How to Rise Above Abuse (Counseling Through the Bible Series) by June Hunt Page B
Book: How to Rise Above Abuse (Counseling Through the Bible Series) by June Hunt
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Authors: June Hunt
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23:16,25-26).
Right or Wrong?
Q UESTION : “Is the law wrong?”
A NSWER : No. The law is the revelation of God’s perfect standard of righteousness. The Bible says,
“The law is holy,
and the commandment is holy,
righteous and good”
(R OMANS 7:12).
Abolished Law?
Q UESTION : “According to Scripture, was the law abolished?”
A NSWER : No, Jesus didn’t abolish the law. He fulfilled it. That means the standard still exists. The law reflects God’s perfect standard of righteousness, a standard we cannot keep because we’re sinners. That is why salvation is by grace alone.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them”
(M ATTHEW 5:17).
The Law Fulfilled
Q UESTION : “What does ‘Jesus fulfilled it’ mean?”
A NSWER : The law was a covenant, an agreement, a contract. Just as a builder is under a contract to build a house, once the house is complete, the contract is fulfilled. The builder does not continue to work at building the house any longer. Likewise, Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the contract (the law) through His teaching and actions. He accomplished what we could never do by our own efforts. Then the Law Keeper became the sacrifice for us, the lawbreakers. The Bible says,
“Christ is the end of the law so that there may be
righteousness for everyone who believes”
(R OMANS 10:4).
Legalism and Obedience
Q UESTION : “What is the difference between legalism and biblical obedience?”
A NSWER : Legalism is conforming outwardly to God’s or man’s standard for righteous behavior while ignoring God’s standard for righteous attitudes, convictions, values, and thoughts. Biblical obedience is conforming outwardly to God’s righteous standard while being conformed inwardly to the character of Christ through the enabling grace of God.
• In legalism, the resource is self-effort and the motive is self-promotion. Legalism results in pride and approaching God on the basis of your performance.
• In obedience, the resource is the Spirit of God and the motive is to glorify God. Obedience results in humility and approaching God on the basis of Christ’s performance.
In Christ Jesus, God has fulfilled His promise:
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;
I will remove from you your heart of stone
and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you
and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws”
(E ZEKIEL 36:26-27).
II. C HARACTERISTICS OF S PIRITUAL A BUSE
They came from opposite sides of the tracks. One was refined, respected, and revered—after all, he was a Pharisee. He had an “in” with God. The other was despised, disdained, and dejected—after all, he was a tax collector. He was a spiritual “outcast.”
Both the Pharisee and tax collector said a prayer to God. The Pharisee stood up and said, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get” (Luke 18:11-12). So went the prayer of the Pharisee.
By contrast, the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn’t even look up to heaven. He beat his chest and poured out his heart, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (verse 13).
Jesus spoke this parable to those who trust in their own righteousness, who exercise spiritual snobbery toward any who don’t “measure up.” He said it was the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, who “went home justified before God” (verse 14). The tax collector expressed a humble dependency upon God, which resulted in the forgiveness of his sins. Jesus then said,
“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and he who humbles himself will be exalted”
(L UKE 18:14).
A. What Characterizes Spiritually Abusive Leaders?
While some religious groups are free of abuse, others are occasionally abusive, and still others are
Right or Wrong?
Q UESTION : “Is the law wrong?”
A NSWER : No. The law is the revelation of God’s perfect standard of righteousness. The Bible says,
“The law is holy,
and the commandment is holy,
righteous and good”
(R OMANS 7:12).
Abolished Law?
Q UESTION : “According to Scripture, was the law abolished?”
A NSWER : No, Jesus didn’t abolish the law. He fulfilled it. That means the standard still exists. The law reflects God’s perfect standard of righteousness, a standard we cannot keep because we’re sinners. That is why salvation is by grace alone.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them”
(M ATTHEW 5:17).
The Law Fulfilled
Q UESTION : “What does ‘Jesus fulfilled it’ mean?”
A NSWER : The law was a covenant, an agreement, a contract. Just as a builder is under a contract to build a house, once the house is complete, the contract is fulfilled. The builder does not continue to work at building the house any longer. Likewise, Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the contract (the law) through His teaching and actions. He accomplished what we could never do by our own efforts. Then the Law Keeper became the sacrifice for us, the lawbreakers. The Bible says,
“Christ is the end of the law so that there may be
righteousness for everyone who believes”
(R OMANS 10:4).
Legalism and Obedience
Q UESTION : “What is the difference between legalism and biblical obedience?”
A NSWER : Legalism is conforming outwardly to God’s or man’s standard for righteous behavior while ignoring God’s standard for righteous attitudes, convictions, values, and thoughts. Biblical obedience is conforming outwardly to God’s righteous standard while being conformed inwardly to the character of Christ through the enabling grace of God.
• In legalism, the resource is self-effort and the motive is self-promotion. Legalism results in pride and approaching God on the basis of your performance.
• In obedience, the resource is the Spirit of God and the motive is to glorify God. Obedience results in humility and approaching God on the basis of Christ’s performance.
In Christ Jesus, God has fulfilled His promise:
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;
I will remove from you your heart of stone
and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you
and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws”
(E ZEKIEL 36:26-27).
II. C HARACTERISTICS OF S PIRITUAL A BUSE
They came from opposite sides of the tracks. One was refined, respected, and revered—after all, he was a Pharisee. He had an “in” with God. The other was despised, disdained, and dejected—after all, he was a tax collector. He was a spiritual “outcast.”
Both the Pharisee and tax collector said a prayer to God. The Pharisee stood up and said, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get” (Luke 18:11-12). So went the prayer of the Pharisee.
By contrast, the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn’t even look up to heaven. He beat his chest and poured out his heart, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (verse 13).
Jesus spoke this parable to those who trust in their own righteousness, who exercise spiritual snobbery toward any who don’t “measure up.” He said it was the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, who “went home justified before God” (verse 14). The tax collector expressed a humble dependency upon God, which resulted in the forgiveness of his sins. Jesus then said,
“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and he who humbles himself will be exalted”
(L UKE 18:14).
A. What Characterizes Spiritually Abusive Leaders?
While some religious groups are free of abuse, others are occasionally abusive, and still others are
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