Weekly Lesson 41

I DON’T FEEL LIKE I AM ON GOD’S TEAM

We all have feelings. Some are true, and some are false. Right or wrong, when we feel something, it is real; however, what we feel about something does not always make it right. If we stay a part of God’s Team, our feelings will begin to change towards ourselves and others. Feelings are changeable.

What about feelings? Where do they come into the picture? Feelings are emotions inside us. Unlike facts, feelings can be very changeable. We may feel good one day and be sad the next. But regardless of how our feelings may change, they do not change facts.
For example, suppose you, your teacher tells you that you have a test coming up. You might say, “But I don’t feel like I’m ready.” Perhaps you are not, but you still have to take it. Once taken, you find out that you passed the test. Even though you had the feeling, “I’m not ready,” the fact is, you were. So we can see that our feelings can be different from the facts.

Now, let’s see how facts, faith, and feelings relate to the Christian life. In the spiritual realm, God has revealed specific facts about Himself, man, sin, and salvation. These are the essential facts in all the world for us because they affect our eternal destiny. God has caused these facts to be written down in a book which we call the Bible. These facts are so important that God did not depend upon a chance to get them to us.

The Bible tells us that God created man and gave him free will. He could choose to obey God and enjoy fellowship with Him, or he could choose to disobey God and thus lose fellowship with his Creator.

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice [payment] for our sins.” (I John 4:10).

Christ’s death and resurrection are historical facts. Jesus died on a Roman cross outside of Jerusalem. This is a significant fact of history. Some say that He died because He was a false teacher high. But God Himself tells us in His Word why He died.

The Bible says, “…Christ died for our sins…” (1 Corinthians 15:3).

Christ’s death and resurrection are historical facts.
Not only is His death a fact, but His resurrection is likewise a fact. He appeared on this earth for forty days after His resurrection, and over five hundred people saw him. The Apostle Peter was one of those who saw Christ after His resurrection, and he declared emphatically, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories… but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” (2 Peter 1:16).

The purpose of Christ’s death and resurrection is that we might be able to stand before God, not in our sinfulness, but the perfect righteousness of Christ. When a sinner believes and is saved, he simply rests on God’s facts Jesus spoke on the cross “…IT IS FINISHED…” The cross of Christ is a fact; the empty tomb is a fact; His resurrection is a fact. His work is finished.

Here is where faith comes in. God has provided perfect salvation, but it won’t do you one bit of good if you don’t believe it and accept it. God has done everything in Christ, and now He asks for faith on our part. What is faith? Faith is simply our acceptance of God’s facts. When a sinner believes and is saved, he or she simply rests on God’s truths. Salvation is accepting the truth of Christ’s finished work.

We began the Christian life by depending on what Christ did, not on what we have done or how we feel about ourselves. We did not save ourselves. We simply came to Jesus and laid on Him the burden of our sins. We have nothing that leads us to brag. The Bible says,

“For it is by grace, you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

If you try to rest your faith on your feelings, the result will be confusion. But what about feelings? Have they no place in the Christian life? Yes, of course, they do. Feelings have a definite place in our lives, and they are fine in their place, but they can get out of place. If you try to rest your faith on your feelings, the result will be confusion. Many people are looking for peace with God, but they are looking for it in the direction of their feelings rather than in the direction of God’s facts.

We are not saved by a beautiful feeling or some thrilling experience. We are justified by faith, not by feelings. The Bible says, “So now since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in his promises, we can have real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” (Romans 5:1).

This does not mean that we should ignore our feelings. The Bible says that we have “joy and peace in believing,” and this is true. Many Christians do have a wonderful feeling when they are saved. But remember to rest your feelings and faith in God’s facts, which are eternal and unchangeable, not on your feelings, which may change overnight.

Do you trust God’s facts? Are you trying to get by on what you feel?

Go to Romans Road to Salvation and/or Prayer of Rededication

Christ Centered Champions

Christ Centered Champions

We are more than champions through him who loved us. Romans 8:37