To Embrace THE LAW is to DISHONOR JESUS
Sometimes we miss it. God didn’t give us a new covenant as an ‘add-on’ to the old. He gave a new covenant to replace the one that killed us. Yes, that includes the big 10, those laws engraved in stone.
[Hebrews 8:13] By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
[2 Corinthians 3:7] Now if the ministry that brought DEATH, which was engraved in letters on STONE.
The self-righteous legalist then says “so you’re saying it’s okay to steal, murder, lie, and commit adultery?” My answer is “no, I don’t, but the law doesn’t lead me away from evil… Jesus does”. The law does one thing. It kills you. It makes you guilty.
Looking to the law to avoid sin or for righteousness does not respect Jesus. It does the exact opposite. It dishonors Him. If you really want to honor Him then believe His blood is enough. Believe He ALONE made you right with God. Believe He ALONE paid for sin. Believe He ALONE can lead you away from future sin and he DOESN’T need a set of rules to help Him. Your words, prayers, confession, and even repentance in no way cleanses sin or gets you right with God. Those are all normal-healthy responses but lack any power in making you right with God. After all, if your obedience to the law could do fix sin then Christ died needlessly. You could have just done it yourself……Thank God for grace.
[Galatians 2:21] I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
Author: Mike Cynar
Mike Cynar was raised in a church setting where he frequently noticed that many attendees would eventually drift away. The church labeled these individuals as ‘back sliders’ or ‘fake Christians’ just looking for ‘fire insurance’. However, Mike realized the issue was rarely with these individuals but instead with the church’s message itself. The teachings heavily emphasized behavior improvement and one’s flaws, with only a fleeting mention of one’s identity in Christ. It felt as though every sermon was tailored to the church of Corinth, who as we know or committing sins that even unbelievers don’t partake in. This trend was noticeable not just in one denomination, but across Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, and many other churches. Upon understanding the true essence of the gospel – that our righteousness comes from Jesus’ actions, not our own – Mike was inspired to liberate believers from lifeless sermons and reconnect them with the genuine teachings of Jesus. He believes that one can nurture a vibrant and growing bond with Jesus, unhindered by rigid religious practices. And thus, “Jesus Without Religion” was born.
It turns out that it is grace that leads to repentance. And if our heart is to get others to walk in the Spirit and live a godly life, then the best approach is not a beat down sermon, but rather to remind other that it is only when we understand our true identity in Christ that we will live it out. Yes, it’s true, if you’re convinced that God thinks you’re a dirty sinner, you will ultimately continue a lifestyle that mirrors that view, but if you truly believe that even on your worst day, you are called holy, sanctified, justified, and will be presented blameless in the end, well, it turns out this is the secret to living out on the outside what has been worked in to the inside.
