ICS Daily Devotions
Law and Grace
There are some teachings of tradition and legalism that says……
People cannot work on Sundays, yes you must rest but it is not a law! Even today, people in Israel, the Jews observe Sabbath! Do you know that on Sabbath, to lift a finger to press the button in the elevator is also considered as WORK!! Therefore, their elevators stop on every floor, if it is a 70 storey hotel, it takes almost an hour to reach the top!
Some have this attitude that after you have repented more thoroughly by trying to remember all the past sins and wrong doings and name them one by one, then God will forgive us and answer our prayers.
Some will spend days in agonizing prayer (until God says you are forgiven) or after you have been instructed in divine things or you have passed through years of sorrow and trouble then finally there is a hope of forgiveness from God!
Some preach law, rules and regulation that is in the Old Testament which is in the Dispensation of the Law. Am I saying that the law is not important? Absolutely Not!
Why was the law given by Moses?
To remind man who God is. It was given to show that God is a Holy, Just and Righteous God.
The law showed man his weakness in his inability to stand righteous before God and to push him towards grace and the Messiah Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10 :1-4 (NKJV) For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
The law and the sacrificial system was not perfect , it was only a shadow of the good things to come through Jesus Christ the ultimate sacrifice!
John 1:16-17 (NKJV) And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The repeated sacrifices were replaced with one perfect sacrifice.
There is always this struggle among many believers regarding the love of God, their acceptance by God and the knowledge of God. Many have a background whereby they need to earn their acceptance, they need to work on their healing and the work required to enter into the presence of God.
We are living in the dispensation of grace! God’s unmerited favour, in His rich mercies and grace. God extended His love towards us by sending Jesus to die for us while we are yet sinners.
Sermon Series: Law and Grace
