Are we living by the by the AM I? or the I AM! Those stuck in legalism are often focused on their own obedience and performance. They are constantly living by the AM I ?
They are always asking themselves AM I righteous? Am I ok with God? Am I doing enough to really please God? Am I giving enough? Am I serving enough? Am I loving enough? Am I Holy enough? Am I reading my Bible enough? Am I praying enough? Am I committed enough? Sadly to say the AM I question is never satisfied because how much really is enough?
How many works does it take to finally arrive at a place where you can declare that I am now 100% Holy and Righteous before God?
Nobody really knows, they just keep telling you to do more and try harder. Those living by the Am I? will stay on the hamster wheel of try harder, do more and re-commit to your commitment their entire christian lives. They will never feel like they quite measure up, they feel at times that God is somewhat pleased with them, but most the time is probably not real pleased with them and why? because its all about their own performance and their performance seems to always fall short. I mean if I read the Bible for 1 hour, i fell maybe I should have read the Bible for two hours, sad to say the majority of Christians today are living more by the AM I? rather then the I AM!
But those who understand the finished work of the cross and grace of God do not live by the Am I?
They live by the I AM! They are confident that God is for them and not against them, because they understand that grace is not about their own performance,but its all about the finished work of the cross and Christ's obedience. They understand that right standing with God can never be achieved, but that it is a gift that can only be received. Those who live by grace are living by the I Am ! and not the Am I?
They declare that I Am righteous! because of Jesus, They have embraced the gospel truth that says
"He who knew no sin became sin so that I could then be made the righteousness of God in Christ! Romans5:21
Those living by the I Am ! Are very confident because they now understand that they have not only been forgiven but have become a new creation In Christ Romans 5:17 . They are confident because their confidence has made a dramatic shift from themselves to Christ and they have come into the revelation that it is not my own perfect performance that matters, but its all about Christ perfect obedience.
As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:29-31
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