Why Christians Can't "Out-Sin" God's Grace!

Have you ever wondered if you've sinned so much that God will give up on you and break His relationship with you?  Has it ever gotten so bad that you thought you were in danger of even going to hell?  Let me show you how the Gospel of grace can remove those fears.  

In Romans 5:20, we read, The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.

We see some very surprising truths here and some very encouraging ones, as well.  First, contrary to popular opinion, the 10 Commandments were given so that sin would INCREASE not decrease.  Does that surprise you?  It did me at first until I received understanding on what God meant.  

The Law was never intended to be a sin-stopper.  It was intended to be a sin-revealer.  The 10 Commandments were given by God to cause sin to increase in these ways before we were Christ-followers:  1. We become aware of our sins.  2. We sin more when we rebel against the 10 Commandments thinking, "Nobody's going to tell me what to do!" 3. We sin more when we attempt to obey the 10 Commandments in our own strength.  

In other words, the Law of God will never empower us to decrease our sinning, but sit will fulfill its purpose to increaseour sinning. This is not because the law is bad.  It is not.  It's because before we come to faith in Christ, we are bad.  

After we come to faith in Christ, we have something much better than the Law.  We have the Law written on our hearts and the Law-Giver, Jesus Christ, in us to live His life through us. (Hebrews 10:16 and Galatians 2:20).

The second truth we see is that no matter how much we sin, God's grace is greater.  For those who don't know Christ, this means that no matter how horrendous their sins have been, God's grace is strong enough to save them.  For we who are in Christ, it means that no matter how much we sin, we cannot sin more than God's grace can cover.

The natural question then is this.  If I can't out-sin God's grace, what is there to keep me from going wild with my sinning knowing I am covered by that grace?  This question is anticipated by the Holy Spirit in Romans 6.  It is here where he makes clear that if we stop there, we don't fully understand the Gospel.  It is our death with Jesus on the cross to sin that must be understood (Galatians 2:20).  Our identity in Christ is dead to sin's power through it often doesn't feel like it or look like it.

I'm out of time today to tell you more, but let me leave you with two questions.  First, will you embrace the radical place you stand under God's grace?  If so, it will rid you of a lot of condemnation and fear.  Second, I encourage you to register for the remainder of our Foundation for Transformation Conference where we will go verse by verse through Romans 6 next Monday, June 13, to unpack this chapter on why grace isn't a license from God to sin.  See the sidebar with more details on how to register.  

Missed Romans 5?  No worries!  We will make sure you get to listen to it when you register and pay online for the remaining Monday evening classes covering Romans 6-8.  You may do so by CLICKING HERE. 

We hope you will join the many others who will be in our office and online.

Live Free in Christ,

Mark Maulding

President & Founder

www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!

Misconceptions about Intimacy with God

For many years, I equated intimacy with God to how long I read my Bible and prayed each day.  On the days I did those for 30 minutes, I believed I was intimate with God. However, it was a twisted version of what true intimacy with God actually is, which was rooted in "Checklist Christianity."  

"Checklist Christianity" is the false belief that by performing certain spiritual activities, I place myself in a position for God to bless me with His love, finances, better relationships and more.  It's performance-centric rather than relationship-centric.

Intimacy with God is, at it's core, all about God enjoying us and us enjoying God.  Did you know that is the main reason God created us?  When we go back to Genesis 2:7, we see this intent clearly.  Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

When God saved you He united Himself to you just as He did with Adam, when He breathed Himself into him. He did this so you could enjoy each other.  Think about it for a moment. God enjoys you by living in you.  Legalism says God loves you but just kind of puts up with you.  That is critically contrary to the Gospel of Grace.

How, then, can we enjoy intimacy with God the grace way? First, we need to realize that because God is in us, we can talk with Him anytime, anywhere, about anything. We can also hear Him speaking to us in the same way. That includes times we carve out to pray, read the Bible and listen to Him. For example, Jesus spoke about entering into your closet. He was saying that we do well to have a special place we set aside for prayer and that we don't have to pray to impress people.

Where is your closet?  I had a friend years ago who literally got in the closet in his room and shut the door. The only problem was that it was so dark it scared him, and his prayer time lasted about 30 seconds!  Your prayer closet can be a quiet place in your home, your car, your office, a park, or anywhere you want it to be.  Susanna Wesley, mother of John and Charles Wesley, forerunners of the Methodist Church, reportedly put her apron over her head and made that her prayer closet, since she could find no place to get away from her 18 children!

