The practice of inviting God into our presence may be something many of us have done and may still do without stopping to think much about it. There are various phrases used when the invitation is extended but they all pretty much imply that God isn't with us, and we would like Him to show up and make some sort of appearance.

God never leaves you. He doesn't come and go. The "worship" environment we try to create within our surroundings has nothing to do with it. Prayer is not meant to be a monologue, nor should it be like trying to leave a heavenly voicemail. He doesn't need to send an RSVP to our invitation because He has invited us into *His* presence. His favorite thing to do is hang out with His children—at all times—while guiding us into the truth of Jesus and bringing comfort, peace, and joy.

--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7

Behavior improvement is a great thing. It can be profitable in multiple ways for yourself and those around you. Avoiding sinful options is always good advice. But our conduct and good works should not be considered as our testimony of faith in Jesus Christ. To do so is boasting in the flesh with an attitude of self-righteousness. It proudly screams, "Look at me!"

Paul said if anyone thought they might have confidence in the flesh (of doing), he could surpass it even more. He wrote to the Philippians with an entirely different approach as one who does not have confidence in the flesh but rather, worships God in Spirit. He had a resume that was unmatched in being a keeper of the Mosaic law and the misguided righteousness found within it. But he counted it all as loss and nothing more than rubbish ... that was replaced with something better ... and that is Christ.

"And be found *in Him,* not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith" (Philippians 3:9).

The testimony for all of us is not something we perform to be temporarily seen ... but it is the Person of Jesus Christ and the gift of God's righteousness by faith. It's in knowing Him and the power of His resurrection. This only occurs apart from law and works.

--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7

When Jesus spoke about being His disciple, it contained some pretty overwhelming requirements to even qualify for a shot at the position. It's not unusual to see the world of religion try to "Christianize" something Jesus said that was specifically intended for those to whom He was speaking ... Jewish people who were still under the Mosaic law, before the cross. It meant hating family by comparison, carrying your own cross, and giving up ALL possessions.

Jesus wasn't speaking to you but was showing would-be followers that they would be unable to cover the cost of what was needed. Only He could carry that cross in order to bring redemption.

Compare the rigorous conditions of being a disciple of Jesus with this:

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

Notice the difference between working through your dedication and commitment at trying to become more like Jesus by what you do ... compared to letting Him release you from such a burden.

--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7

"Discipleship" is often a big theme inside of many church buildings. But when we are told to be disciples, what does it mean? What pops into your mind? What do you need to do to get there? Is it your level of dedication? Your commitment to God? To the church corporation? To unwavering Bible reading and prayer? Maybe you just automatically think of the twelve that followed Jesus ... and that you should do the same and "follow Him."

A disciple is defined as a student or pupil—in other words—someone who learns from another. It was a significant part of the culture in Bible times to become like the teacher. Most who consider themselves disciples today are the result of having learned tenets and dogma from their church denomination (which may or may not have much to do with the gospel).

While growing in the knowledge of the truth and learning more about God and the gospel can be a good thing to *do,* it does not make you who you *are.* It may surprise some to find out the word 'disciple' never appears even once in any of the New Testament epistles ... indicating it is not meant to be a part of your identity in Christ.

--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7

Imagine seeking guidance from a trusted clergy or spiritual counselor who taught and instructed you to work hard at keeping a code of stone-tablet commandments in order to succeed at securing favor and blessings from God. Chances are good you won't have to imagine because you've experienced it firsthand. You were exposed to the two-headed monster known as law and grace.

What they didn't understand was that they were pouring gasoline on the fire. The law written and engraved on stones is a ministry that no longer has glory. It was a source of death and condemnation. It was the strength of sin and it resulted in sin increasing ... not being reduced. The very thing Jesus came to redeem Jewish people from (the law) is the same thing that religion often burdens people with today ... albeit their own condensed version of it. It leads to bearing fruit for death, not life.

