May 28, 2009

• Law and Grace

  G-d’s law presents a high standard, one that man cannot achieve. Mortal man always falls short in one way or another.

  G-d’s ever-present, eternal law points out our transgressions. It shows our need for Messiah’s sacrifice, for mercy and grace.

  When we believe in the Messiah, believe that He died in our place, we find forgiveness, we find Salvation.

  Ephesians 2:8-9  For you have been delivered by grace through trusting, and even this is not your accomplishment but God’s gift.  (9)  You were not delivered by your own actions; therefore no one should boast.

  We are saved by grace alone, and not on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace

  Romans 11:6  Now if it is by grace, it is accordingly not based on legalistic works; if it were otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.

  Because the fact that we are saved by grace alone is such an absolute truth, some want to say that a Believer in the Messiah does not have to do anything but believe in the Messiah.

  But then comes this:

  Ephesians 2:10  For we are of God’s making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do.

  We are called to walk in good works.

  James 2:17-26  Thus, faith by itself, unaccompanied by actions, is dead.  (18)  But someone will say that you have faith and I have actions. Show me this faith of yours without the actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions!  (19)  You believe that “God is one”? Good for you! The demons believe it too – the thought makes them shudder with fear!  (20)  But, foolish fellow, do you want to be shown that such “faith” apart from actions is barren?  (21)  Wasn’t Avraham avinu declared righteous because of actions when he offered up his son Yitz’chak on the altar?  (22)  You see that his faith worked with his actions; by the actions the faith was made complete;  (23)  and the passage of the Tanakh was fulfilled which says, “Avraham had faith in God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness.” He was even called God’s friend.  (24)  You see that a person is declared righteous because of actions and not because of faith alone.  (25)  Likewise, wasn’t Rachav the prostitute also declared righteous because of actions when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another route?  (26)  Indeed, just as the body without a spirit is dead, so too faith without actions is dead.

  We see that man was created for good works, the question becomes: how can we know what are good works?

  We cannot know apart from the Instruction manual that is the Torah.

  Deuteronomy 6:4  “Sh’ma, Yisra’el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, Isra'el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one];

  Deuteronomy 4:6  Therefore, observe them; and follow them; for then all peoples will see you as having wisdom and understanding. When they hear of all these laws, they will say, ‘This great nation is surely a wise and understanding people.’

  Deuteronomy 11:8  Therefore, you are to keep every mitzvah I am giving you today; so that you will be strong enough to go in and take possession of the land you are crossing over to conquer;

  Because we want to be a strong and wise people, we look to the Torah for truth.

  Because we realize that G-d says that That He changes not…we realize that the Torah is still important today

  Matthew 5:17-19  “Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete.  (18)  Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah — not until everything that must happen has happened.  (19)  So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

  As His bond-servants, during our sojourn on this earth we are in the process of having G-d’s Torah written on our hearts that is the essence of the New Covenant.

  Bond-servants stay with their masters out of love for them.

  We are not in our Master’s house because we have a debt to pay, but because we do not want to live anywhere else. We are like the returning prodigal: it is better to be a servant in the Father’s house than to be a king outside of it.

  G-d wants people who will love Him.
  G-d wants us to want Him even as He wants us.

  If we do not understand that it all boils down to love, then we do not understand Torah, which is in truth a love story. G-d is the Living Torah, and He is Love.

  If we live in a way that does not give evidence to the world that we are returning this great love to our Master, we do not fully know His love. For to know Him is to love Him. And, if you love Him, you will keep His commandments.

  John 14:15  “If you love me, you will keep my commands;

  So, It is neither Law nor Grace….It is both.

  We are saved by grace and because of that we follow the Torah (Law). We follow it because we love Him.

  Blessings and Shalom

  • 6:46 pm
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