Gospel Faith

My whole life is not what Christ does, plus what I do.  Christ minus me, equals everything.  Christ plus nothing, equals everything.  and That's a joyful thing.  That is why I can have joy in my faith.  I'm reminded constantly of how much I stink at following Jesus.  More so even.  Everyday.

God died ultimately so we could have joy.  To fill that God shaped whole.  Jesus paid it all.  There's nothing that I have to do, or would be able to do, to make up a gap between me and Jesus.

"You know how you don't grumble? You rejoice in Jesus."  Thank you Rob.

Philippians 3:2-4

"Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.  For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, who who put no confidence in the flesh..."

"Anyone that comes in and says it's Jesus plus your works.  Watch out for them" (Rob) Back then it was people who said you still had to follow Jewish customs, and get circumcised and all that great stuff to be saved.  But its the people who glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh that are the real circumcision (the real saved folk.).  Nowadays it's good works.  Or confessions or...hail marys.  w/e else.  That's not what the Bible says.  That is not in the Bible.  I cannot add anything to what Jesus did.  But, in trying to live a Gospel centered life I respond to it.  In joy, good works come out of me, because of Jesus.  Through Jesus.  But that has nothing to do with how I am saved.  It's a fruit of it.  That is why James said faith without works is dead.  Because there is not faith sans works; works are the natural fruit of being saved.  But it is not the good works of the saved that get them saved. 

If there is any Justice in the 'afterlife' or whatever you want to call it.  It's in hell.  Because that's the wages of sin.  Heaven and Hell are not symmetrical.  Good people going one place, and bad another, and then somewhere in between.  It's hard for me even to wrap my mind around it, but it's a black and white line between those covered by Christ and those not.  Everything else is "loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus" (Phi 3:8)  I have to drag the universe off being centered on me, and humanity, and what we do.  Everything - Jesus = nothing.  Jesus - anything = everything.  Like Matty Thiessen penned, "The beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair."

Go listen to this It's the 9:30 for last Sunday.  Entitled the same as this post.  Seriously. Do it. Right now.  Kara. Sara.  Do it. It's awesome.
http://redeemersouth.org/eat-truth/sermon-series/philippians.php

If I wake up in the morning, and don't read my Bible, and I'm not praying throughout the day, or I do something sinful, do I feel like God doesn't love me?  God wants me to do those things (minus the sinful part...) but He loves me no matter what.  It's pride when I think that's not true.  (I'm borderline plagiarizing Rob here.  So forgive me. )  If I can't be honest about the sin that I commit, then that's me being proud of what people think about me.  Which isn't right.  Because that doesn't matter.  People's perception of me is not what is capable of validating me.  I fall into thinking that way very often though.

I can't have pride (though I do...).  It leads me to think that what Jesus did on the cross wasn't enough.  I'm not a good guy, not better than anyone else on God's scale. and what else matters?  My trust is in Christ, not in my performance.  How else could I have any joy?  Joy Joy Joy Joy.  I can raise my hands, and sing loudly and. Rejoice.  And suddenly I'm not grumbling about stuff anymore.