October 18
Jer 31:27-32:44 | PS 88:1-18 | Prov 25:20-22 | 1 Tim 3:1-16
It's difficult to understand, but most people prefer works as a means to compare and measure up, to the freedom of grace, which is all about what Jesus has done for us, the worthless beneficiaries of His grace. With grace it really comes down to His worth rather than our own inherent worth. If our standing with God depended on our works, these are some of the questions we would have: "Am I good enough?", "How good do I have to be?", "How many good works does it take to override a bad work?", "Even when I do good works, sometimes my motives are not what they should be. Does that make a difference?", "How many people are deemed good, and what is that benchmark that I have to reach?" The works based system comes from the Mosaic covenant which was conditional. God gave the Jewish people 613 laws. We read in Deuteronomy 28:1, "...if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will...". This line is followed by a multitude of blessings for obedience. In 28:15, we read, "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:". Following this is a list of curses which all transpired due to disobedience. The Jewish people weren't able to uphold the law. Gentiles were never given this covenant. So, why do so many denominations in the Christian faith, and those in the congregation keep bringing it back to works, The Gentiles have never been brought in by works. Why does religion crave the inferior system of works than the superior system of grace?
Christians are under the New Covenant, which is an unconditional covenant based on grace, not works. We read in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." This beautiful covenant was ratified by our Mediator, Jesus Christ, when He died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. See this covenant is not based on what we do, but on what He did. That is why this covenant is perfect, because it depends on His perfect sacrifice. This New Covenant was predicted in the Old Testament, as we read in Jeremiah 31:31-33, "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 - not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Ezekiel clarifies this New Covenant further in Ezekiel 36:26-27, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."
Predicted in the Old Testament, but fulfilled in the New Testament, as we read in Matthew 26:28, as Jesus said, "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Gentiles were brought into the blessings of the New Covenant. Many Jewish people were also brought in as well, especially in the early years after Jesus' ascension. The New Covenant was originally given as a promise to Israel, and this will indeed come to fruition after the Great Tribulation in the Millennial Kingdom. We read in Hebrews 7:22, that the New Covenant is a "better covenant" than the Old Covenant. We read in Hebrews 8:22, that our Mediator, Jesus Christ, brought in a better covenant, "established on better promises." So, why would anyone want to go from what is better to what is worse. Why would anyone want to move from grace to works. Grace cannot be added to. It can never be a little works and a little grace. For once you add the word, "and", to grace, it is no longer grace. May we praise God, for His beautiful gift of mercy and grace. May we reach out to the unsaved world with God's message of grace. Once it is understood, the bondage of sin and works is broken, and peace and freedom, and most importantly, salvation, is the result.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: