We all have a choice to believe in something, I choose to believe in God!

Monday, August 13, 2012

THE FINISHED WORK

I firmly believe that when Christ died to set us free, He didn't set us free to keep us in any form of bondage. I firmly believe that, "whom the Son has made free is free indeed." I firmly believe Colossians 2:14 which says, "...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 beyond that is verse 15 which adds, "...and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

What does that mean to a simple layman like me? It means that in the beginning were the ordinances set forth for all believers to practice in order to retain some form of righteousness in God's sight. Jesus did away with rites and authoritative commands. He did away with principalities which gave one the authority over all. So, in essence, all the rules and rituals, the ceremonies and laws (known as the "letter of the law") were triumphed over when Christ performed his work at the cross.

Note the part of verse 14 that reads, "...which was contrary to us..." What does that mean to you? To me, it means that those laws, ordinances, rituals, ceremonies, and/or all those rules just weren't working for mankind and that's the need for the work at the cross. To make one sacrifice for all time, all sin, all mankind in one act. That one act is the act that set me free!

When something is "contrary to us" it means it's not working smoothly with us but working against us and our nature. So, see in the Old Testament no matter what the letter of the law stated, mankind couldn't keep up with it. No matter how many times the Lord lessened the load by saying, "Okay, no Ram to bring? Then bring me a dove," it still wasn't working smoothly and God began to see that no matter how he "wrote the terms out" mankind continued to fail at it. He needed to make a way to unhook the chains that bound us and to put mankind right. By "right" I mean, into our natural place of being. We aren't able to follow ordinances, rules, regulations, to a perfect science of behavior without failure. So, if God had not sent Jesus to overcome all of that then so many would perish. So many would stand no chance simply because our minds are so different  from one another, and our hearts so rebellious, that many just can't abstain, or follow, or be commanded, or even understand the implications.

So this all begs the question, where would I be today if God had not sent Jesus as the propitiation for our sins? Where would I be today, with regards to salvation and hope, if God still demanded our good deeds and the following of the letter of the law? Would I be able to light the right amount of candles at the exact right moment of the exact right day? Would I be able to raise the right animal without blemish and make it to the right place to give that animal up for sacrifice to atone for my sins? Would I be able to show up for every ceremony dressed in the right outfit made from the correct thread and having just the right amount of embellishment at the hems? Would I remember when my time was to be clean or unclean? What if I accidentally consumed a peace of bacon while traveling through a strange town? What if I had a human moment and did something that goes against the letter of the law? What if I did that and the people didn't catch me in time to stone me to death for my infraction? What of their place in heaven for their failures? What of all of this bondage that we were once in? I see why people couldn't keep up and succeed. I see why God saw what He saw with regards to our weaknesses. 

I see why He sent Jesus to do away with the letter of the law and thereby set us free. (This is not a revelation I'm just having but a point I'm reiterating). So, the next time I hear someone try to pin religion on me or tell me what I'm "supposed to do" I will remember what I've learned (through the guiding of the Holy Spirit) and I'll keep reminding myself that "whom the Son has made free is free indeed," and once again I say, we can "do" nothing right.

My time on this earth was never meant to be spent observing rules. Through Christ Jesus, I am righteous in God's eyes. Through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, I have received an anointing which is a teacher to my soul. I don't have to try so hard because I have the Holy Spirit who teaches and guides me along. When I wake up in the morning, I follow my guide unto all righteousness. At times I fail and my flesh gets in the way. For those times, I cry out for forgiveness and allow the cleansing. Then, every moment is a new chance and a clean slate. I can boast in my weakness because I know it's not up to me anymore. I can rest in the arms of Him with Whom I have to do.

"Lord, thank you for revealing the truth to me and giving my soul rest in the knowledge that when you died on the cross, you truly made me free."


23 comments:

  1. Amen! "Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!"

    If we have faith, works of love will follow.
    I don't believe it is reversed. You can't start with works and think that you can earn your way into the faith.

