The Law is for the Lawless, Not for You!
The Law is for the Lawless, Not for You!
1 Tim 1:8-9- “But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless…”
If you have received God’s free gift of righteousness by Christ coming to live inside of you, then you are the “righteous”, not the “lawless”. Therefore, the Law is not made for you. You have something far better than the letter of the Law. You have the Lawgiver, Himself, living inside of you!
Why the New Covenant is Better than Law
The miracle of the New Covenant is “Christ in you, the hope of glory”. (Col. 1:26-27) The New Covenant enables us to live the “Inside Out” life rather than the vastly inferior life of “Outside In”. When the Lawgiver is living in us, we are empowered by Him from the inside out.
We Must Always Start at the Right Starting Point
We must always start with the reality that we have already been made righteous by putting our faith in the work Christ did for us on the cross. Then, as we learn to allow Him to live His life in and through us, His righteous nature begins to live through us, affecting our actions. Our goal now becomes to cooperate with Him for inner transformation; not to become “right with God” because we are already “right with God”.
Though we will not learn to cooperate with Him perfectly in this life, we are on a progressing journey into righteous behavior which culminates in our physical death, when we will be completely changed and fully transformed into His perfect image. (Rom. 8:29) The journey does not make us “right with God”. We are already right with God because of what Christ has done, once and for all! But traveling on this life journey is dramatically “easier and lighter” (Matt. 11:28) when we understand the true New Covenant.
When the Lawgiver is living inside of you, you do not have to live struggling to outwardly obey a list of laws, by your own power and by making more sincere promises to God. Instead, He will empower and guide you from within. This is what makes the New Covenant…new! Living in the true New Covenant is intended to give us the successful life of Inside Out, instead of the failure of Outside In.
Example of Lawlessness – Traffic Laws
In civil society we must have traffic laws, because our lawless human nature is motivated by selfishness and the fear of punishment. If I drive through your neighborhood thinking only about myself and how fast I want to get to my destination, then my lawlessness (not being motivated by love) makes me a danger to others.
But if I am being motivated inwardly by agape love, I will be more careful than the traffic signs demand because my concern will be the safety of others rather my selfish desires. I won’t need the threat of punishment or the outward restriction of law because I am being controlled by a higher inner law. I will be even more careful than the law requires because I am being controlled by God’s love for the well-being of others.
True grace empowers us to live beyond the letter of the Law. True grace produces a better life than Law ever could. This is why Paul could confidently say, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Rom 13:10)
This is the power of true biblical grace; Christ’s life inside you, controlling you from within, as a free gift from a loving Father. And this is THE Good News!
For much more on this subject see Mark’s newest book, “God’s Brilliant Cure…for fear, shame and condemnation”.
Bono of U2 Speaks about “Grace over Karma”
Bono of U2 Speaks about “Grace over Karma”
This is a very interesting article taken from an interview with Bono of the band U2. Of course, it’s not entirely accurate in it’s definition of true grace since it speaks more of mercy than true grace. However, I found it to be extremely interesting…and a great way to talk to the world about the Gospel and the most important question of all- Who is this Christ?. He clearly makes no apology for what he believes!
Bono Interview: Grace Over Karma
(Excerpt from the book Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas ) (Taken from the web site- The Poached Egg)
Bono: My understanding of the Scriptures has been made simple by the person of Christ. Christ teaches that God is love. What does that mean? What it means for me: a study of the life of Christ. Love here describes itself as a child born in straw poverty, the most vulnerable situation of all, without honor. I don’t let my religious world get too complicated. I just kind of go: Well, I think I know what God is. God is love, and as much as I respond [sighs] in allowing myself to be transformed by that love and acting in that love, that’s my religion. Where things get complicated for me, is when I try to live this love. Now that’s not so easy.
Assayas: What about the God of the Old Testament? He wasn’t so “peace and love”?
