ICS Daily Devotions
Not by Works of Righteousness but by Grace
The Mosaic covenant, named after Moses, the leader of God’s people, Israel, was a bilateral, or conditional covenant between God and Israel. Under this covenant, both parties were responsible to fulfil certain duties; whereas the people were required to follow the Law, God would in return, bless and protect Israel. The requirements of the Law were onerous and God warned His people that disobedience would lead to curses. Yet the purpose of the Law was not to punish Israel, but to serve as a schoolmaster to show mankind what sin was, expose the weakness of their flesh and cause them to look for God’s grace provided through Jesus Christ. God knows well our inability and weaknesses, but mankind had to be humbled so that they would turn to Him. Jesus became sin for us, He was judged by the Father on our behalf on the cross, took all the curses upon Himself for our rebellion and gave us His righteousness. He paid for our atonement and redemption and we receive Christ’s imputed righteousness the moment we acknowledge Him as our Savior. We have the robe of Christ’s righteousness that we wear as a breastplate which protects us against the fiery arrow of accusation and condemnation from the evil one. That robe of righteousness is similar to the new robe which the father in the parable taught by Jesus, as recorded in Luke Chapter 15, gave to his prodigal son who repented of his sins. This is Agape love, an unmerited love which God chooses to extend towards us so that He can restore us to Himself, despite our unworthiness and sinfulness. A self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return and does not consider the worth of its object. Nobody can boast about himself for receiving God’s Agape love.
Titus 3:5 (NKJV) not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
No one is able to stand before God based upon his own self-righteousness achieved through good works, moral conduct or service to man or to God. If salvation can be achieved through self-effort, then Christ would have died in vain. If we think that we are able to earn God’s love and His acceptance through our own strength, then we are deceived and will never feel that we are fully accepted by God. We will not come to a position of rest in the Lord, but will constantly feel insecure before God, until and unless we recognize the high price He paid to purchase and redeem us and what He has established for us. It is purely by God’s grace that we are saved, sealed with the Holy Spirit and blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ.
Ephesians 1:6-7 (NKJV) to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
Sermon Series: Resilience (Part 4)
