Under Law or Free in Grace?

Are you "under" law or do you operate "out of" grace?  Ask yourself this question - What is my motivation for doing something good?  Really, take a moment to think about this question......

At the core, is my motivation rooted in the past or is it looking to the future?  Does it come from a place of giving or an overflowing of something we already have or is it seeking something?  Are my "good" deeds ultimately a giving or a getting, are they conditional or unconditional? 

As an example, let's look at what we all might see as the highest of possible "good" deeds, loving someone.  What's my reason for "loving" someone?  Typical love, on the surface, has the appearance of doing something for someone else, without serving our self-interest.  Love's ultimate desire is that the recipient might be the beneficiary through my actions right?

In the early years of my relationship with my wife, it's clear to see that I didn't know what true and unconditional love was.  So what was my basis for my love toward her?  If I'm honest, I loved her simply because she made me feel good about myself.  She was beautiful and funny!  The way that she "looked" and the things that she "did", made me feel good!  So as part of the conditional love game, I learned to do things for her to demonstrate my "love" toward her so that she'd stick around and make me feel good with her fun personality and good looks!  Well I know this sounds crass but truth be told, we did have strong chemistry and a great time together but the underlying truth of what I've shared was true.  My love toward her was selfishly motivated.  My actions toward her were rooted in how she made me feel in return.  

Unfortunately, we live in a world characterized by this dilemma.  Conditional based relationships are the norm.  If I do this then "X" might happen in return.  A slightly different way, if you don't do this for me, then I won't do that for you.  I would characterize this default human condition as "living under law".  And to be clear, I don't necessarily mean law in the sense of biblical law but perhaps the law of man (his default mode of operation).  When I look out at humanity, I see very little difference between unbelievers bound in their performance towards each other as I see in believers working to put God in their debt.  Both groups of people are "under" what they feel they must do to "earn" what they don't have (knowingly or unknowingly).  Both are ultimately seeking to do "good" for reasons that are self-serving by definitions of "good" that they created. 

The diagram below highlights the mechanics of being "under law".  The word "salvation" could just as easily be replaced with nearly anything that the "me" is lacking or needing.  Let's take salvation for example.  If a person believes that salvation is either missing or incomplete, they will be motivated to achieve it by whatever means they "believe" will attain it.  In this case, the person is consumed with trying to do "good" things in order that they may either "earn" or "keep" their salvation.  Their motivation is rooted in what is lacking (past) and their efforts (future) are targeted to try and secure themselves now (present).  

Do you see the viscous cycle one can get stuck in?  It places the emphasis of everything they do upon themselves.  The "me" becomes inwardly focused losing the ability to look up and look out at the relationships around them.  

What does this look like in other areas?  If I do really good on this test, people will think I'm smart, if I exercise a lot, people will think I'm good looking, if I drive a nice car, people will think I have money, if I wear expensive clothes, people will think I'm important, if I help someone, people will think I'm nice, if I make people laugh, they will think I'm funny and on and on.  At core are the feelings of inadequacy, emptiness and low self-worth.

Because of this default condition of being under law, there is this deep sense within that tells us we must earn everything and if it can't be earned, it's cheap and cheap doesn't ascribe value to me.  The net result - I must try harder.  Do you see the bondage in this?  Let's switch gears and see things from a whole new prospective!

Now let me contrast for a moment my initial, conditional, love for my wife, with that of my love toward my unborn child.  For 9 months, this child was in our presence in one aspect but in another, was a world away.  I couldn't see her, talk with her, play with her, she could only be imagined.  But yet I developed a strong love for her and it was NOT based on anything she had done or would do.  It wasn't based on looks, behavior, talent or anything that we typically ascribe value to.  It was a genuine, unconditional love.  Unexplainably, my love toward her was based on who's she was,... for she was mine!   Perhaps, this was the first time I gained a glimpse and understanding of the behind the scenes working of unconditional love (at least from the opposite perspective).  What I mean is the understanding of love completely disconnected from performance.  The raw unconditionality of agape love.  

