Safety Nets.

CCM does this [weird] thing where after the speaker gives the message we discuss it with people around us for like 15 min. I remember this one time I was talking about the message that the speaker had just given on the sufficiency of Christ vs. the insufficiency of the OT sacrificial system, and I wanted to fight this one guy. OK, maybe not physically, but with my words I wanted to blast him. First, he started out by saying "I've very knowledgeable in the sacrificial system." Ok, I might think those things a lot of times, that I know more than the Average Joe, but I don't freaking say it out loud. Anyways. So right off the bat I wanted to smack that guy. But then he went on and on about how thinking too much about the sufficiency of Christ lessens the weight of sin and cheapens grace, that Christians use it as a safety net. That is when I all crazy (which probably was not the best thing...I need to be more gracious...)

Today, I was doing my QT (I am still on that one year Bible reading plan...except it's been almost 2 years........). I'm almost done. I have a lot of the historical books to read, some of the prophets, the last half of Acts & Revelation. Ok, that is actually a lot. Freak. But I digress!

I finished the Law today. Got through Leviticus and ended Deuteronomy. Dude, can I just say that reading all that is freaking burdensome. And scary! It's not even merely a list of do's and don'ts. It's do this or be cursed. Do this or die. It's serious business.

"..if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you."

There are some freaking crazy curses in there!!!

I was reading and thinking, "O my gosh! I couldn't do that! I can't do that! If I lived back then in OT times I would have for sure been annihilated!"

And then, I was reminded that I do not live in the OT times and that I have an all sufficient Saviour.

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh , could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

I have a safety net in Jesus who is far greater than my own efforts to keep every single commandment. He's the only one keeping me from falling into the pits of Hell and nothing I have done, can do, or will do will ever contribute to that. And I am so thankful! I am freed from the Law!

I understand a little what that one guy in CCM was saying...kind of...even the Christians writing to Paul had problems, "Should we continue to sin that grace may abound???" Misunderstood and misapplied the superiority of Christ to the Law could allow for a cheapening of grace and a weak view of sin.

But rightly understood, I think it makes both, grace and sin, much much greater.

Grace is great because I shouldn't be freed from the Law. I should have to keep every commandment. God is holy. I should obey perfectly. But graciously, through Christ, I am freed from the punishment of the Law. No longer do I need to worry about being cursed or killed for disobeying. And in the same vein, sin becomes greater because my sin was placed upon Christ. He suffered my punishment for my disobedience. I know the worth and weight of my sin. It cost God his Son. It cost my guiltless, sinless, Saviour his life.

So yes, I do use Christ as a safety net. But it is imperative that I do because he is all I have.