Bono: There’s nothing hippie about my picture of Christ. The Gospels paint a picture of a very demanding, sometimes divisive love, but love it is. I accept the Old Testament as more of an action movie: blood, car chases, evacuations, a lot of special effects, seas dividing, mass murder, adultery. The children of God are running amok, wayward. Maybe that’s why they’re so relatable. But the way we would see it, those of us who are trying to figure out our Christian conundrum, is that the God of the Old Testament is like the journey from stern father to friend. When you’re a child, you need clear directions and some strict rules. But with Christ, we have access in a one-to-one relationship, for, as in the Old Testament, it was more one of worship and awe, a vertical relationship. The New Testament, on the other hand, we look across at a Jesus who looks familiar, horizontal. The combination is what makes the Cross.
Assayas: Speaking of bloody action movies, we were talking about South and Central America last time. The Jesuit priests arrived there with the gospel in one hand and a rifle in the other.
Bono: I know, I know. Religion can be the enemy of God. It’s often what happens when God, like Elvis, has left the building. [laughs] A list of instructions where there was once conviction; dogma where once people just did it; a congregation led by a man where once they were led by the Holy Spirit. Discipline replacing discipleship. Why are you chuckling?
Assayas: I was wondering if you said all of that to the Pope the day you met him.
Bono: Let’s not get too hard on the Holy Roman Church here. The Church has its problems, but the older I get, the more comfort I find there. The physical experience of being in a crowd of largely humble people, heads bowed, murmuring prayers, stories told in stained-glass windows
Assayas: So you won’t be critical.
Bono: No, I can be critical, especially on the topic of contraception. But when I meet someone like Sister Benedicta and see her work with AIDS orphans in Addis Ababa, or Sister Ann doing the same in Malawi, or Father Jack Fenukan and his group Concern all over Africa, when I meet priests and nuns tending to the sick and the poor and giving up much easier lives to do so, I surrender a little easier.
Assayas: But you met the man himself. Was it a great experience?
Bono: We all knew why we were there. The Pontiff was about to make an important statement about the inhumanity and injustice of poor countries spending so much of their national income paying back old loans to rich countries. Serious business. He was fighting hard against his Parkinson’s. It was clearly an act of will for him to be there. I was oddly moved by his humility, and then by the incredible speech he made, even if it was in whispers. During the preamble, he seemed to be staring at me. I wondered. Was it the fact that I was wearing my blue fly-shades? So I took them off in case I was causing some offense. When I was introduced to him, he was still staring at them. He kept looking at them in my hand, so I offered them to him as a gift in return for the rosary he had just given me.
Assayas: Didn’t he put them on?
Bono: Not only did he put them on, he smiled the wickedest grin you could ever imagine. He was a comedian. His sense of humor was completely intact. Flashbulbs popped, and I thought: “Wow! The Drop the Debt campaign will have the Pope in my glasses on the front page of every newspaper.”
Assayas: I don’t remember seeing that photograph anywhere, though.
Bono: Nor did we. It seems his courtiers did not have the same sense of humor. Fair enough. I guess they could see the T-shirts.
Later in the conversation:
Assayas: I think I am beginning to understand religion because I have started acting and thinking like a father. What do you make of that?
Bono: Yes, I think that’s normal. It’s a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma.
Assayas: I haven’t heard you talk about that.
Bono: I really believe we’ve moved out of the realm of Karma into one of Grace.
Assayas: Well, that doesn’t make it clearer for me.
Bono: You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics; in physical laws every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It’s clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I’m absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that “as you reap, so you will sow” stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff.
Assayas: I’d be interested to hear that.
Bono: That’s between me and God. But I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I’d be in deep s—. It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity.
Assayas: The Son of God who takes away the sins of the world. I wish I could believe in that.
Bono: But I love the idea of the Sacrificial Lamb. I love the idea that God says: Look, you cretins, there are certain results to the way we are, to selfishness, and there’s a mortality as part of your very sinful nature, and, let’s face it, you’re not living a very good life, are you? There are consequences to actions. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humbled . It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven.
Assayas: That’s a great idea, no denying it. Such great hope is wonderful, even though it’s close to lunacy, in my view. Christ has his rank among the world’s great thinkers. But Son of God, isn’t that farfetched?
