These notes are to accompany Grace Rules, by Steve McVey, published by
Harvest House Publishers, 1998
Notes for "Sin’s Secret Weapon"
Introduction:
The subject of this week’s chapter is guaranteed to stimulate…for some it
will be their thinking…for others it will be their defensiveness and might be
expressed with anger or frustration. The thought that the written law…that list
of rules found in the Bible…has no place in the life of the believer, is not at
thought that can be easily considered for most Christians. How can that possibly
be true!? It runs completely contrary to everything we’ve been taught about
living the Christian life…didn’t Jesus Himself say, "If you love me, keep my
commandments?"
Before, you label Steve McVey and me as heretics, please consider these
texts: But we know that the law is good if someone uses it lawfully. We
also know that the law is not made for good people but for those who are against
the law and for those who refuse to follow it. It is for people who are against
God and are sinful, who are not holy and have no religion, who kill their
fathers and mothers, who murder, who take part in sexual sins, who have sexual
relations with people of the same sex, who sell slaves, who tell lies, who speak
falsely, and who do anything against the true teaching of God. (1
Timothy 1:8-10) The law came to make sin worse. But when sin grew worse,
God’s grace increased. Sin once used death to rule us, but God gave people more
of his grace so that grace could rule by making people right with him. And this
brings life forever through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20-21)
They (religious rules) seem to be wise, but they are only part of a man-made
religion. They make people pretend not to be proud and make them punish their
bodies, but they do not really control the evil desires of the sinful self.
(Colossians 2:23) The written law brings death, but the Spirit gives life.
(2Corinthians 3:6)
The written law is perfect for its purpose…to stir up sin and make us realize
our need for a Savior. Its purpose has never been to curb sin and when we, as
believers, try to use it for that purpose, we will experience failure every
single time!
What is sin’s secret power?
Romans 7:5 In the past, we were ruled by our sinful selves. The
law made us want to do sinful things that controlled our bodies, so the things
we did were bringing us death.
How does a law affect a Christian…anyone for that matter?
The existence of a law or rule actually increases a person’s desire to
break or violate it. What happens when you decide to follow the law of not
eating too much?
How have you set yourself up for failure by embracing a religious rule?
Committing to have a "quiet time" each and every day.
Why did God give the law even when He knew man could not keep it?
To communicate His standards of behavior and to demonstrate beyond doubt
that humans could never satisfy those requirements and obtain righteousness by
adherence to religious rules (Rich Young Ruler).
Were people in the Old Testament saved by keeping the law?
No one has ever been saved by keeping the law, except Jesus! People in
every age are saved the same way…by God’s grace!
What purpose does the law serve in the life of a believer?
Absolutely no purpose! Believers are led by the Spirit, not by rules.
Galatians 3:1-3 You people in Galatia were told very clearly about the
death of Jesus Christ on the cross. But you were foolish; you let someone
trick you.2 Tell me this one thing: How did you receive the Holy Spirit? Did
you receive the Spirit by following the law? No, you received the Spirit
because you heard the Good News and believed it.3 You began your life in
Christ by the Spirit. Now are you trying to make it complete by your own
power? That is foolish.
Romans 7:6 In the past, the law held us like prisoners, but our old
selves died, and we were made free from the law. So now we serve God in a new
way with the Spirit, and not in the old way with written rules.
Colossians 2:6 As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so continue to
live in him.
What purpose does the law serve in the life of an unbeliever?
It stimulates sin and brings awareness for the need of a Savior.
Romans 5:20 The law came to make sin worse. But when sin grew worse,
God’s grace increased.
Galatians 3:24 In other words, the law was our guardian leading us to
Christ so that we could be made right with God through faith.
How would you describe legalistic discipleship?
Egocentric instead of Christocentric. Read pages 87-89.
What are the elements of discipleship that are grounded in grace?
Strengthening a person in his understanding of what it means to be "in
Christ," not indoctrinating him with religious rules. Teach a person who they
are in Christ, and they cannot be stopped from Godly activity! Try to control
him through rules, and you set him for spiritual ruin. We weren’t called to a
spiritual list, but rather a spiritual rest.
Describe the discipleship program at Hoffmantown.
What would you say to the person who expresses fear that teaching grace may
encourage passivity?
Any time we tell people the truth, there’s a risk they will distort what we
have taught and misapply it to their lives, but that certainly doesn’t justify
avoiding biblical truth and teaching error to "protect" them. To "rest" in
Christ means to trust Him as our Life Source, depending on Him to empower our
actions with His strength and direction. "Resting" does not result in
passivity, it doesn’t mean that nothing happens, it just means that we
don’t make it happen, He does! Passivity never comes from trusting Jesus
to live His life in us, it only comes when we stop trusting Him, try to do it
ourselves, fail and quit trying! That’s when we become passive!
How would you answer the person who says, "I don’t have to pray, read my
Bible, or do anything else since I’m under grace?"
That’s correct, you don’t! Legalistic discipleship emphasizes obligation
in the Christian life. Grace focuses on opportunities to express the
Christ life. A life ruled by law is driven by duty…a life where grace rules,
is led by desire!
What will keep a person from becoming passive when he understands grace?
A legalistic methodology in discipleship stems from the foundation of fear.
It is the fear that Christians won’t actually live a godly life apart from the
coercive or persuasive pressure normally associated with rules. Yet genuine
grace will motivate a person to live a godly life more than a thousand laws
could ever do! A legalist greatly underestimates the power of the indwelling
Holy Spirit. When a Christian knows that he is free from the law, he will
discover that God’s indwelling Spirit will motivate him to serve based on his
relationship to Jesus, not because of external demands to perform!
Ezekiel 36:26-27 …I will teach you to respect me completely, and I will
put a new way of thinking inside you. I will take out the stubborn hearts of
stone from your bodies, and I will give you obedient hearts of flesh. I will
put my Spirit inside you and help you live by my rules and carefully obey my
laws.
What does this verse mean when it speaks of receiving a new spirit?
All humans are born with three components: spirit, soul and body. When a
person becomes a believer, they are "born again," their original spirit dies
and they receive a New Spirit…that New Spirit is the indwelling Christ who
becomes their Life Source.
How does God cause us to walk in His statutes (live by His rules and obey
His laws)?
He comes to live inside us where He directs and energizes our life with His
life (Sweet Tea).
Do we play any part in this process?
Absolutely, we decide whether to allow Him to live through us or not…to
express His life through us or not. It is always our choice! Our
responsibility is to choose.
How do rules steal the Christian’s victory?
It is the nature of rules to incite us to disobey and do the exact opposite
of what they demand!
What rules can you identify that have robbed your victory?
Were you taught certain rules as soon as you were saved? What were they?
What place do New Testament commandments have in the lives of Christians
today?
How do you interpret John 14:15, "If you love Me, you will keep my
commandments."?
The legalist’s viewpoint springs from obligation and understands this verse
to say, "If you love me, you better keep my commandments!"
The believer who is being ruled by God’s grace rejoices that the indwelling
Christ is his life and understands this verse to say, "If you love me, I will
come and live inside you and keep my commandments through you."
Next week discuss Overcoming Our Sins…