1009. Accepted Freely as Righteous Children vs Working Righteousness (Growing in Grace)
Paul offered some gems in the opening segment in his letter to the Ephesians, explaining that as adopted children, God *made us* accepted in the beloved and brought redemption through the blood of Jesus, according to the *riches* of His grace.
And let's not forget this reminder in Titus chapter 3: "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 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, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
However, if we don't skim past it, we'll notice a bit of a clash with a recorded statement as quoted from the Apostle Peter in Acts chapter 10. The point is ... the Jewish apostles were human—as we are—and nobody knows everything, not even close. They were also growing in their understanding of the grace of the gospel, and we should take it into account as we read the writings in the New Testament.
--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
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19:39
1008. Was Rahab Justified by Works and Not by Faith Only?
There was a significant lack of knowledge in the early years of the church. The cross and resurrection changed everything, resulting in the elimination of a covenant that had been in place for centuries. Consider if a Jewish person who believed in Jesus after the cross ... but still also believed the law of Moses was still to be applied for all Jewish people ... just exactly what did that mean for them? How did the blood of Jesus fit into that compared with the continued attempts to be doers of that old word? And what did it mean for Gentiles who never had the law?
When encouraging them to work at fulfilling that law, faith alone would be considered insufficient for salvation and justification. Righteousness would continue to be pursued by works plus faith. It formed a mindset that people such as Abraham and Rahab were not justified by believing, but by works being added in order to make faith perfect. How is this much different from the legalistic mumbo jumbo many of us have heard in works-based churches for so long? Let's take a closer look at the Rahab factor in the context of being justified.
--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
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21:00
1007. "Hey Jesus, What Shall I 'Do' to Inherit Eternal Life?"
A lawyer was intending to challenge Jesus publicly to test Him with a bit of a trick question: "What Shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Keeping in mind that the Mosaic law was still being applied to Jewish people who were under it before the cross, Jesus referred him to that law for the answer to his question. In short, Jesus said in order to find the life he was seeking, all he would need is to do what the law says. That was not the good news of the gospel. It sounds simple but Jesus had a way of showing His audience how difficult it is to accomplish such a monumental task.
In a new and better covenant, the way to life isn't found in what one does. Faith is not made alive by works ... and faith is not made perfect by works. Justification, salvation, forgiveness, and righteousness are gifted by God—not by a written word of the letter—but through the living Word ... Jesus Christ.
--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
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19:34
1006. Choose Life (It's Found in Jesus, Not Works and Law)
The law that came to the Jewish people through Moses was considered to be a word that they believed was able to save their souls and result in attaining righteousness. The only requirement was for them to do it—all of it. After the cross, even Jews who came to believe in Jesus lacked an understanding about a new and better covenant ... as they continued to pursue a relationship with that law of works.
The difference in gaining life is found in Christ by faith. Under the law in Deuteronomy 30, "The word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it." It is referencing the word of the law. Paul quoted this reference in Romans 10 but brought a needed revealing of the gospel ... "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."
The word of law that demands doing vs. the word of faith that results in justification by believing ... the difference is as far as the east is from the west.
--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
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19:17
1005. Let's Talk About Love
It is difficult to give to others what we do not have ... or do not understand that we have within our possession. This is true when it comes to the love of God. Even many believers in Christ have doubts about God's love for them. The Bible defines or identifies God as One who *is* love. The world is filled with people who want to know what love is through personal experience. It begins with God.
Love can be considered the most powerful dynamic as it relates to God and His creation. Comprehending the love of Christ surpasses knowledge but brings strength to our inner being by His Spirit. Knowing this love is a revolutionary game-changer, not only inwardly, but in our response towards others—including the good, the bad, and everything in between.
--Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
Growing in Grace is a weekly program featuring informal conversation to help with growth in understanding the gospel, and to live in the freedom that comes through Jesus Christ.
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