Are you peculiar? You should be. More on that below–first, a word about grace. Grace is incredible. It is similar to forgiveness, but not the same. You might say forgiveness falls under the umbrella of grace. But grace is more than forgiveness. Grace is restoration. God does not simply forgive your sins. He restores yourContinue reading “Grace is Amazing, But You are Peculiar. A Rambling Conversation About Grace and Legalism. Deuteronomy 14.”
Category Archives: Law and Grace
God’s Court is a Court of Equity. Psalm 98:9
Professor John Mixon standing in front of some of the cartoons that he used while teaching classes at the UH Law Center. He retired in 2013 after a 60-year career as a law professor. I was scribbling notes as fast as I could—like eighty of my law-school peers. Suddenly, the professor tossed out one ofContinue reading “God’s Court is a Court of Equity. Psalm 98:9”
DEFINITELY A LAW AND ORDER GUY. 1 Samuel 21:6.
Pictured: Actors portray Jesus healing a blind man on the Sabbath. In law school one of my colleagues asked me whether I was going to be a prosecutor. “Because I figure, you’re definitely a law and order guy.” I had never been called that before. As a hyperactive child, I spent most of my timeContinue reading “DEFINITELY A LAW AND ORDER GUY. 1 Samuel 21:6.”
“I Am So Disappointed in You.” Genesis 8:21.
Image generated with A.I. The worst thing I ever heard from my parents was, “I am so disappointed in you.” They said it regularly. It seemed natural to disappoint my parents. I expected to disappoint them. After all, I spent my time trying to please myself. They were collateral damage. But when they said IContinue reading ““I Am So Disappointed in You.” Genesis 8:21.”
Do the Ten Commandments Make Any Difference Anymore? Matthew 13:52.
Pictured: Moses holding the Ten Commandments at the center of a statue of lawgivers atop the East Facade of the United States Supreme Court building. My friend James wrote recently that the Ten Commandments play no role in the life of a Christian. I disagree–and contrary to my usual approach, I am going to beginContinue reading “Do the Ten Commandments Make Any Difference Anymore? Matthew 13:52.”
Is There Tension Between Law and Grace? Titus 2:14.
My friend Blake writes on Facebook that the Ten Commandments are irrelevant to Christians today. What do you think? I disagree. First, the obvious answer: nothing in the Bible is irrelevant. Second, there is something special about the Ten Commandments. First, God chiseled them on two stone tablets. After Moses broke the tablets in angerContinue reading “Is There Tension Between Law and Grace? Titus 2:14.”
WORD FOR ADULTS. Romans 14:20-21; 1 Cor. 6:12.
The tension between Law and Grace creates the most cerebral issues in Christianity. This is faith for grownups—it’s not the “milk of the word” for baby Christians (1 Peter 2:2). The law says “thou shalt not,” and grace says, “All things are lawful.” So which is it? Romans 14:20 says “Everything is clean.” First CorinthiansContinue reading “WORD FOR ADULTS. Romans 14:20-21; 1 Cor. 6:12.”
NO CONDEMNATION. Romans 8:1.
What is Christianity to you? Rules and guilt? Yuck. No wonder you’re not excited about it! Judaism was about rules—613 rules. Jesus rescued us from rules. If church or faith or conversations about God leave you thinking about rules, then your faith is still in elementary school. Let’s graduate: Jesus delivers you from rule-following—and HeContinue reading “NO CONDEMNATION. Romans 8:1.”
DON’T JUDGE ME! 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 (Law and grace).
A thought flowing in the Christian stream says that questioning another’s behavior or self-discipline or spiritual habits is judgmental, and worse, indicates you have abandoned grace: if you rebuke me, you are living under the law, and putting me under the law. It is the cry, “Don’t judge me!,” and is often followed by “IfContinue reading “DON’T JUDGE ME! 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 (Law and grace).”
YOUR FREEDOM IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR WITNESS. Acts 15:28-29; Romans 14:20-21.
The church faced a struggle when it witnessed to the Jewish people. The Jews had over 600 laws from the Old Testament. And when Jews saw followers of Jesus breaking critical rules, such as eating meat from an animal that had been sacrificed to an idol, they stumbled, rejecting Christ. So the Church called anContinue reading “YOUR FREEDOM IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR WITNESS. Acts 15:28-29; Romans 14:20-21.”
Household Words: 