Looking at oneself in the matter of salvation is the most
characteristic symptom, which is also the reason for a low
assurance of salvation.
-
God is seen as a demanding and harsh judge.
-
The person fears that he has committed an unforgivable sin.
-
The person does not see salvation as a gift from God that
can be received immediately, but tries to save himself
through his own deeds. This kind of a person typically sets
his hopes on the future. He may think that one day, after
saying enough prayers, reading the Bible, and giving
testimonies to other people, God will finally have mercy on
him and forgive him.
-
The person measures the success of his Christian life by
counting his acts and measuring how successful he has been
in fighting sin. If he has enjoyed great success, he may
think that God is pleased with him. But if he feels he has
failed to do so, he will think the opposite.
- A
person try to show himself to God like he is perfect. When
he goes to God in prayer, he does not go as a sinner, but as
a person who is as good as possible. Because of this he
sometimes waits a long time after his failures; waits until
he feels good enough about himself, and only then does he
find the courage to turn to God again.
2. How do we enter into an understanding of righteousness through faith in God and with the grace of God?
-
(John 8:32) And you shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free.
In
order not to remain in a state of incomplete understanding
of the righteousness of faith and legalism, we must receive
correct teaching about the righteousness of faith. It is the
right teaching, or the truth, that makes us free - according
to Jesus' words - and it also applies to this area. That's
why the coming lines will try to help people to know the
truth in relation to salvation and righteousness of faith.
How is a person saved?
The first step in being freed from legalism is to understand
how salvation takes place. The reason behind many people's
legalism is precisely that they have never understood this
matter. They have not understood that salvation is only and
only in Jesus and when a person receives him. This involves
the following aspects:
There is salvation only in Jesus Christ, and not, for
example, in what we do:
-
(Acts 4:12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for
there is none other name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved.
-
(1 Cor 3:11) For other foundation can no man lay than that
is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
We
must turn to Jesus in order to be saved:
-
(John 5:40) And you will not come to me, that you
might have life.
-
(John 6:37) …and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast
out.
Jesus is waiting to come into our life. We must open the
"door of our heart" for Him and not keep it closed:
-
(Rev 3:20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any
man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,
and will sup with him, and he with me.
If
we have turned to Jesus and asked Him into our life –
received Him into our life – we are then the children of God
and will have eternal life. We will have it despite how we
feel right now. It is a matter of faith, not feelings, and
we can only trust the promises mentioned below:
-
(John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave
he power to become the sons of God, even to them
that believe on his name
-
(1 John 5:11-13) And this is the record, that God has
given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12
He that has the Son has life; and he that has
not the Son of God has not life.
13
These things have I written to you that believe on the name
of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal
life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of
God.
There is no difference between sins.
Behind legalism is often found the mistake of classifying
sins into big ones or small ones. People may think that God
will forgive some sins easier than others, or that their
sins are unforgivable. They think that their particular sins
are too big to be forgiven. But by studying the Bible, we
see clearly that we receive forgiveness for all our sins,
not just some of them. This can be seen in the following
examples:
Jesus carried all the sins through history.
We
are taught in the Bible that Jesus carried all our sins -
big ones and small ones including our debt of sin --
not just some of them. In fact, He carried all sins
committed throughout time – our sins and everyone else’s.
Thus, it is not right to divide sins into different
categories based on how they can be forgiven.
They can all be forgiven in the same way, because they were
all on Him.
-
(Isa 53:6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid
on him the iniquity of us all.
-
(1 Peter 2:24) Who his own self bore our sins in his own
body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should
live to righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.
-
(1 John 3:5) And you know that he was manifested to take
away our sins; and in him is no sin.
The forgiveness of sins is promised.
If
we think that our sins are too big to be forgiven, or that
they do not belong in the group of forgivable sins, we
actually undermine Jesus’ work on the cross and the
forgiveness of God. This cannot be so, because there are no
exceptions. God promises forgiveness of sins to everyone who
turns to Him in the name of Jesus. This is supported by the
following Bible verses:
-
(Acts 10:43) To him give all the prophets witness,
that through his name whoever believes in him shall receive
remission of sins.
