Let’s start with the the question that is the title of this teaching, because it is a good one. First you must establish which covenant is yours. Are you under the old covenant of law, or are you under the new covenant of grace?
Here’s the problem. Many people shake their heads yes, they jump up and scream when grace is preached, but they still operate under the law in certain areas of their lives. They’ve fallen into the trap of Galatianism. That’s where they start out in grace and then listen to religious legalists tell them there are things they “HAVE TO DO” in order for God to love them. They are caught between two covenants.
Paul chastised the Galatians for this very thing. In Galatians 3:1-6 Paul asks the Galatians this question. Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Of course this is a rhetorical question that is pointing out their error. He asks numerous questions to them in this manner along with this one. Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
What’s Paul saying? He’s saying works of the law in order to receive anything from God is useless. You don’t have to beg God to bless you or accept you. He’s already blessed and accepted you because of the finished work of the cross! He is not withholding anything from you! You just have to receive it.
How is this happening today? People listen to preachers saying “holiness is necessary to get from God”. Listen close. I’m about to ruffle some religious feathers. Holiness will not make God love you more. Holiness will make you love God more. Holiness is not a prerequisite for God to have a relationship with you. Besides, there is no way you can make yourself holy. God is the one who makes you holy and if you have received what Jesus did at the cross then you are holy. (See the teaching “Holiness” on this website).
How can I be good enough? You can’t. Philippians 2:13 says it is God who is working in you. If God is working in you and you’re trying to work so hard to be good enough, you’re pushing God aside. Living the Christian life is not easy…it’s impossible. However, through the finished work of the cross, God made it simple for us. Simply receive all that is provided in Christ Jesus and Him crucified.
How can God accept me? Like I said before. God did something that works for everyone. You’re holiness does not move God. Only Jesus’ holiness moves God. You’re righteousness does not move God. Only Jesus’ righteousness moves God. Reading your bible everyday does not impress God. But reading your bible every day will make you more impressed with God. Going to church does not win you any points with God. But going to church will help point you to God, as long as the church is a grace filled kingdom preaching church without all the religious or denominational baggage.
Going to church is for your benefit, not Gods. Reading your bible everyday is for your benefit, not Gods. Giving to God is for your benefit, not Gods. So you would be stupid not to give to God, not to study your bible, or not to go to church, but God will still love you stupid.
So, with that brief introduction, let’s start out with a scripture we all know, or at least have heard many times. It’s in John 3:16,17. Here it is in the Amplified.
16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
Again I caution you. DO NOT READ scripture! Study it! Too often people simply open the bible and read. When they do that, they read right over very important information that will lead to a revelation if they would study.
For instance. In this verse 16 it says “God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world”. What does that mean? Who is He talking about? You? Me? Christians? NO. He’s talking about everyone. Saints and sinners alike.
In Acts 10:34 it states that God is no respecter of persons. What does that mean? It means He does not consider some people to be better than others. He shows no favoritism. God is not partial to some people over others. He does not play favorites. So again.
God did something that works for everyone. What was that? Keep studying verse 16. It states “He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.
You see. God did not send His Son so that certain people could condemn other people for their failure to live up to a set of man-made rules or traditions. He sent Him so we could be saved, safe and secure through Him. So my question is, if God does not show favorites, condemn us, or judge and reject us, why does the so called “church”? Why do we think we can point fingers at the world and judge and condemn?
The “church”, religion, and legalism are far too busy pointing fingers at people, judging them and trying to tell them what’s wrong with them. That’s the problem with religion and legalism. They tell you what’s wrong with you. However, Jesus did not come to tell you what’s wrong with you. Grace and truth did not come to tell you what’s wrong with you (John 1:17). Jesus came to tell you what’s right with you in spite of what’s wrong with you.
You’ll notice that if you study these two verses together, it’s saying it’s all in Jesus, it’s all in Him. In verse 16 it states “whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life”. Then again in verse 17 it states “the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him”.
Notice the “world” is repeated here. Also notice there is no indication of any works of the law to make our salvation secure and sound. It’s only in Christ and through Christ that this is possible.
“Ya but brother, you know we have to clean ourselves up before God can bless us.” I already told you that was in error. Well, let me put it more clearly. That’s a lie. Jesus said just the opposite.
Look at John 15:3. It states in the NAS “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you”. I really like how the Voice version states this. It states “already you are clean because you have heard My voice”. Could it be more clear? Don’t let anyone tell you that you need to clean yourself up before Jesus will accept you.
I'll break right here with part 1, but be assured there is much more to this teaching. We will continue in part 2 to destroy the religious and legalistic false teachings concerning works and performance oriented christianity. Until then, Grace and Peace.
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