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Law, Grace, and Truth

Henry Omotayo

John 1:16-17

Message No. 0733 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca


Have you ever imagined a society without laws? Yeah, it would be a disaster, wouldn’t it? But why? God created us in His own image and put in us the ability to live together without friction. Why then do we have so much crime in our societies? Why can’t we just live together peacefully, everyone doing his or her own things, no one stepping on other people’s toes, and so on? Don’t you wish that we can all just be one family, united, rejoicing with one another, advancing the society, moving forward? I certainly wish, but if experience has taught us anything, it is that such a society is impossible until Christ comes back to reign.


The law was created because there is no agreement in behavior. It was put in place to enforce order. As the Bible says, the law was created, not for the obedient, but for the offender (1 Timothy 1:9-10). The law ensures that we can live together in a regulated society, and those who break the law are punished. In the Law of Moses, penalties are stipulated for offenders. Depending on the severity of the offence, the punishment could be mild or as serious as death. Because of the laws in our societies, you and I can expect some civil behavior from our neighbors. We can expect that the law enforcement agents will deal with those who break the law.


However, as good as the law may look, it is deficient in many ways. The law can show us that we have offended. It can show us that we are inadequate in certain areas. It can show us our failures, but it cannot deliver us. In the days of the Law of Moses, the Law showed how sinful people were, but it could not deliver people from their sins. This is the reason people committed the same offences over and over again and received repeated punishments for the same type of offence. No, the law was not perfect, hence the declaration in John chapter 1 verses 16 and 17:


And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.


As soon as Israel was delivered out of slavery in Egypt, friction among God’s chosen became apparent, and the idea of a utopian society where everything ran smoothly with people having the same mind disappeared.  God instituted the Law, but offences continued. The Law could not regenerate the mind. It could not heal the heart. It could not bring people in conformity with the Will of God. So, God decided that He would do something more permanent. In Jeremiah 31:31-33, the prophet declared:


"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 minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.


There’s only one way to obey the commandments of the Lord. It’s not by the keeping of the Law, that’s why the Pharisee who boasted of paying his tithes and fasting twice a week went home condemned while the tax collector who broke down and asked for God’s mercy went home justified (Luke 18:9-14). The only way to obey God’s commandments is by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Christ is the fulfilment of the Law. He paid the price for our sins and inadequacies. His sacrifice is total and complete, as long as we live in Him.


Many people make the mistake of thinking that their morality and adherence to doing good works will take them to Heaven. No, they won’t. Salvation is not by keeping the Law. It’s about living in the grace that Christ has delivered by reconciling us to God and putting His Laws in our hearts. With the Heart of Christ in ours, we are warned at the potential of sin, so we can avoid offending God. With the Truth of Christ in us, we are saved, we are redeemed, we are delivered from the curse of the Law. If you are yet to experience freedom from sin and offences, what are you waiting for? In Acts 4:12, the Bible says there is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. I pray that you will consider this offer and surrender your life to Christ today.


PLEASE ACT NOW:

If you are yet to give your life to Christ, you do not have a covenant with God and His promises do not apply to you. To come under these promises, please surrender your life to Christ today, by praying this prayer:

Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!

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