Teaching summary
Pastors Leonard and Lori Rola teach that believers must stand firmly in the freedom Christ has already given them and refuse to return to religious bondage. They contrast righteousness received by faith with the belief that people must earn God’s acceptance through effort, performance, or religious works. Because of Christ’s death, believers have been reconciled to God and can stand in His presence holy, blameless, and without fault. Their central warning is simple: do not drift away from this assurance or allow anyone to place you under guilt, shame, condemnation, or insecurity.
Bible verses referenced
Galatians 5:1- “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
James 2:21–24- “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
2 Timothy 2:15- “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Acts 21:20: “And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law.”
Romans 4:1–6- “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as about the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.”
Romans 5:1- “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Colossians 1:22–23- “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”
Teaching notes
Table of Contents
- Seeing Believers as God Sees Them
- Stand Firm in the Liberty Christ Has Given
- The Harm Caused by Guilt, Shame, and Condemnation
- Rightly Dividing the Covenants
- James on Abraham, Faith, and Works
- Paul’s Teaching About Righteousness by Faith
- Righteousness Without Working for It
- Peace With God and Qualification for the Supernatural
- Reconciled Through the Death of Christ
- Holy, Blameless, and Without a Single Fault
- Do Not Drift Away From the Assurance of the Gospel
- How Religious Mixture Keeps People in Bondage
- Grace Giving Rather Than Giving From Necessity
- Continue to Believe the Truth and Stand Firmly in It
- Final Encouragement: Never Return to Condemnation
Seeing Believers as God Sees Them
Pastor Lori opens by greeting the audience as saints. She explains that this is who believers truly are: saints and holy before God. Pastor Leonard adds that Paul repeatedly called believers saints and described them as perfect, holy, complete, sanctified, and righteous.
They emphasize that believers would think very differently about themselves if they understood what God knows and saw themselves as God sees them. Paul’s writings help believers recognize the identity that God has already given them. This truth undergirds the entire message.
The purpose of this teaching is to help believers stop defining themselves by shortcomings, failures, or accusations. Rather than continually focusing on what they think is missing, believers are encouraged to understand their position in Christ and accept what God says about them.
Stand Firm in the Liberty Christ Has Given
Before the session began, Pastor Leonard said the Holy Spirit brought Galatians 5:1 to his mind. He presents it as the foundation upon which believers must take their stand.
Galatians 5:1- “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Pastor Leonard explains “stand fast” as making a firm stand and remaining securely positioned upon the freedom Christ has provided. Christ has already made believers free, so they should not permit themselves to become enslaved again by a yoke of bondage.
He says many of God’s children have become entangled in bondage because they continually hear statements such as, “You need to,” “You must,” “You have to,” and “You have a responsibility.” When these statements are used to make people believe that God’s acceptance depends upon their performance, they place believers back under bondage. According to the teaching, believers are no longer under the covenant of law, including its ceremonial and moral requirements as a means of establishing righteousness before God. Christ has made them free, and they must stand in that liberty.
The Harm Caused by Guilt, Shame, and Condemnation
Pastors Leonard and Lori explain that this message grew from their conversations with many people. They have encountered believers who struggle to love others, love themselves, or forgive themselves because they constantly believe they are falling short.
Such believers are repeatedly told that they are not believing enough, commanding enough, standing firmly enough, exercising enough faith, or doing enough spiritual work. The burden is continually placed upon them. There always seems to be another task they must accomplish before they can feel secure before God.
Pastor Leonard makes a strong statement: no person should make another person feel insecure or burden that individual with guilt, shame, or condemnation. He says this kind of treatment reveals a failure to understand the true gospel of grace.
The word “gospel” means good news. The good news centers upon everything Jesus has done, not upon a list of additional works believers must perform to qualify themselves. A message that leaves people continually ashamed, condemned, or insecure is not properly communicating the good news of God’s grace.
Rightly Dividing the Covenants
Pastor Leonard identifies an inability to distinguish between covenants as a major problem among many religious speakers, teachers, and preachers. When people do not recognize these differences, they combine law and grace and create a mixture.
He refers to Paul’s instruction to Timothy:
2 Timothy 2:15- “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Pastor Leonard asks why Paul needed to give this instruction. He answers that confusion and mixture between the covenants still existed. In his presentation, some of this mixture came from James and the believers in Jerusalem.
He directs listeners to Acts 21:20:
Acts 21:20- “And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law.”
Pastor Leonard observes that James and the Jerusalem believers were happy that many Jewish people believed in Jesus, but they were also pleased that these believers remained zealous for the law of Moses. He says this illustrates the mixture Paul had to confront as the message of grace was revealed and proclaimed.
He urges believers to rightly divide Scripture rather than assuming that every statement reflects the completed revelation of the New Covenant in the same way. The covenants must be distinguished so that the gospel of grace is not mixed with requirements belonging to the law.
James on Abraham, Faith, and Works
Pastor Lori reads James 2:21–24, which discusses Abraham offering Isaac and connects Abraham’s faith with his actions.
