My friend John1 was imprisoned on a capital charge when he came to know the liberating power of God’s love and forgiveness. Immediately his life began to change from one unimaginable extreme to a new and glorious one, so much so that he was released on parole. On the outside, John was in high demand as a speaker, and in the trappings of attention he began to succumb to worldly temptations, which put a severe strain on his relationship with his wife, Jen2. The tension grew and, as they came to a breaking point, Jen said, “Let’s take a ride together, and then you can do whatever you want.” He agreed, so she drove them to the institution that once caged John and parked outside the razor-wire fence. In silence they sat, watching the inmates in the prison yard until John said humbly, “I get it. Let’s go.”
Reflecting back, John told me, “Jen could have put me back under the law: She could have said, ‘Stop drinking,’ or ‘Stop doing drugs,’ or ‘Stop . . . [whatever],’ but she didn’t.” Jen’s Solomonic wisdom probably kept John from returning to incarceration. How refreshing, such grace in action.
We who have been freed from the Mosaic Law through faith in Christ all too readily recidivate back toward it. Case in point: the Galatian church, which, though once liberated in the Spirit through faith in Christ, was now inexplicably placing their hope in circumcision. Paul wasted no time and spared no words: “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? . . . Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?”3 It is not the law but the Spirit of love and grace who guides us in the higher ways and thoughts of God.
Now, legalism presents in various forms of self-reliance, some subtle and some not — our pursuit of a net positive good-deeds balance; form over substance in our expression of religious piety; or moralizing in general. And beneath it, I believe, is doubt — doubt of the sufficiency of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice; doubt of God’s love for us, moreover our lovability; doubt that the initiating God pursued us in our sinful state and draws us still into glorious transformation. I don’t pray enough, read enough, share the gospel enough, so how can God love me?
Yet He does; He loves us with an everlasting love.4 He seeks us, His lost sheep.5 He draws us unto Himself.6 He goes to prepare a place for us to be with Him forever.7 He transforms us into the likeness of Christ.8 He makes us free indeed.9 Did we initiate any of this? No. Then may we live in the power and freedom of grace? Yes.
“I get it. Let’s go.”
Father, lead us in Your grace, that we would go forward freely in “the obedience that comes from faith.”10 In Christ we pray. Amen.
1, 2 This name is changed for privacy purposes.
3 Galatians 3:1-2 ESV
4 Jeremiah 31:3 NIV
5 Luke 15:4-6 ESV
6 John 6:44 ESV
7 John 14:1-3 ESV
8 2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV
9 John 8:36 NIV
10 Romans 1:5 NIV
Chapter 3.
T
My friend John1 was imprisoned on a capital charge when he came to know the liberating power of God’s love and forgiveness. Immediately his life began to change from one unimaginable extreme to a new and glorious one, so much so that he was released on parole. On the outside, John was in high demand as a speaker, and in the trappings of attention he began to succumb to worldly temptations, which put a severe strain on his relationship with his wife, Jen2. The tension grew and, as they came to a breaking point, Jen said, “Let’s take a ride together, and then you can do whatever you want.” He agreed, so she drove them to the institution that once caged John and parked outside the razor-wire fence. In silence they sat, watching the inmates in the prison yard until John said humbly, “I get it. Let’s go.”
Reflecting back, John told me, “Jen could have put me back under the law: She could have said, ‘Stop drinking,’ or ‘Stop doing drugs,’ or ‘Stop . . . [whatever],’ but she didn’t.” Jen’s Solomonic wisdom probably kept John from returning to incarceration. How refreshing, such grace in action.
We who have been freed from the Mosaic Law through faith in Christ all too readily recidivate back toward it. Case in point: the Galatian church, which, though once liberated in the Spirit through faith in Christ, was now inexplicably placing their hope in circumcision. Paul wasted no time and spared no words: “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? . . . Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?”3 It is not the law but the Spirit of love and grace who guides us in the higher ways and thoughts of God.
