We hear 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. Now that right now will start a shouting match with religious oriented christians.
How can I be good enough? You can’t! Just read Phil 2:13. If God is working in you and you’re trying to work so hard to be good enough, you’re pushing God aside and he can’t work for you. Living the Christian life is not easy…it’s impossible!
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 every Sunday does not win you any points with God, but going to church will help point you to God. Going to church is for your benefit, not Gods. Reading your bible daily 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, read your bible or go to church, BUT GOD WILL STILL LOVE YOU STUPID! The key is not to get in bondage to anything that throws you into the treadmill of performance. It’s the “want to” not the “have to”.
Let me say it again - Holiness is not a prerequisite for God to have a relationship with you. Now don’t hear what I’m not saying. We don’t throw out the moral code, but when people get caught up in this works mentality, they are prime targets for the enemy. No matter how good, how Holy, how righteous you think you are or you might be, the devil will eventually find something that he can condemn you on and it’s always something he put there. He’ll put a filthy thought in your mind, and then condemn you for having it. When you understand God’s great love and grace, the devil will have nothing to throw at you, because it’s not anything of you. It’s all about Jesus and He defeated the devil.
Religion says you have to believe, but then you have to do something also. THAT’S WRONG!!! The bible says in John 8:32 that it’s the knowledge of the truth that will make you free. Religion even gets that one wrong by saying the truth will set you free. No it won’t. There are lots of truths in this world that I do not yet know, so how can I be set free from them? So, if the knowledge of the truth makes you free, then it is error that bind you. All error will lead you away from faith in Jesus. Twisting God’s word is the devil’s theology. Truth that is not experienced is no better than error.
When you understand the grace of God, you’ll realize God loves you independent of your actions. Remember, Old Testament religious, legalistic preachers will tell you what’s wrong with you. New Testament grace filled preachers will tell you what’s right with you because of what Jesus has done, in spite of what’s wrong with you.
Let me finish with Col 2:9-10. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.
So again I can say without fear of contradiction that all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily within me. Now I didn’t say that. He did. If all the fullness dwells in Him and I’m complete in Him and I’m in Him and He’s in me, well then the fullness dwells in me. It’s pure step logic and truth. Come on.
It’s truth statements like these that drive religious legalists crazy. When you say something like God loves me as much as He loves Jesus, it’ll drive religious people out of their minds. Then if you tell them that the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily within you, they’ll start stacking rocks to stone you with. They’ll call you arrogant.
When you know who you are in Christ, religion will see you as arrogant, but that simply is a by product of someone who’s weak in faith. It’s these same people who in order to avoid appearing arrogant, will embrace stupidity and call it humility. They’ll say something completely false like, I’m not good enough for God to love me. I’m not holy enough yet for God to be pleased with me. I’ve got to clean myself up. Well, how’s that working for you?
Also, Eph 1:22-23. 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Translation…we are it. All that Christ is…you are.
But I made too many mistakes. It doesn’t depend on your righteousness, it’s His righteousness. It’s Christ in you…the hope of glory. We were raised with him and made to sit in heavenly places. We have authority, but we must let it become real in our life. Quit doubting your right standing, You are far above, seated in heavenly places. It’s all in Him. Authority, inheritance, power. It’s all in Jesus…just Jesus. However, He has delegated it all to us.
Grace and Peace.
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