Growth and Admitting Flaws

Often in the Christian life our spiritual growth is hindered because we won't admit flaws. We cannot grow in areas if we refuse to admit we need to grow in areas.

The message of the bible is that man is under the curse of sin. The biblical ethic is so high that an honest understanding of its requirements tells us that we constantly fail.

God has grace on us and counts feeble attempts as a keeping of the law through the purifying blood of Jesus. Grace covers all our transgressions. We should not seek to sin because we have grace. If we are truly saved by grace the grace of God that saves us will naturally make us desire to do good works.

Grace which saves comes from our union with Jesus through faith in his death. The same union with Jesus that comes through faith also begins to change us degree by degree to be like Jesus.

It is faith in the cross which saves us and it is also faith in the cross which is the power which pushes us to grow in grace. Often it is easy to think that salvation and sanctification are caused by two different causes. We are saved and now need to figure out how to live.

Of course there is a need to figure out what Christian life entails, but the element behind both is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The link between justification and sanctification is that both events are tied together and driven by the same element faith in the work of Jesus.

Post: Our Way

Training Intuitions

The reality of life is that it happens so fast that we often need to make decisions related to ethics instantly. We often do not have time to think before reacting. Or if we think the opportunity to react will pass.

We need to train our intuitions to live in life. We often feel that intuitions are natural instincts that just are.

The reality is that intuitions are based on experience and knowledge. Over time our intuitions change based on new intuition.

How can we train our intuitions? Our intuitions are mainly trained by studying scripture.

The life of Jesus is a good example for ethical life. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, to love each other as I have loved you."

We should believe in his saving work and then on the basis of grace attempt to follow his example. Jesus is never an example only.

He commands faith in himself and acceptance of his saving work. Many people have wished to use Jesus as a moral example without viewing him as a savior.

Such a perspective has no love. The reality is that faith in Jesus is essential and works can only flow through union with him in faith.

Deep Christianity

Christianity is a very positive thing. The bible has a lot to say about what the Christian is and what he is to be doing.

But often we see many Christians move into a very negative form. They focus on what the Christian is not. The Christian is more characterized by what he is not that what he is to them.

You see this is a flaw because it is very close to the error of the Pharisees. You see they understood exactly what being a true follower of Yahweh was not, but did not understand what it positively was.

And you see the point is what Christianity is in fact is more important than what Christianity is not. Christianity is a relationship with the living God first and for most.

It is as if we have a tendency to describe our marriage by what we should not do. I should not do these 25 things. Yes, it is true. But that is not your marriage merely part of why if functions.

You see our union with God is or needs to be something. What our relation to God negates is far less important than what our relationship to God is.

Sometimes as C.S. Lewis says we are "far too easily pleased." You see this in many human marriages. Couples settle for getting along rather than being in love.

And this is why so many marriages break apart. Many people do not seek their own happiness in marriage. It is very subtle but true.

You see we should seek happiness in God. Christianity is about being happy through our union with Christ. But true happiness is very different that we expect.

You see the world is unhappy because it rejects the source of happiness. Many in churches reject the source of happiness when they move faith into a list of negatives.

The negatives of course only serve to protect the positives. As we have boundaries and ideals which enable marriage so the law supports proper faith.

But you see the law is not faith. Our relationship with God is faith.