BOOK C
Lesson Four
THE TIMES OF LAW AND GRACE
The Vital Necessity of Grace
In our terms mankind depends upon the good will and grace of God for everything. In the Lord 's terms he requires and true heart to secure for Himself a good receptacle for the housing of His Holy Spirit in a world where men as a whole are not right with God. We began with grace and it will be carried on by grace and it will end with the grace of God. Our part is to put our faith in what God has done. But not to , as it were , attain to righteousness by the works of the law. The "law principle" that is. The principle of having to observe outward acts in order to please God when our hearts have no need to be involved. No in the New Testament that Jesus brought us, it is the heart that is the all important item. The heart of the man.
Romans 3:21 But
now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed,
being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the
righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and
on all who believe. For there is no difference;
Our righteousness now comes through faith in what God has
provided and not through that which we ourselves can provide for
Him. He worked His own righteousness for us to have as we
ourselves were not able to do this adequately. So God did it for
us. Now it is up to us merely to accept it and keep it.
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Fulfilling the Law Requirements Through Grace
Romans
8:1 ¶ There is therefore now no
condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk
according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me
free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the
flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in
us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the
Spirit.
GRACE FIRST
Titus 2:11 For the
grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
Grace teaches us and not the law requirement itself. It is
through grace that we avoid the sins of this world and the
torment and bondage that is caused by sin. Not by force. So first
the grace and salivation and then the righteousness. First the
gift and then our hearts get right to do what is right.
Romans 5:15 But not as
the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence
of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by
grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto
many.
It is a FREE GIFT, not something worked for. something accepted.
Some thing received. Something given and something received. It
is not something attained to. It is available to All.
GRACE TEACHES
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, Grace does not leave people in a situation where it does not lead them somewhere. It leads people. Leads them into godliness. God designed grace to be given freely but through that we want to put things right and to sin no more. Because we have been forgiven we see ourselves as saints and not sinners. If we want we can carry on life now as a saint and not as a sinner.
The old has passed away and the new has come. Seeing Yourself As Good This is actually what you are. Not making it up. Once redeemed you are a child of God. So then you might fail and stumble around a bit but you are still a child of God. Can be a good child of God or a not so good one, but still a child of God the Most High. Made so by the gift of Jesus.
John 8:35 "And a
slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides
forever This is your security , your certainty. your on
the inside looking out and not on the outside looking in any
more. You own part of this new kingdom and are partly responsible
for it. It is yours. Your Father in heaven has given it to you.
Luke 12:32 "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. God has pleasure in given us His kingdom. He is not looking to get rid of us. He is giving us His kingdom. He is not trying to catch us out. In the Old Testament it seems that He is trying to catch people out, but He isn't. But it seems like He is by the very laws that are given and there subsequent rewards. Their judgements. It would appear that God is trying to catch people out and this is one of the down sides of having a law. God did not want to stay like that but wanted people to worship Him in spirit and truth.
Seeing yourself as good and not as bad helps tremendously in helping you have a season for doing what is good and right in your life. When you see yourself as bad and wrong then nothing gives you hope to go right.
THE POSITION OF SONSHIP
This position of sonship is very important because only then can we apporpriate the necessities of life. Overcoming the things of this world through faith in God. Faith that He has prepared the way for us. That He loves and cares for us. That , no matter what, He will.......
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you".
Even if you sin....even if you fail....even if you are not happy....have no peace....are in torment once more....He is still there and does not through you out. Vital to believe this. With this arming you, you can carry on the fight of faith forever and never loose. You will overcome becasue the only thing that will stop you is you giving up.
1 John 5:4 ...For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world——our faith.
Not our law abiding faithfulness.
BOOK C
Lesson Four
THE TIMES OF LAW AND GRACE
Questions