    For example, the people that believe women must wear skirts?
    Why for modesty? Or because in the old testament it says that we should not wear clothes made for man.
    I don't believe my jeans were made for a man to wear. They are fitted for a woman.
    And if for modesty, then wear do you stop?
    Where do you draw the line? When is modesty and our efforts to be holy on our own good enough.
    Skirts, go to something to cover our chest. And then it goes for something to cover our unmodest hair. And then wait our face causes men to fall so we end up looking like a black blob as in muslim religion.
    So who are we to set the rules?

    Good post Kelline.
    It's the Spirit of God that keeps us in order. It's the Spirit of God that holds us accountable in the end for how we've behaved.

    There is only one Judge and Law maker.
    And if you judge your fellow brotheren all the more harshly you will be judged.

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    1. Well said, little sis!!

      I especially love your point of, where does it end? It's all the works of man and God plainly tells us that "not by might nor power but by my spirit." I don't need it said any more plain than that, do you? I just take the Lord at His word and I don't complicate it or muddy the waters with the doctrines of man (like the ones that say, "wear a skirt for modesty"). There's the whole issue of religion in the doctrines of men. To me, it's man thinking they'll find their peace in their own righteous works, but there again, "all of your righteousness is as filthy rags," so, why do they keep trying to earn it? Thanks for the in-depth comment and coming into agreement with me!!

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  2. Yes we are a new creation in Jesus, not under the law but under grace, being taught by the Holy Spirit to Keep the commands of Jesus, the two main commands being to 'love God and love one another'. We have a loving guide to teach us God's ways, which are not our ways, and a long suffering, forgiving Father who wants us all to have our minds renewed in His Son Jesus.

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    1. Exactly, and if we are in Christ then are we "made new," and meant to put away the childish things. It's a child that continues to try to earn favor with righteous acts that may win a parent's approval. God isn't like us, for the Bible says, "His thoughts are not our thoughts." We tend to see it our way and not the through the eyes of the Spirit which reveals all things to us as we're able to receive them. Seems as if more Christians would understand their weakness by now and the need for Christ. Thanks for coming by Brenda.

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  3. Kelline what a word! I am so on my way to freedom. That is my goal. So glad that my Heavenly Daddy accepts me warts and all. Thank you for sharing. Blessings.

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    1. Amen to that...we're on the same path then...nice to meet you there as opposed to anywhere else in life!!

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  4. This post is brimming over with truth. I love it. You said how it's not a revelation to you why God sent Jesus to free us from the law, sadly there are so many people that have yet to grasp what all we have gained by that sacrifice on the cross, at first I wasn't completely certain of what all I gained by Jesus' blood. There is no way we would be able to keep all those laws. The bible even says how a man who is able to keep the word is a perfect man. Not only did Jesus wash our sins away, but He also sent us a Helper, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Heavenly Father.

    I especially love when you said, "My time on this earth was never meant to be spent observing rules. Through Christ Jesus, I am righteous in God's eyes. Through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, I have received an anointing which is a teacher to my soul." It's very true. What a mighty mighty God we serve.

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    1. Hi Sateigdra,

      It's so good to have a wise and enlightened Christian sister like you. I can feel the anointing in your words. I can tell that you've been with the Lord and He has visited you. I'm also a firm believer that those who have received the truth cleave to one another and gravitate towards each other because the truth is freedom for us. The reason I don't follow the rituals of church ceremonies and abide by doctrines of man is because it's not truth...it's not God's word to us it's man's belief that their much attendance and good works are earning them some kind of favor with the Lord. I am drawn to His truth and guided by His spirit and I believe you are as well. Praise God!! Hallelujah I say!! Thanks for your visit Sateigdra, it's always a pleasure to hear from you :)

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    2. It's amazing that you say how those who receive the truth cleave to one another. There have been times that I have prayed to God asking Him to reveal His saints to me, to help me to be drawn to things that He likes and since then I have been coming across so many amazing people, that I know in my heart are sincere for the Lord, and can I tell you how refreshing it is. Only sad thing is I only meet them on the computer, I'm sure there are ones apart from the computer I'll keep praying I meet some of them too. God is so wonderful.

