Throughout this past 6-8 months, the Lord has been doing a number on my heart. He's clearly working to grow me up to be more like Christ. In the process, I've just realized how little I really know of his salvation, and subsequently realized that his grace is beyond what I can understand.
The other day I was thinking through some stuff that I he's been working out in me, and I thought it would bless you, so please read if you have the time.
Love you guys, Leah
"Two Ends For Which Jesus Did Not Die"
"For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.'" Isaiah 30:15
1) Jesus did not die so that we could use him as our ticket into heaven, while continuing our love affair with the world.
This is the viewpoint that says, "I believed that Jesus died for my sins, so I am going to heaven and I can live however I want."
But Paul responds to this attitude, "How can we who died to sin still live in it?"
There is no actual "returning" or repentance taking place in this lifestyle (see Isaiah 30:15 above). In the heart, this attitude still loves the world more than God. Jesus did not die for this end. Christ died to bring you to God.
2) Jesus did not die so that we could know what we are supposed to do and not do it.
This is where I want to spend more time. Not because #1 isn't important, but because I think #2 is the category most of us are more likely to fall, and this is the place where God has been working in me.
The Bible is clear that believers will keep God's commandments. For example, 1 John 5:3-4 says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world..." We often know what the Bible says we should be, and yet too often we are defeated by sin, or a lack of holiness.
Here is what the Lord has been teaching me in regards to this: "But I say walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:16)."
The reason why the commands of God are not burdensome (1 John 5:4) is because the Spirit of God is the one working in us to will and work according to his good pleasure (Phil 2:13). So on the flip side, if we are having a really hard time being who we know a believer is supposed to be, it is because we are not letting the Spirit of God work through us; instead, we are trying to keep the commands of God in our flesh.
And from the bottom of my heart I want to say is that THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL. Jesus did not die so that we could try to keep the commands of God in our flesh and fail. Jesus died so that 'the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Rom 8:4)."
I think too often we underestimate the power of God in our lives in the name of struggling. I am not saying that we will not struggle, but I am saying that perhaps our struggle looks a little different than what we are used to seeing.
The struggle, Christian, is not to defeat sin. The struggle is to TRUST in the finished work of Christ which has already defeated sin and credited to you His righteousness. This reality is yours by faith. The rest of 1 John 5:4 says, "And this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"
The gateway that takes someone from knowing the good he ought to do and NOT doing it to knowing the good he ought to do and actually doing it is FAITH IN CHRIST. Galatians 2:20 doesn't get old. Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. THE LIFE I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME."
So life in the Spirit happens by faith. This is the "rest" part of our salvation (See Isaiah 30:15 above). It is a beautiful thing when we realize that we can never do what God requires, but instead we trust in the powerful blood of Jesus to work out His righteousness in us.
’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.
I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
Amen.
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