Do you know why the Gospel is such outrageously Good News?
- It is not the hope of becoming clean, holy, righteous and Christlike
It is not the hope of getting closer to God
- It is not the hope of trying to obtain more spiritual things
- It is not the hope that God will open the heavens to come down and bring revival
What makes the Gospel such Good News is that because of Christ and His finished work, by faith:
- You are already clean, holy, righteous and Christlike
You are already in perfect union with Him
- You are already complete in Christ
- God already came down, revived you and told you to be revival
The hindrance to make a lasting impact
“Why aren’t there more people saved, healed and delivered through the Body of Christ? Why isn’t revival breaking out since it seems that more people then ever cry out to God for an outpouring of His Spirit? “Why don’t I witness more miracles, signs and wonders in my life? I’ve asked myself,
doesn’t Jesus say believers shall do greater works then He did?!
What’s the problem here?
For a long time I wanted to work miracles, see people get healed and delivered, and make a lasting impact on people’s lives – much like you do – but I didn’t see much happen. Why? Primarily because of a law (Old Covenant) mindset. Yes, the problem was between my ears.
As soon as I started to dump the effects of the outdated law-system and embrace the new grace-system, I started to see healing and miracles!
For instance, a neighbour of mine had an operation to have a tumor removed from her womb. Later, when tubes were removed out of her abdomen, tumor cells – by mistake – spread to 10 other areas in her lower body. It was after this happened that I got to know her. I introduced Jesus Christ to her and shared that He heals people through people like me who believe in Him. She – even though she isn’t a believer – allowed me to lay hands on her, and I commanded all the tumor to dissolve and disappear in Jesus’ Name. A few weeks later she went to get an X-ray. When we met again she was happy to tell me that all the tumors were gone! I asked if she knew Who did it. “Yes,” she said, as she pointed upward.
Dump (the effects of) Your Outdated Demanding Husband
The law (Old Covenant) was not created so that man could clean himself up, get closer to God, and twist God’s arm to send revival. On the contrary it was created to show man that is impossible to attain cleanness, union with God, and create revival through human effort. The purpose of the law is to reveal sin and our need for a Savior. Once saved, we are no longer under law but under grace.
In Romans 7 Paul uses the illustration of marriage to explain our freedom from the law. He basically says, “a wife is legally tied to her husband while he lives, but if he dies she’s free to marry another man. Likewise, you were legally tied to the rule-dominating way of life under the law, but you’ve died to the law through the body of Christ that you might belong to Another” (Rom. 7:2-4). You are legally married to Jesus who is grace personified. In Him, you’re under grace (the New Covenant).
Your old man – under the law system – was a harsh demanding husband. He would only tell you how much you fail and fall short. “You’ve missed it. You never do enough. What a miserable failure you are” are among his favourite sayings while never lifting a finger to help. The demands and requirements hovering over your life would make you feel unworthy and not wanted.
Embrace Your Untamed New Lover
Praise God, this demanding husband of yours died with Christ! Plus, the law-system went into the grave with him. What a relief to be married to your new Husband who’s quite the opposite of the old one because He operates under a grace system. He doesn’t make any demands for you to perform a certain way nor does He point out your faults. Rather, your new Lover only confirms who you are and what you’re capable of doing together with Him.
Where the old husband used to say “You need to do more. Try harder. I’m never pleased with you,” your new Husband says “Rest in my loving arms – trust Me – let me do through you what you can’t do in your own strength. I am well-pleased with you.”
Even though we don’t have a relationship with the old man (and the law) any more, we still have the effects of the former marriage imprinted in our minds – which is a law (Old Covenant) mentality.
A law mentality is an old way of thinking that causes you to rely on your performance to make things happen.
Instead of relying on Christ’s performance through self-effort, you try to become clean and Christlike, beg God to bring revival, ask for more love and power and strive to get closer to God.
The moment you choose to believe the Gospel, you’ll come to a place of rest and confidence because you’ll realize:
- I cannot become who I already am
I cannot get any closer to God then I already am
- I cannot attain any spiritual thing that I already have
I don’t have to ask and beg God to do what He’s already done
Can you see that we need to change our old thinking and bring it into line with God’s way of thinking in order to see Him move powerfully through us to bring lasting impact? I suggest it’s time to go wild with our new untamed Lover (Grace) and dump the effects of our outdated demanding husband (Law).
Why do we see healings and miracles on a regular basis? Because we started to renew our minds – change our thinking from a law-mindset to a grace-mindset – and do what Jesus tells us to do.
To quickly spot if there are areas where your mind needs renewing, I’ve made a list of 101 comparisons between a law mindset versus a grace mindset. Some of the statements might be different than what you’re currently believing. That’s OK. I encourage you to be open to what the Holy Spirit speaks to you. And – as I’ve written here – don’t just take anything what I say for truth. Please study the Word for yourself, the Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth.
