The Negative Works for the Good

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” (Romans 8:28-30)

The tenets of man-controlled law-religion today, as preached, spoken, or implied, are precepts that bind and stifle the genuine regenerated child of God as he attempts to go on to … walk in union with Christ. Paul recognized that the “all things” (Rom. 8:28) that occur in the Christian’s life as being ordained by God and therefore good for us if we want to “be conformed to the image of his Son” (v29 above). The negative of law-religion serves to propel and sometimes expel the seeking Christian to come out of religion to find relationship with Christ as his all-sufficient all. Until then, the believer’s hunger will not be satisfied.

The deadness of lifeless religious law and its legalistic instruction as found in the Christian denominational “folds” is used of God to provide the negative that serves to push the seekers out. The unattainable laws of religion serve push sincere believers to seek and find reality, satisfaction and the power of God’s ‘grace’ that is found only ‘in union with Christ.’ We note in John 10 that Christ not only is the Good Shepherd, but also that he is the door not only ‘into’ the fold but also ‘out’ of the fold, ultimately leading His seeking sheep to green (living) pasture to be found… in Christ Himself.

“I [Jesus] am the door: by me if any man enter IN, he shall be saved, and shall go in and OUT, and find pasture. (John 10:9 KJV)

The Old Covenant Law served a purpose for Israel, it was the God ordained “fold” that held His people Israel until The Messiah would come with the New Covenant and lead them into relationship with Him by the new birth, being born of the Spirit (John 3).

There likely was a time in your life, as there is for millions of believers, when your Heavenly Father saved you and permitted you into the care of a schoolmaster (law) with the denominational ‘tutors and governors,’ held within a “fold.” (cf. Gal. 4:2-4) As Galatians 3:24-25 states, this schoolmaster is law religion; but Paul writes,

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, (so) that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” 

The dryness and devastation of many who suffer in the folds of law-keeping religion is only good in that it will keep them searching for the food and drink that satisfies (Christ as water and bread). Our God-given hunger pushes us to find the experiential knowledge of the life and grace that is in Christ. Christ frees us from the schoolmaster of law religion when we come to enjoy Him alone by faith. All who truly seek to know Him will ultimately escape from the bondage of performance-based law-religion.

‘Soulical Ties’ Will Be Broken by God

Many are bound by what I call soulical ties to their old church, group or the individuals within them. This may be a tie to someone who led us to Christ, or through whom you learned about Christ. But now you’ve have outgrown them; you may realize that they want to rule you, possess you and bind you to religion by such ties.  Some of us will walk away while others, such as myself are expelled just as the bind man who could now see was “cast out.” Sadly, most will remain in the bondage of the religious law organizations of man. A few may stay in the “fold” of religion for a time, as the Shepherd may allow them, but they are no longer internally bound by it. Many will be pushed out, shunned or asked to leave the “fold” as my wife and I have been multiple times in our 50year journey of coming to know Christ. We must recognize that it is God working in these episodes of life “for the good” of His children, just as the mother eagle removes the soft feathers from the prickly nest, making it uncomfortable when it is time for her eaglets to fly away.

John 10:16 speaks explicitly of only “one shepherd,” who gives His life for His sheep, but the hirelings of today often claim to be His “under shepherds,” usurping authority over God’s Children. They may claim concern for you, saying “you may go astray.” They actually want to keep you in their “fold,” under their control. Thus, those who leave or are expelled likely will be branded as ones “caught with a spirit of error” or one who is “rebellious and unteachable.”

Note the fate of the blind man after he came to ‘see’ by the power and grace of the Lord Jesus. He was “cast out” of law-religion (v34 below).

John 9:34-35 They (the Pharisees) answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

(Now note who it was who was there when he was cast out) ³⁵Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he (Jesus) had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on (trust in) the Son of God?

Many think they were ‘cast out’ by religion but actually it was the hand of the Lord leading them out, to be His alone. What a blessing to ultimately be delivered from the bonds of lifeless religion. Most of the valuable knowledge I’ve personally gained has been learned outside of religion... by the hand and word of God working in my life by His Holy Spirit.

Your Heavenly Father intends that you ultimately find Christ as your all-sufficient life (Col 3:4, Gal 2:20). The Lord purchased for you a new life outside of the “fold,” where Christ alone is your One Shepherd. He also is the restful pasture and source within your spirit, in the safe and personal place of the union we have with Christ (1Cor 6:17). He now is your all-sufficient all.