Tag: Grace

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Moses and Jesus Contrasted: A Biblical Perspective

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional2 Comments

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

John 1:17

Explanation

Here we have an interesting contrast.

We have two contrasting figures.

Moses gave the law. Jesus fulfilled the law.

Moses broke the law. Jesus kept the law on our behalf.

Paul tells us that the law had a specific purpose.

[22] But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. [23] But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. [24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. [25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. [26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:22-26

The law exposes our sin and helps us to understand our death sentence. 

Thankfully we do not need to stay subject to the law for salvation. Jesus kept the law and then took our penalty so that we can have life. Grace and truth, what Christ was full of, was given to us by Christ Himself.

[20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21

The law came from God through Moses. It exposed our sin. Jesus Christ came and kept the law, took our sin, and gave us His righteousness.

Application

We need to acknowledge these realities to find life in Jesus Christ. We acknowledge that we have broken God’s law. We acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and that we can only come to the Father through Him.

Response

  1. Have you accepted Christ, repenting of your sin and turning to Him by faith for salvation?
  2. Have you thanked Him lately for your salvation if you are saved?
  3. We are not saved so that we can keep breaking God’s law. God wants to change us by giving us His Spirit. Is there a sin you need to forsake?
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Week 13: Day 3- Deuteronomy 34:4

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.

(Deu 34:4)

Explanation:

As we have reiterated the past couple of days, Moses would not be able to enter the promised land.  Although some may see this as harsh, there several reasons why God’s dealings with Moses were  gracious.

God’s judgment was delayed.  God did not immediately cause Moses to die when he sinned against Him.  He still provided water for the people through the work of Moses.

God allowed Moses to see the promised land.  Even though He couldn’t go in he saw what God had promised.God assured Moses the people would enter the promised land.  Just because Moses didn’t go in didn’t mean the nation wouldn’t.  God kept His promises to Moses and to the people of Israel.

God provided leadership for the people through Joshua.  Joshua was a disciple of Moses. God had allowed Moses to groom a leader that He would use for the next generation.

God welcomed Moses in heaven after His death.  To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  Moses was justified by His faith in God and went to be with Him.  God is so gracious.

Application:

God is just and merciful.  He is both righteous and loving. These may seem to be paradoxical statements but they are true.  The best representation of this is on the cross.  He is so holy that He will not let sin go.  He punished His own Son for our sin.  Yet, He is so loving that Jesus took the punishment that we deserved.  We serve a gracious and loving God who is Holy and Just!

Response:

Take a few moments today to thank God for His grace to us!

Galatians Day 11- The problem with rules….

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment
medium_205467442Have you ever noticed how impossible it is to keep all the rules?  I sure have.  If the only rules that existed had to do with just how we use our words then I would be in TROUBLE!  If we only had one rule we would break it.  Just ask Adam and Eve.  
With that being said, so many people are trying to get right with God by keeping rules.  They think if I keep enough rules and don’t break too many others then maybe God will accept me.
Paul had something to say about this way of thinking in our reading in Galatians 3:10-14-

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

  • If you don’t keep every law all the time then you have broken God’s law and are under the curse.

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

  • Paul quotes the Old Testament to prove that God has always taught that those who are made right with Him are made right because of their faith, and that if you try to be right with God by the law then you’ll be judged by the law.

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Say it in a sentence: Jesus kept the law on our behalf and took the curse of breaking the law for us so that we can live under God’s grace through faith.  
Action Points:
  • Which plan are you on- faith or works?  Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way any of us will be accepted by God.  Have you asked Him to save you in faith?  If not, do it now!
  •  Do you ever think that God will accept you or reject you because of your performance?  Stop this thinking!  God accepts us because of Jesus alone.  Do right because you are accepted by faith, not to be accepted!
  • Take some time to thank God today for His 

Galatians Day 9- It’s All God

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

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If someone gave you a $100,000,000 home, ranch and estate that would be great right? With a gift like that though comes some responsibility. It takes a lot of money to maintain an estate that large. The person that had the means to give you that estate would have to also help you maintain it as well.

That is a poor illustration of what salvation is like. The most incredible and extravagant gift that we can be given is the gift of salvation. “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God!” We can’t earn earn our salvation on our own, nor could we keep it our own. He has to give us the power to please Him and glorify Him as well.

Paul began churches in Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. As a church planting missionary he had seen people in these cities come to faith in Christ, experience Holy Spirit lead life change in incredible ways. So when Paul gets to chapter 3 of the book of Galatians he begins to remind the Galatians about how they came to faith in Christ. He uses very strong language because the situation is so dire. They are believing things that change the gospel!

1    O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Do you not remember what you believed about the death of Jesus? Why would Jesus have to die if you could get right with God on your own?

2    This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?3    Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?4    Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

Paul calls them to answer this question- If you were Saved by faith, why do you think you have to continue to be saved and grow in God by works? You didn’t do anything to earn your salvation. Why do you think you must do something to keep your salvation?

5    He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Does God respond with good things to our faith or to our works? What is the answer? The hearing of faith!

So how do we apply this text?:

-We don’t just need God for salvation. We need Him for life!
When was the last time you believed that God will give you the victory over sin in your life? When was the last time you asked Him to help you fight sin and believed that he would?

-We need to be grateful for God’s grace, in spite of our sin, in response to our faith.
Thank God for His grace today.