What is this grace we hear so much about?
The
distance between the North Pole and the South Pole is 12,436 miles. If
you travel from the North Pole to the South Pole and keep traveling
eventually you will head north. If you travel from east to west you will
always be headed east forever. This is how the sacrifice of Jesus
Christ on the cross and God's grace works.
As it is written: As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. ~ Psalm 103:12
Under
the Old Covenant our sins were rolled forward from year to year. No
matter how conscientious you kept the Law, you always ended back where
you started. Under the New Covenant (the better covenant) our sins are
removed when we follow the teaching of Christ and seek first the Kingdom
of Heaven. The Law is written in our heart and we are no longer under
the death penalty.
Sins in the Old Testament were forgiven by God
based on genuine repentance, confession, and the prescribed system of animal sacrifices,
which served as a temporary covering for sin and a precursor to the
ultimate sacrifice of Christ. While animal blood could not permanently
take away sins, it provided atonement that was valid based on faith in
God's promises. In the New Testament, sins are forgiven
through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,
which established a new covenant. Forgiveness is received through
repentance, faith in Jesus as Savior, and confession, rather than
through the blood of animals. This forgiveness is a free gift of
grace.
After receiving the gift of grace in the New Testament, believers are saved from sin, adopted into God’s family, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a transformed life.
It initiates an ongoing process of spiritual growth, leading to good
works, the exercise of spiritual gifts, and a lifestyle of gratitude
rather than animal sacrifices and religious rituals.
Key aspects of life after receiving grace include:
- Transformation and Holiness: Grace is not just a free pass to sin, but a training force to live a godly life, overcoming sinful habits, and pursuing righteousness.
- Active Service and Gratitude: Because grace is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9), believers respond with gratitude, serving Christ and helping others through the spiritual gifts they have been given.
- Relationship and Access: Believers enjoy an intimate relationship with God, characterized by the assurance of forgiveness and direct access to God as a loving Father.
- Empowerment for Daily Life: The same grace that saves also sustains, strengthens, and equips believers to endure trials and perform good works.
- "Grace Upon Grace": The New Testament describes a life of continuous, overwhelming grace, where believers receive ongoing spiritual blessings and divine help.
In
essence, grace is the foundation that changes a person's identity and
empowers a new lifestyle of love and service, rather than a mere
transactional event performed by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement.
Jesus
is the great High Priest serving as the mediator between God and humanity who offered himself as
the ultimate sacrifice
. Hebrews 2:17 focuses on His mercy and faithfulness to make atonement for us. and Hebrews 4:14-16 declares Him as our sympathetic high priest. Is Keeping God's Law Legalism?
In the New Testament, God's law is primarily defined as
the moral law, which is fulfilled through love, as established by Jesus and his apostles.
While Christians are not under the Old Testament Mosaic covenant, the
moral principles—such as loving God and neighbors—remain binding and
reflect God's character.Law and grace go hand in hand.
Key Aspects of Law in the New Testament:
- The Law of Christ: Often summarized as loving God and loving one's neighbor, as taught in Galatians 6:2 and 1 Corinthians 9:21.
- Fulfilled, Not Abolished: Jesus came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17), focusing on the internal attitude rather than mere external actions.
- The Royal Law: James 2:8 refers to "Love your neighbor as yourself" as the royal law.
- Purpose: The law is seen as good, holy, and righteous (Romans 7:12), designed to guide righteous living rather than being a burden.
Key New Testament Law Concepts:
- The Law of Liberty: James 1:25 emphasizes the law as a source of freedom for the believer.
- The Law of the Spirit of Life: Romans 8:2 describes a new principle of life in Christ that frees believers from the law of sin and death.
- Moral Continuity: While ceremonial laws are fulfilled, the moral law remains central to reflecting God’s character and guiding behavior.
In
short, the New Testament shifts the focus from keeping the ritual law to earn
salvation to obeying the law through the empowerment of the Spirit,
fulfilling its purpose through love.