Yet, intimacy with God exceeds those carved out times. You can pray when you are at work, when you are on an errand, even when you are watching TV.  I wanted to watch a basketball game one night and asked Jesus what he thought about that.  He said to me that He liked basketball and wanted to watch it with me.  We had a great time together!

Intimacy with God can also be times of quiet where you are simply aware that Jesus is communing with your spirit, though there are no words being spoken.

Intimacy with God is not about putting ourselves in a position to be blessed.  It is enjoying the royal position we already have, in already being blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus! (Ephesians 1:3).

Take off the legalistic glasses preventing your true intimacy with God, and put on the comfortable "Son-glasses" by believing that God enjoys being in you, so that you can enjoy Him, too?   Would you stop and tell Him that you believe He enjoys you, just because He is in you?

There is so much more I want to tell you about this which I will be teaching on June 6, from 6-9pm (Romans 5). Though all of the FREE seats for that night are SOLD OUT in our office, you can still come to Romans 5 that first night if you register for ALL of the Foundation for Transformation Conference (Romans 5-8).  We have reserved a few seats for people who sign up for the entire Conference which includes June 6, 13, 20 and 27. 

REGISTER HERE

We also have a few seats still left ONLINE that are FREE for June 6,  but you need to SIGN UP HERE ASAP to insure one of the remaining ones.

Believe it! It's the Gospel.

Live Free In Christ,

Mark Maulding, President and Founder

www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!

What It Means for You to Rest in Christ

Have you ever wondered what it means to rest in Christ? There are great benefits when we do rest in Him.  It reminds me of physical rest.  WebMD has a fascinating article listing health benefits when we have a rested body. They include better health, less pain, lower risk of injury, better mood, clearer thinking, better memory and a stronger immunity. ("9 Surprising Reasons to Get More Sleep" by R. Morgan Griffin)

Maybe you know someone like I do who was always tired until they were treated for sleep apnea. If you are not familiar with this disease, it is when a person stops breathing while they are sleeping.  Most are treated with a CPap machine which makes certain they get enough oxygen while sleeping.  Several of my friends have told me that this treatment changed their life, giving them the rest they needed to have energy for each day.

Did you know that our soul needs rest also?  Our soul is our personality.  In general, there are introverts, extroverts and what I call inbetweenverts!  One of the things you can do to begin to give rest to your soul is to accept the personality type God gave you. Have you ever wished you were like someone who has a different personality type than you?  This is personality envy and is a rejection of the unique personality God gave you.  Why don't you stop right now and thank God that He gave you the personality you have, even if you don't feel like it?

Our soul also has three functioning parts:  our mind, which is our "thinker," our emotions, which is our "feeler," and our will, which is our "chooser."  These can all get tired when we are not resting in Christ.  They can be tired from legalistic Christianity, false guilt, fear of God's punishment, shame, choosing to live from the flesh, worry, pride, anger, depression, believing lies about yourself, rejection, grief, disappointment, misplaced expectations and more.

Hebrews 4 tells the sad story of how Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years never entering into the rest of living in the land God had promised to them when He led them out of Egypt.  They failed to enjoy this rest for one reason only - unbelief.  The writer goes on to say that for Jew and Gentile (non-Jews) today, God wants us to enter into a different kind of rest.  According to Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, this kind of rest is "soul-rest." It's a way for us to have rest in our mind, emotions and will.  

Hebrew 4:9-11 says, " 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience."  How do we enter into that rest, especially as Christians?  The answer is, through faith in Jesus Christ and what He has already done for us.  

He has finished what many of us are still trying to finish in our relationship with Him.  He has finished these for us:  He has made us acceptable to God our Father by 1. Making us 100% righteous in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21); 2. Forgiving us of all past, present and future sins in Christ (Ephesians 1:4); 3. Seating us (in our spirit) in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 2:6); 4. Reconciling us as enemies to God by making us His friends (2 Corinthians 5:18);  5. Being well-pleased with who we are in Christ, regardless of our behavior or ministry, just as He was with Jesus (Matthew 3:17); 6. Showing us that we are as valuable as Jesus in the parable of the pearl (Matthew 13:45-46);  7. Convincing us that there is no condemnation from Him when we fail or sin (Romans 8:1);  8. Removing our shame (Romans 10:11); 9.  Offering to live His life through us in the power of the Holy Spirit, so that living our Christian lives is not up to us but Him (Galatians 2:20).

There are many more, but I wanted to show you some of the core work God the Father did through Jesus for you and in you.  Do you want to enter into that rest today as a Christian? Why don't you go through them one by one and thank Him by faith that all of those are true of you?

Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't invite you to come hear a very deep teaching on how we can rest in Christ in our Foundation for Transformation Conference which is only 10 days away - June 6. Click here for more information and to register https://gracelifeinternational.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/events/26759

Believe it! It's the Gospel.

Live Free In Christ,

Mark Maulding, President and Founder

www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!

Why a Christian Can't Be an Alcoholic

It's very easy to beat yourself up.  When you sin or fail in some way, Satan puts self-critical thoughts in our minds which sound like our own thoughts.  Then, we run with them and before you know it, we create a narrative about how dumb we are, how ugly we are, what a big failure we are, what a sinner we are or what a terrible Christian we are.  We default to letting our struggles define us.

 

Yet, I challenge you to pray:  "Daddy God, I pray that You would cause my thinking to line up with Your thinking wherever they are different."  That is what a renewed mind is.  It's the Holy Spirit replacing our stinking thinking with God's astonishing thinking about who He is, who we are and how to live life.  I want to focus today on God's thoughts towards us.

 

Our Daddy says in Isaiah 55:8, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. It's very easy for us to take this as a scathing criticism from Him.  Yet, it actually reveals God's longing for us that His thoughts and His ways become ours.

 

When He looks at you, He's not thinking about your failures or successes for that matter.  He's thinking about what He did for you and to you in Christ.  He sees one of His children who is like Him.  He loves you because He sees you as a new creation who is righteous, a saint (holy), complete, forgiven, loving, patient, kind and so much more!

 

I personally had to remember who I was when two people criticized me last week for inviting you in the last few blogs to our Foundation for Transformation Conference (Romans 5-8).  One said I had gotten away from life giving blogs.  What surprised me is that this person had been transformed by Jesus through GLI.  I thought they would want to use those emails to invite people they love who are not free.  The other stated that they lived too far away from our office so they no longer wanted the emails.  I scratched my head wondering if they had somehow missed that no matter where anyone lives, they can join us via our powerful online system.

 

Sometimes, criticism is valid and we can learn from it.  Other times, it's not.  Either way, I reminded myself that it doesn't change my identity.  I am who Jesus says I am, period.

 

This is why a Christian can't be an alcoholic.  That doesn't mean there aren't Christians addicted to alcohol, opioids, meth or cocaine.  They need to admit they are addicted and need help so they can get help. Jesus and the experience of His deep love for them can free them from their addiction as they learn who they are in Christ.  There's so much more I would like to share with you, like why a Christian can't be a liar, a thief, a pornographic person.  Space doesn't permit here, but you will see below that there is a way I can, soon.

 

I leave you with two take-aways.  1. Line up your thoughts about who you truly are with God's thoughts about you.  2. Accept my invitation to come hear more at our Foundation for Transformation Conference IN OUR OFFICE or ONLINE so God can personally speak to you about what He's done that makes you as righteous as Jesus Christ. I will personally be teaching the first night, Monday, June 6. This is a FREE CLASS. SIGN UP HERE  (If you've attended before, invite someone you care about, remembering how God spoke to you there.)

Warmly in Christ, 

Mark Maulding, President and Founder

www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!

You Can't Spiritually Mature without the Message of Righteousness

The idea of righteousness is used 50 times in the book of Romans! 50 times is a tremendous amount, isn't it? That lets us know that it is a very big deal to God and should be to us, too.

Hebrews 5:13 tells us it is such a big deal, that unless we've been clearly taught that we are completely righteous, we can't mature spiritually. Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  If a 3 month old child is drinking mama's milk, we think that is wonderful!  If a 13 year old is drinking mama's milk, we know that is weird!  This verse tells us that not knowing the teaching about how righteous we are, makes us spiritually immature like that 13 year old.

Romans is all about the message of righteousness. It's the message that God is able to save sinners, and not only forgive them but make them as righteous as He is.  That is scandalous grace isn't it?  It seems too good to be true...but, it's the Gospel!

Let's go back to the number 50 again.  In the Old Covenant, every 50 years was called the Year of Jubilee. Here are a few things the nation of Israel would celebrate during that year. Slaves were set free.  All debts were forgiven.  The land would rest from growing crops.  Freedom, forgiveness and rest.

I don't want to overstate the idea of righteousness being used 50 times in Romans, but it is certainly fascinating that in Romans we learn how God has provided for us freedom, forgiveness and rest...through being made as righteous as Jesus. The #1 question we hear at the Grace Life Conference is..."Why have I not heard this before?"

