Prophetic Teaching (Part Three): What's Missing From the Church - Grace and Freedom From the Religious Spirit
In this third and final part of the three-part prophetic teaching series the Holy Spirit gave me about what is currently missing from the Church (you can find parts one and two here), we get into the good stuff.
The Lord is always very intentional about how He does things and there’s a reason He ordered the different pieces of this teaching the way He did. Because the important piece that He wants all of His children to “get” right now, that will open up the doors to all of the blessings, power and authority that is promised to us, is surrender (which we learned about in part one). But, in order to get there, you have to understand humility and how He wants us to respond to Him like David did (which we talked about in part two), so He was giving guidance and a “warning” about the rebellion of your flesh ahead of time.
And now, He’s sharing probably the biggest piece of them all - a true understanding of what His grace really is, as well as a revelation and understanding of how the religious spirit has kept most of His people from truly experiencing it. Until now, that is (cuz God is DONE with that!).
Because truly, that’s how gracious God is! He wants to share with you exactly what is going on, so you’ll recognize it when it’s happening and be able to identify it. He wants to warn you in advance of the “enemies” you’ll encounter on your journey to full surrender and freedom in Him, so they won’t be able to intimidate you or stop you because you’ll recognize them from a mile away!
Because, the sad truth is, SO many (if not even the majority) of the Church has been under the manipulation of the religious spirit and don’t even realize it. But, that’s exactly why the Lord is bringing a fresh revelation of the true Gospel and what His grace really is. So, all the generations of man-based, watered-down, works-focused teaching can be stripped off the hearts of His children and they can be set free by the real GOOD NEWS!
I know I’ve said it already a couple times before… “one of the biggest things the Church is missing right now…” But, this one really IS one of the biggest, if not the biggest.
A true understanding of grace. And really, a true understanding of what Jesus actually did and who we actually are in Him.
That might seem funny to say that the Church doesn’t have an understanding of what their own Savior did. But, it’s unfortunately quite true. And again, the reason for that is religion. And as I’ve said before… “religion” does not just mean a bunch of old men dressed up in robes reciting memorized sayings. Religion can (and has) crept into the hearts of some of the most dedicated believers (I used to be one of them!). Because that’s what it does… sneaks in and sets up shop under the radar. And for many of us, those roots of religion got laid down a long time ago, some all the way back to childhood.
Grace
Right now is very much an Isaiah 43:19 “moment” for the Body of Christ.
“Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.”
There’s actually multiple ways that verse applies right now, including with what the Lord is going to do in our nation, but I will stick with the topic at hand. As I’ve mentioned before in previous words, the “new” thing the Lord is doing right now is actually the “old” thing. He is taking us back to basics. Back to the way it was and will be again. Where His people are completely dependent upon Him, surrendered to Him and free IN Him!
The “new” thing He is doing (that’s actually an “old” thing) is GRACE. And the reason it will feel “new” is because of just how steeped in religion we all have been. It’s literally put blinders over our eyes to the true goodness of God and freedom of Christ. But, God is taking them off and freeing His people once again!
In that verse, the Lord is describing Himself doing the “impossible.” Making a way where there is “no” way.
To human reasoning, there is “no way” for there to be a road in the wilderness. And “no way” for a river to be running through a desert. But, that’s exactly what He’s getting at here - He is making the point that this “new” thing that He’s doing… it is a WAY where there has been NO WAY.
And that’s exactly what God did when He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Before Him, there was no way for us to be right with God. Because even our very best efforts to be righteous on our own are nothing but filthy rags to Him (Isaiah 64:6). In fact, the law of Moses was given to us to show us just how incapable we were of measuring up.
“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” -Romans 3:20
“Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins.” -Galatians 3:19
But, God knew that all along. He had a plan from the very start. That, when the time was right, He would introduce a new covenant with not just the Israelites, but the whole world! Where we would be made right with Him through nothing but faith in His Son. It was literally Him making a way where there was no way and Jesus IS that way!
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” -John 14:6
So now, let’s get into the nitty gritty about grace.
Grace, by definition, is the unmerited favor of God. We know (intellectually) that it is unearned, undeserved and a free gift from God. We say that over and over again in our church services, worship songs and private devotionals. But, even though it’s something we can know in our heads, it does not mean we’ve had a revelation of it in our hearts. Especially, if we have been caught up in religion (either knowingly or unknowingly).
