Tag: Truth

sean foster jrazh5w7nia unsplash

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?
atul vinayak jkvwtbrxzdy unsplash

Your relationships need mercy and truth! Proverbs- Week 2- Day 2

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional2 Comments

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:  (4)  So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:3-4 

Explanation:

“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee…”

  • It’s almost like he’s pleading with his son to cling to mercy and truth.
  • Truth can get away easily.  The capacity of mankind to believe lies is substantial. 

“…bind them about thy neck…”

  • The imagery is of a necklace put around the neck.  It can be decorative, but is also cherished and kept close.  Binding them around your neck is a way to keep them close and cherished.

“..write them upon the table of thine heart”

  • To write something on a table is in those days meant to chisel into stone or wood.  This is something more permanent in nature than writing on paper today.  The idea is to make these virtues not only the external decoration of your life, but the internal conviction of your heart. 

“so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.”

  • These are the two most fundamental relationships in life that actively influence each other.  We have a vertical relationship with God and horizontal relationships with others. 
  • When it comes to both of those kinds of relationships we want favour.  This word for favour is also translated grace.  Since we are not perfect there will be times where we mess up with God and men.  If we deal in mercy and truth, and make that the external and internal characteristics of our life, both God and men will be likely to extend kindness and graciousness in times where we mess up.
  • When it comes to those relationships we want good understanding.  Thinking rightly and kindly about our circumstances with others is a hallmark of strong relationships.

So let us summarize these two verses:

When we make the internal conviction and external decoration of our life the virtues of mercy and truth it will produce strong relationships both vertically with God and horizontally with our fellow man.

Application:

4 Questions for application:

  • 1. How does truth produce favor and good understanding with God?  God knows our thoughts, behaviors and motives.  He cannot lie.  He hates a lying tongue.  He has given His Word, the ultimate source of truth to us.  You cannot be right with God apart from truth.
  • 2. How does truth produce favor and good understanding with man?  There may be instances where people would rather you lie to them, but as a way of life we all want those we deal with to be truthful and honest. 
  • 3. How does mercy produce favor and good understanding with God?  Our horizontal relationships with others impacts our vertical relationship with God.  Notice what the Bible says in 1 John 4:20 ,”If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” In the parable of the unmerciful servant Jesus teaches that those of us who have received mercy and forgiveness with God (vertical relationship) must extend mercy and forgiveness to those who trespass against us (horizontal relationships).  Forgiven people forgive. 
  • 4. How does mercy produce favor and good understanding with man?  At some point in most every long term relationship everyone involved will need forgiveness for that relationship to survive.  Forgiveness, by definition, cannot take place without mercy.  We must give and receive forgiveness for relationships to happen.  How can we expect mercy from others if we are not willing to give it ourselves?

Response:

  • Are you pursuing or neglecting truth in your relationship with God?
  • Are you pursuing or neglecting truth in your relationships with others?
  • Have you experienced the mercy and grace of God in your life?  If not please take a minute to read the post at the link- http://www.cantonbaptist.org/compass
  • Are you extending mercy and forgiveness to others?