8.19 Practical applications - are you living under the weight of the law?
Yesterday, we shared that the law searches out our failures – if we choose to live under the system of law. Let me share my experience in this area.
I was once a worship leader during the Lutheran revival. Back then, I did not understand much of these truths which I am sharing with you today. I used to begin worship under the weight of the law. I used to ask myself, “Where have I failed God? Where have I fallen short? I would feel unworthy and fearful of entering God’s presence. Can you identify with my experience?
Isn’t this consistent with the approach of the law? The law searches out our failures and brings about the knowledge of sin. It tells us we are not justified before God. Then after all my confessions, and after the whole congregation has been put under the weight of the law, I would try to lead people into the Holy of Holies through worship. But there would be such a sense of heaviness over the congregation. I would feel like we were still in the Outer Court by the time worship was over. I was deeply puzzled as a worship leader.
Was there something wrong with the congregation? No. There was something wrong with my approach. I did not realize that I was using the approach of the law, which Christ came to deliver us from.
(Romans 7:6)
But now we have been DELIVERED FROM THE LAW, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
The Bible says that Christ has made us free from the law. We are not to be entangled again with this yoke of bondage – which refers to the law.
(Gal 5:1-4)
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has MADE US FREE, and do not be entangled again with a YOKE OF BONDAGE. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a DEBTOR TO KEEP THE WHOLE LAW. You have become estranged from Christ, you who ATTEMPT TO BE JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW…
We are not to live under the weight of the law. We are to live in the liberty of Christ. Let me give an illustration. For a lady, living under the law is like living with the perfect man with the highest expectations on you. He shows no affections. You are not free to love but you are compelled to love. Whatever you do, it doesn’t measure up to his expectations. He makes you feel inadequate. He points out your failures all the time.
But living under Christ is like living with the man who loves you selflessly and unconditionally. He encourages you and builds you up. You are free to love him passionately in return. He brings out the best in you. You want to be the best you can be for him. You have been delivered into such a relationship with our Lord Jesus.
I was once a worship leader during the Lutheran revival. Back then, I did not understand much of these truths which I am sharing with you today. I used to begin worship under the weight of the law. I used to ask myself, “Where have I failed God? Where have I fallen short? I would feel unworthy and fearful of entering God’s presence. Can you identify with my experience?
Isn’t this consistent with the approach of the law? The law searches out our failures and brings about the knowledge of sin. It tells us we are not justified before God. Then after all my confessions, and after the whole congregation has been put under the weight of the law, I would try to lead people into the Holy of Holies through worship. But there would be such a sense of heaviness over the congregation. I would feel like we were still in the Outer Court by the time worship was over. I was deeply puzzled as a worship leader.
Was there something wrong with the congregation? No. There was something wrong with my approach. I did not realize that I was using the approach of the law, which Christ came to deliver us from.
(Romans 7:6)
But now we have been DELIVERED FROM THE LAW, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
The Bible says that Christ has made us free from the law. We are not to be entangled again with this yoke of bondage – which refers to the law.
(Gal 5:1-4)
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has MADE US FREE, and do not be entangled again with a YOKE OF BONDAGE. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a DEBTOR TO KEEP THE WHOLE LAW. You have become estranged from Christ, you who ATTEMPT TO BE JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW…
We are not to live under the weight of the law. We are to live in the liberty of Christ. Let me give an illustration. For a lady, living under the law is like living with the perfect man with the highest expectations on you. He shows no affections. You are not free to love but you are compelled to love. Whatever you do, it doesn’t measure up to his expectations. He makes you feel inadequate. He points out your failures all the time.
But living under Christ is like living with the man who loves you selflessly and unconditionally. He encourages you and builds you up. You are free to love him passionately in return. He brings out the best in you. You want to be the best you can be for him. You have been delivered into such a relationship with our Lord Jesus.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 12:11 AM
<< Home