-
(1 John 2:12) I write to you, little children, because
your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
-
(Col 2:13) And you, being dead in your sins and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with
him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Apostle Paul as an example.
Paul is a good example of how a person can be forgiven of
everything from God, even though he has been a former
blasphemer, persecutor, and a violent man. If God forgave
Paul, He will certainly forgive us, too, when we turn to
him:
-
(1 Tim 1:12-16) And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has
enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me
into the ministry;
13
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and
injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it
ignorantly in unbelief.
14
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with
faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of
whom I am chief.
16
However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first
Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a
pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to
life everlasting.
Other promises.
There are many other verses in the Bible promising the
forgiveness of sins. There is also forgiveness for people
who have turned away from God and now want to turn back to
Him again. These verses are worth believing without doubt:
-
(Isa 1:18) "Come now, and let us reason together, said the
LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white
as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as
wool.
-
(Isa 38:17) ... for you have cast all my sins behind your
back.
-
(Jer 3:22) Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal
your backslidings. Behold, we come to you; for you are the
LORD our God.
Who is the accuser?
It is common for people living under the law to hear
internal criticism and accusations such as, "You can’t
receive forgiveness.” or “How could you do that?” or “You
are not a child of God.” or “Why can’t you do better?",
etc. Many people may think that these accusations come from
God and that He has not forgiven their sins. People may
continually suffer from these mental accusations.
However, the Bible teaches us that there is another force
influencing us – Satan -- who is an accuser and a liar. He
is the one who accuses people and harasses them with
constant criticism, not God. The Holy Spirit of God can show
people their sins so they can repent, but He never accuses
or condemns people. We need to understand this, that we will
not allow ourselves to be discouraged by Satan or our own
accusations:
-
(Rev 12:10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now
is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God,
and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our
brothers is cast down, which accused them before our God day
and night.
-
(Zec 3:1) And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing
before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his
right hand to resist him.
-
(Rom 8:33-34) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of
God’s elect? It is God that justifies.
34
Who is he that comdemns? It is Christ that died, yes
rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand
of God, who also makes intercession for us.
-
(1 John 2:1) My little children, these things write I to
you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous
It
is good to know who the accuser is. When we understand this,
we will come to a new understanding of our relationship with
God. One example is provided by Sven Reichmann, a pastor who
noticed the importance of this subject, and that people
become better when they more clearly understand it:
Whenever we have committed a sin, our heart accuses us. How
could you do like that? You knew that it was a sin. How can
you behave like this? How can you gossip like that? How can
you slander? Most Christians suppose that these accusations
come from God. They call those accusations conscience.
However, usually it is a question of Satan and not
conscience or the Holy Spirit. How can we know that? I have
indeed clearly committed a sin, there is no doubt about that.
That is why I feel accusations in my heart. Why could it not
be the voice of God? The answer is very easy: a tree is
recognized by its fruit. If the accusations are leading to
you losing your courage, and feeling like you are under
judgment and little by little, you lose your faith in
salvation, then accusations cannot come from God. The Lord
can, of course, light up the sins in our hearts – He can do
it also with very serious words – but it always leads to
freedom. Freedom is always the fruit from the activity of
God.
However, the fruit from the work of Satan is judgment. Faith
is lost. Often people under this kind of pressure of
accusations confess their sins to God and receive freedom
from their sins, and this is just what takes place when a
sin has been confessed. However, this does not prevent Satan
from continuing his accusations. Why would he stop, when he
sees that your courage is reducing all the time when you
think that you have not been forgiven? It is therefore clear
that Satan will continue. And many Christians say, "This is
my conscience, God speaks to me about my sins. He has not
forgiven me.” God has forgiven a long time ago. Over the
years, I have helped many Christians to freedom only by
understanding this minor fact. When they see the light and
the personality of the accuser is exposed, silence is born
in their hearts. (2)
An unforgivable sin.
