Following Jesus is not a religion, it is a relationship.
This relationship is based upon God's unconditional Love.
His Love for you never changes.
Never.
No matter what.
True, some people can misinterpret unconditional love as permissive.
They believe they can live their own way and somehow God will always bail them out, just like an enabling parent.
However, unconditional love is not enabling.
It is empowering.
God's Love draws us to Him, not to sin.
Those whose understanding of God's Love causes them to feel free to live in rebellion and sin just have not encountered God's Love in a real way.
Then, there is the religious form of Christianity.
I have to...
I ought to...
I should...
I should have.
This comes from the belief that love is based upon our performance.
In other words, we are loved when we please God, and we are judged when we mess up! That just isn't God! God's Love frees us from those standards of performance, and gives us the power to be who God created us to be and to do what God created us to do.
One of my favorite definitions of Grace is: Grace is the empowerment of God's indwelling Holy Spirit enabling us to be who He created us to be and to do what He created us to do.
God has a plan for us to fulfill.
He did create us to be somebody in particular.
Paul gives us a strong reminder of this: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2.
10 This is a most interesting concept, because it is clear in this verse that the good works we were created for are not the result of our abilities and our planning.
We simply walk in them.
Stunning! Because of God's Love, we will find the leading within us from His Holy Spirit into God's good works that He has prepared for us.
God is not concerned about our abilities, but our availability! When we make ourselves available, He will direct our steps and empower us.
Now, all we have to do is learn to hear the voice of His Spirit, Who is constantly there guiding and directing us, if we will just learn to listen.
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
" John 8.
34-36 Thankfully, I have someone who will tell me if I did not do a good job of communicating; if I have been obtuse, or too theoretical..
she will let me know and help me to find a better way to word this message.
Because, my purpose is to help you understand God's Love for you.
This relationship is based upon God's unconditional Love.
His Love for you never changes.
Never.
No matter what.
True, some people can misinterpret unconditional love as permissive.
They believe they can live their own way and somehow God will always bail them out, just like an enabling parent.
However, unconditional love is not enabling.
It is empowering.
God's Love draws us to Him, not to sin.
Those whose understanding of God's Love causes them to feel free to live in rebellion and sin just have not encountered God's Love in a real way.
Then, there is the religious form of Christianity.
I have to...
I ought to...
I should...
I should have.
This comes from the belief that love is based upon our performance.
In other words, we are loved when we please God, and we are judged when we mess up! That just isn't God! God's Love frees us from those standards of performance, and gives us the power to be who God created us to be and to do what God created us to do.
One of my favorite definitions of Grace is: Grace is the empowerment of God's indwelling Holy Spirit enabling us to be who He created us to be and to do what He created us to do.
God has a plan for us to fulfill.
He did create us to be somebody in particular.
Paul gives us a strong reminder of this: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2.
10 This is a most interesting concept, because it is clear in this verse that the good works we were created for are not the result of our abilities and our planning.
We simply walk in them.
Stunning! Because of God's Love, we will find the leading within us from His Holy Spirit into God's good works that He has prepared for us.
God is not concerned about our abilities, but our availability! When we make ourselves available, He will direct our steps and empower us.
Now, all we have to do is learn to hear the voice of His Spirit, Who is constantly there guiding and directing us, if we will just learn to listen.
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
" John 8.
34-36 Thankfully, I have someone who will tell me if I did not do a good job of communicating; if I have been obtuse, or too theoretical..
she will let me know and help me to find a better way to word this message.
Because, my purpose is to help you understand God's Love for you.
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