uplifting words! With regards, Werner Skaug

Watching the internet broadcast from Pensacola, FL.We are at the Career Development Program www.waterfrontmission.org Praying about attending Mar 27 in Atlanta. Dave Clarke

Now, on the "other side of the Jordan", I hunger to hear words of encouragement as I live this new supernaturally empowered life. My friend, who facilitated the Gracewalk series two years ago, mentioned your weekly sermons posted on your website. Today, I listened for the first time. As you said, my experience is the same as most in that we only receive messages of dead legalism week after week. Thank you so much for your words of grace that are so refreshing to my heart. Geographically, I live in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada which is located about two hours west of Toronto. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ellis Henricks

I am listening to your teaching here in Laramie Wyoming. Thank you so much for sharing your struggle in learning to use your mind as you entered the grace walk I too was struggling with doubting maybe I had been listening to some strange doctrine. However it just brings you deeper into Jesus to see His beauty, and feel his warm embrace, Your are an encouragement and a Blessing!!!!!!!! In Christ, Bryden Wilson


Because of different time zones and with the desire for more people to access the teaching, I will be leaving the message I share each Sunday online until the next Sunday. My hope is that you will gather others together with you in a group, listen to the message together, pray, minister and share with each other together. We all need encouragement and being with other like-minded grace walking Christians is a great way to find that.

You can access the online Sunday Preaching on the home page at www.gracewalk.org