From time to time I often find a good healthy discussion/debate going on over at my friend Dan Bowen's blog, "Life on Wings. A tribute to Ern Baxter." Dan's friend (pastor and blogger) Pete Day, writes a post here and there on the blog, yet he always comments when there seems to be a debate going on. I have found his comments to be very gracious, insightful and confident in the grace of God. I have been blessed time and time again by his words. Today, I decided to put up one of his comments that I believe is worthy of it's own post! His comment was in response to those who seem to think that if we preach grace solely without pursuing holiness we are in danger
So why does grace set us free not to sin? I would suggest several reasons:
1) One of the greatest tools of satan to promote sin is a sense of condemnation. If we sin, we fall under condemnation; condemnation leads to a defeatest attitude like "I can't help sinning", or "I'm such a failure, why bother trying any more". Or more subtly, believers want to stop sinning but guilt keeps them from pressing through into the presence of God and so they don't catch glimpses of His glory and are not transformed.
2) Another power behind sin is pride. Grace destroys pride, because grace says I can contribute nothing to my salvation, my flesh cannot make me holy. Grace says you have a righteousness that is not your own - a free gift which is failure-proof, sin-proof, disappointment-proof, and devil-proof. Grace leads us to magnify the wonder of God's amazing love, to be impressed with Him and His gift of righteousness, to base our relationship totally upon the finished work of Jesus and nothing of our performance. Knowing therefore we can contribute nothing leads to a hunger for Him, a yieldness to Him and practical holiness is a natural side-effect.
3) One of the most powerful motivations to holiness is love (Jesus said - 'If you love Me you will keep My commandments'). Grace releases love rather than terror and condemnation. God is SO SO SO good. I love Him. I don't WANT to sin. Grace release such worship and joy that there is superior pleasure now!
4) Declaring "I am the righteousness of God in Christ" is not positive confession but a declaration of truth. It is faith building. So if I sin, I stand in faith on what Jesus has done in me. That has two effects - I am free from every condemning accusation; and, secondly, I am starting to believe I am righteous, so I start, naturally, living out that righteousness as well. We are NOT justified by grace and sanctified by our efforts. We are justified by grace through faith AND we are sanctified by grace through faith.
5) The teaching of grace does not lead to an attitude of winking at sin. God did not wink at sin, He dealt with it on the cross 100%. There is not one ounce of punishment left, it has all been taken upon the cross. God no longer sees our sin!!! We need to stop living like there is some punishment left, but in the freedom of His resurrection power.
6) We need to move out of an old covenant mindset (if I do these things God will bless me) to a new covenant mindset, which says that every blessing flows to me because Christ has obeyed the law on my behalf. This moves us out of striving in our own fleshly effort in any area of the Christian life - not only holiness, but signs and wonders. These things come, not because we perform for God, but because of Christ's totally perfect performance on our behalf. As we stand in faith on what HE has done, I believe we will know the tangible presence of God and see the manifest power of God more and more.
7) Grace shows that holiness flows not from focussing on my sins, but focussing on Jesus.
In conclusion, I wholeheartedly agree with your comment:
"I am jealous for myself and all my brethren to enter into the fullness in this vital hour."
Amen! But I also need to say - there is no question of tolerating carnality and saying "we are living in grace". No, we have tolerated carnality for too long through trying to overcome it through different disciplines and man-made laws. It is time to walk in the freedom of grace, and to prove the truth of Gal 5v16 "Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."
Showing posts with label Peter Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peter Day. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
A comment from Pete Day.....
From time to time I often find a good healthy discussion/debate going on over at my friend Dan Bowen's blog, "Life on Wings. A tribute to Ern Baxter." Dan's friend (pastor and blogger) Pete Day, writes a post here and there on the blog, yet he always comments when there seems to be a debate going on. I have found his comments to be very gracious, insightful and confident in the grace of God. I have been blessed time and time again by his words. Today, I decided to put up one of his comments that I believe is worthy of it's own post! His comment was in response to those who seem to think that if we preach grace solely without pursuing holiness we are in danger
So why does grace set us free not to sin? I would suggest several reasons:
1) One of the greatest tools of satan to promote sin is a sense of condemnation. If we sin, we fall under condemnation; condemnation leads to a defeatest attitude like "I can't help sinning", or "I'm such a failure, why bother trying any more". Or more subtly, believers want to stop sinning but guilt keeps them from pressing through into the presence of God and so they don't catch glimpses of His glory and are not transformed.
