Theme: Regulations to last a lifetime
Ok is this what the Christian life is all about? Just following the
"Great Rule Book?" I find this very unappealing, and I know God
does as well (Isaiah 58). The nature of God is unchanging. The Bible is
written to show us who He is. If we know who He is and believe Him and
His promises it will produce a spirit within us that loves God and loves
others (the summation of God's commands). If there were no rules, no
commands written out for us in our Bibles, this would not change our
response to the love we have been shown by God. We would know what to do
(as the Old Testament saints such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Job knew
what to do) without it being written down. God wants us to know HIM
through His Word. Not know a list of rules.
So why would anyone preach God's revealing of Himself as a rule book?
Why would we make up new rules to preach about? It's a burden; much
similar to the one that the Pharisees placed on Israel. Again, God wants
us to know Him personally. No more. No less. That and only that will
produce obedience, the kind of obedience our Gracious God desires.
Here's my take. Let's stop making Pharisees by preaching this
defection from the Gospel and start making God-lovers by preaching
Christ. No more. No less. (Col 1:28)
Regulations that last a lifetime? I say how about a God to know for an
eternity.
2 comments:
we had the exact opposite message. i'm grateful that i've been rescued from the law and saved by grace. here's a quote used in sunday's sermon. "legalist in our churches today warn that we dare not teach people about the liberty we have in Christ lest it result in religious anarchy. the christian who lives by faith is not going to become a rebel. Quite the contrary, he is going to experience the inner discipline of God
...that is far better than the outer discipline of man-made rules." warren wiersbe
sorry i hit publish accidently.
if you're ever in indy feel free to stop by our church. (hamilton hills bapt)
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