Principles vs. Promises

I was deeply moved by two things I saw/read earlier this week:

1. A wonderful chapter on the gospel in Dudley Hall's Grace Works. He talks about how Christians can fall into Old Covenant thinking, where we try to live by principles (which we cannot do successfully). And then Hall describes the beauty and power of the gospel -- where we live by the promises of Jesus Christ, trusting in Him since He completed everything for our salvation on the cross. My soul was singing after I put that book down at Starbucks and praised God for the freedom He gives us in Christ.

2. The film, "Breach." It's a very well-made film of a true life story. A man named James Hansen worked for the FBI for 25 years and yet deceived our country by selling secrets to the Russians. The part that particulary troubled me was this man was such a religious person -- moral, church-going, and a family man. But he lived this double life.

The contrast of this book and movie made me think of how legalism and religion is so deadening, while living in the promises of God -- simple faith in Jesus -- brings us such freedom!

How many of you heard that Nashville Prayer and Fasting event today? Wow! What a moving of the Holy Spirit!

Jim