Bono: No, it’s not farfetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: he was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn’t allow you that. He doesn’t let you off that hook. Christ says: No. I’m not saying I’m a teacher, don’t call me teacher. I’m not saying I’m a prophet. I’m saying: “I’m the Messiah.” I’m saying: “I am God incarnate.” And people say: No, no, please, just be a prophet. A prophet, we can take. You’re a bit eccentric. We’ve had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don’t mention the “M” word! Because, you know, we’re gonna have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no. I know you’re expecting me to come back with an army, and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah. At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says: Oh, my God, he’s gonna keep saying this. So what you’re left with is: either Christ was who He said He was the Messiah or a complete nutcase. I mean, we’re talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson. This man was like some of the people we’ve been talking about earlier. This man was strapping himself to a bomb, and had “King of the Jews” on his head, and, as they were putting him up on the Cross, was going: OK, martyrdom, here we go. Bring on the pain! I can take it. I’m not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me, that’sfarfetched
Bono later says it all comes down to how we regard Jesus:
Bono: If only we could be a bit more like Him, the world would be transformed. When I look at the Cross of Christ, what I see up there is all my s— and everybody else’s. So I ask myself a question a lot of people have asked: Who is this man? And was He who He said He was, or was He just a religious nut? And there it is, and that’s the question. And no one can talk you into it or out of it.
What Happened To The Justified Wrath of God? -The Heart of the Gospel
What Happened To The Justified Wrath of God? -The Heart of the Gospel
The most basic truth of the Gospel is that the righteous judgment and justified wrath of the infinitely perfect God was fully exhausted at the cross. All judgment and wrath was placed upon Jesus when “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor. 5:21)
When Jesus said, “It is finished”, He declared that the judgment of God was fully satisfied and the full penalty was paid. Is. 53 describes in great detail how God poured out His righteous anger upon His Son. The New Testament says repeatedly that all judgment and wrath was “nailed to the cross”. (Col. 1:20, Col. 2:14, 1 Pet. 2:24) This freedom from wrath is for all who will believe.
In Jesus’ explanation of God’s brilliant plan to the highly educated doctor of the Law, Nicodemus, He makes it simple and clear that God was going to free everyone through giving the Son. To qualify for this freedom from wrath, a person must believe in the sufficiency of the offering of the Son.
John 3:36
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
The requirement to obey here cannot mean “keep all the rules/laws” since the scripture says no one can perfectly keep them all. He says here that we obey by “believing in the Son” and then we receive the free gift He spoke about back in verses 16-17, “God so loved the world that He gave His Son…he who believes in the Son is not judged”.
Free From the Wrath to Come
The apostles repeatedly declared that this freedom from the judgment that must come at the end of this age is the very heart of our hope.
Rom 5:9-10
“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”1 Thess 5:9-10-
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”1 Thess 1:10-
“…and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”
So, Is There No More Wrath of God?
But do these promises mean God put away His wrath forever, for everyone? Sadly, no.
The scripture is clear that the justified wrath of the holy God must be revealed against all who reject His free gift through the cross. Make no mistake, there is a day of judgment coming at the end of this age. If we reject Christ’s free gift of righteousness (unearned rightness with God) we are left to defend our own self-righteousness in comparison to God’s perfect righteousness…and we will always lose.
This judgment is not based on God’s desire to punish but on the free choice we all must make. Paul says that those who reject God’s free gift are “…storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God…” (Rom 2:5) Take note that we do this for ourselves.
God must respond in righteousness and justice to our choice. God is not an all-powerful tyrant who is just “itching to pour out punishment”. On the contrary, “God loves the world so much that He gave His Son…any who believes in Him is not judged”! (John 3:16-17)
Jesus goes on to say “…he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18) The issue of judgment and wrath which people will bring upon themselves is not “sins” but the sin of choosing to not believe in the free gift provided by a loving God.
Love and Justice
Remember, God is completely love…and completely just. Because He is the infinitely perfect God, is both completely love and completely just…at the same time.
Because He is completely love, He has provided the free gift of righteousness through Christ and He is waiting patiently until the end of this age.
Because He is completely just, He will then judge all based on His perfect righteousness. Those who have received the free gift of Christ’s perfect righteousness are justified. Those who do not, will have to justify themselves with their own grossly inferior human self-righteousness. Sadly, they will fail.
