Carol Swenson
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Consider the following contrast between Law and Grace. Which side do you live your life on? Which side do you naturally think from? From which side do you live out your relationship with God?
| LEGALISM | GRACE |
|---|
| Sin leads to guilt and shame | Sin leads to the cross and forgiveness | | Law condemns sinners | Grace justifies sinners (opposite of condemnation) | | Law forces sin to hide in the dark | Grace invites open and hopeful dealing with sin | | Law promotes hidden behavior | Grace promotes integrity | | Law inflames sin | Grace breaks sin's mastery | | We control sin by force (will) | God overcomes sin through relationship (grace) | | Rules/willpower restrains sin | The Truth (Christ) sets us free from sin | | Law depends on human effort | Grace depends on God alone | | Motivate obedience through pride | Motivate obedience through God's love | | Acceptance is conditional | Acceptance is unconditional (in Christ) | | Please God (via good works) | Trust God (which pleases Him) |
This list could go on and on, frankly. But look at the contrasts; do you see the differences? Do you comprehend the magnitude of this? For instance,
• When you do sin, especially in the area that you really want to do better in, does your sin lead to extended feelings of guilt and shame; or is your sin resolved quickly by running to the cross of Christ and to God's assured forgiveness?
• Do you fearfully hide your sins struggles from others; or do you feel drawn by God's love and grace, offered to you through godly others, to be open about them and to overcome them?
• Do you try, over and over, to control your sin by the force of your will ("I will not do this!"); or do you trust Christ, exclusively, for the power to overcome sin?
• Do you trust Jesus for God's favor, His acceptance, and His love, even after you blow it with sin; or do you feel like God is disappointed with you, maybe a little frustrated, put off, sick and tired of waiting for you to become a better person?
• Finally, are you focused on trying to please God through your good deeds and piety; or are you so aware of His already-settled pleasure with you in Christ and His desire for you to trust Him to be good and gracious to us, always, that you do just that: you trust Christ, come good times or bad, easy times or hard, failures or successes, victory over sin or even felt-captivity to it?!
May we be liberated by the Spirit of God to trust in His grace, in the settled truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
http://blog.thecollegechurch.org/2008/03/30/contrast-legalism-vs-grace.aspx
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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