#133 - Classic Christianity by Bob George (Chp 11 - Living By a Higher Law

• Understanding Legalism in Christian Life:

  • Legalism often refers to imposing extra conditions for salvation or Christian living, beyond what's taught in the Bible.
  • It's not about the actions (e.g., Bible study, witnessing) but the motive behind them.
  • Legalism involves doing these actions out of a sense of obligation or to earn God's acceptance, rather than out of love and gratitude.

• Motivation and Source of Life:

  • Actions can be identical, but the motive determines if it's legalism or genuine faith.
  • Legalism is self-driven and about outward performance; genuine faith is about Christ living within and guiding actions.
  • The analogy: Two people can perform the same action (like tapping to music), but one responds naturally to hearing music (genuine faith), while the other only imitates the actions without hearing (legalism).

• Living by the Spirit:

  • Being filled with the Spirit isn't about a mystical experience but understanding and accepting God's love and grace.
  • It's about letting this understanding of God's love control your actions and attitudes, much like being drunk with wine influences behavior.

• Experiencing God's Love:

  • Understanding God's love is transformative; it changes how you view yourself and others.
  • It's not about following rules but responding to the "music" of God's love and grace.
  • This love is patient, kind, not self-seeking, keeps no record of wrongs, and always perseveres (referencing 1 Corinthians 13).

• Practical Implications:

  • Understanding God's love affects every area of life, especially relationships.
  • Misunderstanding God's love leads to problems in personal and family life.
  • We treat others the way we perceive God treats us. If we see God as harsh and demanding, we'll likely treat others the same way.

• The Power of the Holy Spirit:

  • The Holy Spirit empowers believers not just for supernatural acts, but more so to comprehend and accept the profound depths of God's love.
  • This understanding is what fills believers with the fullness of God (referencing Ephesians 3:14-21).

• Love in Action:

  • God's love isn't abstract; it's meant to be lived out in relationships.
  • Real-life example: Bob George's realization of how he was hurting his relationship with his son over something trivial (the cost of a deluxe cheeseburger) and his decision to prioritize love and relationship over frugality.

• The Higher Law of Christ:

  • Christians are not without standards after being freed from the law; they're under the "law of Christ" or "law of liberty," which is a higher standard.
  • This law is about serving one another in love, which fulfills the entire law (referencing Galatians 5:13-14 and Romans 13:10).
  • Love is the defining mark of Jesus' disciples, and it's possible only when believers first receive and are filled with God's love (referencing John 13:34-35).