Rom 1:18
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness…”
Rom 2:5-
“But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God…”
The context of this passage shows us that the “you” Paul refers to here are the people who have rejected the knowledge and requirements of an almighty God who is clearly revealed in all of creation.
The “Wrath” Question Has To Do With “Son-ship”.
Eph 2:1-3
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath…”
Eph 5:6-
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
Paul makes it clear and simple. It is based on believing, which produces “son-ship” by being “born again”. Or, choosing not to believe and remaining a “child of darkness”. He says there are “sons of God” or “children of God”; and there are “sons of disobedience” or “children of wrath”.
The word of God clearly and boldly declares that God reveals Himself through creation, by His Spirit and by His word. Any who desire a relationship with Him from their heart will find Him. He guarantees it. Those who are His through new birth, through spiritual regeneration, are forever free from judgment and wrath. This is truly good news.
All Are Not Children of God
But not everyone will choose to accept God’s free gift and become sons of God. Sadly, eternal judgment is a terrifying reality for all who reject His free gift of righteousness through the offering of Jesus on the cross.
Jesus spoke about judgment and hell on several occasions but always with a deep sadness of heart. Even when speaking harshly to the Pharisees about their hypocrisy and their refusal to hear the truth, He followed with, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!” (Luke 13:34-35)
And again, “When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.” (Luke 19:41-42) This is a God of love who does not force Himself on people but has given people free choice…and grieves over the terrible choice that people, who should know better, are making. He knows the terrible consequences of their choice.
We who believe are empowered to live free of the fear of judgment for ourselves. But we must be moved to action by the eternal reality of the coming judgment upon others and we must sow the “word of His grace” to all we can…while there is still time.
Reach out to people, build relationships, demonstrate the hope we have in Christ, love the least among us, give generously to the mission of the Kingdom and help sow the word of His grace. Let’s passionately help grow His kingdom and help rescue people from the “wrath to come”!
Mark
We Could All Do More…If We Just Had More
But What Would We Do With It If We Had It?
I can relate to always wanting to do more for the Kingdom but not having the resources to do it all. I am experiencing more of that right now than ever before in my whole life.
Our ministry brought in less than $200,000.00 last year; the lowest in several years. And yet, we trained hundreds of leaders around the world who lead over a million people. We gave away thousands of DVDs, CDs, books and study guides that are now being used daily in several countries. That’s a lot of “bang for the buck”!
But we could have done more, trained more, reached more…if we just had more money. And God could have provided more money if He wanted to.
There can be a great frustration in knowing that we all could do more if we just had more and knowing that God could easily provide more…but He doesn’t.
- Is it a lack of faith on our part?
- Are we failing by not believing for more?
- Are we not praying enough?
- Are we not being “persistent in prayer”?
- Would God have provided more if we would have just bugged Him more?
- Or, does God know exactly what He is doing and it’s actually a matter of simple trust?
I look to Paul’s writings and see a man who said he always hungered to go to places where the gospel had never been preached. And yet, he spent many of the most profitable years of his life (from any natural point of view) locked up in prison by Nero, the man John called the beast/anti-christ in Revelation.
How frustrating could that have been knowing God could have easily gotten him out at any moment…but didn’t.
Paul’s peace and life-fulfillment did not come from all he accomplished, the number of churches he planted or the volume of people he reached. It came from his absolute assurance that “all things work together for my good” (Rom 8:28) and “having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph 1:10-11) .
Clearly, Paul was constantly pushing ahead to reach more and do more; and that desire was good and it was from the Lord. But he did not allow that desire to pressure him, drive him or make him feel guilty when God did not provide the means or opportunity.
Paul rested in the knowledge that God could open any door and provide any resource…when He chose to…because He does work all things after the counsel of His own will.
At the same time, he never used the material blessings that came or the influence he had over other people to lavish on himself. In fact, he constantly warned “the rich of this world” to be very careful, to be very generous and always ready to give.
1 Tim 6:8-10- “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs”.
Wow, doesn’t this sound like a severe warning to the current push among so many charismatics today that we should all be rich? How does this measure up to the popular message that we show the world how much God is blessing us by enjoying the best material things of this world?
Listen to the command Paul gives to Timothy in the next few verses-
1 Tim 6:17-19- “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
Look at that last line- “Take hold of the life that is truly life!“ That’s what I hunger for!
