The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Subtle Shades of Legalism

Although you spoke with lament re: "look at my looking . . .", your conclusion to it should be seen as a very positive thing.

You see, those who have been given life by the Spirit of God (aka: regeneration, born anew, spiritual resurrection, et al) have their eyes open to behold something of themselves which they beforehand were unable to see . . . their sinfulness. Fortunately, this extraordinary glimpse into our inner being; our soul is just that, by God's mercy and grace, only a glimpse. But as we grow in grace the reality of what we truly are, i.e., the way God sees us is gradually revealed more and more. And as you are finding out, it ain't a pretty sight.

But there is obviously a good (perfect) reason why God allows us to peer into ourselves and see if only in part, the blackness of our hearts. The more we come to know ourselves as God knows us, then the more we are driven out of ourselves and to Christ, Who alone is our perfect righteousness and reconciliation. God loves us IN CHRIST!! Notice how Paul connects the love of God, the Lord Christ and us (believers) together here:

Ephesians 1:3-6 (ASV) "Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ: even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved:"

Thus, as we become more and more loathing of ourselves, Christ becomes more and more precious to us in so many ways. Our dependency (legalism) on self diminishes and our dependency (living faith) on Christ increases. It's a marvelous thing indeed. This is our "dying to self" and our "living to Christ" which is a life-long task.

This is mainly the reason I recommended John Owen's book, The Glory of Christ. The more we know of Him the more we are able to love Him for Who He is and what He has done for us. And the more we love Christ, the less we will be preoccupied with self.

Galatians 2:19-20 (ASV) "For I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me."

Okay, enough reading of this tripe and get back to Owen!

In His grace,