The Law cannot help you!

The Law cannot help you!
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May 02, 2018
in Daily Devotional
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A common problem in the church is that many Christians attempt to relate to God under Old Covenant principles while we’re living under a new covenant (way of relating to God). There is a big difference between the Old and New Covenants and it’s not a white page in your Bible which says, “The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  Jesus changed everything!
 
“7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one or an attempt to institute another one [the new covenant]. 8 However, God finds fault with them [showing its inadequacy] when He says, “Behold, the days will come, says the Lord, When I will make and ratify a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah”
Hebrews 8:7-8 Amplified Bible (AMP)
 
There are many scripture verses that show us that the New Covenant replaces the Old. You would think that the names “Old” and “New” would be enough to give it away, and yet so many Christians struggle with this concept and try their best to serve God according to the Law of the Old Covenant. But this isn’t a new problem – the early church also struggled with this concept.
 
We easily think that the early church was perfect while it was a baby church, and they had struggles just like the church does, today. One of the struggles of the early church was that many of them mistakenly believed that Christianity was a continuation of the Jewish faith and so they believed in Jesus as the Messiah and continued to follow the Law in relating to God. A mistake easily made if you do not understand that Jesus came to fulfil the Law (like we saw yesterday) and institute a New way of relating to God. Many people in the early church were coming out of Judaism (the Jewish faith) and Jesus was a Jew, so it makes sense that many would still hold onto the Jewish ways and practices.
 
In Acts Chapter 15, Paul arrives in Jerusalem and is welcomed by the church and its leaders. Then, a group of believers within the church starts insisting that “we must continue the custom of circumcision and require that the people keep the Law of Moses.” (Acts 15:5) In response to this, the leadership (apostles and elders) get together and have a meeting to discuss the matter further (Acts 15:6) – this was a lengthy debate (Acts 15:7). This meeting in Acts Chapter 15 shows us that the early church wasn’t perfect, and was still trying to find their feet in coming to an understanding of living in the New Covenant.
 
“10 So why on earth would you now limit God’s grace by placing a yoke of religious duties on the shoulders of the believers that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?”
Acts 15:10 The Passion Translation (TPT)
 
The leadership meeting, fortunately, came to the correct conclusion: The Law is a yoke of religious burden which we are unable to bear, and when we teach the Law and adherence to it for a relationship with God we are limiting God’s grace and putting an unbearable burden on the people. The Law cannot help anyone.
 
“Don’t you believe that we are introduced to eternal life through the grace of our Lord Jesus—the same grace that has brought these people new life?”
Acts 15:11 The Passion Translation (TPT)
 
We were introduced to eternal life and salvation through grace, not the Law. We cannot have a relationship with God, nor can we experience salvation by living under the Law. You cannot be pro-Jesus and pro-Law at the same time – it’s either your effort to try and be right (Law) or His finished work that makes you right (grace) (Romans 11:6).
 
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
Romans 10:4 King James Version
Much love,
I will be ministering at FaithHill Church in Johannesburg this coming weekend! If you’re in the area, please join us for an enriching time in God’s presence as we dig into His Word. 

Saturday, 5 May – Healing service – 6 pm at FaithHill Fourways: Eagles Nest Lodge and Conference Centre, 373 Leslie Road, Fourways, Johannesburg

Sunday, 6 May – Worship services – 8:30 am and 10:15 am at FaithHill Fourways: Eagles Nest Lodge and Conference Centre, 373 Leslie Road, Fourways, Johannesburg

Sunday, 6 May – Worship service – 18:00 at FaithHill Braamfontein: Bannister Hotel Bassment, 9 De Beer Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg

For more information on these meetings please contact FaithHill Church.
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