[SPEAKER_00]: God's grace is the foundation of our freedom.
[SPEAKER_00]: A sure gift made available to us again every morning.
[SPEAKER_00]: Every mistake we make is covered.
[SPEAKER_00]: Every sin is forgiven.
[SPEAKER_00]: And my hope is that as we center our hearts and minds around God's grace, that his forgiveness and mercy open a pathway to true freedom for us today.
[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast.
[SPEAKER_00]: Our scripture for today comes from verse Corinthians 15, verses 56, through 57.
[SPEAKER_00]: Scripture says, the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
[SPEAKER_00]: But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
[SPEAKER_00]: We live in a world built on transaction.
[SPEAKER_00]: We give and we get.
[SPEAKER_00]: We only receive what we earn or deserve.
[SPEAKER_00]: We're hired and fired based on our abilities and performance.
[SPEAKER_00]: We commit our lives to the system of cause and effect, relishing the days of success and wincing at the thought of failure.
[SPEAKER_00]: And often as believers, we take the system of works we've grown so comfortable with and apply it to our relationship with God.
[SPEAKER_00]: We operate with God much like we operate with an employer.
[SPEAKER_00]: We think if we can go to church, give God our money, spend enough time with him in the morning, be happy and help people than God will like us.
[SPEAKER_00]: If we can stop sinning, then God will love us more.
[SPEAKER_00]: But God's ways are not like ours.
[SPEAKER_00]: The New Testament names this transactional relationship with God as living under the law and tells us of a new system through Christ, called Grace.
[SPEAKER_00]: God established the law as a system for his people to be cleansed through sacrifice.
[SPEAKER_00]: For thousands of years, God's holiness required his children to pay a price for their sin in order to be in relationship with him.
[SPEAKER_00]: Sin separated us from our heavenly Father, like a cell wall separating a prisoner from freedom.
[SPEAKER_00]: Our only hope for guidance and love was living by the commands of our just and holy God.
[SPEAKER_00]: And we failed miserably.
[SPEAKER_00]: So grace stepped in where works could never prevail.
[SPEAKER_00]: Galatians 4 verses 4 through 7 says, when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so
[SPEAKER_00]: And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, father.
[SPEAKER_00]: So you are no longer a slave, but a son.
[SPEAKER_00]: And if a son, then an heir, through God.
[SPEAKER_00]: Jesus lived the perfect life, none of us could, and then offered himself as the final and resounding sacrifice, buying freedom for all who had believed in him.
[SPEAKER_00]: He saved you and me from the law and offers a grace.
[SPEAKER_00]: But still, we persist in paying the penalty for our own sin, as if the death of Jesus wasn't enough.
[SPEAKER_00]: Still, we choose a transactional relationship over one of grace.
[SPEAKER_00]: But what we often don't understand is how foundational grace is to freedom from sin.
[SPEAKER_00]: First Corinthians 15 verses 56 through 57 says, the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
[SPEAKER_00]: but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
[SPEAKER_00]: When we live under the law, we are bound by sin and separated from victory in Christ.
[SPEAKER_00]: And Romans 614 says, for sin will have no dominion over you since you are not under law, but under grace.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's by living in grace that we experience continual freedom from sin.
[SPEAKER_00]: In our own strength, we are powerless against the schemes of the enemy.
[SPEAKER_00]: But in God's grace, we live by His strength.
[SPEAKER_00]: And acknowledging our need of God's grace and help, we live by the power of God.
[SPEAKER_00]: You see, we are meant to be fueled for freedom by the unconditional love of our heavenly Father.
[SPEAKER_00]: He offers grace filled love to guide us out of the systems of this world.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's the power of restored relationship that lays the foundation for us to choose satisfaction in him over the world.
[SPEAKER_00]: Galatians 5-1 says, for freedom, Christ has set us free.
[SPEAKER_00]: Stand firm therefore and do not submit again
[SPEAKER_00]: You are no longer enslaved to the law.
[SPEAKER_00]: Christ is set you free, so you have to choose to submit to the life of grace you've been offered.
[SPEAKER_00]: You have to choose to live in light of God's power working in you instead of leaning on your own works to get you through.
[SPEAKER_00]: You have to choose to acknowledge your weakness to receive the strength as grace offers you.
[SPEAKER_00]: free yourself from the bondage of living life in your own strength.
[SPEAKER_00]: Cast off the chains of pride that bind you to a lifestyle of sin and receive a fresh revelation of the unconditional love of God.
[SPEAKER_00]: Your Heavenly Father loves you simply because He loves you.
[SPEAKER_00]: There is nothing you can do that will make him love you more.
[SPEAKER_00]: And there is nothing you can do that will make him love you less.
[SPEAKER_00]: Allow his grace filled love to transform your heart today and guide you into a life of freedom.
[SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on the importance of living under grace instead of works.
[SPEAKER_00]: Romans 614 says, for sin will have no dominion over you since you are not under law, but under grace.
[SPEAKER_00]: and next, confess any ways in which you've been pursuing relationship with God through works.
[SPEAKER_00]: Have you had any thoughts of needing to do something or be something to gain his affections and approval?
[SPEAKER_00]: Have you failed your heart in any way as the result of sin or misunderstanding?
[SPEAKER_00]: and now choose today to live a life free from sin under the power of grace.
[SPEAKER_00]: Lean on Him for guidance and power, acknowledge your weakness, and receive the strength that comes from the Holy Spirit weaving the story of grace into every page of your heart.
[SPEAKER_00]: May you receive the peace that can come only from living your life in total submission to God.
[SPEAKER_00]: Pride will only burden you, trying to prove to yourself and others that you have what it takes will only bring failure, frustration, and sin.
[SPEAKER_00]: As a desire to elevate yourself, creeps back into your heart, remind yourself of where the paths of law and grace take you.
[SPEAKER_00]: Choose to live your life in response to God's grace.
[SPEAKER_00]: Work out of the revelation that you are already loved and discover newfound freedom from sin.
[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for listening to today's devotional.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh with First of Team.
[SPEAKER_00]: As you go about your day today, try and notice anytime the weight of a mistake or sin is lingering with you.
[SPEAKER_00]: And go to God as quickly as you remember to ask for forgiveness and lay that weight at his feet in response to his grace.
[SPEAKER_00]: Instead of allowing our mistakes to weigh us down to this world even further, may they serve as more opportunities to experience the real grace of God.
[SPEAKER_00]: If today's episode was meaningful for you, make sure to leave a rating and subscribe.
[SPEAKER_00]: And we would love if you could write a review sharing about how God is using first 15 to impact your life.
[SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see him.