(Go to the second post in this four-part series by clicking here)
Here are the first 25 Religion killers and Grace (Jesus) exalters.
Law Mindset (Old Covenant) | Grace Mindset (New Covenant) | |
| 1. | God’s people are under law | God’s people are under grace |
| 2. | God’s people are sinners; unholy, unrighteous and imperfect | God’s people are saints; holy, righteous and perfect |
| 3. | God’s people are slaves to sin. | God’s people are slaves to righteousness |
| 4. | God’s people need to ask God for forgiveness | God’s people are already forgiven |
| 5. | Gods people are concerned about “sin in the camp” | Gods people rejoice in the fact that Jesus has taken away all sin |
| 6. | Gods people confess by reviewing their sin | Gods people confess (agree with God) by reviewing the fact that all their sins – past, present and future – are forgiven |
| 7. | Gods people confess sin to be forgiven again (or put their sin “under the blood”) | Gods people confess they are forgiven (sin has been removed by the blood) |
| 8. | Gods people turn from sin (as repentance) | Gods people turn to God (as repentance) |
| 9. | Gods people believe the Holy Spirit convicts them of their sin | Gods people believe the Holy Spirit convicts them of their righteousness in Christ |
| 10. | Gods people ask the Holy Spirit to examine their heart and point our their sin and shortcomings | Gods people ask the Holy Spirit examine and show Jesus and His perfect sacrifice to them and hear Him say “I chooses to remember your sins no more” |
| 11. | God removes His presence from His people when they sin | Gods people are the temple of the Holy Spirit, sealed and secured. He will never leave us, nor forsake us |
| 12. | Gods people believe that “sin separates you from God” | Gods people believe nothing can separate them from God (or from the love of God therefore) |
| 13. | Gods people separate themselves from unclean things and touch no unclean thing to be holy | Gods people are sanctified and holy, therefore don’t get involved in what is unclean |
| 14. | Gods people are sin conscious for it crouches at the door and desires to be their Master | Gods people are Christ-conscious, not sin-conscious for they have been set free from sin and live free from fear and condemnation |
| 15. | Gods people focus on self-sacrifice and human works. | Gods people focus on the sacrifice of Jesus and His finished work |
| 16. | Gods people do to be | Gods people are who they are |
| 17. | God’s people through works try to become righteous, holy, perfect and Christlike | Gods people are righteous, holy, perfect and Christlike and show it forth by allowing Christ to live His life through them |
| 18. | Gods people have a wicked heart – a heart of stone – that’s deceitful above all things and sing “create in me a clean heart” | God’s people have received a new, clean and holy heart – a heart of flesh – that’s an identical copy of Jesus’ heart |
| 19. | Gods people emphasize sanctification as a life-long process of being cleaned up | Gods people emphasize sanctification being a Person – Jesus Christ – who is their cleanness |
| 20. | Gods people try their best to become godly | Gods people are godly in Christ |
| 21. | God’s people have a lack-mentality and are constantly crying out for “more.” More blessings, more favor, more love, more anointing etc. | God’s people are complete in Christ. They have already been given everything they will ever need. They are blessed. They have favour. They have received the fullness of His love. They are anointed |
| 22. | Gods people seek and ask for “a fresh infilling or anointing” of the Holy Spirit | Gods people are filled with the fullness of Gods Spirit and anointing |
| 23. | Gods people seek and ask God for more faith | Gods people have received the faith of God and are full of God’s supernatural faith |
| 24. | Gods people pray and fast for more spiritual power and authority | Gods people posses raising from the dead power and have the same authority as Jesus has |
| 25. | Gods people fight for victory | Gods people fight from a place of victory |
The reason I’ve launched www.basrijksen.com is to help you get a fuller understanding of God’s love and grace to walk in fullness of identity. This list is just a quick overview between a law mindset versus a grace mindset. I’m planning to write more in depth about many of these amazing Grace nuggets in the future.
Question: which statement(s) jump out for you and why? Click here to comment.
Click here to the second post in this four-part series
You may also like:
There’s nothing for me to do. He has done it all!
Are You Sweating or Resting Today?
26 Simple Comparisons Between Law and Grace to Ensure Your Freedom (part 4/4)
101 Reasons to go Wild with Your Untamed New Lover and Dump (the effects of) Your Outdated Demanding Husband (part 4/4)
25 Simple Comparisons Between Law and Grace to Ensure Your Freedom (part 3/4)
LIKE!!
This is an interesting perspective of the law vs grace issue. How does this work with the Matthew 5:15-17 model? That seems to imply that believers are capable of sin and may need to be separated from fellowship because of it. How can a brother who is positionally forgiven and perfect in God’s sight get to this state?
