First Sunday After Christmas
Unlocking the Gospel Secrets of Spirituality
Discover what difference reading these scriptures while Thinking Leaglism or Feeling Grace can make.
The Grace Language of Jesus
SPIRITUALITY CAN CHANGE OUR LIFE
Jesus spoke a foreign language. He took literal words the legalist understood and gave them a new spiritual meaning.
For legalism, sins are the cause of separation from God. For grace, Sin is separation from God and the cause for all sins.
Matthew 9:11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Legalism thinks all truth is literal. Grace knows the difference between literal and spiritual truth!
Think literal Legalism: “Presence” is physical.
Feel the spiritual Grace: “Presence” is spiritual.
OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 63:7-9
| Think literal Legalism: | It was no messenger or angel but his physical presence that saved them. |
| Feel the spiritual Grace: | It was no messenger or angel but His spiritual Presence that saves them. |
Legalism looks for the key to happiness. Grace knows there is no key, the door is always open!
Think literal Legalism: “Praise” His Name is verbally expressed.
Feel the spiritual Grace: “Praise” His Name is spiritually felt.
PSALM: 148
| Think literal Legalism: | Let them verbally praise the name of the LORD. |
| Feel the spiritual Grace: | Let them spiritually praise the name of the LORD. |
Legalists pray when they worry. Grace doesn't worry because they pray!
Think literal Legalism: To “proclaim” is to literally speak His name.
Feel the spiritual Grace: To “proclaim” is to spiritually tell others how to experience His Presence.
EPISTLE: Hebrews 2:10-18
| Think literal Legalism: | “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.” |
| Feel the spiritual Grace: | "I will spiritually proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.” |
Legalists get bent out of shape. Grace doesn't because it is flexible!
Think literal Legalism: To “fulfill” means to literally follow the Law.
Feel the spiritual Grace: To “fulfill” is to give it meaning as Jesus did not follow the Law but fulfilled it with Love.
GOSPEL: Matthew 2:13-23
| Think Legalism: | “This was to fulfill” |
| Feel Grace: | “This was to spiritually fulfill” |
Legalism gets tangled up in their own problems. Grace lets God untangle them!
Share your insights in the comments below
For further study see the follow on Christmas I Meditation.
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