Many people see Christianity as just a bunch of rules.  Those outside of Christianity, do not understand that for believers in Jesus, the law is not for us it is for them.  Non-Christians see the laws in the Bible as being restrictive.  Believers see the laws of God as pointing to the righteousness of Jesus.  Rules cannot make anyone perfect, all rules can do is show you where you fail.  For those who do not know, and are not trusting in the love of Christ through the gospel, the rules of the Bible only serve to show them their sinfulness and condemnation.  That is the point – in the hopes that in the despair of seeing sin rightly, people would look for salvation.  Christians, through faith, have already been given the perfect righteousness of Christ, described in the law – so for us it has no power of condemnation, only encouragement to continue to participate in the fellowship of righteousness with our Savior.

1 Timothy 1:8-11 – “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,⁹ understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,¹⁰ the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, ¹¹ in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.”

How do you view the rules of God?  Do you see them as restrictive, or do you see them as descriptive of the righteousness of God that is already yours in Jesus?  Know this, that as Christians, yesterday, today, tomorrow, and all your days into eternity you will be clothed, not with your own righteousness but the perfect righteousness of Christ.  We walk in obedience not out of compulsion, but in faith, that in Christ that is simply who we are.  We are no longer our former selves, but we are adopted sons and daughters of the Living God.  We have been “found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.”  Philippians 3:9

Stay encouraged in your faith today.  If we slip, let us be quick to call out to God who loves us.  If we lack faith, let us ask God who gives generously.  If we need comfort, let us run to the One who graciously gives us all things.  I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  (Phil 1:6)

Grace and Peace,

Adam