Thank you for your comment. Is this question related to the verses you mention? Mt. 5:15-17 don’t seem to talk about what you’re saying. But let me give it a shot. As is obvious, believers are capable of sin. In fact, according to the Biblical definition of sin (Rom. 14:23, James 4:17) – due to the weakness of our flesh we are constantly sinning. However, God does not relate or define us based on who we are in the flesh/or by the works we – in and of ourselves – can produce by our own strength. Rather God relates to us based on who we are in the spirit. He is a Spirit Being, we are a spirit being. We relate to Him in Spirit and Truth. So before the Father, in Christ, we are judged righteous, holy, blameless, sinless because God defines us based on our union and identification with Christ.
The Bible, however, does talk about people being dismembered from a community due to a certain sinful lifestyle for the purpose of them getting to their senses and realize what they’re doing is destructive, dumb and not edifying. Usually when a person who is forgiven and perfect in Gods sight gets into a state of willful “playing in the mudpool” has not renewed their minds to who they are, lack healthy fellowship where he/she is reminded of identity & purpose, and numbs the Holy Spirit’s whispers by ongoing destructive choices/lifestyle. Yet, the good news is: The Father’s opinion of this person hasn’t changed – so we can remind anyone about their position before Him as accepted, loved, favored sons and daughters.
I “accidentally” found your videos on you tube when I checked for “new covenant grace vs law”. I appreciate your message and its simplicity and broadness. You managed to cover the subject in a broad way while keeping it understandable. I haven’t finished listening yet to all the videos you have but
I look forward to them. I notice that you do seem to believe in Christ’s authority to heal. Some people who love grace kind of throw out the aspect of authority in Jesus’ name, healing, etc. Thank you very much.
I’m glad you’re blessed by the messages! Indeed, even though I live and preach from the finished work of the cross (Grace) I also walk and teach on how to do the supernatural works of God, like healing & miracles. From understanding Grace comes the desire/fruit, I believe, of wanting to bless people’s socks off by outrageously loving on them and showing them, not only Gods love, but also demonstrate His power!
Then what about homosexuals. I have nothing against anyone nor should I ever, but doesn’t it say in the bible that they will not inherit the kingdom of God if they do not change their ways?
Hi Phil. Good question. Paul does say: 9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6.)
Notice, however that he is making a contrast between unbelievers (sexually immoral, idolaters, etc) and believers (but you were washed, sanctified etc.). He is talking about identity, not behavior = sinful nature versus a redeemed holy nature. At a glance it seem that it says that based on someones bad behavior someone may not inherit the Kingdom of God. This is however not the case. We know from the broader context of Scripture that there is only one sin which makes that someone doesn’t inherit the Kingdom of God. And that is not based on someones external behavior or life style practice, but solely based on if someone has accepted the free gift of Salvation – that is Jesus or not. My blog on what is the unforgivable sin might be a help here as well as I go more in depth on this.
So are you saying that a Christian can continue to live in sin? I understand we all sin all the time but often we aren’t even aware of it until the Holy Spirit convicts us of our offense. So a openly homosexual person can continue to live in that sin as a Christian?
My question would be has that person truly repented and placed their trust in Christ? He who puts his hands to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom.
Justified in Christ, yes. Sanctified fully, no. Like you said the Christian still sins and makes mistakes so what makes it different from the unbeliever who also sins and makes mistakes? The Christian desires (because of God’s grace) to so the things which please God.
That is one of the greatest compliments someone can get after preaching the Gospel of grace: are you saying then we can just go and live in sin? Thank you Mike 🙂
If people never ask us that same question, “Is this Gospel a license to sin?” then we’ve not explained the full message of the gospel of grace like Paul did.
“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Rom. 6:1-2).
You’ve died to sin. Your old sin nature is destroyed at the cross and you’ve received God’s sinless nature (in your spirit) which makes you a saint in the Father’s eyes.
That doesn’t mean we don’t sin any more or can live a sinless life, but to the degree I see myself as a white-washed saint I’ll be acting accordingly without someone telling me that I must live holy.
Where the law demands holiness (“you must live holy”) Grace supplies holiness (“I want to live holy”). It is incompatible for a holy saint to live in immorality. You could, but you don’t want to.
Grace is a Person – Jesus Christ. People who say that Grace gives people a license to sin have a limited view of Jesus. Grace isn’t a license to sin. Grace has set you free from sin to not sin.
I have been listening to ur messages recently about law and grace….and its such a blessing to know about the grace of GOD. I thank GOD for ur preachings.
Many things are running in my mind. But I want to ask about Paul’s preachings….whether it was fully grace or somewhere he was into law too…..and y I got this doubt is….bcoz I see paul talking mostly about being sincere hearted n earnestly serving GOD as being sincere hearted on our own is self righteousness i think….and also talks about women covering their head while praying or prohesying in public…..is that law or wat does he really mean??