by God's Little Boy
© MakeshiftDarkroom.com 2013
Posted 5/7/13

1. Did you know that the Law was given to the flesh of man?

Pause and think about that...

It was.

The law was something that was given for the flesh to do. It was given to man to do in and of himself. The law was given so that the flesh could offer its best efforts toward satisfying the just requirements of God. The law was given after man had fallen into utter depravity and therefore could not have been given in order that man might have success fulfilling it. God set man under the Law for centuries to give men a good belly full of their own pathetic efforts and utter failures. The Law was given to cure man once and for all of the notion that he could offer anything to God, independent of God. It was given to show man of his great need for Christ who is the fulfillment of the law and the end of the law, for righteousness, to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:4) It is astonishing that after nineteen centuries of new covenant dispensation that much of the church still persists in keeping old man "Law" on life support! But then again, when we understand that the human heart must be illuminated with the revelation of grace I guess it is really not so astonishing after all.

2. The law was given to Israel

The law was not given to the church. It was given specifically to Israel in a specific dispensation and for a specific purpose. It was not given to the church, but the church, instead, was given a better covenant. The law remains intact and stands alone only to serve the church as a school master, but it is not given to the church as a means to reaching God or satisfying his justice.

3. God does not give us grace to keep the Law

He just gives us grace.

Another way of saying this to clarify: God does not give us grace to observe the law.

God no more gives us grace to specifically keep the law than he gives us grace to break it. (Romans 6:1-2) God gives us grace in light of the fact that the law is fulfilled in us. (Romans 8:4) It is very important to understand this. We are not given grace to observe a legal code as a means of relating to God. We are given grace in the fellowship with the personhood of Christ. Grace and law do not work synergistically with one another - they are two completely different systems.

"And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." (Romans 11:6)

We receive grace as we behold Christ - without observing the Law, to do it. We do not continually return to the law; one good look is all we need! Christianity is not in the observance of a code (the deadness of the letter) but in a relationship with a person, through a Spirit filled life. God never desired his people to relate to him at Mount Sinai. If that is where you want to meet God go ahead and have at it; knock yourself out, but you can count me out! I want nothing to do with Sinai! I will not draw near to that forbidden mountain. Approaching God at Sinai will only drive you further away from God. At Sinai, the people stood afar off for fear, and no living thing that touched even the border of that mountain could live.

"And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die." (Exodus 20:18-19)

Give me Zion! For, in Christ, we are not come unto Sinai, but unto Zion! Not unto that which kills, but unto that which gives life.

"For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." (Hebrews 12:18-24)

We don't change the law or deny its just and perfect standard. We leave the perfect holy standard in its established and ordained place where it properly serves us as God intended. We let it show us how sinful we are and reveal to us our great need for grace in the person of Jesus.

Law and Grace

Under the law, you must do it!

Under Grace, God has done it and will do it in you.

Under the law, you must do all of it! Always!

Under Grace, "It is finished!"

Under the law, it is: "do this and live"

Under Grace, It is: look and live.

Under the law, there is continual obligation!

Under Grace, there is a rest for the people of God.

Under the law, your identity is in your performance.

Under Grace, your identity is in Christ.

Under the law, we must dance to the tune!

Under Grace, we dance before the arc of his presence.

Under the law, we measure one another.

Under Grace, we see Jesus and know no man after the flesh.

Under the law, the letter killeth.

Under Grace, The Spirit gives life.

Under the law, it is: this way or else!

Under Grace, it is: a new and living way.

Under the law, is demanded perfection in every point.

Under Grace, we are perfected forever by one offering.

Under the law, is guilt and condemnation.

Under Grace, There is now "No Condemnation!"

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