This right here is the difference I’ve seen/experienced in authentic Christianity verses that by name only but really something else. In ALL the other views that “good works” post faith are always set forth as a terror or “duty”, not in the sense of to a father but to a master.

Our pastor last week just said in another verse last week exactly what you are saying here. How we can actually be doing “works” even “for Christ” and they are works of the flesh. When they become a “duty” rather than a “desire” and how hearing grace/Gospel changes that for us…from servant to son. It was a great Gospel sermon.

There is another trick on this I’ve seen. They would agree with what you say exactly, but they would be implying in there teaching what you are speaking against here. That’s pretty tricky to see sometimes. There’s a difference in a pastor like yourself who REALLY believes and is saying and preaching such that it is what you are saying (like ours) and those who would agree with what you are saying “formerly” and deny they think otherwise, BUT over time as you listen to them and talk to them it becomes VERY clear they are what you say this passage is NOT saying. I’ve been around pastors in the past, especially in my former denomination, who would affirm “living under the Gospel” but in reality they believe “living under the Law” is correct and it eventually comes to light.

I’ve experienced this in my own soul/mind/psychology if you will and looking back I try to analyze (it’s hard to analyze yourself objectively though). There are times in the past when I was under poor preach (i.e. Law/Gospel confusion all over the place at best, total gospel-less on its worse days). When I was under that how I reacted inwardly was very telling to me, and you can’t stop it. The moment I began (begin) to doubt God’s grace and assurance toward me I IMMEDIATELY fall into a type of desperate despair and set myself to rectifying it (works). When I do I turn very inwardly even by “doing” good actions (works). BUT inwardly, and I can “feel” it, I hate it. I grumble inwardly over the things I’m doing, hate them but yet I’m stuck to “do” them to “get in good with God” again. At length though I find my patience increasingly short and my temper increasingly quicker and sharper. And when I feel I need a “prayer” to repair the riff (works again) if anyone, kids or whoever interfere with that time, inwardly I can again feel that sinful flesh rising up. NOW, key to this is that at NO time would I ever say to anyone probing me about it thus, “Are you are trying to work your way to heaven”, yes. Rather I would vehemently, like a good protestant deny it and verbally affirm justification by faith alone. EVEN still I find this a struggle if Christ is somehow obscured or taken from me in a sermon or teaching or reading. EVEN knowing at this point in my walk what I do, I’ve had stretches like that. AND not once would I say “I’m trying to work my way to heaven”. EVEN still its hard to “just sit works down”, yes impossible when the panic and doubts arise.

BUT then I’ll hear a good Gospel sermon or read something, usually Luther or Lutherish and BAM it falls off of me. And I begin to relax, be patient and do the duties before my hands as I should/need. When, especially in past church situations, I found no Christ for me I would begin a regime of modern protestant works and slowly hate it all. If “normal” life confronted me, I’d see it as at best a distraction. BUT when the Gospel comes in afresh, its just the opposite. “Normal” life becomes joyous works and very natural and all the “church box” of works stuff falls away.

I must say there are FEW pastors across the boards that understand this aspect of Christianity and the Gospel or Justification by faith alone merely becomes reduced to a ‘one time’ formality to get you back on the tread mill. Several churches back and one denomination ago I heard in more than one “evangelism” campaign event this which I think too many view the Christian life as (I’m not exaggerating here either):

The events were one time and no interstitial time passes, one “witnessing event”: The witnesser to the witnessee would say something like, “Now, good works, going to church, saving lives, etc…will not get you into heaven. Only Jesus saves.” Then after some conversation they’d pray the prayer or something like that. Sometimes a bit of forced rejoicing would take place. Then the witnesser would say to the “new convert”, “Now that you are a Christian it is VERY important that you show the reality of this as true by showing fruits.”

The Gospel is then reduced to a mere empty formality. Not many are AS crass as that, that close in time as that would be too obvious. But some seem to teach that way in an “over time” way. That kind of stuff will kill your soul over time.

Keep up this great blog blessings,

Larry ky