As great as this love that we have towards our children might be, it's but a drop in the bucket in comparison to the love that our Creator has for us.  The truth is that we are selfish by default and that selfishness interferes with the foundational agape love we have towards our children.  By comparison, God's love is holy, perfect, and completely void of any selfish aspects.  God's love would go to any length to prove itself to us.  Even to the point of completely sacrificing Himself, which He did in the likeness our own flesh that we might see and believe in this powerful demonstration of His love for us.  

When we begin to see and understand our default nature of being under law (chasing our own apart from Him, a sinner) and begin to hear and understand the truth of God's unconditional love that was physically demonstrated for us 2,000 years ago, our hearts and minds are opened to a place of belief and belief unto faith in Jesus. 

In one of my all-time favorite verses, Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul says "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."  This verse screams loud and clear that salvation is by grace (God's grace), it's a gift that can't be earned, it's NOT the result of our deeds, and most importantly, its past tense for you have BEEN saved.  So that there is absolutely no confusion on the matter, Paul says twice that's it's not of yourselves and not of works completely taking us and our performance out of the equation!  The only part we play is simply having faith.  Is that not completely freeing?  It's like a gnat hitting the windshield of your car!   Is there anything the gnat can do to change the trajectory and speed of the car?  Absolutely not!  Lay your tireless efforts down, quit trying because it's not about what you have done or will do!  It's instead solely based on His glory, His character, His goodness and what He did to secure your freedom.  

Freedom from what?  Freedom from being "under" the law (biblical Old Testament law), freedom from man's law, freedom from our past beliefs and lies, freedom from the expectations of others, freedom from performance, freedom from religion and even the freedom to fail!  Yea, I know, this just doesn't add up with what we've heard or what you've been told.  Let's examine but a tip of the good news iceberg: 

FREEDOM IN CHRIST VERSES:

John 8:36

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

2 Corinthians 3:17

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Galatians 5:13-14

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:1

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (being UNDER law).

Ephesians 3:12

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Acts 13:38-39

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the Law of Moses.

Colossians 1:21-22

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation (accusation of not living up to the law)

Romans 8:1-4

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Isaiah 61:1-2

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.

We are no longer under law, but through faith (not performance) in Christ, have been set free.  So let's go back to that original question.  What's my motivation for doing something good?  To be honest, the question itself is flawed.  The word "motivation" is misleading as it implies a moving as a result of pressure, a temporary action resulting from emotional encouragement, a call to action based on a future benefit.  Perhaps the better question is - What is the source of my good works?  

My "good works" are instead, Christ, through my faith and fullness in Him, overflowing out of me.  This truth is beautifully described in John chapter 15 verse 5 through the example of the grape vine, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  A branch cannot bear fruit (good works) on its own.  Instead, the branch is the conduit through which the fruit flows from the vine.  This can only occur if the branch is connected to the vine.  

In summary, we have looked at two different sources of good works.  The first source was internally manufactured and its motivation was from a place of emptiness with a goal towards getting "something".  The second source was external and was produced out of an abundance or overflow in the individual.  The person operating under law is seeking by their own means to fill or earn what they know is lacking and is inwardly focused.  The person living out of grace is so connected to the abundant life (Jesus) that it naturally spills out of them and they are externally focused. 

Now make no mistake, the accuser tries daily to place the believer who is living out of grace back into the bondage of being under the law.  This is why Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 that we are to continually renew our minds so that we might prove for ourselves God's good and perfect will.  How do we do that?  By feasting on the goodness of His word and letting the truth of who we ALREADY are displace the lies that have previously filled our mind.

I am eternally and unconditionally loved, not based on anything I have done but based squarely on who He is and what He's done to demonstrate that love!  That is Grace!  

Selah

Side Note:

*If you are still not convinced of the truth of this amazing grace, take the time to read the story of the prodigal son found in Luke 15:11-32.  Pay special attention to the father's reaction to both of his sons (both of which are at opposite ends of the human spectrum, one in despair, the other in pride).  The father’s response is completely independent from both sons behavior.   This story is provided that we might see that wherever we find ourselves in the spectrum from pride to despair and no matter how great or horrible our performance might be, that our heavenly father sees and loves us all the same!  He awaits both you and me with arms wide open, ready to restore us to our original identity at His table, as His child!

Grace - the only sustainable power to change everything...