Friday, March 1, 2013

I tried keeping rules




What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  

I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.   

Galatians 2:19-21 (MSG)

Posted by Bob Lipsys at 7:47 PM
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1 comment:

  1. The Healing is Always Christ (.com)August 1, 2014 at 8:29 PM

    I like this particular posting of yours, in particular. Maybe because I am becoming more aware and, I hope, growing/maturing. I believe that what you say, the central idea that if I go back to rule-keeping, then Jesus died on the cross unnecessarily~~~that is true! He did not die for any of us unnecessarily. I pray that each person will accept His gift of Salvation, then allow Him, ask Him, to the Lord of his/her life. "Lest not one perish."
    All we have to do is to believe in Him, that He is the Son of God, and then learn more and be as much like Christ as we are able. My hope is that we talk with Him often.
    Many blessings, and hope things continue to go very well with your blog. I see you are prolific. All is well, as the Two Listeners say from the Holy Spirit many times...in the book, God Calling, edited by A.J. Russel Another book/author I recommend id E. Stanley Jones' And the Word Became Flesh. :) Thanks. Please visit my blog that is just before yours- www.thehealingisalwayschrist.com

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