Daily Archives: January 12, 2010

A useful picture of Christianity

Posted on by

I’m reading a book by Joshua Harris at the moment – he wrote this, which I thought was very good. I hope you find it useful too:

Picture the Spirit-guided life as a proven but narrow path winding between two deep ravines. The safe path of grace and Christian freedom travels between the treacherous pits of legalism on one side and indulgence in sin on the other. For centuries, misguided people have twisted Scripture to justify leaving the path of freedom for one or the other.

In a similar way, this book you’re holding  could be misused. One person could apply its practical examples and advice for putting sin to death in a legalistic manner. Another person could take its emphasis on grace and forgiveness as an excuse to indulge in sin.

I hope you won’t make either of these mistakes. Ask for the Holy Spirit’s help. Reject the lie that you can add to what Jesus did in dying for you. Place your faith completely in Christ’s substitution for you, and make your pursuit of holiness a response to His grace.

You’ve been called to freedom – the freedom of holiness. Jesus died to set captives free, not only from the law, but also from indulgence. The pure and wide-open air of freedom is just beyond the doorway. Are you ready for it?

I recommend the whole book.