Dying by the RulesSample

Over the past few days, we examined a few problems that arise when we try to earn salvation by keeping God’s commandments. “Living by the rules” can lead to death as much as breaking them every day.

It does not mean that we tip the scale to the other extreme by ignoring God’s sacred laws and commandments. Not at all. But we look at them differently. Instead of focusing on performance, we think and live and breathe love. When we are overwhelmed by the love Christ showed us on the cross, we love his commandments even more. The perfect love that the Law requires becomes a beautiful expression of Christ who lives in us. “‘When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love’” (John 15:10, NLT).

Loving God’s commandments will unfortunately not keep us from still breaking them every day. The struggle between our human nature and God’s life-giving Spirit will continue until the day that we meet Christ (Romans 7). But the difference lies in the power that we ascribe to our own efforts. When we realize that our attempts to keep God’s commandments have no power to save us, we can be freed. “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord” (v. 24-25, NLT).

How does it make you feel when you admit that you are powerless to earn salvation from sin and death? Do you find it difficult to give up control over the requirements for salvation? Which rules are bringing more death than life to your world?

Let us break free from trying to earn our salvation, again and again, each day. Christ has done it perfectly already. Let us remind ourselves of the most important purpose of God’s commandments, to teach us about love. “‘And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.’ Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him,’ You are not far from the Kingdom of God’” (Mark 12:33-34, NLT).