Lee McDowell Christian
Ministries LMCM
Nacogdoches,
Texas Gal. 2:20 KJV
Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 57
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life
Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859 almi@abidinglife.com
Another profound truth: Obedience is a separate topic from acceptance.
The question is: If need be, will we confess our sin of disbelief in the Son, turn from
it, and acknowledge His work?
Condemnation Reveals the Heart
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are
in Christ Jesus. --Romans 8:1
Often when I am speaking I want to make a point by asking
everyone in the audience that has experienced condemnation as a Christian to
raise their hands. Everyone
who raises his hand has, at one time or another, been like the Galatians, who
had cast Christ aside and put their trust in something else. “You have
been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have
fallen from grace,” Galatians 5:4. When we have trusted in something other than Christ and have failed, we
felt condemned because we believed that our standing in God was based on our
behavior. The sense of
condemnation is a revelation of where our hearts look to find peace, either in
Jesus or in our own effort. Obedience is a separate topic from acceptance. If acceptance were based on our
obedience, then what would Christ really mean to us? As it is, with our acceptance
secured in Him, He means everything to us. If we want to be free from condemnation, we must not
determine to do better but rather confess our disbelief in the Son, turn from
it, and acknowledge His work.
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
Have
you ever felt “condemnation”(guilt) based on your behavior?
How
much have you felt it? For how long?
Has
it ever crossed your mind to think that your feelings of condemnation stemmed
from believing your standing in God was based on your behavior?
Have
you ever thought that a sense of condemnation is a revelation of where your
heart is looking to find peace?
All
of these questions are indicative of the fact that way too many Christians have
never been taught, or have never understood, ALL that we are “IN CHRIST.” I remember Bro. John preaching on Ephesians,
ch. 1, and the several things mentioned in those first verses that gave a
glimpse into who I was in my new-born state of having become a Christian (at an
age just 10 days before I turned 35).
Hooooo-boy! Did I ever get
excited at hearing and discovering what God said about me being a Child of God! And the first bible study of a particular
book in the Bible that we were involved in was a retired pastor coming to our
church for “Church Training” (5pm on Sunday evenings, just before Evening
Service) and teaching on the Book of Romans.
When he got to Romans 8:1, my heart leapt again! For the 33+ years of being a Christian, I
have not felt “condemned”…simply because I had the privilege of being taught
from the start that my peace was “in Christ,” and not in anything I did or did
not do.
PEACE. ACCEPTED.
LOVED.
Interestingly,
for 15 years I just hung on who I was “in Christ.” And then we met Michael Wells…and he took me
to another level: Who “Christ is in me”! Aaaaahhh!
This Christianity thing really is good!
Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
P. O. Box 633244 Nacogdoches, Tx 75963 936-559-5696
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