"A Scary Thought For Some..."

- by Caleb Osborne

© Caleb Osborne - All Rights reserved http://www.ChristThroughMe.com -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

What could be a scary thought for some? How bout' this--The thought that as a Christian you can do whatever you want......scary?

Consider this Bible verse:

"All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify." 1 Corinthians 10:23

All things are lawful for me? That flies in face of traditional thinking about Christian morals, rights and wrongs--Doesn't it?

You see as Christians we are no longer slaves to law. In amazing mercy, Jesus was sacrifice that allowed us to be forgiven of our sins by no work of our own. So that we were no longer subject to trying to live up to God's perfect standards (the laws) And we were given Christ's life in exchange for our own by grace of God.

So we are truly free to do whatever we want, because law no longer applies to us. Woo hoo! Now that's freedom! It's so sad to see so many people that see Christian life as a life that is summed up by a comment such as:

"If you're a good Christian, everything is a sin"

This is definitely one of most incorrect yet universally accepted doctrines of secular, and sadly, Christian world. I guess this verse was skimmed over.

Before you get crazy and start to plan your debaucherous plight through every forbidden pleasure imaginable, pay attention to rest of verse. When you read rest you start to get a handle on why this isn't so scary after all. "but not all things are helpful...but not all things edify."

You have freedom to do whatever you want. But what will keep you from doing things that aren't "helpful" and don't "edify"? Well, remember when I said that you received life of Christ in exchange for your own at salvation?

Christ's life is key. You won't have to worry about what is right or wrong. You don't need laws to tell you. Your identity is a righteous one, so your natural nature is to glorify God and to do things that please him!

"How Should We Pray?"

- by Caleb Osborne

© Caleb Osborne - All Rights reserved http://www.ChristThroughMe.com -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Many Christians often wonder, "How should we pray?" I'm going to touch on this subject of prayer a few more times in upcoming weeks, so today we'll deal with asking for forgiveness in prayer.

This question of prayer isn't a new one but is in fact one that disciples asked Jesus while he was still roaming earth. Jesus responded by giving them an example in form of "Lord's prayer".

Many people misconstrue Lord's prayer as "sacred" way that we ought to pray. But this is simply not true.

You have to pay attention to a few key points in Bible. If you've read "Christ Through Me" Then you know that you are no longer under law of old covenant, but you are under new covenant law--forgiven by grace.

But what you must also keep in mind is that New Covenant, complete forgiveness of our sins--past, present and future was not put into effect until ultimate sacrifice for sins was made. Which came in form of God's sinless son, Jesus Christ.

So when Jesus told disciples in lord's prayer to pray "and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" they were praying that way because they were still under old covenant or law. This law required that they seek forgiveness whenever they sinned.

As soon as Jesus Christ died and bore punishment for all of our sins, it was the ultimate sacrifice. When you and I accepted Christ as our savior, we accepted sacrifice that Jesus made on that cross and were completely forgiven. All sins were wiped away, even future ones (heck, they were all future back then right?)

So because we are now under new covenant and have life of Christ in us, and holy because of this. We no longer have to ask forgiveness in prayer.

So I encourage you when you pray today, if you find yourself saying, "Father, I ask that you forgive me of my sins..." catch yourself and just show your gratitude instead for completed work of Christ at cross that paid for your sins and allowed you forgiveness once and for all. I say it something like this, "father, thank you so much that I am totally forgiven because your son took penalty for my sins..."

Instead of acting like a sinner. Go on in complete faith that you are already forgiven, think "attitude of Gratitude"!

Consider now first part of Lord's prayer. Here is how it is often said:

"Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name"

The key thing that I want to hit on in this email is that first thing that Jesus does is address his heavenly father as father and then start praising him.