This was exactly what was going on with the Galatian churches that Paul wrote to in the book of Galatians. (In fact, the book of Galatians is pretty much the book of the Bible when it comes to relationship vs. religion!)
As Paul says to them in the opening verses of Galatians (v. 1:6), he is surprised that they are already turning away from the true Gospel to a “different gospel.” In fact, he actually says the people are turning away from “Him who called you in the grace of Christ,” meaning they’re turning away from God Himself.
So, how did this happen?
After the people had been saved by putting their faith in Jesus Christ, they began to slide backward and started to attempt to be made right by the law again. And this is what Paul is addressing with them. (And this is a BIG and VERY important revelation, so if you are struggling to understand this part - which a religious spirit can unknowingly do to you - ask the Holy Spirit to help you “catch” it!)
“For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” -Galatians 2:18-21
I will come back to the first part of this passage in a little bit. But, for now, let’s look at that last sentence. “If righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Paul is basically saying, if I try to earn my righteousness - my right-standing with God - by my own works, by obeying the law and “being good,” then Christ died for nothing. Because if we’re going back to having to earn it again, then His sacrifice was in vain. Then, He never even had to do what He did. Because we’d be right back to the way it was before He came.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” -Ephesians 2:4-5
“For by grace you have been saved by faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so no one can boast.” -Ephesians 2:8
A gift is given. It is not earned. It is paid for by someone else and all you do is receive it.
And that’s exactly what God’s grace - your salvation - is. A gift. HE paid for it. Not you. Your salvation is about what HE did. Not about anything you’ve done, will do or could ever do. It is about HIM. Not you.
Which is what makes it a gift.
We’ve heard and read these verses over and over again. But, the religious spirit (along with pride, self-righteousness, legalism and all their cohorts) have put a veil over the truth in the minds of believers so they won’t experience the true freedom of the real Gospel.
You are saved by what Jesus did. NOT what you do. That is why (like it says in Eph. 2:8), it is the gift of God, so no one can boast. Grace is not about you or what you do. It is about Jesus and what He already did.
And because it is a gift and you did not earn it, you can’t “lose” it. Because then it wouldn’t be a free gift. Then, it would still have stipulations. However, you can deny it or give it back, which is actually how people can fall away from their faith, grace and salvation.
And that is one of the enemy’s biggest ticks. He slowly gets you to pull away from believing God’s grace and Jesus’ sacrifice are enough and ironically, as you work harder to “stay” righteous, you are actually in the middle of falling away.
“If you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ. You have fallen away from God’s grace.” -Galatians 5:4
It is the sly, cunning work of the enemy because he keeps you trapped in thinking you’re doing a “good” thing by trying to be holy, while in actuality, you are starting to reject the work of Christ and make it about you again instead of Him.
And unfortunately, I’ve seen it at work close-up. Where people who legitimately think they’re doing right by God have gotten so tied up in works again that they start to question that Jesus even paid for all of our sins. And they don’t even realize the magnitude of what they’re saying. Because if you question that, then your entire foundation of faith is being shaken.
This is why Paul wrote an entire book of the Bible (Galatians) about not getting tied up in works again after you’ve been freed through Christ. And why today, you see so many believers still living in the same bondages as the world. Because they are not walking in the true freedom that Christ died for them to have.
And it’s why the book of Hebrews gives us a strong warning…
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6)
What the writer (presumably Paul) is saying here is that once someone who has believed in Christ and experienced all of the blessings of His gift and His truth, comes away from believing His sacrifice was enough, you won’t be able to get them to come back again because they will have stopped believing in it. Because they “crucify” Christ again for themselves and shame Him again - meaning, they are doing the same thing the people did back then - saying Christ isn’t really who He says He is and doesn’t really have the authority to do what He says He can do, so they stop believing and fall away.
You don’t fall away because of your own sin. Jesus covered that. You fall away when you stop believing that He did.
When you start trying to be made right again by your own works or merit, you are trying to get to God by another way. But, faith in Jesus’ work is the only WAY (John 14:6).
The work of salvation (and being made right with God) was finished on the cross by Christ. It is why He said “it is finished” before He took His last breath. In fact, the word in Hebrew (tetelestai) was written on bills at that time to show that they were PAID IN FULL. Jesus was sending a clear message - the debt was paid IN FULL. For all of mankind. Period.
