Devotional Space for Grace | Enjoy freedom in the New Covenant | 11.24

[Jim]

LOST and FOUND ​

Enjoy freedom in the New Covenant (a) ​

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Christ defines your faith; he is your freedom from anything from which
the law could never free you! Find your firm footing in this freedom.
Do not let religion trip you up again and harness you to a system of rules and obligations!

Galatian 5:1, Mirror Bible ​

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Are there some Christians who are not in the new covenant - perhaps just indirect beneficiaries - as taught by Jehovah’s Witnesses? They, along with many other professed Christians, attempt to live under a system of strict religious rules and works to gain God’s approval and salvation – often feeling superior to those believing in grace. They should remember that Jehovah first redeemed Israel, saving them from Egyptian captivity, before giving them the Law. Likewise, most of the epistles in the NT first explain the salvation already received by grace as the root, before laying out Spirit empowered obedience as the fruit. Simply stated, all saved Christians are in the new covenant of Grace.

By still living under the authority of man-made religions many place themselves on Mount Sinai (law) instead of Mount Zion (grace) (Heb 12:18-24). It is impossible to climb the two opposing mountains at the same time! These contrasting covenants of law and grace cannot be integrated. Try to accommodate both in your life and trouble ensues. Recall that Ishmael, the persecutor of Isaac, had to be driven out of the home, just as the persecutors of Christians, the Judaizers, were not allowed free rein to undermine grace and freedom among true Christians (Gal 2:4-5).


Christians today take their uncompromising stand on Christ alone, by faith alone, even when harassed and shunned by former friends and relatives (Gal 2:4-5; 4:24-31). We have been freed from captivity to enjoy the Father and Son. Find your firm footing in this freedom.

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The old is a WHAT (laws); the new is a WHO (Jesus) ​

 

[Shelley]

The freedom to read scripture without an agenda is what I like most now. I dont even have to have a question answered in doing so.