Tag Archives: license to sin

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Free Or Under The Law?

[If you haven’t read the previous article, Are You Righteous In His Eyes,  reading it first will give you much greater understanding of this follow up article]

In the last article, I talked about how the Bible shows that we cannot become righteous by our own works.  Rather, because of the completed works of Christ, we as born again Christians have been made righteous.  We are righteous in His eyes. The Bible says that nothing can separate us from His love.

I then asked, if that is true, then what happens when we fall short and do something that is not right?  That question usually brings out two different groups:  the “legalists” and the “free in Christ” group.  And both groups adamantly believe that they are right.

Guess What Happened To My Friend?

In addressing this issue, let me briefly share an incident with you.  I recently heard from an old friend that I have not seen or spoken to for around thirty years.  I performed his wedding back in the eighties, and we simply lost touch with each other.

He told me that it has been on his and his wife’s heart for many years to own their own home.  Recently, a very loving and giving believer gave them a substantial monetary gift.  They used the gift to purchase a home.

They were able to pay the full price for a home that was selling as a short sale.  They bought the home, free and clear, for 20% of what it was worth four years ago.  It is bought and paid for.

So What’s The point?

I share that incident with you to make a very important point.  We learn from the scriptures that Jesus Christ paid the price for all sins.  It was one payment, once and for all, for all sins.  The price has been paid in full.

Do you think it would be silly for my old friend to now make payments for the house he owns, that is completely paid for?  What would you think if he were to do that, month after month?  I think we can all agree that it would not be necessary for him to do so, and we would try to show him that the house is indeed paid for.

So why do some Christians think that we still have to pay for our sins when the Bible is so clear that Christ has already paid the price for all sins?  Now of course most don’t say it in just those words, but what they are saying indicates that one needs to do something to become righteous in God’s eyes.

Ever Asked Yourself This Question?

Here’s a question that ought to really make you think. What is God’s forgiveness of our shortcomings based on?  Is it based on how bad we feel for doing something that was not right?  Is it based on promising to not do it again?  Is it based on doing as many righteous acts as possible in order to atone?

Or, is it based on Jesus Christ paying the price and obtaining forgiveness for us all?  The Bible states that as a born again one, we have redemption; we have been made righteous. We have forgiveness.  For many Christians, what Jesus Christ accomplished for every single believer is far too misunderstood.

Do I then believe that we have a license to sin?  We don’t need a license to sin!  We have free will to do whatever we chose to do.  The more you see, understand and believe what Christ accomplished for you, the more you will do good things out of a heart of love and gratitude to our Father and to His Son.

Isn’t it quite obvious that none of us are perfect and that we all have and all will fall short from time to time.  But never let anyone tell you that your shortcomings can undo what Christ has already accomplished for you.  Nothing you do, or don’t do, can separate you from the Father’s love.

What You Do, Or, Don’t Do, Has Nothing To Do With It!

Nothing you do, or don’t do can cause you to lose eternal life. If it could, it wouldn’t be called “eternal,” would it?  Nothing you do, or don’t do, can make you righteous.  God has already made you righteous, not because of your works, but because of the complete work of Christ.

Yes, when we fall short we feel lousy and can begin to feel those emotions of guilt and condemnation.  But we must not allow those feelings to rule in our hearts.  We must believe and accept God’s forgiveness, pick ourselves up and keep moving forward. We must believe that we really are who God says that we are, and, that we really do have what He said that we have.

The more you focus your attention on your faults and weaknesses, the more you will be disappointed, and the more distant you will feel from God.  The more you focus on who God made you to be, the more grateful you will be and the closer you will feel to God.

You are not only righteous in God’s eyes, but His Son has made you free; free indeed!

Mike Verdicchio
2012

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You Might Also Enjoy:
Are You Righteous In His Eyes?
How To Receive More Of God’s Favor
Is He Willing?
Who Wants This $50 Dollar Bill?

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Are You Righteous In His Eyes?

Guilt and condemnation are two of the most defeating and deflating emotions we experience.  When we do something that we know is not right we feel guilty.  Then, we condemn ourselves, and as a result, our confidence toward God diminishes because we no longer feel righteous in His eyes.

But what is it that makes us righteous in His eyes?  Is it doing all the right things? Righteous, biblically means to be acceptable and blameless according to an established legal standard. In this context it would be God’s established legal standard.

So what is it that makes us righteous in the eyes of God?  Many religious people will say that doing right things makes you righteous and doing wrong things makes you unrighteous.  That would mean that we are made righteous by our own works.

Promoting Guilt And Condemnation

Those who adopt this view have doctrines that actually promote guilt and condemnation.  They make sure you hear the long, long list of deeds that will make you unrighteous.   They preach God’s disappointment and displeasure with your actions.  And of course, none of us are perfect, and so we feel guilt and condemnation.

The solution, people are told, is to try harder and do more good works so they can be righteous in His eyes.  Pray more; read the Bible more; give more; in other words, do, do, do.  And so then people resolve to do better and try harder, and do more good works, but then, they fall short, again.

This cycle is repeated over and over with very sad results.  Some people just give up, ashamed, feeling like they can never stand before God.  Others spend their whole lives doing and doing and they never have any time to develop a personal relationship with God.  But something very critical is missing from this picture.

But What Does The Bible Say?

The scriptures plainly tell us that we, by our own works, can never be righteous in God’s eyes, so why do people keep trying and trying?  No works, no matter how many or how great, will ever grant you salvation.  Works never make you righteous in God’s eyes.

The Bible is clear that salvation is a gift from God, “…not of works lest anyone should boast.”  Eternal life and God’s spirit are gifts that cannot be earned.  And in addition, to the shock of some people, the Bible also declares that those who are born again, are righteous in God’s eyes because of Christ’s complete redemptive work.

Now, logically, if we are indeed righteous in His eyes and have eternal life, because of what Jesus Christ did for us, can we lose it by doing something wrong?  No! If we could lose it, then it would not be eternal life.  If we could lose it, then Christ’s completed work was incomplete and he would need to come again.

Jesus Christ completed his Father’s work.  Shortly before he gave his life for you and me, he said, “It is finished.”

We Just Can’t

We can not on our own make ourselves righteous, nor can we on our own obtain eternal life; he already did it for us. And now, as a result, the Bible states that nothing can separate us from God’s love.

If that is all true, then what happens when we fall short and do something that is not right?  That question usually brings out two different groups:  the legalists and, the free in Christ group.  And both groups adamantly believe that they are right.

To the legalistic, falling short means that what you did wrong is sin and that separates you from God, otherwise you would have a license to sin.  The other group, those who see themselves as free in Christ, believe that they are free to do as they please without any laws.

I will address this conflict next time.  In the meantime, know that you are righteous in God’s eyes because of the completed work of his son, Jesus Christ.  If you have a comment, go ahead and post it below.

Mike Verdicchio
2012

Don’t Be Shy – Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this?  We’d love to hear what you think. Just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment. (If you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and then scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment.)

You Might Also Enjoy:
How To Receive More Of God’s Favor
Is He Willing?
Who Wants This $50 Dollar Bill?

Share This!
Do you want to share this on your website or Blog?   To share on social media, like Facebook or Twitter, there are buttons below.

There’s More!
For past articles, click on the, “Posts” tab above.  For past videos and podcasts, mouse over the “Posts” tab above.  Look for more videos as well as more podcasts coming soon to Confidence And Joy!