Law and Grace
Hehe. I got this on my bus ride home on Friday, after cg supper. Was contemplating whether to share but decided to after some confirmation of it being shared in things I read these few days. haha.
Let Daddy hold my hands and get this typed out for Jesus' glory. (((:
Personally I was thinking on the topic of sin and undeserved favor. haha. We know the verse in Romans 5:20,
Romans 5:20 (AMP)
But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God's unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded,
haha. Then the question I post to God is something like,
"I know that where people had done something that seemed so wrong (in the eyes of men), when they are touched with Your undeserved favor [Jesus], they received Him so readily and they are so super transformed and just run with You.
But what about people who started out good/well (in the eyes of men) with You? Would they comprehend and experience the greatness of Your Grace, undeserved favor and no condemnation? And surely You didn't mean sin more to experience much more grace ah."
Then in a spilt second I saw the contrast between the two. The ones in the first category saw the seriousness of their sin (in men's perspective). They had literally came to an end of themselves, knowing they need someone Bigger to really help them get out. ((:
Then came some stuff that I wanna share about. hehe.
If you had really considered Jesus' Word true, if you had read verses and really considered the standard of God, like the one in,
Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28 (NKJV)
21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder,[a] and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause[b] shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old,[a] 'You shall not commit adultery.'[b] 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
James 2:10-11 (NKJV)
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery,"[a] also said, "Do not murder."[b]Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
WOW! I'm amazed at Daddy! haha. I didn't know the two examples used in James would be adultery and murder! And the verses in Matthew was what Dad pointed out to me when I was flipping through the bible to quote some examples! YIPPIE! It's cool to walk with Him. ((((:
Galatians 3:19, 24-25 (NKJV)
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.
24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
No wonder in Revelation 3:15 Jesus said "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold (fully by tablets of stones; Law) or hot (fully by the grace of God)" Brackets added by me.
Because even the Law brings an end to yourself, pointing to Jesus.
you would see and know for yourself that it is a level unattainable by your mere existence. The Law was meant to bring an end to your-self.
haha. Personally I knew God before I came to church. It's amazing how I knew Him but I also understood from the days where I've not attended church (NCC was my first church :)) that a church with excellent teaching that unveils Jesus and His finished work is so IMPORTANT.
haha. Because I still remember the days where I would read the bible, starting from Matthew but I have never read past Matthew because of verses like the ones I quoted above. haha.
Back then I sincerely wanted to follow God but verses like those just stumbled me. And every time when I read those verses, I would close the bible and get back to my sinful lifestyle.
How very grateful am I for the message of grace; the message that unveils Jesus and and HIS finished work, telling me that despite and inspite of all I am still the righteousness of God in Christ because of HIS finished work.
The costly Love that was freely give. Surely I am gloriously redeemed! Bought with a Price and I belong to Him. ((:
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So if the standard that God has is unattainable, His Law is unable ot be fulfilled by ourselves, how can we in a righteous state walk with Him? haha.
Verses time! Quite a few this time. (((: These verses might hurt your flesh a bit (or maybe a lot) but, bear with it yea. It's good! haha. Because it's from the Bible and it glorifies my Hubby Jesus~ (:
Romans 3:19-24, 27-28 (NKJV)
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all[a] who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Galatians 2:16 (NKJV)
16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Galatians 3:10-11 (AMP)
10 And all who depend on the Law [who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals] are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and destruction, for it is written in the Scriptures, Cursed (accursed, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment) be everyone who does not continue to abide (live and remain) by all the precepts and commands written in the Book of the Law and to practice them.(A)
11 Now it is evident that no person is justified (declared righteous and brought into right standing with God) through the Law, for the Scripture says, The man in right standing with God [the just, the righteous] shall live by and out of faith and he who through and by faith is declared righteous and in right standing with God shall live.(B)
Sad. Very sad. You can do all you want and TRY to get right with God by your deeds but you can NEVER be. Because Righteousness is a Person. Righteousness is Jesus and you are IN Him [Righteous Jesus], if You are a child of God.
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NKJV)
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."[a]
Jesus didn't hang there 6 hours on the cross and cursed (for it is written, "cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree) for nothing. He didn't get scourged and humiliated and shamed so that YOU can work your way through to the throne of God. By the way, God is sitting on the throne of UNdeserved favor [grace]. You can't deserve your way there. Let not the Grace of God be in vain. ((:
Romans 5:17 (NKJV)
17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
haha. So yeap. Lets just come to an end of ourselves and freely receive the GIFT of Righteousness. It takes humility to receive this gift and Daddy says He gives Grace to the HUMBLE (see 1 Peter 5:6-7)~ haha.
Okay. Gotta go buy food for terrapins already. Feel like haven't really share finish but yeap. Shall stop here for now. ((:
Shalom~
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