Changing Your World

Faith is extremely important to God. He wants us to rest in the promises He made to us; this rest is only possible through genuine belief in what He said, with absolutely no doubt or unbelief. Believing Him keeps us from thinking that we must work hard to earn the right to enter into the place of rest He has already provided for us. Trusting in Jesus and in His finished works delivers us from self-effort.

For proper spiritual growth, Christians must know the difference between works based on self-effort and works of faith. For Christ to have any impact in our lives, it is imperative that we refrain from trying to earn God’s approval the way the people did under Old-Testament law. Under the law, God’s ability to bless was based on man’s behavior; under grace, this is no longer true. Being righteous before God is now based on our faith in Jesus and in His works, not in ours.

For proper spiritual growth, Christians must know the difference between works based on self-effort and works of faith. For Christ to have any impact in our lives, it is imperative that we refrain from trying to earn God’s approval the way the people did under Old-Testament law. Under the law, God’s ability to bless was based on man’s behavior; under grace, this is no longer true. Being righteous before God is now based on our faith in Jesus and in His works, not in ours.

For us as Christians, the feeling of being condemned is the root of multiple issues we struggle with. Condemnation is responsible for fear; failure to understand this leads to stress, which brings physical and emotional illnesses and diseases. The only one who can make us enough is Jesus Christ. He’s the one who frees us from the old covenant of the law and enables us to minister the new covenant of grace to others.

For us as Christians, the feeling of being condemned is the root of multiple issues we struggle with. Condemnation is responsible for fear; failure to understand this leads to stress, which brings physical and emotional illnesses and diseases. The only one who can make us enough is Jesus Christ. He’s the one who frees us from the old covenant of the law and enables us to minister the new covenant of grace to others.

In an environment that condemns us and tells us we aren’t good enough, trusting in Jesus completely flips things around for us. To be condemned means to be declared unfit and guilty; judgment and punishment are attached. This creates fear of an impending verdict of guilt being pronounced against us. By contrast, faith in Jesus justifies us even when we sin, make mistakes, and fall short.

In an environment that condemns us and tells us we aren’t good enough, trusting in Jesus completely flips things around for us. To be condemned means to be declared unfit and guilty; judgment and punishment are attached. This creates fear of an impending verdict of guilt being pronounced against us. By contrast, faith in Jesus justifies us even when we sin, make mistakes, and fall short.