I’m willing to bet that most of us grew up with this understanding of God and of salvation:
God loves you when you do good. He frowns upon you and punishes you when you don’t.
When Elyse Fitzpatrick describes this in this week’s chapter, “Your Inheritance”, I relate:
…When you face trial or suffering, is your first respons to look back over your life to see if there is some reason God should be punishing you? Do you scrutinize the performance of your daily disciplines? How’s my prayer life? Did I read my Bible? Maybe I should have fasted yesterday. Do you rake over every thought, word, and deed searching for some failure that makes you deserving of this trouble? (p. 88)
I relate, because for the longest time, I did not know or understand GRACE. I didn’t see that the work of salvation is all Christ’s and not mine. I didn’t understand that the gift of salvation was not merely forgiveness but the mercy and generosity of an amazing inheritance in Christ. I spent so much of my life crushed by guilt, feeling unable to approach Him, and trying to make myself more worthy of His forgiveness and righteousness. I spent much of my life unsaved.
This week’s chapter is about our inheritance. If you were brought up in the church, you likely immediately think of Heaven. And you would be right. And yet, that is not ALL that our inheritance is. Our inheritance is in essence, knowing Christ, himself, and having all the freedom, righteousness, joy, and intimacy with the Father that comes with receiving His inheritance.
And it is ours right now. Today. In the trials and challenges of this life.
Rather than relegating eternal life to a future day, we must realize that we possess his life now, especially on those days when we struggle against unbelief and sin and are tempted to think that he is so disappointed in us that he has to forsake us. The gospel tells us that being forsaken is part of the punishment for sin that our Savior bore in our place. If you are in christ, no matter what you day has been like, no matter how many times you blew it, his life is yours (p. 84)
So why is it so important to understand our inheritance and to consider it’s reality in our daily lives? Because we are not yet who we will be in eternity. We are not perfect. We experience trials, suffering, and consequences of sin. How do we deal with those aspects of our lives?
Although God does discipline or train us as the Master Teacher, his work in our lives is never punitive; it is always redemptive. This means that he doesn’t punish us for our sin, but rather that, because of his great love, he gently and lovingly frees us from the lies, misconceptions, and idolatries that captivate and enslave our hearts. He never punishes us in wrath because he has no wrath left. Every drop of his wrath was all poured out on his Son. (p. 88-89)
Friends, what we were reminded of this week is that, as children, we are corrected in love, not punished in wrath. If we don’t repeat the Gospel to ourselves, we will be tempted to think ourselves less than children, based on our track record and daily performance. We will be tempted to thinks ourselves slaves and not free. We need not live as outcasts when He has redeemed us to be His own.
“His disposition toward you today is what it has been since he made you his own: he loves you and longs for you to know it and savor every drop of it.” (p. 91)
This should, indeed, change our perspective today!
Welcome to Week 5 of the Because He Loves Me Book Study! We’re so glad you’re here. Join Joy, at Grace Full Mama, next week, for Chapter 6!
Now let’s talk about it…
1) What is the most comforting aspect of your inheritance? What are you resting in today?
2) How do you respond to your own sin? Are you tempted to believe that God is punishing you? What is the difference between punishment and redemptive discipline?
3) What struck you the most about this chapter?
I’d love to hear your thoughts! You can do so in two ways…
*Leave a comment below, and feel free to discuss with others there!
*Write a blog post either answering these questions or with your own reactions to the chapter, and link up your blog post below! (Remember to add the title and url for the specific post and not your blog url and name. Thanks!)
And please grab this button if you are joining us so that others can find us here!
(It’s not too late to read along. If you haven’t purchased a copy of the book, you can do so here.)
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.gracelaced.com/category/Because-He-Loves-Me" title="Because He Loves Me Book Study"><img src="http://www.gracelaced.com/uploads/2013/01/BHLMbuttonGandG1.jpg" alt="Because He Loves Me Book Study" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
 |
Well, I haven’t read the book yet, and I am not in the study, so I am really kind of a renogade commenter here! But I had to share because I actually posted about this topic on my blog today before reading this, and now I intend to link up your post in my post.
