New Covenant Victory
Why Grace Junkies sin less.
"It's not just the removal of one thing but the replacing with something infinitely more powerful and effective."
Romans 6V14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Romans 7:Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
1. The law has been cancelled
2. There is a regenerated new nature
3. The power of God flows in our veins through the Holy Spirit
1. The law has been cancelled.
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.(Or end of the law, that everyone who believes may be justified)
Galatians 2:19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ.
Colossians 3:13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross
Ok so here we have some language to describe how we relate to the law.
Christ is the end of the law to all who believe.
I died to the law.
God cancelled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.
I am so happy that the apostle met together to ebate and decide this matter, and we have their conclusion recorded in the boble to read.
Chapter 15V1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question... 5But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses." 6The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will." 12And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me. 19Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. 27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell." 30So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.
So it's totally and unquestionably clear that the law is no longer alive to us, has ended and the demands are over.
That's great but why is that such good news? What's the benefit to me?
Simply put, trying to live under the law is a curse.
Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them."
What is the curse of the law. The law was not designed to be obeyed. It was released in the earth to crush, to condemn, to create a consciousness of sin and highlight the need for a saviour.
Ok before you shoot me here lets substantiate this biblically.
Galatians 3V23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith
Law was replaced by faith. The law held us captive, imprisoned us until the coming faith could be revealed. It was our guardian until faith would be revealed through Christ. Christ came, faith was possible, and results in justification. Now there is faith there is no longer a guardian. Now we are sons, by faith. This settles that the law was until Jesus.
So the law was not for obedience, by for guidance to a greater reality. It was to highlight sin to stir up sin. To create sin and define sin.
It's purpose was to show us that we are not ok. It was to sober us into the reality that we cannot keep the rules. It was specifically to show that we have no strength to obey all the rules, leaving us hopeless and dependant on a source of holiness and right standing with God that would be outside of our selves. The law paved the way for the good news. The good news would not be good news without the law highlighting our sin, and then Jesus cancelling the law against us.
Let's study a few scriptures that show the purpose and nature of the law. Remember trying to be right with God through the law is a curse.
The law does not give life but death.
2 Corinthians 3:6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life
The law does not save us or produce righteousness, nor can it.
Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law
2 Cor 3:9 the law is a ministry of condemnation
9For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
the law brings an awareness of the wrath of God,
Through the law we become conscious of sin
Romans 3:20:
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
the law's to stir up sin, to provoke sin and arouse sin in you,
Romans 7:5:
For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.
The old testament document of the law is the most used manuscript, and its main user is the devil. How can I say that. What is the devil called? The accuser of the brethren. How does he accuse? He attacks our failings. How does he define our failings?
Ok so let's pull them all out from these scriptures
Ministry of death
To crush you
Guardian/schoolmaster
Consciousness of sin
Awareness of wrath
Condemnation
Unbearable yolk
To trouble you
Sinful passions aroused by law
This is what makes the opening scriptures such good news for the believer.
Romans 10:4:
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.(Or end of the law, that everyone who believes may be justified)
Galatians 2:19
19For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ.
Colossians 3:13-14
13And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross
When we come to Jesus the law has worked, the faithful guardian has done his job. We are broken crushed and in realisation that we are not ok. We cry our for forgiveness for our sins, and accept the only way to be right with God. We believe that Jesus is the saviour and the only way to get right standing with God. We believe and receive faith, and righteousness as a gift to those who believe.
Can you se the curse of the law? Trying to keep that relationship with God through the law always leads to condemnation and a feeling of being crushed. Unworthiness is the land of the law. Guilt is the economy of the law. Fear of judgement and a perception of an angry God is the climate of the law. In this state...wait for it. You sin more!
It's not just the removal of one thing but the replacing of an infinitely more powerful and effective way.
The removal of the law as the means of relating to God introduces the new way, the new covenant.
Blessing of faith
Ministry of death
Ministry of life
To crush you
To build you up
Guardian/schoolmaster
Graduation to faith
Consciousness of sin
(self conscious)
Righteousness conscious
Awareness of wrath
Awareness of love and acceptance
Condemnation
No condemation
Unbearable yolk
Yolk light and easy
To trouble you
For joy and peace
Sinful passions aroused by law
Rom 6:14
14For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Being free from the law, according to this scripture means sin will not dominate us. Being under law strengthens sin. Being under grace breaks the dominion of sin. So more law, more sin. More grace, less sin. So where there is a sin problem, the solution is more and more ...grace.
We will see how important this becomes when we look at the next two reasons that grace junkies sin less and not only sin less but be more effective!
Romans 7:6
4Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
The removal of the law allows and positions us to bear fruit to God.
1. The law has been cancelled
2. There is a regenerated new nature
3. The power of God flows in our veins
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