So, now let’s go back to Galatians and dig a little deeper so you can understand the difference between grace and works and see where the enemy tries to plant his snares in your heart.
Faith vs. Works
Again, Paul is speaking to the Galatian church because they have begun to backslide into religious, works-based thinking after having already been saved by Christ.
“After starting new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?” (Galatians 3:3)
He is trying to remind them that they started their new lives in Christ by the Spirit. The whole way they even came into the Kingdom of God in the first place was simply by believing. So, why were they now trying to “stay” there by their own efforts?
In fact, Paul is not very polite about it. He calls them “foolish” several times and just two verses earlier, he outright asks them, “Who has bewitched you?” Where the word “bewitched” means to put an evil spell over them, so they can no longer think clearly. And also means to appeal to someone’s vanity and selfishness.
So, he’s basically saying, who has tricked you into thinking incorrectly about Christ and your salvation? Who has appealed to that sinful nature of selfishness that is in all of us and made you think it’s about YOU again?
He then goes on to say in verse 3:10, “Those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under the curse.” Now, this is where false teachers and those who are stuck in religion and works misinterpret the second half of that verse, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands written in the law.”
They look at that and go, “See! If we don’t obey all of the commands in the law, we are cursed!” Thinking that means that we have to continue working to be made right by trying to keep all of the law. When in actuality, what it really means is right there in the very next verse (v. 11) - “So it is clear no one can be made right by keeping the law. It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
Verse 11 is there to explain verse 10. He is saying, because everyone who doesn’t observe and obey the entire law - which is everyone because no one is capable of doing it except Christ - is cursed, that is why we are instead made righteous by faith. Because we can’t do it by keeping the law. It is impossible!
Which is exactly why the law was given in the first place.
“[The law] was given alongside the promise to show people their sins.” -Galatians 3:19
The law was given to SHOW us that we can only be made right by grace because we could never be “good” enough. Because on our own, we (in our pride) can tend to think we’re pretty “good” people. We think hey, I don’t go around murdering or stealing. I’m not that bad! But, God had to show us that by His standards, NONE of us measure up. Not a’ one. Because His holiness is light years beyond what we can even imagine.
“ As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;” (Romans 3:10)
So, God had to “show” us our sinfulness by using the law as a tool, a mirror of sorts, to “show” us ourselves and give us a big old reality check. But, it was never supposed to be permanent. It was only supposed to show us how lost we are without Him and how much we needed a Savior, so when He sent One, we’d be overcome with gratitude and freedom!
“But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised.” (Galatians 3:19)
“Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.” (Galatians 3:23-25)
The law (and all of the constant confessing and sacrificing and atoning that went along with it) was the only way for us to stay “safe” with God until Christ could come and make the better way. But, when He did come, it was to give us a way out! To rescue us from ourselves and our inability to be made right by any other way.
“The way of faith is very different from the ways of the law.” (Galatians 3:12)
“Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law.” (Galatians 3:13)
“If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 3:21-22)
If the law could’ve actually worked to give us life and freedom, then it would have. But, that’s the point. It couldn’t! We were never and would never be able to fulfill it. Because we are all prisoners to our sinful nature in our flesh. So, it would never, ever lead to freedom. We would just spend all of eternity trying desperately to uphold the law and failing miserably at it.
So, God made a better way.
He sent Jesus. Who did all of the work FOR us. So, we could be made right and saved by believing in what He did and receiving it for ourselves. Which is why Paul warns us to make sure that we stay free.
“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.” (Galatians 5:1)
Abraham’s Two Children
Another very important way this is illustrated in the book of Galatians is through the analogy of Abraham’s two children. His two children represent the two covenants of God - the old covenant through the law and the new covenant through the blood of Jesus.
“The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of His promise.” (Galatians 4:23)
As you probably already know, Abraham had received a promise from God that he and his wife Sarah would conceive a child. But, since both of them were very old, they wondered how it would happen and eventually, tried to make it happen by having Abraham sleep with Sarah’s maidservant, Hagar. They had their son Ishmael from that and then later, God fulfilled His promise and gave them their son, Isaac.
So, as Galatians 4:23 explains, Ishmael was born out of a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. While Isaac was from God fulfilling His own promise.