I didn’t say much about it; I shared a short video from a teacher I have really respected on this topic.
This is the truth that absolutely transformed my life and brought me out of the sickbed of despair and sickness. It is hard to find in nutshell-form or chapter form like you have here. It is the most important thing to understand about Jesus — he righteousness that is to be “sought first” and then everything else is added!
This is very rarely expounded upon from the pulpit, because people are terrified of the implications. And it takes the whole counsel of the Word to flesh out all its aspects of how it works in daily life, but it is good news and it bears good fruit!
Now I want to go read this book you’re studying!
Here’s my post– it’s a 2 minute video of another teacher focusing the same thing: http://wp.me/pyWJd-13o
It makes my heart shout!
Joni, thanks for dropping by here! The good news that we are no longer condemned but share in the inheritance of Christ is indeed reason to rejoice!! And truly…it does transform us and release us from the bondage of guilt and slavery to sin. Praise God!
Wow! Another great chapter! There were a few things that really spoke to me this week. When the book cited John 3:16, even though I could recite it by heart, I looked it up and read it again. But I was drawn to keep reading. In church we get so caught up in 3:16 (which is amazing!) but we tend to leave it at that. Verse 17 talks about Christ coming not to judge the world but for the world to be saved through him and then, verse 3:18: “He that exercises faith in him is not to be judged.” Whoa! Wait a minute! “He … is not to be judged.” And then it goes on, “He that does not exercise faith has been judged already, because he has not exercised faith in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.” Wowza! Additional reminders of the inheritance that we already have, without works, just by God’s grace because we exercise faith in Jesus!
The other thing that struck me was the author’s comparison on p. 89: “Only foster children (or the children of abusers) believe that their position in the family is so tenuous that their day-to-day failures might eventuate in cruelty or abandonment.” This was a home run hit right between the eyes. Wow. Before that, she asked (p. 88): “Does [our sin] make you love [Jesus] more or do you want to push him away? Are you quick to repent, or do you hide out, hoping to make it up and do better next time?” I know that my relationships with other people can be based on childhood family dynamics, but it never occurred to me that my relationship with God was twisted by those same dysfunctional patterns.
How unfortunate that I spent a period of several years distancing myself from God because the thing I had done was so terrible, I was so unworthy of His love or even of being in his presence. Of course I see now that that was the exact opposite of what I should have (could have done). When we’re feeling like that is when we need God’s grace the most – and he willingly gives it to us, like the loving Father that he is.
On p. 89 again: “It’s essential that we stop living as foster children, because living in slavish fear of punishment or abandonment will breed over-scrupulous introspection and works [of] righteousness. Walking on eggshells, being on our best behavior, making up for yesterday’s failures, won’t foster true godliness. No, it will only result in more lawlessness and self-condemnation, because living under the law (any law!) will always and only create more sin (Romans 7).”
What great insights to have in a single chapter. I am continuously amazed, when I view God as a Father in light of my parenting (how I feel about my son, the lengths I would go to for him, how I never would want him to be afraid to come to me, that I am always willing to lovingly correct him and help him progress on his path) instead of viewing him in light of how I was parented (condemning, punishing, condescending) … it makes a world of difference! If I can be so loving to my son – though I am imperfect – how much more so must God love us (and yes, even me!).
I wrote in my notes: “We are his creation, his children, his “pride and joy.” We are to praise and bring him glory, and we shine and glitter like jewels or a crown of beauty!” Without trivializing His greatness, I am reminded of a proud papa beaming as he watches his knuckle-headed kids bounce around on the stage of a really bad elementary school play (is there any other kind?!) No one is doing anything quite right and everyone is making a big ol’ mess of things, but still, the Father is loving and kind and beaming – and he receives praise and glory!
Kendra, I was so blessed to read your vulnerable and insightful thoughts here. I agree with you that this quote from pg.. 89: “Walking on eggshells, being on our best behavior, making up for yesterday’s failures, won’t foster true godliness.” is so important for us to meditate on. We are not condemned, but loved, redemptively corrected, not punished in wrath. I’m so grateful you took the time to share what was significant to you! Thanks for joining in.
