Self Improvement

I was watching a parent with their children one day and the kids were into everything. Every time they turned around they had to get onto their child for getting into things they shouldn't be in. If you have ever had kids you understand that most of the time you are watching them with an "Eagle Eye" and often have to tell them, "Stop it." "Don't do this" "Don't do that" "Stop hitting your sister", "Don't touch your brother." it's almost a constant battle keeping them out of things that would harm them or their siblings.

Paul the apostle wrote,

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:10-11

In this great love chapter we see that when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part is done away and that which is perfect has come - the perfect finished work of Jesus Christ. In this whole chapter Paul is talking about love and living a life of love for God, for yourself and for others. You could do all the right things and yet not have love and its empty, void and useless. To walk in love is perfection.

The law focuses on do's and dont's but love does what is right naturally. Think about it husbands and wives you don't need a law telling you to love your spouse or your children you just love them and act accordingly - it's as simple as that.

Proverbs 22:15 states,

Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

And that is what the law does it addresses wrong, foolish behavior but the law was weak because of the flesh (Romans 8:3.)

Furthermore Paul writes,

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. Galatians 3:24

The law focuses on "do's" and "dont's" but after we come to Christ we are no longer under the law.

Again Paul writes,

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Colossians 2:20-21

As believers in Christ the Bible teaches that we are made perfect, we are no longer under a schoolmaster and while this doesn't mean that we will never do any wrong ever again what it does mean is that as believers our wrongs are never counted against us and that God has given us the Holy Spirit and made us new creatures so that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts and we naturally do those things that are in keeping with what we love.

The message of grace is not a teaching that will lead you into wrong behavior, when you embrace the gospel of Christ in time you begin to find yourself naturally doing those things that are right as God leads you and guides you because of His life-changing love for you that has caused you to love Him.

Believer we are not under the law of "do this and don't do that", but rather we live and flow out of a heart of love for God, ourselves and others.

Becoming Successful Is Easy and Making Money is Even Easier. Click Here Now to find out more.

This article is an excerpt of Charity Fellowship Word of the Week by Paul Rupe.

Paul serves as Music Minister and Webmaster for Charity Fellowship Church of Franklin, Indiana.

You can visit Charity Fellowship Church online Here