It’s about a relationship, not rules at The Copeland Ramblings

I was doing some reading this morning and was reminded of some really cool truths. How often do I attempt to maintain my relationship with God by doing things? Or not doing things, by trying to keep whatever rule will somehow make me look good to God. Romans 7 uses a married woman as an example. This woman would be committing adultery if she married another man. But this law only applies to her while her husband is alive. If he were to die, she wouldn’t be breaking the law if she were to remarry. What was wrong before isn’t now, because of a change of condition. The same goes for me: The law no longer holds me in its power because I died with Christ on the cross. He died in my place, taking punishment for every wrong thing I ever have or will do. What controlled me before, what aroused sin in me before no longer has any power over me because of a change of condition. That change in condition is the Holy Spirit that now is in me. He is the only thing that gives me the ability to do any work or act that is pleasing to God. Obeying rules, just to obey rules was the old way, now I am to serve God in the Spirit. God is concerned with my heart, not just the outward actions. Awesome acts of service not fueled by the Holy Spirit are useless! That thought kind of humbles me, makes me think of all the ‘good’ things I did just to look good. But He of course knows about all this and is all the time working to make me more like His Son.
~ Norm