2) Another power behind sin is pride. Grace destroys pride, because grace says I can contribute nothing to my salvation, my flesh cannot make me holy. Grace says you have a righteousness that is not your own - a free gift which is failure-proof, sin-proof, disappointment-proof, and devil-proof. Grace leads us to magnify the wonder of God's amazing love, to be impressed with Him and His gift of righteousness, to base our relationship totally upon the finished work of Jesus and nothing of our performance. Knowing therefore we can contribute nothing leads to a hunger for Him, a yieldness to Him and practical holiness is a natural side-effect.
3) One of the most powerful motivations to holiness is love (Jesus said - 'If you love Me you will keep My commandments'). Grace releases love rather than terror and condemnation. God is SO SO SO good. I love Him. I don't WANT to sin. Grace release such worship and joy that there is superior pleasure now!
4) Declaring "I am the righteousness of God in Christ" is not positive confession but a declaration of truth. It is faith building. So if I sin, I stand in faith on what Jesus has done in me. That has two effects - I am free from every condemning accusation; and, secondly, I am starting to believe I am righteous, so I start, naturally, living out that righteousness as well. We are NOT justified by grace and sanctified by our efforts. We are justified by grace through faith AND we are sanctified by grace through faith.
5) The teaching of grace does not lead to an attitude of winking at sin. God did not wink at sin, He dealt with it on the cross 100%. There is not one ounce of punishment left, it has all been taken upon the cross. God no longer sees our sin!!! We need to stop living like there is some punishment left, but in the freedom of His resurrection power.
6) We need to move out of an old covenant mindset (if I do these things God will bless me) to a new covenant mindset, which says that every blessing flows to me because Christ has obeyed the law on my behalf. This moves us out of striving in our own fleshly effort in any area of the Christian life - not only holiness, but signs and wonders. These things come, not because we perform for God, but because of Christ's totally perfect performance on our behalf. As we stand in faith on what HE has done, I believe we will know the tangible presence of God and see the manifest power of God more and more.
7) Grace shows that holiness flows not from focussing on my sins, but focussing on Jesus.
In conclusion, I wholeheartedly agree with your comment:
"I am jealous for myself and all my brethren to enter into the fullness in this vital hour."
Amen! But I also need to say - there is no question of tolerating carnality and saying "we are living in grace". No, we have tolerated carnality for too long through trying to overcome it through different disciplines and man-made laws. It is time to walk in the freedom of grace, and to prove the truth of Gal 5v16 "Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."
So why does grace set us free not to sin? I would suggest several reasons:
1) One of the greatest tools of satan to promote sin is a sense of condemnation. If we sin, we fall under condemnation; condemnation leads to a defeatest attitude like "I can't help sinning", or "I'm such a failure, why bother trying any more". Or more subtly, believers want to stop sinning but guilt keeps them from pressing through into the presence of God and so they don't catch glimpses of His glory and are not transformed.
2) Another power behind sin is pride. Grace destroys pride, because grace says I can contribute nothing to my salvation, my flesh cannot make me holy. Grace says you have a righteousness that is not your own - a free gift which is failure-proof, sin-proof, disappointment-proof, and devil-proof. Grace leads us to magnify the wonder of God's amazing love, to be impressed with Him and His gift of righteousness, to base our relationship totally upon the finished work of Jesus and nothing of our performance. Knowing therefore we can contribute nothing leads to a hunger for Him, a yieldness to Him and practical holiness is a natural side-effect.
3) One of the most powerful motivations to holiness is love (Jesus said - 'If you love Me you will keep My commandments'). Grace releases love rather than terror and condemnation. God is SO SO SO good. I love Him. I don't WANT to sin. Grace release such worship and joy that there is superior pleasure now!
4) Declaring "I am the righteousness of God in Christ" is not positive confession but a declaration of truth. It is faith building. So if I sin, I stand in faith on what Jesus has done in me. That has two effects - I am free from every condemning accusation; and, secondly, I am starting to believe I am righteous, so I start, naturally, living out that righteousness as well. We are NOT justified by grace and sanctified by our efforts. We are justified by grace through faith AND we are sanctified by grace through faith.
5) The teaching of grace does not lead to an attitude of winking at sin. God did not wink at sin, He dealt with it on the cross 100%. There is not one ounce of punishment left, it has all been taken upon the cross. God no longer sees our sin!!! We need to stop living like there is some punishment left, but in the freedom of His resurrection power.