The better way: Knowing your identity as one who has had their heart purified by faith, is declared righteous, holy, and perfected ... and is *already* like Jesus through an inheritance. Understanding that you are not identified any longer as a sinner will allow the Spirit of God to guide you into bearing His fruit for life.

--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7

We're continuing on the question as to why the Christian church world has largely mixed law and grace. Something that is often overlooked from the legalistic side of the fence is that the old Mosaic law of stone tablets was not rooted in or based upon faith. Think about that. The religious mixture emphasized so frequently has confused "doing" with faith—much like those who were under the law prior to the cross.

Most have failed to realize the law of rules and regulations was not given to reduce sin ... but rather it resulted in sin increasing under that ministry. Today, Christians tend to formulate their own modernized version of law/works that may include some trace elements from the law contained in the first covenant for the Jewish people. The goal is to make it more doable so that people can feel as though they have contributed to improve their position with God.

The law of works had a purpose ... but also had an expiration date for the Jewish people (until the Seed would come). Jesus came. Grace came with Him. This has overshadowed the shadow through a promise. Grace through faith is a guarantee found within the person of Jesus. It has no place being blended with something that was incapable of bringing life or righteousness.

--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7

There is a wide array of different church affiliations out there around the world and many have *very* differing points of view on many different things. But there are some common threads found through the spectrum. First, most believe that they pretty much use the Bible as the source for their beliefs. Second, they mix an "old covenant" that Israel was under with a new and better covenant established after Jesus died.

The first covenant came through Moses and was based on pursuing righteousness by works and deeds. The second came by Jesus Christ, bringing a realization of grace and the gift of righteousness *apart* from works and deeds. Two very different covenants—manifested at different times—and were not alike.

Naturally, this begs the question: Why do so many Christians and churches feel the need to have a "balance" by mixing law and grace? We offer some possibilities on this week's program.

--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7

Religion is man's attempt to do enough to make themselves acceptable to God. The grace of the gospel reveals something different ... and that is ... God did everything necessary to draw us near to Him. It's wrapped inside an eternal inheritance—guaranteed in Jesus Christ.

When feeling overwhelmed by condemnation, know that you will never be able to "do enough" to position yourself to be right with God. Our right standing is based on what Jesus did as the mediator between us and God. Paul put it this way: "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh."

When the fleshly GPS tries to take you to a dead-end street of *doing* in order to get a response from God, change direction by simply saying, "God did."

--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7

After more than twenty years of doing the Growing in Grace podcast, you might have guessed we like talking about the gospel, God's undying love, and overflowing grace. Nearly each week, our conversations use the Bible as a springboard ... and we're so thankful to be able to have these writings to look back upon.

However, like with any religion who uses their own written material or "book" to guide them through a belief system, it is easy for the followers to place their faith in the written manual—not unlike a form of worship. Within the wide variety of Christian denominations and doctrines, it becomes somewhat like a competition on who has the more accurate interpretation ... which may be very different from another persuasion with a large following.

Our conversation this week is an encouragement for all of us not to get so tangled within the tittles found on the pages ... and to keep our focus on Jesus—looking to Him as the author and finisher of faith. He *is* the truth, the life, and the only way to God. God gave Him as a covenant to both Jews and Gentiles. He provided us with a guide for this life ... not letters written with ink—but His living Spirit—as we look to that which is not seen.

--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7

Did Jesus really take away sins for all time? Was the blood He shed enough to complete what was necessary for eternal redemption or do you need to work at adding something to what He has done? How can you be sure your efforts of "doing" will bring justification without judgement?

Many church goers have struggled with thinking the gospel revolves around right doing while going through life being needlessly worried about whether they are truly forgiven and in right standing with God. It's tricky because even the most aggressive of legalists can bait the top of the eye-pleasing dessert with some grace-like sugar sprinkled over a religious hook underneath.

When it comes to us and our good or bad actions within the eternal life package, how much "doing" will be enough? How does that mesh with the blood of Jesus from the perspective of a new and better covenant? The good news is ... God's grace has no limitations.

--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7