One of the biggest problems in the church today is mixing the Old Testament of law and the New Testament of grace. Some believe you are justified by grace alone through faith alone, while others believe you must keep the law to be justified. Who is right and does it really matter if we believe differently?
While most Christians have no problem with agreeing that they have been saved by grace, they are nevertheless still subjecting themselves to the law. They are depending on their obedience to the law to earn God’s blessing. When they do well, in their own estimation, they expect to be blessed. When they fail or fall short, they expect to be punished and suffer shame and guilt. Such a system sounds very similar to the Old Testament.
God wants us to be blessed on account of what His Son Jesus did for us, not what we do for Him. Those trying to be justified by their law keeping, still have an Old Testament mentality even though they profess they are saved by grace. They have reverted to the Old Testament that was based on works and obedience to the law rather than trusting in the New Testament that is based on grace through faith, not by works so that no one can boast.
The Christians who truly benefit the most from understanding God’s grace are those who have come to the end of themselves, to the end of their own efforts to live the Christian life. They have tried over and over again until they have finally given up trying and admitted they cannot meet the law’s unyielding standard of perfection.
It’s at that time they realize all of God’s standards and Jesus’ teachings were meant to be applied to the new life (His Life) He puts within all born again believers at salvation. Jesus lives the Christian life through His body of believers. That is the glorious mystery of our faith. Christ lives in us, the hope of glory.
Living under both the Old Testament and the New Testament is problematic. It will cause you to live in confusion, and God is not the author of confusion. God has made the Old Testament obsolete (ready to be put aside). Yes, we do learn from the Old Testament but we live by the New Testament. We are now active participants in the divine nature and instruments of His righteousness. Thank you, Jesus.
(see Hebrews 8:13, II Peter 1:4, Romans 6:13)
LIFE LESSON: You cannot live under both testaments. It is time to stop the mixture and confusion. Paul clearly states “You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.” (Galatians 5:4) Well, there it is! You choose! You decide how you will live…by law or grace? As for me and my house, we choose to live by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone.
ARE YOU LIVING UNDER BOTH TESTAMENTS…?
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Growing in His Grace