The DEN
Director's E-Notes
Matthew 17:1-5
"After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James and led them up a high
mountain by themselves.  There he was transfigured before them.   His face shone like the sun, and his
clothes became as white as light.  Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with
Jesus.  Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here.  If you wish, I will put up three shelters-one for
you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a
voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.  Listen to him!"

In this verse, Moses represents "the law," Elijah represents "the prophets," and the Son is representative of
Grace (undeserved, unearned favor of God.)

When we become discouraged that our efforts at "doing Christianity" does not seem to bring the results we
had anticipated, we might want to re-examine the message and the messenger we are following.  Too many
of us are still trying to do something good to get something good when the fact is Jesus is good and when we
made a decision to put ourselves in His care, we are good in Him.

The women that come to ABC for Biblical care spend much of their day (unknowingly) in self-condemnation
and when made aware of this, will readily admit to it.  Some are proficient at using condemnation as a way of
staying humble themselves and also use it to keep their husbands and children under a form of "godliness."  
Condemnation is anti Christ!

When our lives are "in Christ" it is His favor showered upon us (knowing we are most undeserving) that
should keep us humble, not condemnation.  We should also be reminded that because God does not
IMPUTE (assign or keep records of) sin against us any longer, we need to follow God's example and let our
relationships be free of us imputing sin on each other.  Why do our loved ones have to do good to earn our
love when God has freed us from the awful cycle of doing good to get good with Him?

Romans 4:4-8:  But didn't he earn his right to heaven by all the good things he did?  No, for being saved is a
gift; if a person could earn it by being good, then it wouldn't be free-but it is!  It is given to those who do not
work for it.  For God declares sinners to be good in his sight if they have faith in Christ to save them from
God's wrath.  King David spoke of this, describing the happiness of an undeserving sinner who is declared
"not guilty" by God.  "Blessed and to be envied," he said, "are those whose sins are forgiven and put out of
sight.  Yes what joy there is for anyone whose sins are no longer counted (imputed) against him by the Lord."

God has freed us from judgment by way of the cross.  Since God does not impute (keep records) of our sin,
should we not likewise do the same to others?

When my ABC clients get a revelation of this I know they are on the path to wholeness.  The days of doing
good to get good (the law) and God having to go through others to speak to us (the prophets) is not the
message for Christ followers today.  God said "this is my Son (Jesus, the Grace of God), LISTEN TO HIM!"