“These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. Hagar represents Mt. Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. (v. 24) But the other woman Sarah represents the heavenly Jerusalem and is the free woman. (v. 26)” (Galatians 4:24-26)
“And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit.” (Galatians 4:28-29)
We are children of the promise. Children of the free woman. But, just like Ishmael persecuted Isaac, those who are stuck in religion, works and their own human efforts will try to persecute those of us who freely receive Christ’s gift. And again, this is why Paul is warning them (and us) to stay free.
Not only because of the pressure of persecution from others, but also, the sly trickery of the enemy. There will be (and already are!) many who will try to talk you out of the real Gospel and make it about man/us again. But, just like God said to Adam and Eve all the way back in the Garden… His response again is, “Who told you that?” Because it certainly wasn’t Him. He wants you free!
“You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you.” (Galatians 5:7-10)
God will judge anyone who tries to confuse His children or make them stumble. He warns us against them in Galatians 6:12.
“Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save.”
Look at that last part again - they don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save. They already know they will be persecuted for teaching the truth - which is that the cross of Christ alone can save - but they don’t want to be attacked for it, so they teach religion and works-based doctrine instead.
It was true then and it’s still true now.
But, God is pretty clear about that too. To believe in Christ’s sacrifice and God’s grace, you have to have childlike faith. That’s why Jesus tells us that over and over in the Bible. You have to simply believe and take Him at His word. But, if you try to make those who do believe like a child stumble by forcing other doctrine on them and making them think they have to do a thousand other things in addition to believing in Christ… well…
“If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)
The “little ones” are those that believe in Him. That take His promise at face value and believe that His sacrifice does cover their sins, once and for all. So, if you cause those people to stumble by luring them back into religion/the law and teach them to start trying to earn it again… it’s not going to go well for you.
This is exactly why it takes HUMILITY to receive God’s goodness! Because pride wants to make it all about you. And your salvation is not about you, it’s about Jesus.
Comparing the Two Ways
I am a very visual person, so the Holy Spirit always gives me visual representations to help get a message across. So, let’s go back to that thing I said we’d come back to - how Paul said in Galatians 2:18, “For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor” - and talk about what he meant.
When the law was given to the people, they saw how sinful they were. They recognized it and understood it because they had something to compare themselves to. Up to that point, they didn’t know how sinful they actually were.
It would be like (here comes the parable!) an athlete who, on their own, thought they were pretty good. Maybe they run a mile in 10 minutes. They think to themselves, man, I’m pretty good! That was pretty fast, I’m good at this! But then, one day someone tells them about Olympic athletes who can run the same distance in under 5 minutes. Now, all the sudden, they feel totally different about themselves and realize that they’re not even close to being fast when compared to the standards of an Olympian athlete.
Now, their perception of themselves has totally changed. But, it wasn’t until they had something to compare themselves to, that they became aware of it.
And, so it is with the law. The law gave us something to compare ourselves to. Next to it, we realized how sinful we really are. It “condemned” us because it gave us knowledge of what we are truly like in God’s eyes (without Christ). But, it also was supposed to show us how much we needed a Savior, so when He did come, we would rejoice at the new WAY to be made right with God! (Not try to carry the old way into the new way!)
The two systems are separate. That’s why Galatians 3:12 says the way of faith is very different than the way of the law. The law pronounced a curse over us because we could never keep it all perfectly (Gal. 3:10). But, Jesus came to break that curse! Because He did what we couldn’t do - He fulfilled the law perfectly, never sinning AND He took all of the curses upon Himself (and received none of the blessings).
So, this is what Paul is referring to when he talks about “building again those things which he destroyed.” And, what he describes in Galatians 2:18-21:
“I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law - I stopped trying to meet all its requirements - so I might live for God. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless, for if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.”
This is probably one of my most favorite passages of Scripture EVER. Because it is SO powerful.
IF he rebuilds the old system of law, then he is a sinner. Because if he does that - “rebuilds the old system” by trying to “do good” and work for his righteousness again - then, he comes away from Christ and God’s grace (Gal. 5:4). So then, he is a sinner again. But, when he “dies” to the law and stays in the grace of God, then he is no longer considered a sinner because when God looks at him, He sees Christ’s righteousness!
This is why he says that he now lives in his body by trusting in Jesus. That is the new way, where he is no longer condemned by the law because he is “in Christ.”
