law – Page 21

547. Why Jesus Taught Two Covenants (Part 4): The Law Increased Sin

May 8, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Part 4 in the series lays more foundation about the law and the Old Covenant and the many differences between the New Covenant which began after the death of Jesus. Most Christian teachings have assumed the commandments were meant to decrease sin, but we find just the opposite is true. It was designed to bring hopelessness and despair. Since fault was found with the people for not fulfilling their end of the agreement, God's grace and mercy would allow for the covenant to end, instead of punishing them for their sins.

546. Why Jesus Taught Two Covenants (Part 3): The Law Shut Boasting Mouths

May 1, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

This is the third in a series of why Jesus taught two covenants, this week looking at some specifics within the Mosaic law from the first covenant. That was a covenant made with Israel and those of us who are Gentiles were not included. Ultimately the law brought a curse because it required all of it be kept perfectly. The New Covenant would not be anything like the Old. The first covenant resulted in death and condemnation, whereas under the second covenant, we've been removed from that and placed into life. The law was meant to shut mouths, stop boasting, and bring people to the end of themselves.

545. Why Jesus Taught Two Covenants (Part 2): From Adam to Moses

April 24, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Our second in the series of why Jesus taught two covenants lays a further foundation on why Adam fell and how the covenant began through Moses with the Jewish people. A covenant must be agreed upon by at least two parties, so the law within the first covenant was not forced upon Israel, but they agreed to do all of it as required. They declared with pride it would be righteousness for them. They would have been better off humbling themselves by saying they couldn't do it. They chose to trust in themselves and their ability.

544. Why Jesus Taught Two Covenants (Part 1): The Law Tree

April 17, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

We begin a series on why Jesus ministered both the Old Covenant and the New. Before we get to some of the teachings of Jesus, we'll lay a foundation that provides reasons why Jesus did this. We'll start at the beginning with Adam in the garden being faced with an element of law already at work when he was commanded not to eat from The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It's the tree of law, and Adam's motivation on why he chose to eat from it may sound familiar in the lives of many Christians today.

537. Resting in the Finished Work

February 28, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

For those who do not understand that Jesus would minister two completely different covenants, it can seem as though He had a split personality. At times He taught the Jews requirements based on a law of works and at other times He demonstrated grace, mercy and compassion. These were often significant contrasts. People were ministered the choice of working endlessly in a system that offered no solution...Or realizing they were burdened and heavy laden and could come to Jesus in order to find rest. The latter is what Jesus wanted them to learn from Him. Whereas the law was a yoke that the Jewish people were unable to bear, Jesus' yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Podcast from the Past: Rules or Relationship?

December 27, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Mike and Joel are taking a break from creating a fresh podcast this Christmas week, but why not take a trip to the past with us! We're going back a few years to Podcast #149, entitled "Rules or Relationship?" This podcast originally aired on July 27, 2008. We hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas, and we're looking forward to more grace talk in 2016!

We'll be back next week, taking a look at the inheritance we have in Christ.

527. Is the Law An Expression of God’s Character?

December 13, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

It has often been taught that the law that came through Moses is an expression of God's character. We frequently begin to assume such phrases are actually found in the Bible. If this is an accurate statement, we should ask the question as to whether God went through a change or if his character went through some sort of transformation. Of course, we know God doesn't change, but with the New Covenant replacing the first one, we find there was a change of priesthood (Jesus Christ) and therefore a change of law occurred. Although the law was a reflection of God's perfection, we should avoid comparing it with God himself and realize it was Jesus (grace) who was manifested as an expression of God's character.

526. Is God Enabling Us to Keep the Commandments?

December 6, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Even after the cross where we abide in Christ and have entered into a new and better covenant, the religious crowd will advocate that Jesus now empowers us to fulfill the law. They claim the law from the former covenant did not end and the commandments within that law are still meant to be followed by Christian believers in order to acquire or maintain life, righteousness and sanctification. The question that never gets fully addressed is this: Exactly which of the 613 laws are to be followed and which are no longer meant to be applied? We discuss the inconsistencies with this type of mixed covenant teaching.