James 2:21–24- “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
The passage says that Abraham was justified by works when he offered Isaac upon the altar. It describes his faith working together with his actions and says that faith was made perfect by works. It then states that Abraham believed God, righteousness was imputed to him, and he was called the Friend of God.
Pastor Leonard focuses particularly on the conclusion that a person is justified by works and not by faith only. He stresses the wording because it appears to place a person’s actions alongside faith in the matter of justification.
He explains that the Epistle of James was written before the Epistle to the Romans. Within the framework of the teaching, this timing is important because Paul’s later explanation in Romans presents righteousness as something credited through faith apart from works.
Paul’s Teaching About Righteousness by Faith
Pastor Lori then reads Paul’s account of Abraham’s righteousness in Romans 4:1–6.
Romans 4:1–6- “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as about the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.”
Paul asks what Abraham discovered concerning being made right with God. If Abraham had been justified by his works, he would have had something about which to boast, though not before God. Pastor Leonard emphasizes Paul’s declaration that justification through works is not God’s way.
Scripture says Abraham believed God, and his faith was counted to him for righteousness. Pastor Leonard points out that no work, effort, or religious performance is included in that statement. Abraham believed God and was declared righteous.
Paul then explains the difference between a wage and a gift. When someone works for something, the resulting payment is not a gift; it is a debt or wage that has been earned. If righteousness had to be earned through religious labor, it could no longer be received as a gift of grace.
The passage declares that the person who does not work for righteousness but believes in the God who justifies the ungodly has faith counted for righteousness. Pastors Leonard and Lori stress that people are counted righteous because of faith in God, not because of their works.
Pastor Leonard presents Paul’s words as a correction to the mixture that existed among believers. He recalls how Paul encountered opposition from Judaizers who followed his ministry and attempted to bring Gentile believers under the law after the Holy Spirit had brought them to faith.
The lesson is that the Bible must be rightly divided. Believers must understand the transition from the covenant of law to the completed revelation of Jesus Christ and the gospel of grace.
Righteousness Without Working for It
Paul also points to David as someone who understood the blessedness of righteousness apart from works.
Romans 4:1–6- “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as about the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.”
Pastor Leonard asks Pastor Lori to repeat the final statement because of its importance. David described the blessedness—the happiness—of the person to whom God credits righteousness without works.
Pastor Leonard urges listeners to compare James 2:21–24 directly with Romans 4:1–6:
James 2:21–24- “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
Their emphasis is that righteousness before God is not produced by human effort. It is received through faith. This understanding brings happiness and freedom because believers no longer have to live under the pressure of earning what God freely gives.
Peace With God and Qualification for the Supernatural
Pastor Leonard turns to Romans 5:1 to explain the result of being justified by faith.
Romans 5:1- “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Once a person believes in Jesus Christ, that person is declared righteous and has peace with God. Pastor Leonard explains that peace with God means reconciliation. The believer has been brought into harmony with God without working, striving, toiling, or trying to earn that position.
This is important because, according to the teaching, righteousness is the qualification believers need before God for the miraculous and supernatural. Believers are righteous, at peace with God, and reconciled to Him by faith. Therefore, they are fully qualified.
They do not have to work harder at believing, commanding, standing, bringing something to God, or learning to use spiritual authority before God will accept them. When religious teachers place a work-and-effort mentality into people’s minds, it produces guilt, shame, condemnation, and insecurity.
Pastor Leonard explains that he spends much of his study time in Paul’s epistles and is familiar with many Scriptures concerning righteousness and holiness. Nevertheless, a passage from Colossians became especially powerful to him when he read it in the New Living Translation.
He clarifies that he does not elevate one translation above every other translation. However, he found the wording clear, personal, and powerful. He wants believers to learn the passage, meditate upon it, and allow it to become their reality. Doing so will free them from the constant fear that they have not prayed hard enough, believed enough, worked enough, or done enough.
Reconciled Through the Death of Christ
The central passage of the message is Colossians 1:22–23:
Colossians 1:22–23- “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”
Pastor Lori explains that believers have been reconciled to God through the death of Jesus Christ in His physical body. Pastor Leonard pauses to explain the word “reconcile.” He defines it as bringing someone back to a former state of harmony.
Through Jesus Christ, believers have been brought back into harmony with God. They have been justified by faith and are now at peace with Him. Pastor Leonard connects this passage with Romans 5:1:
Romans 5:1- “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reconciliation is something God accomplished through Christ. It is not a condition believers create through personal effort. God restored the relationship, brought peace, and made believers righteous.
Holy, Blameless, and Without a Single Fault
Pastor Lori continues explaining that, as a result of Christ’s death, God has brought believers into His own presence. Pastor Leonard contrasts this truth with the religious belief that people must find or earn a way into God’s presence.
People may believe that they must sanctify themselves, become holier, develop more discipline, or accomplish more before they can approach God. They may feel that they must earn the right to pray or ask Him for something. The passage overturns that mentality because God Himself has brought believers into His presence.
