Jesus only
We must let go of our secret ideas of God’s acceptance of us because of our performance. Because, " if righteousness were through the law [by what I do for God], then Christ died for no purpose [than he died in vain]".
It’s true of us that, if we compare ourselves with others in our church and reason out something like this - 'I used to be where they are and now I'm not', so, subconsciously I might think, ‘either I get to where they are or I can’t face them'.
Well, you and I must accept Jesus only, as he is, in all his free love, mercy and grace, as all that I’ll ever need for life and eternity. Simply put I must stop embracing myself, and embrace Jesus only, with all of my heart, and hold him in my heart always, by faith - reliance on him.
That’s freedom, or the beginning of the freedom journey, freedom from the tyranny of self that robs us of the enjoyment of simple things of life that God is so willing to bless us with.
Jesus death for me is all that I'll ever need before a Holy God, and Jesus in me is all that I'll ever need in an unholy world.
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” all good things (Rom.8:32).
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Jesus only
Bruxy Cavey, in "The End of Religion", says this:
"Likewise, history reveals that many leaders of the Christian religion have superimposed their own agendas over the teachings of Jesus rather than submitting their lives to his subversive message."
I think it's more than just the leaders who've done this. Individuals, professing to be Christians, have superimposed their own ideas and agendas over the teachings (and, dare I say, even the person) of Jesus. Not until we find our way to Christ can we ever hope to achieve that place we seek to reach with our own ideas and agendas. Only when, as you say, we accept Jesus alone can we know that freedom from the tyranny of self. Self is truly tyrannical ..... is it any wonder that we needed to be "born again"? And, further, is it any wonder that becoming this new creation could not originate and have it's fulfillment through our efforts but rather had to come from outside of humanity, specifically from God? Certainly it is no wonder at all.
Jesus be praised. The Father be glorified. The Holy Spirit given rightful authority over our lives.
Regarding tyranny and reliance...
I agree about self-Tyranny. If we are born in sin.......isn't it true that everything we do, speak, feel, see, hear or even think apart from Jesus, is tyranny in its purist form? I mean, we all have lived in self in our lives and even as believers, we have. I love what Cornelius said. It sums it all up perfectly:
"Not until we FIND OUR WAY TO CHRIST...Only when, as you say, we accept Jesus alone can we know that freedom from the tyranny of self. Self is truly tyrannical.." I agree. In my own life, I have lived one of self tyranny. I was so spiritually empty and thought my own ideas and own truths were from God, when in actual fact, they were of self...born in self and nothing good comes out of self. When we became believers, our self was crucified with Christ, as in Galatians 2:20:
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
You are right, Vaclav. must accept Jesus only, as He is, in all His free Love, Mercy and Grace, as all that I’ll ever need for life and eternity. Simply put I must stop embracing myself, and embrace Jesus only, with ALL of my heart, and hold him in my heart always, by faith - reliance on Him. ..." (Vaclav quote)
Cornelius, how many of us can say: "The Holy Spirit given rightful authority over our lives." I know that unless we cast ourselves upon Jesus and rely on Him, what is the point? What does it mean to be a believer? Are we going to cling to Jesus to satisfy a need in our lives or rely on Jesus to be the answer? When it comes down to it....it is Jesus, only, who can change us thorugh His spirit, not our own self. Tyranny does not belong in our life as a Christian....oh, yeah it is there. We are not good enough to rach high enough with self to get to God. This is religion. To be a true beleiver, we have to realize that it is our own sin that nailed Jesus on the cross, so our self should be nailed there. We do not belong in the Christian life. Only Jesus' life should remainwithin us. I think that is what Galatians 2:20 was trying to say....