I was watching O Brother, Where Art Thou? last night on TV. It's a story that is loosely based on Homer's Odyssey and is a movie I never get tired of seeing again and again. The scene that struck me last night was when Everette, Pete and Delmar had just robbed a bank with Baby Face Nelson. After the escape, the three of them were sitting around a campfire when Delmar spoke:
"Well, that was some some fun though, wut'n it, George? Almost makes me wisht I hadn'ta been saved. Jacking up banks! I can see how a feller'ed derive a whole lotta pleasure and satisfaction out of it. Whoo, doggies!"
Delmar had been baptized in an earlier scene and was determined to walk the straight and narrow now, but he still couldn't help the attraction he found in finding "a whole lotta pleasure and satisfaction" in the wrong ways.
Many Christians have more in common with Delmar than they may want to admit. They believe that when a person becomes a Christian there are a lot of "Whoo-doggie!" experiences they have to say no to despite how enticing those potential experiences might be.
They miss the point altogether. The Law (religious rules) tells you the things you can't do, but along with the prohibition it throws gasoline on the flames of desire to do those very things. In fact, the Apostle Paul said that sinful passions are aroused by religious rules. (See Romans 7:5) Grace does just the opposite. It gives us the desire to live a godly lifestyle and also the power to do it. (See Titus 2:11-12)
If you find yourself at times almost almost "wishtin' you hadn'ta been saved" so you could enjoy the things other people seem to enjoy, I challenge you to "grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" and you'll find more "Whoo-Doggie" in life than you can imagine!
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Our conscience becomes awakened when we're saved and we have plenty of things to say no to then. Not less but more sensitive do we become. We don't have to be overly so meaning overly conscientious but always watchful especially when we hear "I am Holy" by the Spirit of God we can draw close to God and separate ourselves from sin and "things near the edge," of sinful ways. "Obedience is better than sacrifice." By grace Christ can make it life to us. It means like the sweet tea, Christ has changed the nature of the "tea bag" and the "sugar" also into an attractive testimony and witness.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Thank you! I have recently read Grace Rules and have benefited from it tremendously!
ReplyDeleteI'm confused...
ReplyDelete"sinful passions are aroused by religious rules" BUT...
The New Testament restates each of the Ten Commandments, either in exact words or in words conveying the same meaning. These inspired writers understood that the law given on Mt. Sinai and "written with the finger of God" (Exodus 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:10) was not abrogated or abolished at the time Christ died on the cross.
While it is true that we are saved by grace through faith, it is very evident that something besides grace is necessary, for James said:
"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:20),
and
" . . . faith which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6)
obeys Jesus in that Jesus stated:
"If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).
The Author and Finisher of our faith (Jesus) plainly said:
" . . . if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matthew 19:17).
kbt - it's hard to give a complete answer to your questions here in the comments section. Have you read my book, Grace Walk? If not, I encourage you to get it because I go into detail there on the questions you've raised.
ReplyDeleteBriefly -
1. It's true that the Law was not abolished but the old person we were in Adam was abolished when we were co-crucified with Christ. Gal 2:20, Rom 6:6, Col 3:3, 2 Cor 5:17 The Law has been made obsolete with the coming of the New Covenant. Hebrews 8:13
2.As James points out, genuine faith DOES produce works, but it is the result of faith in Christ and our union with Him not something we have to do to enter into a relationship with Him. Ephesians 2:9 says that salvation is NOT of works. Works are the byproduct" of our faith in Christ, not something that produces salvation.
3. Faith does work by love. I believe in works, but believe it is precisely because of His love for us and our response to that love that we work.
4. You have misquoted John 14:15, Jesus didn't say, "if love me, keep my commandments." He said, "If you love me, you WILL keep my commandments." When we love Him, it is our joy to keep His commandments, (1 John 5:3) and in fact, His commandment is simply to believe in Him (1 John 3:24).
5. Jesus wasn't telling YOU that you have to keep the commandments to have eternal life. He was talking to a self-righteous man who believed he could have eternal life by his actions and Jesus said, Okay, then keep the Law. Jesus knew that was impossible. He "laid the law on the man" to show him his own sinfulness and hopelessness apart from grace. The Law came to INCREASE the obvious presence of sin in our lives so that we would see the need for a Savior. Romans 5:20 and Galatians 3:24
As I've said, it's not possible to give a complete answer here, but I hope you'll read these verses I've mentioned and get my first book. I sense your questions are sincere and I know the book will help you.
Thanks for posting.