Lesson 20: Now - How Do I Get Beyond Despair? (3)

We begin this lesson by repeating two verses from our last lesson: Romans 8:1-2 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

*Memorize these two verses.

When we serve Christ as a believer, we do not do so because we are following the law. The Bible clearly states that we are not under the law (Romans 6:1-2, 14). We also read in Ephesians 2:10 that we have been saved for the purpose of good works which God designed for us in eternity past but these good works are not in payment of what God did for us. Let me repeat that: our good works can never repay God for His grace that gave us our salvation.

Then why do we serve Christ? We serve Him for only one reason: love. In John 14:15 Jesus told us, "If you love me, you will keep My commandments." We serve Him because we love Him, not because we owe Him. Don't we owe Him? Oh, yes, our very lives! But this is a debt that can never be repaid and we are wrong to even try. All we can do is love Him so much that we will do anything He says. This is what the verse means that says, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free" (Galatians 5:1). Very literally, we are free to choose to work or not to work for Christ, we are free to love Him or not, we are free to worship Him or not. Only our love for Christ is sufficient encouragement to place ourselves into His service, doing anything He asks.


To serve Christ in this way is the ultimate definition of freedom. I never resent anything He asks of me because I know He loves me. I never again need to worry about what I am doing, that it is below my dignity or my experience value. Nothing is below my standards because pay is the same – eternal life. Giving a child a glass of water is the same as being president of our country in God's eyes if the task is performed at His command. I never again need to worry about results because those are His business, not mine. I am now free to tell all the people about Christ without ever worrying about who rejects the message. I no longer work for a results-oriented company. Everything in this kingdom is obedience-oriented.