The fear of committing blasphemy against the Holy Spirit or
an unforgivable sin is also caused by Satan’s lies. We
believe these lies so we become unnecessarily troubled. John
Fletcher (who lived at the same time as John Wesley) wrote
the following message about people who are unnecessarily
troubled:
Some take on heavy burdens themselves, and when they are
unable to bear them, their consciences are tormented by
imagined guilt. Others shuffle with unfounded fears after
falling into supposedly unforgivable sin. In a word, do we
not see hundreds who think that they have no hope
whatsoever, even though they have every reason to be
satisfied with their condition? (3)
However, if we fear that we have driven away the Holy
Spirit, this fear is the best proof that the Holy Spirit is
still working in us, and that we have not committed an
unforgivable sin. The particular task of the Holy Spirit is
to call people to repentance and encourage them to receive
salvation. In Bible history, David understood that if God
were to take away His Holy Spirit, there would be no hope
(Ps 51:13), and man would no longer experience the grief
that leads to repentance.
The
unforgivable sin is never that God rejects us, but
that we reject
God. Only that man who lives continually with an unrepentant
heart and does not yearn for the salvation of his soul is
guilty of this sin. Sinning against the Holy Spirit is more
than saying certain words; it means turning one’s back on
God and wanting to have nothing to do with Him anymore.
Forgive yourself!
-
(Acts 10:15) And the voice spoke to him again the second
time, What God has cleansed, that call not you common.
-
(Col 3:13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one
another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as
Christ forgave you, so also do you. (also oneself!)
Satan can accuse people, and we can accuse and condemn
ourselves. In fact, this is very common. We may live in a
cycle of self-condemnation for past actions, and may repeat
this cycle over and over again. We might say, “Of course I
know that God has forgiven me, but I can’t forgive myself.”
However, the problem is not that we are unable to
forgive ourselves, but that we do not want to forgive
ourselves; we want to take the place of God as the judge. If
God has forgiven our sins but we still condemn ourselves, we
actually set our own judgment above the judgment of God. We
do not show ourselves mercy. God’s merciful judgment must
always come first in our hearts. C.S. Lewis wrote:
I
think that if God forgives us, we must also forgive
ourselves.
If not, we will set ourselves almost to a higher position as
Him. (4)
Concentrating on oneself.
The basic reason why some people do not experience the
certainty of salvation is that they try to measure salvation
with their emotions. They can look at and observe themselves
and their faith, or whether their lives have changed and
renewed enough to be sure of their salvation. Their problem
is that they live in a constant cycle of self-observation,
trying to measure salvation through their own lives or by
how much they have changed. However, if we seek assurance of
salvation in ourselves and in our lives, we will never find
it. According to the Bible, the foundation of our salvation,
and thus of our assurance of salvation, is never within
ourselves, but always outside in the fulfilled work of
Christ; in what he has done for us. In the following verses,
we should pay attention to phrases such as “for us” and “for
us all”. These verses show that the foundation of salvation
lies in the work of another for us and not in ourselves:
-
(Rom 5:6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time
Christ died for the ungodly.
-
(Rom 5:8) But God commends his love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
-
(Rom 8:32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered
him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things?
-
(Gal 2:20) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;
yet not I, but Christ lives 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.
-
(Gal 3:13) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law,
being made a curse for us: for it is written,
Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree
-
(1 Thess 5:10) Who died for us, that, whether
we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
-
(Tit 2:14) Who gave himself for us, that he
might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works.
-
(1 John 3:16) Hereby perceive we the love of God, because
he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay
down our lives for the brothers.
-
(1 Tim 2:6) Who gave himself a ransom for all,
to be testified in due time.
-
(1 Peter 3:18) For Christ also has once suffered for sins,
the just for the unjust, that he might bring
us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by
the Spirit:
-
(Hebr 6:20) Where the forerunner is for us entered,
even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec.
-
(Isa 53:5-6) But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on
him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one
to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of
us all.
-
(Rom 4:25) Who was delivered for our offenses,
and was raised again for our justification.
We
must put our trust in Jesus Christ and in His finished work,
not in ourselves. His work creates peace in our souls. If we
try to get certainty through ourselves, it's a bit like
throwing a ship's anchor into the ship itself. That can't
help. Our ship will very soon be thrown about by strong
winds. Our Anchor must always be set outside our ship so we
can remain securely held in position.
