Thanks to Andy "Aaron Rodgers" Woznicki for compiling this "Reality Check" from one of Larry Crabb's books. I really like Larry Crab. I like Andy. And I like this reality check. So, enjoy!

Note that what Paul says here is in the present tense, not the past. He is describing his "now" need for the gospel, not his "then" need. This is so hopeful for a sinner like me.  

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." ~ 1 Tim. 1:15-16

There are essentially two ways to live: under law or under grace. Look at the list below and (now be honest) decide which describes your life.

 I am living under law if:

• I despair of my failures or I'm proud of my success
• I focus on behavior rather than the heart - I need to look good
• If God is more of my judge than my Father
• I I feel condemned, not loved
• If when I give, I give as little as possible (not generous)
• I tend to be critical; always look for what is wrong
• I tend to despise the poor
• I am very opinionated - I need to be right
• I harbor grudges and refuse to forgive; I like to get even/revenge
• I don’t repent - rather, I make excuses, shift blame
• I am insecure - I need to impress people and protect myself from embarrassment 
• I am defensive and demanding
• Those closest to me feel the law from me, not grace  

I am living under grace if:

• I am neither despairing nor proud — Rather, I'm humble, but secure 
• I am aware of the root sin motives that cause sinful behavior
• I see and experience God as my Father. I a treasured son/daughter - Jesus already has been judged for me
• I feel loved, not condemned
• I am becoming more generous - I love to give
• I am patient, and often more critical of my own ideas than those of others
• I don’t need to be right or look good
• I have compassion on the poor
• I am approachable and repentant
• I am glad and willing to forgive freely and fully
• I am gracious when others fail or disappoint me
• Those closest to me feel grace - they feel loved, appreciated

If you are like me and tend to live most of your life under law, how can we really live under grace and experience the life-changing influence and power of the gospel? It is possible. Find out this Sunday at Creekstone. :)

Before my family moved to Dahlonega, GA, to plant a church, a friend of mine told me not to plant a church. He wasn't saying for me not to move to Dahlonega or that he didn't want a new church established there. He simply said, "Go live the gospel (teach it and preach it as the solution for my own need, not just theirs) and just maybe a church will spring to life around you." 

When two people have a DTR, they "define the relationship." What about the relationship between the law and the gospel in Christian theology? They seem to be at odds, but actually function in such as way as to make them good friends.

Bob Thune and Will Walker have designed a 9-lesson study called, The Gospel-Centered Life, where they provide a helpful three-point survey of how the law and gospel relate to each other. They lay it out like this:

First, it is through the gospel that we become aware of our disobedience to God's law.

Second, it is through the gospel that we are freed from the curse of the law.

Third, it is through the gospel that God sends his indwelling Holy Spirit into us, transforming our hearts and enabling us to truly love God and others (which is the fulfilment of the law). 

In other words, the law drives us to Jesus for faith/gift-righteousness (justification). Jesus then gives us his Spirit, who produces spiritual fruit in our lives (sanctification). So, the law shows us the problem by revealing our failure and need, while the gospel provides the solution by revealing the cross of Jesus. So are the law and gospel at odds? Nope. They actually are good friends who seem to work together quite well.  

I am part of a group of guys who meet on Wednesday mornings at 6:00 a.m. to study the Bible, work out the implications of the gospel into our lives, and pray for each other. Today was particularly nourishing manna for my soul. We are going through "The Gospel-Centered Life" curriculum and are in chapter 3, "Believing the Gospel," where the authors state:

"Our souls must become deeply rooted in the truth of the gospel so that we anchor our righteousness and identity in Jesus and not in ourselves. Specifically, the gospel promises of passive righteousness and adoption must become central to our thinking and living... By faith, we must cling to the gospel promise that we are adopted as God's children (and that) Jesus' righteousness has been credited to us apart from works (Rom. 4:4-8). We don't need to do anything to secure God's love and acceptance; Jesus has secured it for us."

They go on, saying:

"At the root of all our visible sins lies the invisible struggle for righteousness and identity."

That nails it for me. Just like Adam and Eve in their post-forbidden fruit eating condition, I struggle with issues of insecurity every day. I want to run and hide, too, or find some kind of fig leaf to cover up my guilt and shame. If I don't run, I will fight for my name, my righteous identity that I need to protect. But what if I no longer had any name to protect; only a name to praise?

This is possible, because in the gospel, Jesus' name is my glory, not my own. When I actively believe that, rather than run or fight, I can face the music of my sin and need, and better, hear the beautiful symphony of God's grace, where Jesus' imputed righteousness is celebrated as the end of the struggle in the fight for identity (Rom. 10:3). That is the song that I need to hear every day, lest I grow discouraged and lose hope. 

A while back, our family watched a documentary on the Scopes "Monkey" Trial in Dayton, TN, which took place early last century. With the theme of Biblical creationism vs. Darwinian evolution on the table, I began to wonder: Why do humans wear clothes? Why do apes wear not wear clothes? It seems as if the fundamental difference is a sense of shame. Now, certainly there are humans who have a calloused sense of guilt and are comfortable living in nudist colonies or streaking (I'll never forget the pack of streakers that I saw running through mid-town Memphis in 1975, when I was six). Nevertheless, I find it interesting that, even as Adam and Eve's nakedness was associated with their moral guilt, so also most folks would experience a degree of shame if exposed in our physical nakedness. The same is true with moral guilt. Most people resist being exposed morally. However, that exposure is at the heart of the gospel. For on a cross, Jesus was stripped naked and killed, bearing my guilt and shame in his exposed body so that my guilt and shame may be covered, not with fig leaves, human success, or even merely jeans and a t-shirt, but with his perfect righteousness. Anyway, it struck me that my dog does not wear clothes, and neither do the deer who live in the woods behind my house. And neither do apes. But I do. And it serves to remind me of the gospel.