When we get into covenant with Christ (real covenant), we put on His righteousness. It’s literally like we are putting on a robe or a jacket that covers our sinful self underneath. That’s exactly why it’s referred to in the Bible as a “garment.” That is how we are covered and again, how when God looks at us, He only sees Christ’s righteousness. Because we’ve received it and “put it on.”
But again, that requires humility, faith and trust! Because even though it’s a good thing, it is difficult for us to receive. Because our flesh/self naturally wants to make it about us. What we do or don’t do. How great we are. That’s why the word Gospel basically means “too good to be true.” Because that’s how it sounds to us.
Paul also makes an important distinction at the end of this passage where he clarifies that he doesn’t view the grace of God as meaningless. Because if the law could’ve made us right with God, then Christ wouldn’t have had to die. But, Paul recognizes that the law couldn’t save us. And that’s precisely why he’s able to receive the grace of God with such gratitude and boldness because he knows how much we need it!
Which brings us to the point that everyone who struggles with a real understanding of grace always brings up as an argument. “So, you’re just saying that someone can sin the rest of their life if they want to and say, I’m covered by grace!”
Technically? Yes.
If they want to do that, they can. Because again, salvation has nothing to do with us. It’s only about what Jesus did. That’s why the terms “hyper-grace” or “abusing grace” don’t even make sense. You can’t “abuse” something that is freely given. You already didn’t deserve it from the very moment God gave it to you. And grace is grace, period. There aren’t “measures” or “levels” of it (that’s again, man-based thinking). So, there can’t possibly be a “hyper” level of it, because it just is.
BUT, that being said… there are two things you need to remember here.
First of all, when someone receives Jesus, His Spirit comes to live inside of them. Now, they are not automatically changed into some perfect angel of a person. Because then, there becomes a battle inside between the person’s self/flesh and the Spirit (which is a whoooole other teaching that I’ll have to do separate from this one, but you can read about it in Gal. 5:16-26). But, there will be a desire there to live righteously because Jesus’ spirit is inside of them. So, most likely, the person will not want to just live in debauchery and wickedness.
But, second, if they do choose to let their flesh overrule the Spirit - which they can do with their free will - then yes, they may destroy the rest of their lives. But, that does not mean they are not saved. Because then that would make their salvation about their good behavior again, which would make God a liar. And, you would automatically have to go back into a system again… how far is “too” far? What if you were struggling with an addiction and were planning to go to rehab the next day, but you died that night? Does God say, “Oh well, too bad for you!”? Or what if someone killed another person in self-defense? Or because of a mental illness? Where would the line be of what is acceptable and what is not?
It does, however, mean that they will be destroyed (meaning - chaos, pain, anxiety, depression, fear, despair, even death) in this life and experience little or no reward in the eternal one (which is actually what it’s all about!). Because of course, the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy. And, his one goal is to destroy your life. (And keep you chasing your tail thinking you’re trying to “hold on” to your salvation, so you won’t even notice what he’s doing!)
A perfect example of this is in 1 Cor. 5:5. Paul is speaking to those in the Corinthian church who have been tolerating a man who is involved in sexual immorality. He tells them to purge the wickedness out from among them, but the way he describes it may surprise you a little.
“deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 5:5)
Paul says, go ahead and let the devil destroy his flesh, but his spirit will be saved in the day of the Lord. Because those are two different things. You can believe in Jesus and still be destroyed in the flesh (in this life) by sin. We see it over and over again. But, that doesn’t mean they weren’t saved. That means they never surrendered fully to the Lord and asked Him to control their lives because they couldn’t overcome their own flesh themselves.
Which is why Paul warns in Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, he will reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” He’s basically saying, don’t think, “Hey, I’ve got a ‘get out of jail free’ card now, I can do whatever I want!” and then think everything’s going to be okay. You will reap what you sow. So, even after you’ve been saved and received the Spirit of the Lord, if you choose to sow into the flesh and feed it, then you’ll experience the results of that. But, if you feed the Spirit, you’ll receive the results of that.
You do have the choice. It is up to you. Because again, grace is a FREE gift. But, God does advise you use it wisely because the only one you’ll hurt if you don’t is YOU.
“For you brethren have been called to liberty, but don’t use your liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)
We have been called to live in freedom, but we still have the choice what we do with it. Because salvation is just the very beginning. It is only the very first step on the journey.