6) We need to move out of an old covenant mindset (if I do these things God will bless me) to a new covenant mindset, which says that every blessing flows to me because Christ has obeyed the law on my behalf. This moves us out of striving in our own fleshly effort in any area of the Christian life - not only holiness, but signs and wonders. These things come, not because we perform for God, but because of Christ's totally perfect performance on our behalf. As we stand in faith on what HE has done, I believe we will know the tangible presence of God and see the manifest power of God more and more.
7) Grace shows that holiness flows not from focussing on my sins, but focussing on Jesus.
In conclusion, I wholeheartedly agree with your comment:
"I am jealous for myself and all my brethren to enter into the fullness in this vital hour."
Amen! But I also need to say - there is no question of tolerating carnality and saying "we are living in grace". No, we have tolerated carnality for too long through trying to overcome it through different disciplines and man-made laws. It is time to walk in the freedom of grace, and to prove the truth of Gal 5v16 "Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."
Monday, January 28, 2008
Too good to keep to myself
Blogging has become to me, far more than I ever thought or dreamed.....I know I know, I said I was bored with it not that long ago, but I have been re-inspired.....there are so many others in the blog world that have such a wealth of wisdom, truth, passion and experience to share and I am so grateful to be able to glean from them as well as form friendships over the world wide web. The message of grace is too good to be silent about, and too good not to share and too good not to be passionate about and inspired by....so I must share some of the great posts I have been enjoying lately.
Yesterday I read a post on one of Dan Bowen's many blogs, that really met me where I am at currently. I have been wrestling with how I want more of God, I want to experience more of the many wonderful things God has for us, healing and just His manifest presence among other things. I am not satisfied to just go to church, worship with others and be taught, I want it ALL! Anyway, he wrote a post entitled, Disappointed? Today an angel might come and stir the pool. You absolutely must read it!
Also I have been enjoying Dan's blog "Life on Wings." on which a pastor friend of his, Peter Day just wrote an excellent post, Overturning the tables of legalism. I highly recommend reading this along with the wealth of comments that came in response to it!
I have also been enjoying Steve McVey's blog, where he is currently posting in video format 101 lies taught in church every Sunday. Boy, have those been cool to watch and hear! I think what he is doing with this is revolutionary and so helpful as we have been taught so much legalism and haven't even realized it!
And one more for now, Grace in Flood's blog, Gregg Booyens, has a fabulous blog with his journey into grace and has a few friends joining with him, one that is a pastor in South Africa, that has recently had a huge transformation in his church due to the Grace message, and he posts sermon notes regularly that are too good to miss out on! One of my favorites of late, is by Gregg's friend Roy, Warts n' All.
Also check out Joel's blog, Matt's blog, Bino's blog, and of course the one who inspired me to start a blog in the first place, Julie's blog. And might I add Julie just did a most outstanding job on her latest post, Should we be cross centered?
Too good to keep to myself
Blogging has become to me, far more than I ever thought or dreamed.....I know I know, I said I was bored with it not that long ago, but I have been re-inspired.....there are so many others in the blog world that have such a wealth of wisdom, truth, passion and experience to share and I am so grateful to be able to glean from them as well as form friendships over the world wide web. The message of grace is too good to be silent about, and too good not to share and too good not to be passionate about and inspired by....so I must share some of the great posts I have been enjoying lately.
Yesterday I read a post on one of Dan Bowen's many blogs, that really met me where I am at currently. I have been wrestling with how I want more of God, I want to experience more of the many wonderful things God has for us, healing and just His manifest presence among other things. I am not satisfied to just go to church, worship with others and be taught, I want it ALL! Anyway, he wrote a post entitled, Disappointed? Today an angel might come and stir the pool. You absolutely must read it!
Also I have been enjoying Dan's blog "Life on Wings." on which a pastor friend of his, Peter Day just wrote an excellent post, Overturning the tables of legalism. I highly recommend reading this along with the wealth of comments that came in response to it!
I have also been enjoying Steve McVey's blog, where he is currently posting in video format 101 lies taught in church every Sunday. Boy, have those been cool to watch and hear! I think what he is doing with this is revolutionary and so helpful as we have been taught so much legalism and haven't even realized it!
And one more for now, Grace in Flood's blog, Gregg Booyens, has a fabulous blog with his journey into grace and has a few friends joining with him, one that is a pastor in South Africa, that has recently had a huge transformation in his church due to the Grace message, and he posts sermon notes regularly that are too good to miss out on! One of my favorites of late, is by Gregg's friend Roy, Warts n' All.
Also check out Joel's blog, Matt's blog, Bino's blog, and of course the one who inspired me to start a blog in the first place, Julie's blog. And might I add Julie just did a most outstanding job on her latest post, Should we be cross centered?
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