New Attitude

“New Attitude” … that’s what I’m looking for (and have been for as long as I’ve been a CHRIST follower it seems) … and I think maybe I’ve finally found it in a little bit of Scripture teaching from Romans Chapter 4 – as learned in our adult Sunday School class.

I believe (and have for a long time) that JESUS is GOD’s Son and (based on my profession of faith as such) my LORD and SAVIOR, that HE was crucified and buried and rose again, and that HE now sits at the right hand of the FATHER waiting for the rest of the story to play out – in GOD’s timing of course!  But I have struggled for years with moving that knowledge from my head to my heart; because (and I know you will all be surprised by this) I am far from perfect … and I sin … all the time. 

And that sin constantly moves me away from GOD – don’t take that as GOD moving away from me because HE doesn’t (HE does not love me more when I am good nor less when I sin … HE just plain loves me … and you too!); my sin separates me from GOD because I stop focusing on HIM and who HE is and what HE’s done (because of what I’ve done).  This is where repentance comes in ... when I confess, and say I’m sorry, GOD forgives me ... always.

Okay, now we’re getting to the “struggle” I mentioned earlier.  Theoretically, I get all that:  I sin, move away from GOD, feel bad about what I’ve done, and so I repent, and then become forgiven.  Wait for it … but I don’t always feel forgiven, and that (I think) has been the problem.  I’ve been trying to live up to a standard that was never even intended for me.  Let me explain … or better yet, let’s let Romans Chapter 4 explain it.  My personal comments will follow the bolded paragraphs of Scripture.

“Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about.  But that was not God’s way.  For the Scriptures tell us, ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’”

GOD counts me righteous because of my belief (my faith) in HIM – not because of anything I have (or have not) done – but because of everything CHRIST (GOD) has done.

“When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:  ‘Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.  Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.’”

My faith (my belief) in GOD and what HE has done – and is doing, and will do – for me is what makes me righteous (keeps me in right standing with HIM).  I don’t have to try and work for GOD’s forgiveness, I just have to turn to HIM trusting (and believing) that HE will do what HE promised as declared in HIS Word.  HIS faithfulness brings me to faith and keeps me there … and can I tell you, that is a “joyful” thought! 

“Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!”

Jew or Gentile, circumcised or not, we are all the same (righteous in GOD’s sight) if we have faith like Abraham.

“Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous – even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.”

Circumcision is still a sign of faith, but it is the circumcision of the heart (a heart that’s been broken by the things that break GOD’s heart … one that wants to do what’s right as specified in the Bible) that counts toward righteousness with GOD.  Abraham didn’t yet have the “law” (Ten Commandments and then some) but his faith in GOD makes him my – and yours, if you’re a follower of JESUS CHRIST – spiritual father.

“Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)”

Did you catch that … “If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.”  The promise is not about keeping the law … it is about Abraham’s – and ultimately mine and yours – faith.  I am not under the law, I never have been.  That was not the Covenant that GOD made with Abraham, and thereby not with me as I am a spiritual child of his.  I am part of the promise given to Abraham by the LORD for future followers of CHRIST.  (My relationship with GOD, JESUS, and the HOLY SPIRIT is based on faith.)  Don’t you think that is totally amazing?  I am free from the law – and believe me, when you’ve broken every commandment and have lived with guilt and shame for your entire life, it’s very freeing to find out that the heavy yoke I’ve been carrying was not what GOD had intended.  Hallelujah!

That doesn’t mean we aren’t to try and live a life pleasing to the LORD, because we are – remember what HIS Word says:  we’re to bring glory and honor and praise and thanksgiving to HIM and we can’t do that when we’re only living for ourselves.  Love the LORD with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength … and love your neighbor – which is anybody you come in contact with – as yourself.

“So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, ‘I have made you the father of many nations.’ This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.”

This promise is GOD’s faithfulness to me, brought to life by my faith in HIM.  I am a new creation ... the old has gone, the new has come.  GOD picked me out of the miry clay of my sin, and sent me soaring to new life through faith in HIM … I am forgiven, I am set free.

“Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, ‘That’s how many descendants you will have!’ And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.”

I have been hopeless, and I have almost given up everything; but now I’m thinking differently.  I have a “new attitude”.

“Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.”

What a great Chapter of Scripture … what a wonderful proclamation for those who follow CHRIST.  You too, can be free from the yoke of sin if you put your faith in JESUS CHRIST and begin a life-long exploration of what it means to walk with, and live for, the LORD.

Thanks for hanging in there with me, I know this is a long segment; but don’t go yet.  I want to give you a little bit of an update on my marathon training program.  It’s going along pretty well since I switched to a Jeff Galloway plan – a bit slower perhaps, but I’m getting it done!  And that’s what counts, right? 

This week I’m up to 25 minutes (alternating walking and running) at level 2 on my treadmill.  I’m building slowly – 5 minute increase each week with a difficulty level increase each month.  I know, it doesn’t sound like much, and it isn’t if you’re already in great shape, not significantly overweight, or uhmm … how shall I say it … old.  Anyway, it’s working.  I’m even thinking of picking up an extra workout in the late afternoons on some days to increase my fat-burning potential.  We’ll see …

Let’s see … what else is going on … I am feeling better (I seem to have finally shaken my sinus infection; and my blood pressured meds have leveled out).  I have two weeks left of a Women’s Bible Study Group that I’ve been leading – thought provoking, challenging, sometimes annoying … and that’s just the women!  NOT! … I’m actually referring to the material and the presenters!  (Just seeing if you’re paying attention Linsey as I think you’re the only one who reads this – maybe Dennis … and perhaps Sheila McCalmont too ;)  No really ... I like my little group, we have a lot of fun together; and the material (“The Emotionally Healthy Woman” by Geri Scazzero) is pretty good too.  I don’t agree with everything – or the way everything is presented – but then again, that’s how it is with most studies.    

Since I can’t seem to come up with anything else to say at the moment, I guess I’ll sign off.  My next posting probably won’t be out until right around Christmas, and that’s more than likely what it will be about.  Stay tuned …

Lori <◦})><

Sharing life ... sharing Christ