Jesus made the way. But, it’s up to us to continue on to the truth and the life. If we want to experience the true freedom and the Zoë life that Christ died for us to have, it requires us surrendering ourselves completely (like we talked about in part one) and seeking Him with our entire hearts. It requires us laying down our lives and exchanging our wills for His. But, it is a choice that every one of us will have to make for ourselves.
The Religious Spirit
Jesus ALREADY PAID THE PRICE FOR SIN. And by the way, He did it for the WHOLE WORLD. Which means, right now, as we speak… the sins of EVERYONE have already been paid for. Even those who do not know Him or are currently against Him. The only difference is whether you know (and believe) it or not!
But, that’s exactly why it’s called the GOOD NEWS! Why do you think it was SO scandalous for the religious folks and so unbelievably life-changing for those who believed??
Friend, God really did do what He said He did when He sent Jesus to die for us. He really did remove your sins from you for good.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)
“I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12)
“I am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” (Isaiah 43:25)
God’s Heart
It all comes back to God’s heart. Once you really know God’s heart, then it all makes sense. Then, you can fully grasp grace and receive it for yourself. But, it is only when you’ve had a full revelation of His love and goodness. Because until then, it will seem “too good to be true.”
Religion will tell you that God is looming over us, just waiting for us to mess up so He can doom us forever. Religion says God wants to make it as difficult as possible to be saved and only a few will “get in.” Religion wants you to stay stuck in a constant turmoil that any moment you could mess up “too bad” and “lose” your salvation. Basically, religion tells you that God is against you and it’s up to you to try to be “good enough” to not make Him mad.
Except, that’s not who God is. (And to be quite honest… He is over His children being lied to and blinded about who He is! You can read more about that here.)
God so LOVED the world that He GAVE His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish (John 3:16).
Right there, in that one statement, we learn who God is. He loved the world so much that He made a way where there was no way. He gave His only Son so that everyone… yes, EVERYONE… who believes in Him will live and not perish.
If the Lord went to such drastic measurements to make a way for us to be with Him, why do you think He would make it extremely difficult to “get in?” Why do you think suddenly He’d make it so that only a select few get in? It doesn’t even make sense if you stop to think about it! But, that’s been the problem with the institution of religion… many believers never stopped to think about it. They just ingest what they’re told through man-based doctrine or by their own families growing up.
(And since I know the religious spirit quite well… He had to deliver me from it too!… I know right about now is when it’s starting to throw a bunch of verses in your brain like, what about 1 Cor. 6:9-10, Gal. 5:21 and Rev. 22:15 about those who will not inherit the Kingdom of God? But again, that’s another place where man has taught us incorrectly because that’s about exactly what it says… inheriting the Kingdom of God. Not about salvation. They are two different things. But, that is also an entirely separate teaching for another day. But, this is why the Holy Spirit is breaking off the lies and opening His children’s eyes to the true Gospel!)
John 3:16 says “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Not whoever believes in Him AND is also “good enough” or tries “hard enough.” Because again, it’s not about you and your efforts. It’s about believing in Him.
From the very beginning, God wanted us to be with Him. That was the original design He created. And His plan was always to bring us back to Him. So, He made a way where there was no way. He brought us back to the original design (through Jesus) where we could stop working and striving to be made right with Him and we could just be.
God already knows we will mess up. He expects it. That’s why He compared us to sheep that need a Shepherd (you can read more about that here). Because sheep on their own will get themselves hopelessly lost, injured or killed. He already knows that and He wants to be the One that keeps us safe. The One that cares for us and protects us.
But, WE are the ones that have to humble ourselves and stop being prideful about our ability to “be good” in our efforts. Because that’s not even true anyway. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).
We are the ones that have to acknowledge the truth that we need Jesus. That we will never be righteous without Him. And receive the GOOD NEWS that we don’t have to try anymore because Jesus did the work! We can rest IN Him.
Because now, we are free to live by His Spirit in us. And as we surrender fully to Him, it is HE who brings out the good fruits in us. HE makes us kind, peaceful, patient, loving and generous. HE makes us patient and trusting. HE makes us bold and confident. HE takes away our selfish desires and gives us the strength to overcome our temptations.
It ALL comes from Him. It ALL comes through Him.
It is ALL about Jesus. Not us. It always has been.
And THAT my friends, is the BEST NEWS EVER.
