Freedom in Christ... No obligations to the Law

We are free! I find that most "Christians" and even those who seem to live in the freedom of Christ are ruled by Fear, Guilt and Shame. They still think that they need to follow the law they will fall away. I am giving a FCA devo on Oct. 8th over freedom. I made this collage of verses about the Law and Freedom in Christ.

" 'Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!'? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on HUMAN commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have and APPEARANCE of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment on the body, but they lack ANY value in restraining [sinful actions].¹ But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not the old way of the written code.² For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.³ If we walk in the light, as he (the Father) is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from ALL sin.⁴ But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense -- Jesus Christ. Now if I do what I do not want to do (which is sin), IT IS NO LONGER I WHO DO IT, but it is sin living in me that does it.⁵ It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but only on God's mercy.⁶ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.⁷"

1. Col. 2:21-24

2. Rom. 7:6

3. Rom. 14:17

4. 1 Jn. 1:7

5. Rom. 7:20

6. Rom. 9:16

7. Gal. 5:1

I think that it is important that Christians understand the grace of God. Especially when Col. 1:6 "All over the worldthis gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in ALL its truth." I believe that the Church is failing in America today because the Church here says "Jesus is enough but you have to this way and that way. This makes loving and "walking in the light" with the Father and becoming like Christ a bunch of rules and regulations. This isn't what God wants. He wants "a people that are his very own, EAGER to do what is good."

Just my thoughts I was thinking. lol. What do you all think. Well, it is 9. I think i want to get off here. Much love and God bless

your bro, justin

Integrity

In humility we find the passions that Christ has embedded in our very being. When we tap these passions we let loose a whirlwind of emotion. This could be dangerous. Unguided generosity makes the people who receive it lazy. Uncontrolled compassion can lead those you give it to the ability to use you. These attributes that you find are not bad, actually the opposite, they are godly, but if these characteristics do not follow a solid path they will come to hurt you more than give you the freedom that we crave. The definition of integrity is "being completely and undividedly sound in incorruptible morals". The best way to describe what integrity is, is by this analogy. Our passions and desires are in a well that we get to through humility but, as an oil well when you tap it, those feelings from finding your true self in Jesus come pouring out voraciously and need pipes to direct them to be used in the best manner possible. Integrity are the pipes of our passions. They help us and direct us on the road of life and freedom. They make us sure footed because we are willing to become truly human and in that be authentic with a love that is never ending. When we are people of integrity we have the freedom to be transparent. You can love, laugh, talk, and just be nice without any fear of what others say or think because you are "completely and undividedly sound in incorruptible morals" and because of this you are truly free. "Integrity is not the state of being flawless but the state of being ‘false-less’" as Erwin McManis said in the book. It is so true too. Most people loose thought that integrity is an ideal more than it is actual characteristic. Integrity says "Always show the truth" but we still lie. Integrity says "Be yourself! A child of the Living God!" but we still hold the light in and be fake at times. In short integrity is the road that will lead us to the ability to fulfill our passions and desires in a way that will show the love of God and glorify Him most.

Humility

Humility is amazing. The very concept is against our human nature. Humility is showing no pride, arrogance, or assertion while understanding your self. Humility will help us do three things. One, understand ourselves, two, where we fit in this puzzle of life, and three, gain a full reliance on God. Understanding yourself is very important to life. If you understand yourself you can say "I am not good at this", and not fear it but try to overcome it, and if you fail in this attempt, you will not be humiliated. It is like Erwin McManus wrote in the book, "Ironically, when we are most full of ourselves, we are most likely to make fools of ourselves." Humility has nothing to do with degrading yourself but is all about the understanding of one’s self. We empty ourselves of all pride arrogance and assertion; see what is left there in our hearts and let God mold us by His Will. When all is gone God is there. In emptying ourselves in humility we allow God to fill us with Himself so that we may then be able to understand Him, ourselves, truth, honesty, and true love. These things lead us to trust God because in humility we realize we do and cannot control our future. We know nothing about it and can’t use any of our senses to understand it so we must come to the realization that we have no power. This in itself is humbling. For us this humility is not scary but brings us closer to God because He is all knowing. He tells us that all things are for the good of those who love Him (Rom. 8:28) so we learn to trust Him even more. The run for humility is a run to be like and rely on Christ. This will cut many of the restraints that the world has on us. We can become more like Jesus which helps in our relationship with God, and that helps us understand ourselves and the purpose we have in this world. This is a large part of true freedom... understanding, no worldly restraints, and no worries about the future. Humility is the ultimate act of worship; making yourself nothing in our own eyes for the good of others in total submission to God. It is by emptying all things except who and how God made us that we find the wellspring of our passions and desires that He has given us. If we tap this wellspring our holy passion and desire will pour forth and allow us to sip on real freedom as needed. We will now know the purpose of our life and can live it out for the glory of Christ.

