I love nothing more than watching a woman discover freedom
That happened recently.
There was a Jesus-PLUS rule a friend had placed on herself. It came from years ago when she was a young believer, and people had told her that the way to Jesus was. . .
. . . what she wore.
. . . how much she read the Bible.
. . . how many times she went to church a week.
And so much more. It was a long list of to-do’s that measured her faith, and she always fell short no matter how hard she tried.
One of the greatest dangers to our faith is Jesus-PLUS religion. It’s what we, or others, pile on top of the words Jesus spoke. It puts a little human twist on them, like this:
We add JesusPLUS rules — just to make sure we are extra holy.
We add JesusPLUS shame — just to make sure we remain humble.
We add JesusPLUS doctrine not found in scripture — just to make sure we cover all the bases.
JesusPLUS faith is a religious practice that includes Jesus, PLUS something else.
Why it doesn’t work.
Anything that is JesusPLUS can lead to a distorted gospel, and that’s just confusing. Paul talked about this in Galatians 1. Many had become believers, but then teachers came in and tried to pile old rules in the mix. They pointed out what they weren’t doing (circumcision) and tried to resurrect the old law that Jesus put to death on the cross. In this letter to his friends.
[bctt tweet=”One of the greatest dangers is JesusPLUS religion — adding anything other than Jesus as our hope. It is for freedom that we have been set free. #livingfreetogether https://wp.me/p4jbdw-4Gj” username=”suzanneeller”]
Paul reminds them that he was once the greatest of sinners. The only thing that rescued him was the love of Christ. Not rules. Not trying to be like people. He was justified by Jesus.
Justified.
Exonerated. Vindicated. Pardoned. Cleared. Freed!
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
As we talked about Paul’s words, I watched as my friend’s face changed. Her JesusPLUS faith slid away as she embraced this truth. Jesus justified her. It was for freedom that he set her free!
I don’t know if anyone (including yourself) has heaped JesusPLUS faith on you, but will you exchange it for the freedom Jesus offers?
It’s absolutely liberating. And it’s for you. <3
Suzie
Q: What is the problem with adding our own twist to the gospel?
Q: What is one way to stay grounded in the truth?
Related resources
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- How lies knock us down and how to get back up
- When negative thoughts won’t let go
- Live untangled in your faith
When we add our own twist we are doing unnecessary things. The only way I know to stay grounded is to stay in Gods word and pray.
We surrender give everything Lord .He gave life on Cross all us
His love unconditional . He Love us
fix our eye on Lord he is everything
Thank you so much for today’s reading. I was locked in legalism years ago through the church I went to and my husband. I lost my joy in Jesus and stayed scared most of the time of Him and all that I needed to do so God would love me.i was taught conditional love.
I left the church and my husband and wandered for years wanting reallyno part of church ever again. I did love Jesus but my view was very distorted of Him.
I remarried to a wonderful man who loved me for me, God was working in my life. Through many events God drew me closer to Him, slowly I opened up and started going to a wonderful church, listening to healthy preaching and realizing Jesus loves me, not what I do or what I don’t wear or say any of that stuff, He loves me unconditionally. Now how powerful is that!
I love digging in His word and seeing His love for me! At one time I was too afraid of reading the Bible because of how it was misrepresented to me by others. I talk about His love to my friends who probably think I have lost my mind, they don’t realize I found my mind!
So yes I was that woman who thought I had to do everything right for Jesus to love me and I now know that is false information the enemy gave me. I have to admit I still struggle at tines with it and then I open His word and read His love for me and that settles it!
My 2nd ex husband was, as far as I know still is, lost in addiction, both substances and pornography. When I accepted Jesus I was going to a church that stood on the statements that if you ask God, with all your heart, he will grant ANYTHING you asked for. I prayed so hard and believed that if I asked God would heal my husband of his addictions. It didn’t happen and when I spoke with the Pastor I was told I didn’t have enough faith and perhaps I wasn’t giving enough, over and above my tithe, and that is why my prayers were not answered. Eventually I needed to leave that church and that marriage do to added abuse and I tell people I wandered in the desert for 20 or so years, believing in God but feeling like I didn’t measure up or fit in. Thank God for women, put in my path, that spoke truth to my heart and welcomed me “home” in the body of Christ. We need to be so careful, it’s so wrong to push others away from rather than to Christ!!
I love this!
I recently did a study digging deeper into the words of Christmas carols. Some were old and I had never even heard of was called Ancient Law Departs, it really demonstrates how Jesus decimated the devil, so why do we want to put ourselves back in chains. Even The First Noel says He will break chains.
I have people asking me all the time what denomination my church is. I try to explain that it is a Christian Church but considered non-denominational. Then I get all the weird questions. Is it a cult? Do you speak english? I live in an area that is very old fashion and old school. They don’t like change. I try to explain, we are a church that believes in Jesus Christ and what he taught in the Bible. We are just going back to the basics without all the rules and regulations that people decided to impose. Most people just can’t understand. They would rather not go to church than experience one without the rules. They don’t like the rules but it wouldn’t be church to them without the rules. It’s a real shame.
At an early age (early to mid 20’s), I worked myself silly at church. I thought I was doing what I was supposed to do. Later, I realized that I was occupying an awful lot of time “doing” and very little time just “being” in the presence of the Lord. We can’t do the things He has called us to do if we replace our one on one relationship time with Him, with task after task.
If we are preoccupied with following man-made rules, our service will become about pleasing others. It’s exhausting! We will burn out. Our light will dim. We will lose sight of the freedom He intends for us to enjoy. If I recognize this in another friend or new believer, I try to speak up about it. Sometimes, we just need some guidance from others who have walked the path ahead of us. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
Oh ya. Grew up in that and could never measure up. Love knowing today that Jesus is enough and because He lives in me so am i. Praise God