The problem experienced by the Galatians was just that: they
did not set their Anchor in Christ; instead, they focused on
their own deeds. Paul reproached them for it. Surely, if we
act in the same way then Paul's advice to the Galatians will
equally apply to us:
-
(Gal 3:1) O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that
you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus
Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
-
(Hebr 12:2) Looking to Jesus the author and finisher
of our faith; who for the joy that was set before
him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down
at the right hand of the throne of God.
-
(John 1:29) The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and
said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin
of the world.
Salvation is a gift.
The problem for some people is that they think that their
salvation depends on their own deeds. They may think that
they first must surrender, pray, confess their sins, and
become better persons before they can be saved. This is how
they think, "Someday I will be a perfect believer. I will
pray enough and I will witness enoughand then God will
accept me.” In other words, they put their hope on the
future and the person they will be at some future point, not
in what Christ has already done on their behalf.
So, how is it really? If your thoughts follow similar lines
then it is time you are freed from your faulty thinking.
Consider the following information that contradicts your
ideas.
A gift, not a demand.
The
Bible teaches us that salvation is a gift, not a demand. And
because salvation is a gift, no one’s actions – prayer,
fasting, giving alms, etc. – can influence it. If our
actions could affect it, then salvation would no longer be a
gift. These actions of ours might follow salvation
but they cannot earn salvation. We need to receive
salvation as a gift, just as we receive a present:
-
(Eph 2:8-9) For by grace are you saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God:
9
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
-
(Rom 3:24) Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
-
(Rev 21:6) And he said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and
Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that
is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely.
-
(Rev 22:17) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let
him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come.
And whoever will, let him take the water of life
freely.
"It is finished".
The
Bible teaches us that God reconciled us to Himself through
Christ 2,000 years ago; all of our sins were laid upon Him.
The atonement he paid for us is absolute and valid for all
time. We are too late if we try to earn salvation ourselves.
This would be like trying to pay a debt that has already
been paid:
-
(Luke 14:17) And sent his servant at supper time to say to
them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now
ready.
-
(1 John 4:10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but
that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the
propitiation for our sins.
-
(John 19:30) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar,
he said, It is finished: and he bowed his
head, and gave up the ghost.
Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Jesus came into the world to save sinners: those people who
know they are sinners and who need salvation. He did not die
only for "saints"; He died for sinners and the ungodly.
People like this – all of us are such persons without God –
cannot have any merits in the eyes of God.
-
(Luke 19:10) For the Son of man is come to seek and to
save that which was lost.
-
(Rom 5:6,8,10) For when we were yet without strength, in due
time Christ died for the ungodly.
8
But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
10
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to
God by the death of his Son, much more, being
reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
-
(1 Peter 3:18) For Christ also has once suffered for
sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us
to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened
by the Spirit
Living under grace
-
(Pro 24:16) For a just man falls seven times, and rises up
again…
A
good example of salvation being a gift is that it is based
on grace. We do not need to do anything to earn salvation;
we receive salvation without any merits:
-
(Eph 2:8-9) For by grace are you saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God:
9
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
-
(Eph 2:4-5) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great
love with which he loved us,
5
Even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together
with Christ, (by grace you are saved;)
-
(Acts 15:11) But we believe that through the grace of
the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as
they.
-
(Acts 20:24) But none of these things move me, neither count
I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course
with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the
Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
However, grace is not restricted to the moment when we
receive God into our lives. It belongs to us from that
moment onwards. From that moment, we are under grace
regardless of how well we succeed in our Christian life. If
we have conquered sin in our lives we live under grace, and
if we fall, we still live under grace. Our successes and
failures do not change this. The next verses teach us about
our state of grace:
-
(Rom 5:1,2) Therefore being justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory
of God.
-
(Rom 6:14,15) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for
you are not under the law, but under grace.
15
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the
law, but under grace? God forbid.
-
(Phil 1:7) Even as it is meet for me to think this of you
all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my
bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel,
you all are partakers of my grace.
-
(1 Peter 2:10) Which in time past were not a people, but are
now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy,
but now have obtained mercy.
-
(1 Peter 5:12) By Silvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I
suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying
that this is the true grace of God wherein you stand.
