New Covenant of Grace by Rein Cristos
Displaying all 2 posts.
Post #1
Laiyong wroteon June 17, 2009 at 11:26am
For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah." (Hebrews 8:6-8)
These verses contrast the old covenant of law ("that first covenant") with the new covenant of grace ("a second"). The old covenant of law was good, but the new covenant of grace is far better. The law is ordained of God, but it can never bring what God desires people to experience.
The law is not designed to give people a righteous standing in God's sight (justification). "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ" (Galatians 2:16). Nor is the law intended for developing a godly walk (sanctification) in those who are justified through faith in Christ. "For the law made nothing perfect" (Hebrews 7:19). The proper use of the law is to lead people to the grace of God found in Jesus Christ. "The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ" (Galatians 3:24).
Grace is far better than law. If the law was sufficient, then God would never have sent His Son to die for the establishing of a new covenant. "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second." Since the law was lacking (regarding justification and sanctification), God's plan included the new covenant of grace. "Because finding fault with them, He says: 'Behold, the days are coming,' says the Lord, 'when I will make a new covenant'." The new covenant of grace has Jesus, the giver of life, as the Mediator. "He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant." This new covenant also has greater promises than the law: "a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
To be under law is like entering an enclosed space filled with dust, then only to remove the dust with a broom, not realising the dust only gets worse and eventually chocks the cleaner. But, being under grace is removing the same dust but using water to sprinkle the room which removes the dust completely effortlessly.
No matter how hard we try to remove the dust by our efforts, not realising that only water can completely clean that dusty filled room is as good as insanity for insanity is defined as doing the same things over and over again but expecting a different result. We cannot properly live obedient, pleasing lives for God, no matter how hard we try unless we look to Him to work within us.
So, what is the new covenant of Grace which we now completely depend upon?
The New Covenant
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts;(God working within us) and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. In that He says, “A new covenant, ” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. (Hebrews 8:10-13) is our new covenant of grace.
The devine exchange of the law to grace is the Cross, for without it there would be no grace, no righteousness, no sanctification, no redemption, no promises, no faith, no peace, no lovingkindness, and we would still be in our sins visiting temples offering our sacrifices based on our efforts ,our works our self justification, depending on our own obedience, there would not be a place of rest, we would not have this eternal Holy Spirit within us, and much more ,imagine what life would have been without the Cross?
Now, having the Old obsolete and the new DONE. Let us not forget we are under the NEW COVENANT OF GRACE.
Let it be known to you bretheren that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins, and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses(Old Covenant). (Acts 13:37-38)
Grace Alone,
Rein
These verses contrast the old covenant of law ("that first covenant") with the new covenant of grace ("a second"). The old covenant of law was good, but the new covenant of grace is far better. The law is ordained of God, but it can never bring what God desires people to experience.
The law is not designed to give people a righteous standing in God's sight (justification). "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ" (Galatians 2:16). Nor is the law intended for developing a godly walk (sanctification) in those who are justified through faith in Christ. "For the law made nothing perfect" (Hebrews 7:19). The proper use of the law is to lead people to the grace of God found in Jesus Christ. "The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ" (Galatians 3:24).
Grace is far better than law. If the law was sufficient, then God would never have sent His Son to die for the establishing of a new covenant. "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second." Since the law was lacking (regarding justification and sanctification), God's plan included the new covenant of grace. "Because finding fault with them, He says: 'Behold, the days are coming,' says the Lord, 'when I will make a new covenant'." The new covenant of grace has Jesus, the giver of life, as the Mediator. "He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant." This new covenant also has greater promises than the law: "a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
To be under law is like entering an enclosed space filled with dust, then only to remove the dust with a broom, not realising the dust only gets worse and eventually chocks the cleaner. But, being under grace is removing the same dust but using water to sprinkle the room which removes the dust completely effortlessly.
No matter how hard we try to remove the dust by our efforts, not realising that only water can completely clean that dusty filled room is as good as insanity for insanity is defined as doing the same things over and over again but expecting a different result. We cannot properly live obedient, pleasing lives for God, no matter how hard we try unless we look to Him to work within us.
So, what is the new covenant of Grace which we now completely depend upon?
The New Covenant
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts;(God working within us) and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. In that He says, “A new covenant, ” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. (Hebrews 8:10-13) is our new covenant of grace.
The devine exchange of the law to grace is the Cross, for without it there would be no grace, no righteousness, no sanctification, no redemption, no promises, no faith, no peace, no lovingkindness, and we would still be in our sins visiting temples offering our sacrifices based on our efforts ,our works our self justification, depending on our own obedience, there would not be a place of rest, we would not have this eternal Holy Spirit within us, and much more ,imagine what life would have been without the Cross?
Now, having the Old obsolete and the new DONE. Let us not forget we are under the NEW COVENANT OF GRACE.
Let it be known to you bretheren that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins, and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses(Old Covenant). (Acts 13:37-38)
Grace Alone,
Rein
Post #2
Laiyong wroteon June 17, 2009 at 11:34am
i was included in this note but only realised and read it after the Japanese Meetup Christian Fellowship today. Before the sharing of the message, i was amazed that when i did not co-ordinate w/Sis May the songs for worship, the songs chosen was in line w/the message. And now another confirmation when i read this note. Isn't this amazing? The LORD is so generous in his confirmations. You see, i wanna encourage you all, seek the LORD, fellowship with HIM, and as you learn to listen to HIM, obey and follow HIM, when you ask HIM for confirmations, HE'll be so generous! And most of all i want you to know, that the message tonight wasn't from me, but clearly what the LORD wants you all to know and be encouraged by it!
Praise the LORD! :)
Praise the LORD! :)