Living by Faith

I am a huge fan of Google maps. It gets me were I want to go. My dad, however, doesn’t like using the digital maps app. He is old school and using bridges, fallen trees, and stone walls as observation points to get where he’s going. Paul in Galatians is helping us find our way to God. He doesn’t want to chance anything so he keeps reminding us that Jesus is the only thing to make us right with God. Don’t get lost and don’t be confused by vague or wrong directions. Jesus is the only way to be made right with God.

So many people in the world love to pair other things with Jesus, stating it’s that combination that gets you to heaven. Adding anything to Jesus though is false doctrine. Jesus plus nothing equals everything. So it makes me ask the question, “What makes legalism fascinating to people?

One. Legalism appeals to the flesh. I feel better about myself when I do something and don’t leave it up to someone else. Some folks have a mental condition called OCD. OCD is a mental health condition characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that people feel driven to perform to reduce anxiety. So when I do something about my salvation, I feel really good about what I have done. I have less anxiety and less dependence on others.

Two. Legalism appeals to the senses. We have a chemical in our brain called dopamine. When we do something good, it releases and we “feel good.” You see this happen when you hold your spouse’s hand or give them a kiss. When you graduate from college or build a shed in your backyard. When we accomplish things, dopamine is released and we feel good about what’s going on in our life.

So, in our spiritual walk, when I do something that’s connected to my salvation, I feel good about what I have done, dopamine is released and creates a feeling of accomplishment. Many times in my spiritual walk, I do things, believing that’s part of my salvation journey. I’m adding to my “good works” and in doing so I believe I’m creating an avenue to get to God. But Paul is reminding us in Galatians, there is nothing you can do to make you right with God. Jesus did that for us and in him we find our righteousness.

Look. There are only two religions in the world: human achievement and divine accomplishment. Every single religion in the world falls under human achievement except for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Human religion says, “Work your way.” Divine accomplishment says, “I am the Way.”

See, Christ has rescued us from the world, sin, the Law. In Galatians 3:13, Paul uses this Greek word, “exagorazo” which means “out of the marketplace.” The imaginary Paul is using is so common in his day. You were a slave, chained and bound…you were not free. But then Jesus showed up at the slave block in the marketplace and bought you. In doing so, we took the key, unchained you and set you free. He didn’t use money but bought you with his blood.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” It’s in Christ that we have been made free. So, don’t add too God’s perfect plan in Christ by adding a checklist of things you have to do to be right with God. Jesus is the only thing we need to be perfect and right. In Jesus, you find real freedom. Blessings on the journey.

All in this Together.

When you find someone from your town or area, it’s exciting. You could be at Walmart, the doctor’s office or on a cruise. Suddenly, you hear someone mention your home town. You talk to them and it’s an instant bond. You have something huge in common. You know the same roads, stores, schools…you have a commonality.

As followers of Christ, you look at any body of believers and it’s typically a diverse group. You’ll find the educated and the uneducated; you’ll find those with no money and lots of money; you’ll find different skin colors and different nations of origin; you’ll probably hear different languages spoken. But the Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:1-10, that we are all the same. As believers, we walk together in unity despite our different opinions and backgrounds.

You see, we are all from the same exact place. Paul tells us early in Ephesians 2, we were ALL dead in our sins…that we all USED to live the way of at the world…that we ALL were deserving of God’s anger and wrath. Paul tells us, we are ALL from the same exact place: Deadsville, USA, population: everyone.

Paul also reminds us that we ALL got into the family of God the same way too. If you are an adopted son or daughter of God…if Jesus is your brother, then you are part of the family of God! And the way we all got in was through Jesus and his sacrifice (“so that no one can boast”).

I’ve worked in churches since 1993. I found it fascinating that someone in every church needs to tell me something like, “You know, my grandparents started this church”, or “my family has attended here since 1906”, or “I gave a lot of money to build this church building”, or ‘I’ve been on 23 mission trips”. Paul says, no one can boast. It’s because of Jesus you are in the family. It’s because of grace you have been saved, nothing you have done.

Finally, Paul tells us we ALL have something special to do together. In Ephesians 2:10, Paul says we are God’s masterpiece. The original language uses the Greek word from which we get our English word, poem. Paul says that we are God’s poetry to the world around us.

Paul is calling us to be a sweet aroma to those we come in contact every day for the cause of Christ. Our words and behavior should reflect the unconditional love and grace of Jesus. If we are to boast, we boast in Jesus Christ because it is in Him we have life and life to full.

So that challenge this summer is go be Jesus. Express kindness, peace, and compassion. Hand out love, grace and forgiveness. Speak words of life to those you interact with each day. Blessings on your journey.

United in Christ

I have been together with others and we all had a common goal. I enjoyed playing high school football. We went to the state playoffs all three years of high school and I was an all-district defensive halfback my senior year. As a team, we were all different yet unified in our goal to win on the field.

I have been on a diverse missions team where each of us brought a specialty to the group. We were from different backgrounds, philosophies and expertise but together, we carried the Gospel message to the local people we were trying to influence for Christ.

While each of us who follow Jesus are very different, we must remember our commonality. Our likeness is our unshakeable identity in Christ Jesus. God has given us an unshakeable identity in the risen Savior.

The world tries to separate us by telling us our identity is in our degrees hanging on the wall, our skin color, our nation of origin, our socio-economic background, the power or title we might hold, the relationships we have. But God tells us in Ephesians 1 that we all have been adopted into the family of God through Jesus Christ. We are in the same family.

My dad has done a lot of ancestry background for our family heritage. I know I’m a fourth gen Church of Christ preacher. I know I am 50% Irish. I know where my ancestors came from when they came to American. My last name ties me to who I am. Because I am a family member, I have access to all the rights and privileges my name allows. I am also an American citizen. Because I am a citizen, I’m afforded certain rights and privileges as an American.

Paul is telling each of us, because we claim Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are part of the family of God. God has adopted us as his sons and daughters. As a family member, I have all the rights and privileges afforded to someone in the family of God. We have the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father because of what Jesus did for each of us.

At Jesus’ baptism, God establishes Jesus’ unshakeable identity. God says that Jesus is His Son, that He loves him and is pleased with him. As we become part of family of God by accepting Jesus as our Savior, we too can reflect the same sentiment from God. He claims us as His sons and daughters. He loves us and is pleased with us. I also must remember, all of this is possible, not from anything I do, but from what Jesus has done.

So, sit in your unshakeable identity as a child of God. Know God has adopted you and because of that you have all the rights and privileges of a family member. God loves you and wants the very best for you. Blessings on your journey.