The
following example describes how easily a person can
misunderstand the grace of God or not live by it even though
understanding it in theory. This is a story written by Urho
Muroma:
She
sat still and I continued:
-
The right understanding of grace requires hidden wisdom, as
Paavo Ruotsalainen also says. In the beginning of my
Christian life I thought that the grace of God meant some
kind of kindness of God towards all people, especially
towards those who want to be His own. At that time, I
understood salvation so that as I tried my best to achieve
the kind of perfection God demands before accepting me into
His kingdom, grace was an extra part that God in His
grace would add to my efforts, so that I could stand up to
the requirements.
I will use a picture to clarify this.
Let’s suppose that only people three meters (9.8 feet) tall
could go to heaven. Now, I am no taller than 178 cm (5.8
feet) even if I did my best to be taller. Grace is what is
lacking from these three meters. Grace would thus mean the
extra bit God provides in order for me to go to
heaven.
- Have you ever thought about grace like this?
She sat still thinking.
- Have you ever made the mistake of seeing salvation as
a result of cooperation between you and God, so that
when you first do your best, God in His grace will forgive
you for what you cannot do?
She did not reply, but I noticed that the thought was doing
some powerful work in her.
- It is like this: many people try to create a way to
salvation for themselves.
First, they convert, make a decision and more decisions,
give themselves to the Lord again and again, put away the
sins which they can, confess their sins, start to pray, read
the Bible, pray in the mornings, go to church and meetings,
work for God, do social work, charity, and so on. And when
they have done their part, they expect that God
then will do His part: gives them grace or gives them
what is lacking because of Christ.
- That is exactly how I have thought, she quickly said.
- But dear lady, that is not the way of grace. It is the
way of earning. In this, a man does what he can and
waits as a reward God to see his deeds in a favorable light.
This is called synergism, the cooperation of a man and God
for the salvation of the soul. No one can in this way find
peace and assurance of salvation, because it holds no
promise. It is not God’s way of salvation. Luther once tried
to find God in this very manner, but fell into despair. As
have others, always with equally poor results.
The entire Catholic Church goes
down this road and countless Protestants... (5)
Freedom from the law.
Jesus Christ’s death does not only mean that He carried our
sins; it also means that we are free from the law and from
its demands. Many people living under the law have the
problem that even though they have received Christ into
their life, they still live under the law’s condemnations.
They understand in theory that Jesus carried their sins, but
do not grasp that accusations and condemnation are erased
from their life. (For Christians, the law only acts as a
guide, not as something upon which their judgment or
salvation is based.) It was crucified together with
Christ, and now we can live completely under grace:
-
(Col 2 13-14) And you, being dead in your sins and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with
him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14
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
-
(Gal 3:13) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of
the law, being made a curse for us: for it is
written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree
-
(Rom 6:14-15) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for
you are not under the law, but under grace.
15
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the
law, but under grace? God forbid.
-
(Rom 7:6) But now we are delivered from the law, that
being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in
newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
-
(Rom 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit.
Hal
Lindsey describes how he found the truth in the Bible that
the law and condemnation are erased from our lives:
The
third and maybe the most misunderstood consequence of
righteousness is that God no more condemns us. As Paul
wrote, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which
are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
I will never forget the day when this truth was exposed to
me. It exploded my life like a bomb. I suffered under such
self-accusations and judgment of God – that is what I
thought them to be – they prevented me from seeing anything
else.
Then, one day, I read the verse above, and I noticed the
word "now". I do not know where that word had been hidden
until then, but when I noticed it for the first time, it
turned my situation upside down! In a flash I understood,
that based on what Paul had written in the seven first
chapters of the Romans about the death and resurrection of
Jesus, I was no more under the judgment of God. (6)
Receiving righteousness.
Many people living under legalism also incorrectly
understand the receiving of righteousness. They think that
receiving righteousness is a long process that may perhaps
last for years; it’s not something that is received as a
gift in a split second. They may think that when they first
surrender their life completely to God, read the Bible and
pray a lot, God will at long last give them His
righteousness.
However, this idea is incorrect. The next examples show why:
Righteousness as a gift.