I wish I had time to delve into these Scriptures which teach this amazing New Covenant truth, but space does not permit here.  However, I can invite you to hear me teach these Scriptures verse by verse on June 6, from 6-9 pm.  This is our FREE CLASS that we invite you to that I will personally be teaching and I have to say, it is my most favorite teaching that I do at GLI!

The truth you will hear that night is what freed me from sin habits I could not stop and transformed my relationships, especially my marriage.  I will be sharing more about that then.

Won't you join me that Monday night from 6-9? You can hear it live in our conference room or you can hear it live online. However, seating is limited and it's on a first come, first serve basis. 

Register quickly online at www.gracelifeinternational.com If attending online, we will send you directions on how to login to the class that night.  (Already been? Invite your family and friends!)

Believe it! It's the Gospel.

Live Free In Christ,

Mark Maulding, President and Founder

www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!

Come Hear the Other Half of the Gospel

Without hearing the whole Gospel of Grace, we only understand the first half of it and wonder why we struggle so much.  It's like trying to live the Christian life with one hand tied behind your back!  There is the forgiveness side of the cross of Jesus but there is also another powerful side. Come hear the other half of the Gospel at our Foundation for Transformation Conference.  At it you will see the following unveiled from a verse by verse study of Romans 5-8. Why God unconditionally accepts you  (Rom. 5) How you can overcome sin (Rom 6) Why Christians have something better than the 10 Commandments (Rom 7) How to live daily in Jesus' resurrection power (Rom 8) Comments from former attendees: "I now understand that intimacy with God is not about performing for Him but enjoying Him because of what Jesus has performed for me!"  John A. "I've heard Romans taught many times before, but I've never heard it taught in a way which freed me so much personally!"  Gerry C. These classes are every Monday night from 6-9 pm or online! It begins Monday June 6, and the next three Mondays in June for a total of four weeks. Can't make every Monday!  No problem.  We will get the audio and notes to you at no extra charge. Cost?  The first class is no charge.  $50 pays for the remaining three classes. SEATING IS LIMITED IN OUR OFFICE AND ONLINE!   Register online ww.gracelifeinternational.com Need more info? Email our Director of Training, Sandy@gracelifeinternational.com  (While this class can be taken without continuing with our Advanced Discipleship Training (ADT), it is the beginning of it for those who want to discover if God is leading them to continue with ADT.)

In His Grace,

Mark Maulding, President and Founder

www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!

Accelerate Your Spiritual Growth

Here is the email I asked you to watch for. This is an eptastic opportunity for you to accelerate your spiritual growth. We've watched God do this in hundreds of lives and now we want you to have this same opportunity for yourself and/or others you care about. Here's how. Discover the power of God's grace with our Advanced Discipleship Training program (ADT). ADT is an 8-month journey designed to help you encounter the fullness of God's love and learn how to disciple other people in His amazing grace. Each participant receives the following:   Live, weekly, grace-based teaching by our qualified staff Personal mentoring by a GLI staff member Interaction and community within a small group Audios and videos by nationally-known teachers Collection of specialized books and resources Specific training on how to disciple others   ADT runs for eight months every Monday night from 6 - 9pm starting July 11, 2016 at the Grace Life offices in Charlotte, NC. Go deeper into God's grace with three-hour classes taught by our gifted staff. Topics include:   Untwisting Your Concept of God Embracing Your Identity in Christ How to Forgive from Your Heart Resting in Grace versus Exhaustion from the Law Hearing God's Voice and much more...   In case you miss a class, you will receive a free audio recording. Here's what recent alumni say about attending ADT:   "Next to my salvation, ADT is the greatest experience of my Christian life!"  - James C.   "I couldn't have imagined how much more I was going to enjoy God until He replaced my law-based thinking with grace-based thinking at ADT.'" - Joye D   "I'd trade my seminary education for what I experienced at ADT. It literally changed the course of my life and ministry." - Paul C.   The cost to attend ADT is only $1,700 for eight months of life-changing instruction. Pay up-front for only $1,500 and save $200! You can attend at our office or live online through a powerful tool called Zoom. However, seating is limited for both!  So decide now if you want to come.   To get ADT details or to register email Sandy@GraceLifeInternational.com    What if I'm not ready to commit to ADT and the 8-month schedule? We offer a "taste" of ADT during the first four Monday nights in June from 6-9. For more info on this, email our Director of Training, Sandy Witherspoon at Sandy@GraceLifeInternational.com

In His Grace,

Mark Maulding, President and Founder

www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2016 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!