2 days late... sorry

I know that this is late. Sorry. I have been busy. So Sunday Becca drove from her house in JOPLIN to my church and stayed at my house for the day. She left her house at 8:30 and got to the church (after getting a little lost but that was just one wrong turn) at 9:45. It took her an hour and a half in the early morning for her to come and see me. Man i love her to death! She is so sweet. We got there at 10:00 so she was waiting for us. lol. We went to my grandpa's sunday school biblestudy. That was really fun because it just reenforced why i like her so much. I thought of a verse i wanted to bring up and i couldn't find it so i asked her and she knew where it was. She is amazing.

We went back to my house and we ate lunch with my family. It was good. We all talked and my family got to know her a little bit. They like her. My grandma really did. She said she was beautiful, quite and respectful. All i could ask for. LOL. from a woman no less! Becca brought 2 Brad Stein (he is a conservative christian comedian. he is also one of 2 known in the northern hemisphere) consert dvds and we watched them with mom.

The best part of the day was about 4 to 5:30. Becca and i went out to the back room (which is a screened in porch), sat on the bench up close, looked at the clouds while the sun set, and talked. I love that. I love being with her. It was wonderful.

We all went to sunday night service. That was cool. Then i had to give her a hug goodbye. That was hard. I told her be careful and that i will miss her. Well that is all that has happend other than i got a new bed and drawers. Big deal.

It went great

So i met Becca's family (parents and oldest bro, Micah) today. It went really really well if i may say so. i met her mom first. her mom cleans houses.... BIG houses. i mean GINORMOUS houses that have ALOT of money in them. so, of course since i didn't know what to expect they played a joke on me and acted like it was really Becca's mom's house. it was really just a big house that she cleaned but they really got me. Becca didn't want them to do that to me so after it was finished i came up with the plan of just acting like i still thought that her mom was rich and that house was really her mom's (lol. i know mean to a girl i like and i have only been in a relationship with for about 2 weeks but i know her and she could handle. oh, and i am evil. >:) ). After we got together i would ask her "why didn't u tell me your mom was rich?" and "why don't you use one of those exspensive cars?". she would look at amanda and david and say "you are so mean" and just wouldn't answer me. then she just said to me "they are lying to you. it is a prank. that is not my mom's house. I was like "I Know. GOT YA." she was laughing so hard she went to another room. lol. it was great.

I met her older bro Micah. He was in the military. he tried to act like he didn't like me but it didn't work out. lol. We started talking and we agree on most things so we got alogng really well. it was fun. i liked him. his family (well wife and 2 kids) were great too. His wife was funny, his daughter cute (in a 4 year old way) and his son was one (nothin much more to say about that. babies are just adorable.).

 I met her dad and we really didn't talk much. he just watched me. that was cool. i didn't really have much to say to him either. in the end we talked a bit and we were both glad we meet. i think he approves of me... well i hope. that is what i got from his body language.  we all hung out for about four hours. it was very pleasent. i had fun. lots of laughs. the family is great and i think they like me. i saw julie, daniel, and sara for a about an hour but they had to leave. they all went camping with their mom and her step-dad.

The best time though was Becca and i took a walk. I love being with her. We talked the whole time. The talk was pretty meaningless to me. I just loved being near her. I miss her. I wish that 2 years were gone in a snap but i have a feeling it will be as long as i focus on God and how great each day is. I can't wait but i will. For her i would wait even more. Ok that was too gushy for me. it was true so am not going to change it but that is enough of me on this thing. lol. goodnight