GRACE-CENTERED VS BEING DEEDS-CENTERED
We havent just been saved. Rather、we've been made anew to live a life filled with the life of Jesus. So let us live according to the richness of Christ's grace!
*We seek God's will.
But sometimes our motives can be a problem.
Through life we make decisions:what is good、what is bad?ーThe tree of knowledge of good & evil. Is this tree a tree of the Law ? !
Genesis3:1-6
1Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" 2The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' " 4"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5"For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
We are supposedto have been saved by God's grace alone....Hang on、arent we falling into deedsーcentred habits?
Being deeds―centered tends to mean that we become proud when things go well for us、and get depressed when things dont work out.
Be careful! Even now Satan is telling us to eat that fruit.
The way to live choosing the tree of life:
Galatians 2:20-21
20So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh.
John 5:20
For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.
Romans 9:16
It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.
Grace- Life of depending on Jesus and letting Him to be the driving force of it!
Check if you have been deedsーcentred or not.
- Do you have fear of failure or not?
- Do you criticise others or not?
- Do you blame yourself for things or not?
“The tree of knowledge of good & eveil” This is a symbol of deeds-focused life, which never satisfies us. Actually this way of thinking leads us to live under guilts and finally to end up with death.
Romans 8:13
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,
“The tree of life” This symbolizes to live by God’s grace. This does not mean to do something for Him but does mean to rejoice over being with Him !
Even God himself rejoices over you with singing !
Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."
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