By the Grace of God

Yesterday, I was able to throw my two cents into a lively discussion about faith. Some folks were wondering why Christians say that they believe the whole Bible, but in some respects ignore some of the rules that God put forth in the Old Testament.

It's true. We no longer stone people for sin. Some of us don't follow the dietary laws. We don't offer up animal sacrifices. We can wear whichever fabrics we choose. There's a lot of things that were put down in the law that God gave the Israelites that we don't follow today.

Are we being hypocritical?

No.

Jesus Christ is the reason why the law no longer applies. His sacrifice on the cross ended the need for any more animal sacrifices to absolve sin. His death and resurrection instituted grace in place of rigorous rules. Because of Jesus, we don't have to worry about a laundry list of laws. Through His love, we experience an inward change and are blessed with the Father's forgiveness.

True, there are some things addressed within the law that still apply under grace. Sin is still sin in God's eyes. Yet, if we come before Him repentant and ask for forgiveness, we receive His grace and are made right with Him again.

It's so amazing what Jesus accomplished for us!

Man has a way of getting caught up in rules. We focus on what we should or shouldn't do, we judge people by what we consider to be right or wrong. But under grace, all God is looking at is our hearts. He's looking to see a love for Him and a desire to please Him.

Our Father knows that when our heart is in the right place, our actions will follow. When we desire to please Him, anything we do against Him causes us remorse and we will work to make things right.

Today, give God thanks for the grace that He has shown you. Praise your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who freed you from the curse of the law. And show someone else that same amazing grace that was shown to you.

Verse of the Day: So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, "It is through obeying the law that a person has life." But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. Galatians 3:11-13