I came across this teaching in my journal which I had written a few years ago. I can't remember where I got most of this from but the truth of it is so needful as we work out the life of Christ that is in us believers. I have added some remarks to it.
Paul said that by trying to perfect ourselves by our own human effort will nullify the grace of God from working in our lives and thus we will not be inheriting some of the things of the kingdom of God that are ours while we are in this earth. Gal. 3:3; Gal. 2:21
Ten Ways to Fall for the "Saved by Grace, Perfected by the Flesh" Trap!
1) Human effort - Gal. 3:3 ( think performance based Christianity )
2) Traditions - Col.2:8 ( our church upbringing teachings which may not be accurate )
3) Hollow and deceptive philosophy - Col. 2:8 ( think humanistic mindsets that are antagonistic against revelation knowledge of Christ and His work which is supernatural in it's origin. )
4) Angel worship - Col. 2:18 ( God told you the name of the angel watching over this church? Cool! Now, let's get back to Jesus )
5) Rules and regulations - Col. 2:21-23 ( smoking, foods we eat or don't eat, Sabbath keeping - laws of Moses rules..etc. )
6) Self-denial, abstinence - Col. 2:23 ( thinking that these add to anything that Christ has already done for us. This is a subtle little beast as it has the "appearance" of good but at it's extreme expression - you are crawling on your knees through broken glass to "identify" with Christ's sufferings. )
7) Endless genealogies - 1 Tim. 1:4 ( So, you think you broke your leg because your grandfather was a Mason? We are redeemed from the curse of the Law of Moses )
8) Myths - 1 Tim. 1:4 ( Did Adam have a second wife? What about the Nephilim?..etc. ..it serves no purpose but to distract us from learning about Christ Himself - He is our life )
9) Sin-consciousness - Hebrews 10:2,22 ( God's grace in Christ's work took care of all sin - once for all time )
10) The 10 commandments and the Law of Moses keeping - 2 Cor. 3:6-18 ( The more we trust in our own works such as "keeping the 10 commandments " - the less trust we will place on Christ and His life in us to manifest His finished work. We can trust the Holy spirit in us and the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus and the law of love. )
Galatians 5:6 (NASB)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
How to protect ourselves from being "lured" into being perfected by the flesh.- guard our hearts - our mind with it's thoughts which create belief systems in our minds
- listen to teachings about the grace and love of Christ for us so that we can grow in Him.
- Connect with like-minded believers that point us to Christ and that encourage each other. Don't listen to those that are condemning you.
Paul said that by trying to perfect ourselves by our own human effort will nullify the grace of God from working in our lives and thus we will not be inheriting some of the things of the kingdom of God that are ours while we are in this earth. Gal. 3:3; Gal. 2:21
Ten Ways to Fall for the "Saved by Grace, Perfected by the Flesh" Trap!
1) Human effort - Gal. 3:3 ( think performance based Christianity )
2) Traditions - Col.2:8 ( our church upbringing teachings which may not be accurate )
3) Hollow and deceptive philosophy - Col. 2:8 ( think humanistic mindsets that are antagonistic against revelation knowledge of Christ and His work which is supernatural in it's origin. )
4) Angel worship - Col. 2:18 ( God told you the name of the angel watching over this church? Cool! Now, let's get back to Jesus )
5) Rules and regulations - Col. 2:21-23 ( smoking, foods we eat or don't eat, Sabbath keeping - laws of Moses rules..etc. )
6) Self-denial, abstinence - Col. 2:23 ( thinking that these add to anything that Christ has already done for us. This is a subtle little beast as it has the "appearance" of good but at it's extreme expression - you are crawling on your knees through broken glass to "identify" with Christ's sufferings. )
7) Endless genealogies - 1 Tim. 1:4 ( So, you think you broke your leg because your grandfather was a Mason? We are redeemed from the curse of the Law of Moses )
8) Myths - 1 Tim. 1:4 ( Did Adam have a second wife? What about the Nephilim?..etc. ..it serves no purpose but to distract us from learning about Christ Himself - He is our life )
9) Sin-consciousness - Hebrews 10:2,22 ( God's grace in Christ's work took care of all sin - once for all time )
10) The 10 commandments and the Law of Moses keeping - 2 Cor. 3:6-18 ( The more we trust in our own works such as "keeping the 10 commandments " - the less trust we will place on Christ and His life in us to manifest His finished work. We can trust the Holy spirit in us and the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus and the law of love. )
Galatians 5:6 (NASB)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
How to protect ourselves from being "lured" into being perfected by the flesh.- guard our hearts - our mind with it's thoughts which create belief systems in our minds
- listen to teachings about the grace and love of Christ for us so that we can grow in Him.
- Connect with like-minded believers that point us to Christ and that encourage each other. Don't listen to those that are condemning you.