Walk in Grace
"Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters."
– 1 Corinthians 7:19
God knows who belongs to Him and does not lose any that are His (Romans 8:30). God is not confused (1 Corinthians 14:33) and knows the plans for our future. It is Satan who is the author of confusion. When we have so much information at our fingertips and are constantly inundated with news, it is easy to become confused. Listening to what is false over true disturbs the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). We see this happening in the Corinthian church when the Judaizers were allowed in. They were attempting to mix law and grace.
The Corinthian church was carnal. They were attempting to live their lives in the flesh and not the Spirit. The Lord was not leading them. They were leading themselves. This is the number one mistake that we have made many times today. As Christians, we begin to lean on our understanding and take God out of the equation. We replace grace with works. And when that starts to happen, God’s Word is no longer a light unto our path, and we begin stumbling in the dark of this life. If we continue down these roads, we will end up in places we never thought we would be and out of the will of God.
Jesus fulfilled the law once for all (Matthew 5:17). Today we live under grace (Romans 6:14). Yet we still find many today thinking they can work hard and earn something. Some claim, “I am better than you,” and they work diligently at that endeavor. It is a Satanic mindset to think that you can be better than someone else. The way for a believer is a declining road. It is taking the lower seat and going in the direction of humility (Luke 14:7-11). It is esteeming the life of another, including an enemy, higher than our own (Philippians 2:3; Romans 12:16; Matthew 5:44). If there is more pride than humility, you are going in the wrong direction. This is the effect of attempting to live a life that comingles law with grace; it cannot be done (John 1:17). For it is by grace we have been saved, through faith and not of ourselves, it is the gift of God lest any one of us should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). May we remember to always walk in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
"When the wheel turns, those who are lowest rise, and the highest sink. Patience, then, believer, eternity will right the wrongs of time. Let us not fall into the error of letting our passions and carnal appetites ride in triumph, while our nobler powers walk in the dust.”
– C. H. Spurgeon