525. The Curse of Seeking Self Improvement

November 29, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

It's one of the biggest deceptions known to mankind - the attempt to achieve a higher level of personal improvement through our works and efforts. Adam and Eve were distracted by the glossy appearance of its fruit and the rest of the world followed suit. Israel demonstrated the futility of trying to establish their own righteousness through the works of the law by pursuing a level of improvement that would make them acceptable to God. It falls short every time and fortunately, it is something Jesus redeemed us from.

524. The Christian’s Relationship to the Law

November 22, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

The mixed covenant culture found in the church world has brought a wide variety of confusion among believers in Christ. As Gentiles who had come to faith in the early church, what were they instructed by the lovers of the law from the Jerusalem church who still believed the law was in effect? Even those elders shared that Gentiles were not to be troubled with keeping the law. What we fail to realize is there was no list of old rules given to the church from the law, because in Christ we have no relationship to that law from the former covenant because it was replaced with God's Spirit in us.

Understanding Revelation 20: Satan and the lake of fire.

November 14, 2015 by Simon Yap

Did you know that when Jesus was referring to the worms that do not die and fires that do not end were referring to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple and not hell? Mark 9:48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ Now look at this. Isaiah 66:24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. Jesus was quoting the massacre of the Jews during the Babylonian attacks. He was saying it will happen again when the Romans attack Jerusalem.

God’s Treasure Chest – Romans 10

November 14, 2015 by Sandra McCollom

Here are some of the treasures I discovered while reading and studying Romans chapter 10. I hope you’re encouraged!

Romans 10:5 says,
For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. (NLT)

This verse right here proves how impossible it would be for us to attempt to be justified by keeping the law. It also proves why there’s a whole bunch of frustrated Christians out there. I used to be one of them. It’s a dead end road.

Here are Andrew Wommack’s Living Commentary notes on this verse. You’re gonna love this. It will help you understand grace better.

“In Romans 10:5-9, Paul contrasted those who seek righteousness by the Law with those who seek the righteousness of God as a gift. Those who seek to earn righteousness through keeping the Law are consumed with “doing” (this verse), while those who receive righteousness by faith are simply confessing what has already been done (Romans 10:9).

This is a simple yet profound difference. If we are still “doing” acts of holiness to get God to move in our lives, then we are still operating under a “Law” mentality that is not faith (Galatians 3:12). When we simply believe and confess what has already been provided through Christ, that’s grace.

Those who are living under the Law and those who are living under grace should have very similar actions of holiness, but their motivations are completely opposite. Legalists have their attention on what they must do, while those living by faith have their attention on what Christ has already done for them.

For instance, the Scriptures teach us to confess with our mouths and believe with our hearts and we will receive from God (Romans 10:9-10 and Mark 11:23-24). Legalists think that means they can get God to heal them by confessing that by His stripes, they are healed. However, those who understand God’s grace will not confess the Word to get healed. They will confess that by His stripes, they are healed, because they really believe it has already been done.

Analyzing our mindsets is the simplest way of discerning whether we are operating in true Bible faith or a legalistic counterfeit. If the motive for our actions is to be accepted by God, then that’s legalism. If we live holy out of faith and gratefulness for what God has already done, then that’s grace.”

Referring back to paragraph #4 here in Andrew’s notes, I was one of those people who had made confession (confessing God’s Word) into a work.

I was taught the importance of confessing God’s Word growing up and it wasn’t taught to me in a legalistic way, but because of my own personality I approached almost everything in my life from a ‘works’ standpoint. I turned almost everything into a law.

As a result of this, I recall that during the beginning of my grace journey 3.5 years ago God had to show me that I had actually gotten into fear in this area of confession and had been wrongly believing that if I didn’t confess the Word (speak my confessions) everyday, I was not going to be blessed.

Again, I DEFINITELY believe in the power of confessing God’s Word and I have a list of declarations that I speak, but now I speak them when the Holy Spirit prompts me to speak them and I don’t feel like if I miss a day, or a week, that my life is going to fall apart.

As Andrew stated above, when a person is caught up in legalism, their motive for doing what they do is totally different.