The
Bible teaches that righteousness is received as a gift
without any precondition. God does not give us righteousness
based on how we live our lives, but declares righteous those
people who do not deserve to earn it:
-
(Rom 3:24) Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
-
(Rom 4:5) But to him that works not, but believes on him
that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted
for righteousness.
Takes place in connection with receiving Christ.
The
Bible also teaches that receiving righteousness is not a
goal which we should try to gradually reach, but instead
that we are declared righteous and holy in the moment we
receive Christ into our life:
-
(Rom 5:1) Therefore being justified by
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ
-
(Rom 5:9) Much more then, being now justified
by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
-
(1 Cor 6:11) And such were some of you: but you are washed,
but you are sanctified, but you are justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
-
(Rom 1:7) To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called
to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our
Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ
-
(1 Cor 3:17) If any man defile the temple of God, him shall
God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which
temple you are.
Righteousness of Christ; not our own.
Righteousness is received as a gift and it does not change
daily like a tide because it is the righteousness of Christ,
not our own. This means that even the Apostles were no more
righteous than the people living today who have received
Christ into their life. They, too, were justified by Christ
and not through their own efforts:
-
(Jer 23:5-6) Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I
will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall
reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in
the earth.
6
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell
safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called,
THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
-
(1 Cor 1:30) But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who
of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness,
and sanctification, and redemption
-
(Rom 4:25) Who was delivered for our offenses, and was
raised again for our justification.
-
(Rom 5:19) For as by one man’s disobedience many were made
sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made
righteous.
-
(Acts 13:38-39) Be it known to you therefore, men and
brothers, that through this man is preached to you the
forgiveness of sins:
39
And by him all that believe are justified from all
things, from which you could not be justified by the
law of Moses.
3. What is behind legalism?
Our
childhood and youth play a major role in the roots of
legalism. If we had a happy childhood and people appreciated
us, there normally will not be big problems, but if our
emotional life was very poor in the past and we had a harsh
or remote father, it can be difficult to believe in God’s
grace and love for us. In fact, we transfer past experiences
to our relationship with God. We do not understand that God,
through Christ, is our loving and merciful Father; He is the
God of comfort:
-
(2 Cor 13:11) Finally, brothers, farewell. Be perfect, be of
good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the
God of love and peace shall be with you.
-
(Eph 2:4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great
love with which he loved us,
-
(1 Peter 5:10) But the God of all grace, who
has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after
that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish,
strengthen, settle you.
-
(2 Cor 1:3-4) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of
all comfort;
4
Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may
be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the
comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God.
A
good illustration of how our past can affect our
relationship with God is given in the next story. In the
story, a pastor’s wife transferred her poor relationship
with her father to her relationship with God. She believes
that God is just like her own father. Perhaps you have
experienced something similar:
A
pastor’s wife who came to me for pastoral care told me about
her home of strict morals, controlled by a demanding mother.
The father was a wimp who did not defend his daughter when
the mother verbally abused her.
"You really love Jesus,” I said to the lady.
"Naturally,” she answered.
"And you also love the Holy Spirit.”
"Yes.”
"But you don’t even like God as a Father.”
She was unable to do anything else than cry. Her
comprehension of a heavenly Father had become distorted
because of her earthly father. She saw Jesus and the Holy
Spirit being actively present in her life but in her mind,
God the Father – just like her earthly father – was passive
and did not care whether the daughter had great difficulties
in her life. (7)
4. What is the result of understanding righteousness through faith and grace of God?
Often when we try to help people living under legalism to
grow in faith we may start from the wrong end. We may urge
them to struggle more and more, without first teaching them
the basics of faith: righteousness and the Grace of God in
Christ.