So I want to always hunger to do more, reach more, bless more…without feeling guilty or fruitless when God doesn’t open the doors of opportunity or provide the resources to walk through them. I want to live in peace and rest, fellowshipping the Lord, as I wait to be led by the Spirit.
The Gift of Frustration
Here is a critical truth I am learning the hard way
Knowing what you are supposed to do and become,
does not give you the ability to do and become.
But it does create great frustration.
I am also learning that this often confusing, and frequently painful, frustration is a gift from God. It drives us to search for something different, something new, and to look for something that really works. This frustration with our inability is designed to drive us to Him in search of His ability. This is the very frustration the Law was designed to produce!
One of the main purposes of the Law was to cause people to run out of their own ability and run to Him. When sin shows up in our lives we must admit we are not trusting in God’s grace. God wants the law to force us into saying, “Lord, if this is what You require, I am not able do this by myself”. This frustration with our inability was meant to drive us to the source of true ability; the true Grace of God.
The Law clearly defined what it would take to live righteously before God. The Law pushes us in the direction of our only hope; true grace. And the frustration the Law produces in honest seekers is what brings us to God’s goal for all life, the New Covenant in Jesus.
The promise of the New Covenant is transformation by the power of the indwelling Spirit. Change is the evidence of true grace working in our lives. The commands in the New Testament help diagnose where we are not interacting with true grace. Our responsibility to confess where the Word tells us we are falling short, where we are sinning. We must put our faith in the Spirit who lives within us; in our heart, mind and body. Then we must interact with the Spirit as He changes us from the inside out.
This is both the hope and Good News of the true New Covenant!
The Promise of True Transformation
The amazing promise of Biblical grace is not behavior modification but true transformation. In fact, the Bible makes it clear that we must fight against “conforming” to the image of this world but we must passionately pursue “being transformed” by the work of the Spirit into the image of Christ. So before we examine the process, let me give you the punch line-
Conforming is something negative I do.
Transforming must be done to me!
The Scripture uses two different words to describe what we do (conform) and what the Spirit does to us (transform). 1 Peter 1:14 warns us to “not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance”. Paul says the same thing in Rom. 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world”. In each of these verses, the word used for “conform” means to “fashion yourself”. It means to outwardly imitate or mold yourself to the behavior we see in the world. This is something we often do and it is destructive.
But the promise of true grace is that the Spirit will do something to us that will change the very essence of who and what we are. We don’t stop conforming to the world because we decide to stop conforming, but because we are being changed at the very core of who we are. The Bible refers to this as “transformation”. The Greek word used for this “transformation” literally means “metamorphose“.
Every grade school student comes to understand the process of metamorphosis by watching a tadpole change into a frog or seeing a caterpillar spin a cocoon and come out a butterfly. This is not behavior modification; this is true transformation.
Getting my dog to stay in the yard by shocking him every time he steps over an invisible line, now that’s behavior modification. And it can save a dog’s life. But a caterpillar into a butterfly? That is true transformation. The very essence and character of the being has been changed. It no longer looks the same; it no longer acts the same; it no longer is the same; it has been transformed. Some amazing chemical process which I cannot understand has been occurring inside that causes a complete change on the outside. This is metamorphosis; change on the inside that, over time, shows up on the outside.
Metamorphosis (transformation) is the promise of true grace; an on-going interaction between us and the Holy Spirit that causes miraculous change in the very essence of who we are, what we are, how we think and how we behave. There is instantaneous change; being born again of incorruptible seed, freely reconciled to God and made to be children of the Father. And there is progressive change; being increasingly sanctified and growing into the image of His Son. This progressive change is the miraculous process of “spiritual tadpoles becoming Christ-like frogs”.
The New Testament makes it clear that this type of life does not happen automatically simply because we “believe in Jesus”. It becomes a reality only to the extent that we-
1) Believe that His plan is to actually live through us,
2) Humble ourselves and stop pretending we can do it, and;
3) Interact with the true transformer, the Holy Spirit.
For a larger discussion of this true “Good News”, order Mark’s book, God’s Brilliant Plan- Searching for the Easy and Light Life Jesus Promised.