Now, legalism presents in various forms of self-reliance, some subtle and some not — our pursuit of a net positive good-deeds balance; form over substance in our expression of religious piety; or moralizing in general. And beneath it, I believe, is doubt — doubt of the sufficiency of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice; doubt of God’s love for us, moreover our lovability; doubt that the initiating God pursued us in our sinful state and draws us still into glorious transformation. I don’t pray enough, read enough, share the gospel enough, so how can God love me?
Yet He does; He who loves us with an everlasting love.4 It is He who seeks us, His lost sheep.5 It is He who draws us unto Himself.6 It is He who goes to prepare a place for us to be with Him forever.7 It is He who transforms us into the likeness of Christ.8 It is He who makes us free indeed.9 Did we initiate any of this? No. Then must we thrive in grace? Yes.
“I get it. Let’s go.”
Father, lead us in Your grace, that we would go forward freely in “the obedience that comes from faith.”10 In Christ we pray. Amen.
1, 2 This name is changed for privacy purposes.
3 Galatians 3:1-2 ESV
4 Jermiah 31:3 NIV
5 Luke 15:4-6 ESV
6 John 6:44 ESV
7 John 14:1-3 ESV
8 2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV
9 John 8:36 NIV
10 Romans 1:5 NIV
Chapter 3.
T
My friend John1 was imprisoned on a capital charge when he came to know the liberating power of God’s love and forgiveness. Immediately his life began to change from one unimaginable extreme to a new and glorious one, so much so that he was released on parole. On the outside, John was in high demand as a speaker, and in the trappings of attention he began to succumb to worldly temptations, which put a severe strain on his relationship with his wife, Jen2. The tension grew and, as they came to a breaking point, Jen said, “Let’s take a ride together, and then you can do whatever you want.” He agreed, so she drove them to the institution that once caged John and parked outside the razor-wire fence. In silence they sat, watching the inmates in the prison yard until John said humbly, “I get it. Let’s go.”
Reflecting back, John told me, “Jen could have put me back under the law: She could have said, ‘Stop drinking,’ or ‘Stop doing drugs,’ or ‘Stop . . . [whatever],’ but she didn’t.” Jen’s Solomonic wisdom probably kept John from returning to incarceration. How refreshing, such grace in action.
We who have been freed from the Mosaic Law through faith in Christ all too readily recidivate back toward it. Case in point: the Galatian church, which, though once liberated in the Spirit through faith in Christ, was now inexplicably placing their hope in circumcision. Paul wasted no time and spared no words: “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? . . . Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?”3 It is not the law but the Spirit of love and grace who guides us in the higher ways and thoughts of God.
Now, legalism presents in various forms of self-reliance, some subtle and some not — our pursuit of a net positive good-deeds balance; form over substance in our expression of religious piety; or moralizing in general. And beneath it, I believe, is doubt — doubt of the sufficiency of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice; doubt of God’s love for us, moreover our lovability; doubt that the initiating God pursued us in our sinful state and draws us still into glorious transformation. I don’t pray enough, read enough, share the gospel enough, so how can God love me?
Yet He does; He who loves us with an everlasting love.4 It is He who seeks us, His lost sheep.5 It is He who draws us unto Himself.6 It is He who goes to prepare a place for us to be with Him forever.7 It is He who transforms us into the likeness of Christ.8 It is He who makes us free indeed.9 Did we initiate any of this? No. Then must we thrive in grace? Yes.
“I get it. Let’s go.”
Father, lead us in Your grace, that we would go forward freely in “the obedience that comes from faith.”10 In Christ we pray. Amen.
1, 2 This name is changed for privacy purposes.
3 Galatians 3:1-2 ESV
4 Jermiah 31:3 NIV
5 Luke 15:4-6 ESV
6 John 6:44 ESV
7 John 14:1-3 ESV
8 2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV
9 John 8:36 NIV
10 Romans 1:5 NIV
Chapter 3.
T
Paul Nordman—Author 