However, the fact that we understand righteousness, God's
grace and our identity in Christ often brings about a big
change in our lives. When we realize that we are all the
time pardoned and justified through Christ, it brings about
growth and renewal and new understanding. This happened to
John Bunyan in his time, and the same happens to many people
in the same way today. Many well-known servants of God have
noticed the same thing while doing pastoral work:
Erik Ewalds:
I
have noticed in numerous cases that the only thing that
helps a depressed person is the knowledge of God being a God
of grace, and that the person can give up all his own
efforts and give himself entirely to the hands of God. The
depressed person will get an experience of God loving him –
not for the sake of his actions and efforts, but despite and
regardless of them. (8)
C.O. Rosenius:
This is what the conscience’s freedom of the law means. We
are so free from the law that not a single sin can be put on
us. Because we do not believe in what we would want to
believe, the conscience has not gotten rid of the law as
completely as it has the right to. We must in all ways
preserve this freedom. Freedom and trust are the basis of a
new person in Christ, and the life and power of all
sanctification. Besides, there is no better way to honor God
as by believing in Him and trusting in His promises. (9)
Pam Woodson:
Reading about righteousness in itself means very little if
you do not start to believe in being righteous and imagine
yourself as righteous. Only when you do this will the word
righteousness climb to the top of your vocabulary.
When you study this concept with an open heart, it will have
a large effect in your life.
I have seen this effect in the lives of many people. I can
say without exaggerating that tens of students who have
attended my husband’s righteousness course in the Victory
Bible Institute have eagerly come to talk to me and Woody
year after year saying, "This course has changed my life.”
– "Understanding that I’m righteous has set me free." – "I
have come to understand the biggest truth of the Bible.”
(10)
Veikko Pekki:
When one preaches evangelically, that is, preaches about
Christ and His work by which the sinners are accepted, a
two-sided phenomenon takes place. Firstly, many people
experience freedom from their burdens, legalism, and
strictness. I have seen this phenomenon take place tens of
times: Showing Jesus as a perfect and sufficient offering on
our behalf in front of God brings about miraculous results.
One must not think that preaching about grace is easy.
Because the law for us is "in the flesh and blood", our own
nature and reasoning would require more on people. The
results are, however, continuously encouraging. A
Christ-centered sermon of grace always has the anointment of
the Holy Spirit, bringing freedom to its listeners.
Again and again have people called or written or come to
tell about how their lives have changed. These people have
been in need of freedom. The thing that shocks me most is
that they have not heard clear and correct teaching about
the grace of God in their own congregations.
(11)
REFERENCES:
1. Mauri Viksten, Ahdistuksesta avaralle, p. 29,168
2. Sven Reichmann, Vapauteen kutsutut (KALLAD TILL
FRIHET), p. 62,63
3. David A.Seamands, Kristitty ja tunteet (HEALING
FOR DAMAGED EMOTIONS), p, 112
4. James Bryan Smith, Rakkauden varassa (EMBRACING
THE LOVE OF GOD), p. 99
5. Urho Muroma, Oletko pelastettu?, p. 56,57
6. Hal Lindsey, Maaplaneetan vapautus (THE LIBERATION
OF PLANET EARTH), p.195
7. Neil T.Anderson, Enemmän kuin voittaja (THE
BONDAGE BREAKER), p.232,234
8. Erik Ewalds, Sielunhoito ja terapia, p.123
9. C.O.Rosenius, Vanhurskaana Jeesuksessa, p.69,70
10. Pam Woodson, Vanhurskaus on ilmestynyt (RIGHTEOUSNESS
REVEALED), p.13
11. Veikko Pekki, Päästäkää hänet siteistä, p. 21
More on this topic:
There is a battle going on in the realm of the mind. What part do lies and
truth and the flesh and the devil play in this battle?
The truth shall make your free. Understanding the truth is a key factor in a relationship with God. When a
person understands the truth about his position in Christ, it brings
freedom into his life
You can be saved! Steps to salvation and eternal life. Don’t reject salvation, but
turn to Jesus and let yourself be saved!
Heaven or hell? To which place are you going?
Do not go to hell! Damnation, hell, eternity, life after death, and the salvation of the soul. Take
it seriously so you don’t lose your soul
Letter to Mr. X. People have many excuses why they reject God and grace
Call. Learn how a person’s guilt, perception of right and wrong, and the
judiciary refer to God’s judgment. Do not refuse the call to salvation
The
best gift; access to heaven and eternal life
The gap has been removed. The gap between God and man has been closed because Jesus fulfilled all the
law and commandments. However, if someone rejects Jesus, he will pay for
his own sins
