Living by Faith and not by Man-made Rules

In Acts chapter 20, we are told that the Christians met on the first day of the week, which we call Sunday. Notice, though, that there is no command to do this, only a statement that this is the day they chose. This was not referred to as a "Christian Sabbath", nor was it called a day of rest.

And yet, our cultural society declared that all stores and businesses would be closed on that day so that it would be a day of rest. The only day of rest mentioned in the Bible was Saturday, the Sabbath for the Jews.

There was no command in the church age dispensation to take a day of rest. We can if we want or we don't have to if we don't want.

Jesus Christ is our Sabbath rest, He lives in every born again believer who no longer observes the Jewish holidays or sabbaths.

Romans 14:4-6 "4Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.…"

As we can see, so many of our traditions incorporated Jewish Old Testament observances that were done away with when Christ rose from the dead.

Jesus Christ observed the Jewish Sabbath when He was still on the earth before He died and rose from the dead. After that, there was a new dispensation for the church in which we no longer observed the Laws of the Old Testament, which were works-based.

The focus after Christ rose became a faith-based observance not predicated on religious rituals or physical objects. We now worship in "Spirit and in Truth."

Ephesians 2:8-10 "…8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life."

We are not earning our salvation with our own works, but rather we are saved because Christ is doing the work in us. It's all His work.

When Christ does the work in us, He is glorified! When we try to do our own works to appear spiritual, we are glorified.

Romans 4:4-5 "Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. / However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness."

Titus 3:5 "He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit."

2 Timothy 1:9 "He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began."

Modern Christianity focsus on building up the pride in the congregation, doing works in their own flesh without ever asking Christ to transform them to glorify Him.

Authentic Christianity is when we trust in Christ, believe His Word and seek Him to transform us into His likeness. Do you see the difference there, in our own strength, according to our own pride, we try to be good so we can impress others and God.

But when God works in us as we seek Him, He is glorified, and the more we are led by Him, the less the world will like us. We do not seek to be accepted by people; we seek to be acceptable to God.

1 Corinthians 1:31 "Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Stop trying to be accepted by family, friends and neighbors and begin to obey Christ, no matter how others may see us.

Philippians 3:9 "and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith."

Galatians 3:10-11 "All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”

Hallelujah! When we are in Christ we are free indeed!

Edify meaning to Educate and Make Stronger

Edify: To educate, build up and make stronger as in "building a house."

We are instructed in the Word of God to edify one another in the Word when we meet together. Each one should come away from the gathering more wise and better educated than they were before they came.

When only one man speaks then only one man's perspective will cause people to trust in that man rather than in Christ.

Over the years, many people have used the word "edify" to mean praise or encourage. This is wrong according to the Bible.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "
So comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, just as you are doing."

When we meet together with believers, we are to share in educating one another. Sometimes this means someone will teach and the others will evaluate to make sure it is Biblical.

1 Corinthians 14:26 "What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification."

God's instruction to the gathering is that everyone participate in instructing and teaching one another. When all participate, they prepare themselves all week as the Holy Spirit instructs them in the word so when they meet together, everyone has something to offer.

In the modern church, the people do not participate, making them lazy to study during the week. They are not concerned about having anything to offer because the one man up front does all the talking and no one else is allowed to interrupt him.

1 Corinthians 14:29 "29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent."

In the gathering, there is an allowance for interruption so that all have an opportunity to interject. When something wrong is said, it can be handled immediately for all to hear. When good things are said, then others can share more to bring depth.

When a culture is based on pleasing others to make everyone feel better about themselves, they will resist the urge to correct when in error and also resist adding to what someone says to avoid embarrassing them that there was more to what they said. Feelings-oriented cultures make people enjoy themselves, but never truly train anyone to serve Christ.

When we obey the Word of God, doing things God's way everyone grows Spiritually and emotionally into mature and rational followers of Christ.