No Relatiopnship with Rules

Most people like to say that Jesus has not called us into rules, but into relationship.

Yes, that's true, but what kind of relationship?

I have a relationship with my mailman, for example, based on transactions he conducts in my mail box.

I also have a relationship with my boss, not always a cordial one, a relationship based on performance.

We cannot receive Christ, or have any relationship with Him based on what we do:

"4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2: 4-9)

Not one based on rules, but rather the Ruler living for us and through us and watching out for us!

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1: 27)

Then Paul quickly comments:

"Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." (Colossians 1: 29)

This Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords:

"15Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." (1 Timothy 6: 15-16)

Yet this  King wants to serve us:

"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10: 45)

Only in Mark's Gospel, where Jesus is depicted as the tireless servant, to we find the direct account in which Jesus is seated in full power and kingly glory at the right hand of the Father:

"19So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God." (Mark 16: 19)

Most people have not learned about the Ruler, the Servant-King who lives to serve us in Christ Jesus.

In Christ, we have received all things because of Him:

"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 3-6)

This Spirit of Adoption has nothing to do with rules:

"15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8: 15-17)

Forget about rules and regulations, including the insipid and troublesome Twelve Steps. We are called to walk in the Spirit, and allow the same Spirit to transform us from glory and glory into the very image of God's Son, Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3: 18)