Colossians 1:22–23- “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”
God presents believers as holy, unblameable, and unreproveable in His sight. Pastors Leonard and Lori express this as standing before God holy, blameless, and without a single fault.
God accomplished this reconciliation when the believer said yes to Jesus Christ. He brought about harmony and peace. He made the believer righteous and justified that person by faith.
Therefore, believers can come before God without hesitation, doubt, or questioning. Pastor Leonard goes further by explaining that God is always with believers, so they are always in His presence. They do not have to work to enter a place where God has already placed them. This recognition produces freedom. Believers can become mindful of what God has already done instead of continually working to attain it.
Do Not Drift Away From the Assurance of the Gospel
After proclaiming that believers are reconciled, holy, blameless, and without fault, Paul instructs them to continue in this truth.
Colossians 1:22–23- “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”
Pastor Lori stresses the instruction to continue believing this truth and to stand firmly in it. Believers must not drift away from the assurance they received when they heard the good news.
Pastor Leonard connects this instruction to the opening verse:
Galatians 5:1- “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
The message is not that believers must perform additional works to make themselves righteous. Rather, they must remain established in the truth of the righteousness, reconciliation, and freedom they have already received through Christ.
Pastor Leonard warns believers not to allow religion to “bushwhack” them again. They should not be pulled away from grace and returned to a system that measures their acceptance by works.
How Religious Mixture Keeps People in Bondage
Pastors Leonard and Lori mention a teacher they occasionally listen to and the Mirror Study Bible, which they describe as a helpful study aid. They clarify again that they do not elevate any single translation or study Bible above all others.
The teaching raises an important question: Why are mixture and legalism so useful to religion? Why do religious systems keep people burdened by guilt, shame, and condemnation?
They answer that it is good for business. If people never feel accepted, complete, or secure, they will continually return in search of something else they must do. They are told to work more, do more, return to the altar, and give more.
This system depends upon keeping people uncertain. If believers do not know that Christ has already reconciled them to God, they can be persuaded that they must repeatedly earn His acceptance.
Pastors Leonard and Lori want believers to be free from that cycle. The gospel does not manipulate people through insecurity. It announces the good news of what Jesus Christ has accomplished.
Grace Giving Rather Than Giving From Necessity
The pastors use giving as an example of the difference between grace and religious obligation. Some people give because they have been led to believe that giving will please God enough to secure His favor.
They may think that if God is pleased with their gift, He will allow them into His presence, hear their prayers, or bless them in return. Pastor Leonard identifies these ideas as a religious mixture.
Grace-giving comes from a different source. A believer recognizes the love of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit within. Giving then flows from the loving and generous character of Christ within the believer.
People are encouraged to give cheerfully from the abundance with which God has blessed them. Pastor Leonard humorously observes that many people do not have an abundance problem as much as they have a spending challenge.
The essential point is that giving should not arise from pressure or necessity. It should not be an attempt to purchase God’s pleasure, earn access to His presence, or persuade Him to answer prayer. Believers are already reconciled to God through Christ. Grace-giving is therefore a willing response of love, not a payment offered to obtain righteousness or favor.
Continue to Believe the Truth and Stand Firmly in It
Pastors Leonard and Lori return to Galatians 5:1 as they approach the end of the message:
Galatians 5:1- “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
They desire to see believers living in the freedom Christ has provided. God Himself has reconciled believers and enabled them to stand in His presence. He has made them holy, blameless, and without fault.
Colossians 1:22–23- “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”
Pastor Leonard highlights Paul’s consistency. In Galatians, Paul says to stand fast in liberty. In Colossians, after describing everything God accomplished through Christ, Paul instructs believers to continue in the faith, remain grounded and settled, and refuse to move away from the hope of the gospel.
The believer’s response is to continue believing this truth and stand firmly in it. Do not drift away from the assurance received through the good news. Do not exchange the finished work of Christ for a system of endless spiritual performance.
Final Encouragement: Never Return to Condemnation
Pastor Leonard closes by repeating one of the message’s most important warnings: never allow anyone to cause you to develop feelings of insecurity, guilt, shame, or condemnation. Believers must stand firmly in the truth that Christ has made them free. They have been justified by faith, reconciled to God, and brought into His presence. God presents them as holy, blameless, and without fault.
Romans 5:1- “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 5:1- “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Colossians 1:22–23- “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”
Pastor Lori thanks the listeners for being God’s hand extended. Together, the pastors express their love and gratitude to those whom God has blessed to support their ministry. Do not drift away from the assurance of the gospel. Continue believing the truth, remain firmly established in it, and refuse to return to a yoke of religious bondage.
We love and appreciate you. Thank you for reading and for allowing this message of grace to encourage your heart. If this teaching has helped you understand your freedom and righteousness in Christ, please share it with others so they can stand firmly in the same assurance and refuse to drift away from the good news of God’s grace.