GWD Open Bible with Sunshine

GOD’S WORD DAILY

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 150                                                             APRIL 30, 2002

     

JESUS CHRIST:
The Foundation of Our Faith

     Legalism and Spirituality

 
     Legalism has no power to affect anything in Christ. Legalistic standards that are
     designed to make the flesh conform will not make any difference spiritually in the
     lives of mankind. We do not earn righteousness by the works of our flesh. We
     cannot perfect our flesh by legalistic practices.

     We need Christ to be saved, we need Christ for reconciliation, justification, for
     righteousness, for spiritual power, for change. In Christ we are made a new
     creature. We are not made new by legalistic works. We renew our minds up to the
      standard of Christ, based on grace and His rightousness and then we are changed
     into a new image as we put on the mind of Christ.

 

     Galatians 6:15, 16

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth
[to have or exercise force over] any thing,
nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

16 And as many as walk [keeps step] according to
this rule,[standard for faith and practice] peace be
on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

 

     It is quieting to my soul to realize that God so loved ME that He gave ME His only
     begotten Son that I would not perish, but have eternal life. I never deserved this
     mercy by anything I did or did not do. It was a gift. There is peace in this!

 

It is comforting to know that spiritual power
has nothing to do with our legalistic
practices or standards.

 

     If spiritual power to help others depends upon the perfection of our flesh by our
     own works, then we would all be without help and without hope, because we all
     sin and fall short of the glory of God. We all need grace to begin with. It is
     clear that we cannot be made perfected by our works either.

 

     Galatians 3:2

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit
by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye
now made perfect by the flesh?

 

Galatians 5:4

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you
are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness
by faith.

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any
thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

 

     Lets continue to walk in the grace of Christ, looking to the author and finisher
     of our faith, energized by love. Let us realize that legalistic standards do
     not guarantee exercised spiritual power. Lets just get busy and exercise our faith
     in love and keep our eyes on things above, not on our shortcomings. God gave us
     His spirit to use not because we were so good, but because He is so good. Amen.

 

-Carol Kenreigh

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O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee. Ps. 63:1

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