Freedom from ought's and should's
One of the greatest tricks that the devil plays on believers is to let us think that we are lacking something in our walk with God. He may suggest things that appear to be needed in our life. For example he will suggest that we need a better prayer life, or that we need to spend more time in bible study. There are many other areas that he will often suggest that we need to improve in, like a greater love for God, a greater love for our spouse, or going to all the church meetings on a regular basis. Now these things appear to be good and even needed in our life. The problem is once we start believing these lies we start to think that we are somehow lacking in our relationship with God. We feel somehow inadequate, guilty, and dirty. We become disappointed in our own selves and then we become ashamed about ourselves. This shame that we feel keeps us from true fellowship with God. While we hide from God, we begin to "cover ourselves" by doing or not doing certain things. We think that if we do this, and if do that, we will make ourselves less shameful.
Once we put ourselves under these "laws" we put ourselves under obligation to perform them. Once we feel obligated to them we become their slaves. Then we make plains to change our behavior. The second we start down this path we remove ourselves from the true grace of God unto works of the law. These ought's and should's are really laws that we place on our own selves. None of these ought's or should's will ever make us better in God's sight. They will NEVER help us move towards God. The truth is, they take us further away from God. This is the way of Cain. He thought he could impress God with His own hard work. The truth is God only accepts ONE man as righteous, holy and pure. That Man is Jesus Christ. When we were born again we were made ONE with Christ. Now that we are in Christ, God accepts us just the same as He accepts His son, Jesus. We can never add anything to what Christ has already done.
Think back to all the sermons you have heard telling you things that you should do, and things that you should not do. You probably felt obligated to perform these duties thinking that by doing so you would become more suitable to God. Now did any this really accomplish anything of value? NO! In fact this type of preaching will never make you any better. These ought's and should's have absolutely no power to improve your standing with God. The truth is this type of preaching only strengthens sin and causes it to rise up inside of you.
Rom. 7:9-11; " For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me."
You can never improve yourself or make yourself more appealing to God by changing any of your behavior. This is impossible. Any efforts to do so are really sin.
The Bible tells us that we are "complete in Him". We are not lacking anything in HIM!
Col 2:6-15; "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
We have ALL spiritual blessings possible in Him.
Eph. 1:3; "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"
In Christ, we have everything we could possibly ever need to live a Godly life, to experience His divine nature and escape the corruption in the world.
2 Peter 1:2-4; "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
The law can not give life or really make anyone righteous or holy. No law will ever justify you.
Gal. 3:21: "Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Since we are DEAD with Christ we are NOW totally free from all ought's and should's
Col. 2:20-23; "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."
Gal 2:16-21; "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
Gal. 3:1-7; "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham."
Gal. 4:4-11; " But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain."
Romans 9:31-33; "But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."
Rom 10:3-4; "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."
Gal 5:1; "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
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