Now that I live my life by God’s awesome grace, I actually find myself speaking God’s Word on a regular basis in addition to speaking out my list of declarations when the Spirit prompts me to do so, but there is no fear involved at all of something bad happening or me not being blessed because I haven’t confessed God’s Word today.

Here’s what made the difference for me. When I really grasped the truth that God’s grace is His unmerited, unearned, undeserved favor I stopped believing for His favor only when I had done all the right things or based on my good works (such as confessing the Word) and began to believe for and receive His grace (unmerited favor) solely based on what Jesus has already done for me through His finished work. I finally got the revelation that grace is based on Him, not me.

This my friend, is why I have fallen so deeply in love with Jesus that I now work harder for Him (do more good works) than I ever did while trying to live my Christian life under the law. This is why I spend practically every waking moment receiving His grace afresh for myself and why I love helping others (including my own kids) understand how His grace works, practically, in their everyday lives… if they will only receive it!

Romans 10:13 says,
For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” (NLT)

I just LOVE this verse! That all!

Romans 10:14 says,
But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? (NLT)

Do you know that there are many people who go to church every Sunday that aren’t hearing the true gospel – the gospel of grace. I just had a girl tell me yesterday how frustrating it is that she cannot seem to find a church in her little town. There are plenty of churches there, but the ones that she has visited are all steeped in religion (rules and regulations).

She hasn’t had success finding one yet where the pastor simply preaches Jesus and how having a living, vibrant relationship with Jesus can transform her life. She said all the churches that she has visited have strong religious mindsets and she feels judged by so many within those circles. I felt so sorry for her and reminded her that this is not how Jesus is. I am also agreeing with her in prayer that she will find just the right church that she can call home, where Jesus is exalted and where the pastor sets her eyes on Jesus every single week instead of giving her a list of 10 new rules to follow.

Romans 10:15 says,
And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” (NLT)

Notice, the scriptures do not say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring bad news.’ It says this is true of those who bring good news.

It doesn’t even say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who mix bad news with good news in an effort to be balanced.’ (and this goes for all of us because we are all called to be bearers of this amazingly good news)

The true gospel, which is the gospel of grace, doesn’t need to be balanced. It’s the gospel. It’s about Jesus. It’s Jesus plus nothing. It’s the good news because when we really understand it and believe it, we fall in love with Jesus so deeply that we then end up doing everything else we should be doing as a Christian out of a spirit of love rather than works. Of course this doesn’t mean we’re going to be perfect in our actions because this Christian walk is a journey, but as we continue to grow in God’s grace, right actions follow.

Look at this:

Romans 13:10 says,
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (NASB)

Yes, yes, yes! This is what happens when a person is taught the true gospel of grace and they come to understand that, in fact, Jesus is grace. He is God’s grace personified. When they come to the revelation that it’s all Jesus, this amazing Grace changes their heart from the inside out and they begin to walk in love and do what they do out of love for people like never before. I am a witness to this and I know that many of you are too.

Every person I come in contact with who has really grasped a revelation of God’s grace cannot be quiet about it. It’s impossible. They simply cannot stop talking about Jesus and they want everyone, everywhere to know this good news!

Romans 10:17 says,
So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. (NLT)

See here, we have to be hearing the good news about Jesus for faith to come. This is why it is critically important for people to find a church where the pastor sets their eyes on Jesus and what He has already done for them through His finsihed work on the cross instead of focusing their attention on themselves and what they need to do. Their doing (good works) will naturally flow from their right believing about Christ!

Next God’s Treasure Chest post will be on Romans 11.

To find all my other God’s Treasure Chest posts just click here on My Grace Journey and then scroll down to the topic that says God’s Treasure Chest!

If you have not yet made Jesus your Savior and received the wonderful joy that His finished working the cross has provided for you to live in, please visit my page here titled Jesus In The Driver’s Seat. On this page I explain the good news of the gospel and you will have the opportunity to pray a prayer of salvation, making Jesus your Savior! Jesus loves you and His arms are wide open!

Sandra McCollom