Sin and the likes there of...

so...this morning i had an epiphany. While roaming around in Romans 5 and 6 something struck me.
I grew up in a very...interesting home. My parents aren't strict per say...just...well...they are people who live by their convictions and they have raised me and my sisters to be the same. there is no legalism, no hypocrisy, just us. trying to live the best way we can with God on our side and love in our hearts. (that was my disclaimer for this entire blog by the way...)
Having said of of that...i have some issues. I mean things that the modern day "church" likes to constitute "christianity" or the "must-do's" that,in order to be good christians we must do. things that have always been THE center of youth groups and youth conferences around the world.
Secular music.
Swearing.
Premarital Sex.
Drinking Alcohol.
Smoking.
Pornography.
ETC.
please, DO NOT get me wrong. I'm not condoning these things or think that they are all ok or not ok. But i do believe that the institution of "the youth group" in America is...lacking.
Kids/Teens/Young Adults are bombarded by the idea that these things (which some are natural to us, some even God given) are bad and sinful and horrific and will send us all in a flaming carriage straight to you-know-where. (because we all know good Christian kids don't say hell...shit i said hell...oh never mind...) The law is shoved at us, forced on us. We are told that we must make restitution for these things and we must beg, nay, GROVEL at God's feet for His forgiveness and pray that He will find it in His heart to take us back (even though listening to Miley Cyrus is the EPITOME of being a sinner...). What is missing from this?
well...if you ask me (which, frankly you're reading my blog so you have inadvertently asked) the TRUTH is what is missing!
Romans 5:18&19 says
"Therefore as by the offense of one, judgment to condemnation came upon all men, even so by the righteousness of One, the free gift unto justification of life came upon all men. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous."
meaning, Adam screwed us and got us into all this "religiousness" and crap but Jesus came and not only got us OUT of the crap, but He sent us before his Father and said "Dad, no worries, they're covered". meaning #2, there is NOTHING we have or could have done to become righteous. our righteousness is a gift, given to us by Jesus death on the cross. God sees us as HOLY and blameless no matter what once we enter into the Kingdom. Sin is no longer an issue between us and God. He knows our nature, just as He knows our hearts. No, i'm not saying that going around punching old ladies and babies will not lead to consequences ( just like ANY sin will lead to consequences we must be accountable for) nor is it right. BUT i AM saying that we don't loose our salvation, or our place in God's eyes, nor do we loose our righteousness when we make mistakes. (because, again, it has absolutely NOTHING to do with us...it's a gift).
Romans 6:1-8 explain pretty plainly this idea. in verse 1 Paul says:"So should we just keep on sinning so that God can show us more of His wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin how can we continue to live in it?" he's referring to dying to this nature. we are dead, DEAD, to our sinful nature because we made the decision to die to SELF and all that entails. we have risen as NEW creations and sin is no longer our master. (uh..hallelujah?)

i know i know some of you are thinking "what about the law!?" God gave us the law and i have some stuff to say about that too. Romans 7:7 starts out by saying that it was the law that showed us our sin. that if God had not given it to us, we would have never known better. if He did not say, "Do not kill" or "Do not covet" we wouldn't know it was wrong. The law it's self is holy, and lovely, because it shows us our sin. No one can follow the law 100%. GOD KNOWS THIS. Jesus, the one and only perfect being, is the only one who has done this...He, as always, is our example.
Paul (who i love by the way) continues to be transparent in chapter 7 telling us how he doesn't even understand himself. he wants to do right, truly loves the idea of doing right, but there is something within him that dominates him with sin and death. the SINFUL NATURE is in us and working against us at all times...we must DENY it's suggestions and allow ourselves to be freed by the grace and love of Jesus Christ. Allow ourselves to accept that we are already righteous and holy in the sight of God.
i strive daily, sometimes hourly, to be as Christ-like as i can. To be who He has called me to be. The Holy, Blameless, Righteous, FRIEND that He has already made me. Loving and allowing myself to be loved...
...i'm done for the day...


...whatever...