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  5. PS. I don't know if maybe I didn't notice before or if you just put it there but that little sparkly heart hanging from that little sparkly bow is so cute.

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    1. I only recently added the little heart and I'll share the link with you on your blog so you'll be sure to find it there.

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  6. Hi Kelline, thank you for your comment. It seems like it has something to do with my browsers. I am not too sure. Am I the only one this is happening to? Some other blogs I have no problems with. It may be a glich with Blogger? I do not know. Thanks for alerting me. This one should stick as I am going through my AOL account.

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  7. Kelline, thank you for your concern. I will work around it. It is just not your blog this happens to with me. Some others. But not all. So that is weird. But, I would like to know if at all anyone else in the future having trouble with yours. I will be able to get around this and post on your blog. I do not think you can do anything on your end. Thank you again and have a blessed afternoon.

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    1. Hi JBR,
      I'll just say in a nutshell that Bloggers has it's issues for sure and I'm never inclined to believe that it's necessarily on your end or your browser. But, as long as I can let you know that your comments are coming through and this time have downloaded to the blog itself.

      I pray for my blog members and those who leave more than a comment that say, "please visit my blog" (I pray for them too if they're the world's lost, lonely, dying, and undone) but I'm specific about those who visit my blog with a heart's cry. You seem as one of those. God bless you and know you're being prayed for. Thank you for another couple of visits.

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    2. Kelline, you seem to have the gift of mercy and compassion. Blessings to you.

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    3. Hi JBR,

      I think we all have that, it's a matter of choosing to exercise it through the blood of the Lamb! If he could have mercy on me as a sinner, I can have mercy on others who have not done to me what I've done to God in my rebellious nature and disobedient heart. Amen?

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    4. Kelline, I just did an experiment with posting onto my own blog and it did not show up. It went to my Spam folder on Blogger without even letting me know. I just so happened to go on it, and there was the comment.

      Did you check there to see if any of my comments went to your Spam folder on Blogger? Blessings.

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    5. Hopefully you'll see that I found and was able to publish your earliest comments. The about being on your way to freedom especially! Thanks for the spam folder tip. That's one more thing I have to aid in troubleshooting. Blessings!

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  8. Spam folders? Ahhh I need to find that....

    Anyway I was going to comment for a whole different reason...that just got me caught up. That is a really beautiful post Kelline...I've added you to my feed...

    BEAUTIFUL.

    We all have our struggles, its the fact that we have freedom to come to the throne of grace with open hearts and know we are fully accepted that changes us. Love changes the issues inside of us.

    I have to agree with JBR...you seem to have a huge gift for compassion and mercy!

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    1. Hi EJ,

      I'll start with the spam folder issue. Go to your dashboard, or as I have to do click "design" from the top of the page and then find your "comments". Click on "spam" from within the "comments" menu and eventually you'll find where it either says, "no spam" or it will show you comments that have been put there and it will give you an option to click "not spam" and when you do that (depending if you have comment moderation enabled or not), it should send the comment back to your comment section of your blog. Yay!! Success!! (•‿•)

      Thank you very much for the compliment and I'm ever so glad you enjoyed the read and God's truth. It's really all about how He's placed this truth in my heart and set me free from the bondage of religion. All those ritualistic behaviors that the church teaches makes us pious, it's not true. That's an invention of man to reassure themselves that if they bow enough, read enough, pray the right way, and make that "open show" of themselves (as the Bible described the Scribes and Pharisees to do) they'll gain favor with God. You said it best, "Love changes the issues inside of us.

      If anyone has Christ, they have compassion. I could do or be none of these things without Him and His Spirit within me. Otherwise, I'd just be a part of the evil that is our world these days. Thank you for coming by and adding me to your feed EJ!!

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I invite you to speak freely, however, I ask you to speak kindly. Please do not use profanities.