The law is simply an expression of the nature of God, His holiness and moral perfections. The best efforts of man to live according to this standard are futile.
“What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one. Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” – Gal 3:21-25
Even in OT times the Jews were always saved through faith, not adherence to the Law. They kept the Law as an expression of obedience and fellowship with God. As we hopefully realize today it is not nor has it ever been possible for the blood of animals to take away sin.
“...because it is impossible for the blood of bull and goats to take away sins.” – Heb 10:4
Christ died for our sins
“Jehovah…laid on him the iniquity of us all.” – Isa. 53:16
“Christ died for our sins” - 1Cor 15:13
“...who His own self bore our sins in His own body” – 1Peter 2:24
“...layeth down his life for the sheep.” - Mark 10:45, John 10:11
Jesus has satisfied all the demands of the law against all people, even those who reject Him. The law is no longer in effect as a moral judge to condemn us. The Bible is very clear that Christ lifted the law from us all (including the unsaved). A person is no longer condemned for breaking the law.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matt 5:17 The Greek word translated “to fulfill in the Bible is “pleroo” which mean to fulfill in the context of completing something, or to finish.
“...having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” Col 2:14
“...by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations….” Eph 2:15
Christ did not destroy or abolish the Law; it still has its place in the world today. It is there to remind us all that we are and will always be sinners. We are forgiven though grace (nothing required from us), we are saved by faith (we are required to believe). We have never been nor will we ever be righteous or worthy of holiness (Jew or Gentile). We are as bad as and at times worse than the lost
Tolerance is an ugly word. God has not tolerated his children he has loved us all, always. Why do we as a church shy away from loving sinners as God loves us? Why do we choose not to accept things, but rather to put up with them (tolerance), when God scripturally is never tolerant, He has always shown us unconditional love and acceptance. We should not show tolerance for someone that is lost, because that just isn’t good enough. We should show love. We should not preach fear and judgment upon those who sin. We should preach about God’s acceptance for us even when we are stained by sin.
We are not commissioned to make the sinner stop sinning, after all we continue to sin ourselves and our sins are just as bad as anyone else’s. Sin ain’t gonna send nobody to hell. And loving and accepting sinful people in your life is not going to send you to hell. Jesus never spoke against the sinners in His ministry, He spoke against the church leaders who created rules and regulations that judged and condemned others for their sin. In them, faith was dead. Sounds eerily familiar to many messages you hear in church today, when pastors speak about, homosexuality, pornography, infidelity, premarital sex, masturbation, sodomy, cohabitation, and liberalism (HA HA). Although within the church, gossip, contempt, judgment, prejudice, intolerance, disobedience, lying, anger, vanity, lots and lots of vanity, and my personal favorite denominational prejudice go largely unnoticed. Scripturally, these violations are no better or worse than the previous.
“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” – James 2:10
Propitiation is turning away wrath by an offering. Our offering is Christ. He didn’t just die on the cross for our sins; He gave Himself up for God’s wrath. The death of Christ satisfies the justice of God that must be poured upon sin.
So trying to live a life without sin (emphasis on trying) is noble to say the least. However it doesn’t guarantee you a closer spot in the line to see God. We are all equally undeserving of His enduring love, but we receive it anyways. We are giving ourselves too much credit if we think otherwise. No one is holy enough to deserve the grand prize. God doesn’t believe in equal pay for equal work and he doesn’t grade his love for us on our desire to impress him with our lives. Unfortunately for all the saints who want more love or need more blessing for their Christ driven lives, they must remember…
“...Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’" - Luke 15:29-30
From God’s mouth to our brains.
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