THE REAL TRUTH...AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." [St. John 1:17]
Almost daily, I see "new" truths revealed in God's Word regarding Grace as opposed to the Mosaic Law. Many, today argue that although we are in the dispensation of grace, we must still adhere to the moral laws and codes that God gave Moses at Mount Sinai. If that be the case and we are still under some points of the Law--with a responsibility to keep them, then how is it possible that Christ died to remove us from the curse of the Law [Galatians 3:13]? Once Grace arrived on the scene, in the Form of the resurrected Savior, the whole Law was abolished, because it is not of faith. The Law had served it's temporary purpose as schoolmaster, from Moses to Jesus Christ, and now the promise given to Abraham some 430 years before the Law, took effect--in full, by faith.
Anything added to grace, makes grace null and void. This is why we cannot add the Mosaic Law, or any laws to grace--if we do, grace loses its effectiveness in our lives and we become subject to the whole Law, again. We know that under the Law, if we offend in one point, we have become guilty of the entire body of the Law [James 2:10].
The Mosaic Law, with its strict codes seems to many, to be the answer to living a holy and righteous life, but the reality is that living a life based on these laws is to reject grace, and to rely on self-righteousness. (It is actually very humanistic thinking to attempt to govern our lives by laws, dependent on our will [Romans 7:14,15] to live out the law--it leaves God out of the picture.) And no man is justified by the Law, but by faith, and the Law is not of faith [Galatians 3:11,12]. So, how do we then govern ourselves? Does this mean we are free to live any way we choose--since we have grace, and no laws? God forbid! Grace freed us not only from the laws, and penalty of death, but it freed us to live holy and righteous lives by Jesus Christ--not by human effort or will, but by the power of God's Spirit at work in us, as we desire Him to transform us into that which is acceptable and sweet-smelling to Him. Truly, it is "no more I!" Any righteousness that is accomplished in me, cannot be credited to my human effort--because then I would have reason to boast, but it is the new "law of God" in the inward man that makes me holy.
Jesus brought us this Truth. He is the Truth [John 14:6]. "In the beginning [before all time] was the Word ([a]Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God [b]Himself." [John 1:1, AMP]. "...for God is love." [1 John 4:8]. Here's the equation: Jesus is the Truth (the Way and the Life, too), He is God, and therefore, He is LOVE. This is important because under this "New Covenant", a new way has been established to make us holy. Now, that we are no longer governed by laws, rules and codes--moral or otherwise, we need something to keep us in line. What makes for holy living under grace is LOVE. And, it takes a lot of faith to walk in love (but you will need some semblance of love to have faith, because "faith worketh by love" [Galatians 5:6]). Don't believe me? Ask the disciples. When Jesus finished explaining forgiveness to them from the viewpoint of both the offended and the offender--and what the responsibilities of both are, their response was, "Lord, increase our faith." But, this is the better way that Jesus made possible at Calvary. It's the example that He gave us in pouring out Himself for our redemption--taking off His glory, humbling Himself to suffer death--even the death of the cross. It is what He taught in His earthly ministry in parables, and in acts of compassion, healing, feeding and ministering to those around Him, calming fears, and winds and storms. Love works--it demolishes sin.
Sin cannot dwell (continuously) in the presence of love--it will either cease or remove itself. Remember God is Love and the Word--how we fight the enemy; that's what Jesus did [Matthew 4:4,7,10,11]. According to Isaiah 59:2, sin separates us from God; conversely, (since He is Love) Love and sin cannot coexist either. It doesn't mean that God isn't Omnipresent or even that Love cannot go everywhere, but it does mean that we have to make a choice--dwell in sin (live a life of sin) or live a life that pleases God, and one that is ruled by love. True love casts out sin; where love exists, sin does not come easily. How can one sin against a God--or a person that he truly loves??? Jesus told us in Matthew 22:37-40, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ All of Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets depend on these two commandments." These are the only two (in one) commandments that we need to remember from the Law--because they are eternal, as love is. Notice, Jesus didn't say, thou shalt not steal, commit murder or lie, etc. It wasn't necessary. It is understood that if we have love, these things are covered, automatically, in that law (of love)--and summed up. There is nothing to rehearse, just love. We never have to even worry about remembering to exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit or avoid the works of the flesh--it is all "summed up' in our willingness to love. Sin, all sin, is thwarted by the power of God's love at work in our lives.
We create problems when we try to add to the message of grace. The Truth came, and went to Calvary to free us to live holy and righteously before Him, in love.
"Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
According 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:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace..." [Ephesians 1:2-7, KJV]
Almost daily, I see "new" truths revealed in God's Word regarding Grace as opposed to the Mosaic Law. Many, today argue that although we are in the dispensation of grace, we must still adhere to the moral laws and codes that God gave Moses at Mount Sinai. If that be the case and we are still under some points of the Law--with a responsibility to keep them, then how is it possible that Christ died to remove us from the curse of the Law [Galatians 3:13]? Once Grace arrived on the scene, in the Form of the resurrected Savior, the whole Law was abolished, because it is not of faith. The Law had served it's temporary purpose as schoolmaster, from Moses to Jesus Christ, and now the promise given to Abraham some 430 years before the Law, took effect--in full, by faith.
Anything added to grace, makes grace null and void. This is why we cannot add the Mosaic Law, or any laws to grace--if we do, grace loses its effectiveness in our lives and we become subject to the whole Law, again. We know that under the Law, if we offend in one point, we have become guilty of the entire body of the Law [James 2:10].
The Mosaic Law, with its strict codes seems to many, to be the answer to living a holy and righteous life, but the reality is that living a life based on these laws is to reject grace, and to rely on self-righteousness. (It is actually very humanistic thinking to attempt to govern our lives by laws, dependent on our will [Romans 7:14,15] to live out the law--it leaves God out of the picture.) And no man is justified by the Law, but by faith, and the Law is not of faith [Galatians 3:11,12]. So, how do we then govern ourselves? Does this mean we are free to live any way we choose--since we have grace, and no laws? God forbid! Grace freed us not only from the laws, and penalty of death, but it freed us to live holy and righteous lives by Jesus Christ--not by human effort or will, but by the power of God's Spirit at work in us, as we desire Him to transform us into that which is acceptable and sweet-smelling to Him. Truly, it is "no more I!" Any righteousness that is accomplished in me, cannot be credited to my human effort--because then I would have reason to boast, but it is the new "law of God" in the inward man that makes me holy.
Jesus brought us this Truth. He is the Truth [John 14:6]. "In the beginning [before all time] was the Word ([a]Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God [b]Himself." [John 1:1, AMP]. "...for God is love." [1 John 4:8]. Here's the equation: Jesus is the Truth (the Way and the Life, too), He is God, and therefore, He is LOVE. This is important because under this "New Covenant", a new way has been established to make us holy. Now, that we are no longer governed by laws, rules and codes--moral or otherwise, we need something to keep us in line. What makes for holy living under grace is LOVE. And, it takes a lot of faith to walk in love (but you will need some semblance of love to have faith, because "faith worketh by love" [Galatians 5:6]). Don't believe me? Ask the disciples. When Jesus finished explaining forgiveness to them from the viewpoint of both the offended and the offender--and what the responsibilities of both are, their response was, "Lord, increase our faith." But, this is the better way that Jesus made possible at Calvary. It's the example that He gave us in pouring out Himself for our redemption--taking off His glory, humbling Himself to suffer death--even the death of the cross. It is what He taught in His earthly ministry in parables, and in acts of compassion, healing, feeding and ministering to those around Him, calming fears, and winds and storms. Love works--it demolishes sin.
Sin cannot dwell (continuously) in the presence of love--it will either cease or remove itself. Remember God is Love and the Word--how we fight the enemy; that's what Jesus did [Matthew 4:4,7,10,11]. According to Isaiah 59:2, sin separates us from God; conversely, (since He is Love) Love and sin cannot coexist either. It doesn't mean that God isn't Omnipresent or even that Love cannot go everywhere, but it does mean that we have to make a choice--dwell in sin (live a life of sin) or live a life that pleases God, and one that is ruled by love. True love casts out sin; where love exists, sin does not come easily. How can one sin against a God--or a person that he truly loves??? Jesus told us in Matthew 22:37-40, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ All of Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets depend on these two commandments." These are the only two (in one) commandments that we need to remember from the Law--because they are eternal, as love is. Notice, Jesus didn't say, thou shalt not steal, commit murder or lie, etc. It wasn't necessary. It is understood that if we have love, these things are covered, automatically, in that law (of love)--and summed up. There is nothing to rehearse, just love. We never have to even worry about remembering to exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit or avoid the works of the flesh--it is all "summed up' in our willingness to love. Sin, all sin, is thwarted by the power of God's love at work in our lives.
We create problems when we try to add to the message of grace. The Truth came, and went to Calvary to free us to live holy and righteously before Him, in love.
"Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
According 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:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace..." [Ephesians 1:2-7, KJV]
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