Yes, this chapter was so wonderful! It’s hard to pick a favorite one…they are all so insightful. I really appreciate how applicable this book is. She shares truth with us and shows us how that applies to our daily walk with Christ. The first chapter of 1 Peter is one of my favorites and I find so much comfort in knowing and believing that God is keeping my inheritance for me as HE keeps me
How can you not just dwell on that verse for a while?? How lovely and merciful is the Lord! Thanks for facilitating this study!
Thanks, Kim, for chiming in! Yes…if you stop and meditate on the truth that He is keeping us…it really just takes the weight off of us and puts the wondrous work of redemption and the glory of it completely in His hands. We don’t have to worry any longer about holding on to our inheritance, nor our own righteousness! Praise God!
Just like last week I wrote all over this chapter!
I think the most comforting thing for me was there is no more wrath. I tend to think God is mad and is always waiting to punish me and I need to do better. I loved that Elyse used so many ways to get the truth across in this chapter. It is so ridiculous for me to look at my sin and how I handle it the way that I have… it never crossed my mind how disrespectful that would be to God. I just didn’t think.
I thought about when I would correct my children or just punish them. Oftentimes, punishment is for the person doing the “correction” to feel right and get the expected outcome. But redemptive discipline involves correcting that may seem like punishment but rather it is a correction to get us to go the right direction and grow toward God. I think that I look at the discipline as “I was bad and now I have to suffer” rather than a loving God trying to protect me and accomplish something that I can’t see.
What really struck me the most was on page 89:
“Only constant meditation on Christ’s love will make us eager to be with him. Without it, we’ll be too afraid to be that close to him and, although we’ll seek to serve him, we won’t ever really let him in”
That was like turning on a light; suddenly I realized that I can’t possibly want to be with Him if I am afraid of Him because of what I know I am. How could God want to be that close to me!? Of course, if I am not focused on the truth of God’s word I will believe the lies around me and my experiences. And with that I certainly can’t enjoy or want to be with Him if I think there is always a problem between us. The battle for sin is a constant but I never let the battle “with” God be over. Although I accepted Jesus, I never comprehended the real impact of that. (I’m sure I still don’t) Rather than getting past something I have dwelled on it and let that be my truth rather than the reality of Jesus took all God’s wrath and I don’t ever have to worry about that.
Page 87, “The debt you owed a holy God for violating his righteous law hasn’t been merely ignored: it has been paid in full. Christ’s blood is the “ransom” by which we’ve been delivered from slavery to sin and every consequence of that bondage.”
I “ignore” things, but I haven’t forgotten them… the “little” things that pick at a relationship can drive people apart… even if it’s just broken fellowship. But since Jesus paid it all already, those things can’t come between His love and me but I have certainly allowed that to happen. I avoid Him because of my sin when he is the only thing that makes me whole and I need Him.
I loved this chapter! Thanks for doing this book study!
Deb, thanks for taking the time to really discuss your thoughts on the chapter. You have really summed up some great points here. That quote on page 89 is a significant one. Praise God we can serve him out of love, not out of fear of judgment! I so enjoyed reading your notes here, thank you!
I finally was able to finish the reading… and what a great chapter!!
What am I resting in today? Eternal life. Sometimes I worry about losing the people that are closest to me. Sometimes I fear life ending in general. Eternal life is an extraordinary inheritance. We get to spend forever with our Savior. What an amazing thought. I have always known that as Christians, we have eternal life. I have just never really thought of it before. It is such an amazing gift. The thought brings me joy.
Our inheritance is something I am going to keep in mind daily. It is so important. I really enjoyed the reminder this week!
Mandy, I so appreciate your words here. I heard Randy Alcorn say that if your treasure is in heaven, then every day you are moving closer to your treasure; if your treasure is here on earth, every day is a difficult moving further away from your treasure. What a great way to think of it…that lays our fears to rest…that Christ is indeed our treasure and nothing compares!