While preparing a sermon this week, I was struck by the wonder of the Gospel. The Law written on tablets of stone could only condemn and revealed beyond doubt men are sinners deserving of God's judgment. One shortcoming of the Law was the people who needed to keep it wouldn't, nor could they, as it held forth the standard of God's righteousness. So according to God's grand design, He used the Law to lead sinners by the hand to Jesus Christ the Saviour who provided atonement with His shed blood. After three days He rose from the dead like He promised, proving He is able to grant forgiveness and eternal life for all who trust in Him.
The Law was unable to keep thieves from stealing and liars from lying, but Jesus came to change the hearts of people and make new creations through faith in Him. Even as Jesus was raised from the dead glorified, so tax collectors, harlots, and liars are raised changed to new life through faith in Jesus. Paul wrote to people who had been duped to thinking it was righteous to attempt to relate to God through Law after being born again in Galatians 6:14-16, "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God." Isn't it good news for sinners that Jesus cleanses and makes us new creations?
When He walked the earth, Jesus was surrounded by sinners--people who the religious people wrote off as wicked and beyond redemption. Yet Jesus called Levi (a tax collector) to be one of His apostles, and He also invited Himself over to the home of Zacchaeus for a meal. It was unthinkable to the religious rulers Jesus could be viewed as a righteous man for keeping such company! If He was righteous, surely He would not mix with people known for their greed, theft, and abuse of power. But Jesus came to this world as a doctor tending to the most ill patients so they might be saved. On a field of battle the idea is to tend to victims who can be saved, yet Jesus can save all who trust in Him. Jesus alone can justify us by faith and save sinners the Law could only condemn.
The transforming power of the Gospel is seen in greedy people changing into generous givers, thieves admitting they have stolen and restoring four-fold. Those who were demon possessed were suddenly in their right mind, people born blind had their sight miraculously restored, and harlots became chaste and devout in their devotion to God. The power of God through the Gospel is able to fundamentally change a person from within, the very thing the Law or all the willpower a person can muster could never do. Having been born again God begins to grow in us new desires for what pleases God and conviction of our sin we never noticed before. This is evidence of what God promised by grace, to write His laws on our regenerated hearts that go beyond what is written in stone.
The Law was unable to keep thieves from stealing and liars from lying, but Jesus came to change the hearts of people and make new creations through faith in Him. Even as Jesus was raised from the dead glorified, so tax collectors, harlots, and liars are raised changed to new life through faith in Jesus. Paul wrote to people who had been duped to thinking it was righteous to attempt to relate to God through Law after being born again in Galatians 6:14-16, "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God." Isn't it good news for sinners that Jesus cleanses and makes us new creations?
When He walked the earth, Jesus was surrounded by sinners--people who the religious people wrote off as wicked and beyond redemption. Yet Jesus called Levi (a tax collector) to be one of His apostles, and He also invited Himself over to the home of Zacchaeus for a meal. It was unthinkable to the religious rulers Jesus could be viewed as a righteous man for keeping such company! If He was righteous, surely He would not mix with people known for their greed, theft, and abuse of power. But Jesus came to this world as a doctor tending to the most ill patients so they might be saved. On a field of battle the idea is to tend to victims who can be saved, yet Jesus can save all who trust in Him. Jesus alone can justify us by faith and save sinners the Law could only condemn.
The transforming power of the Gospel is seen in greedy people changing into generous givers, thieves admitting they have stolen and restoring four-fold. Those who were demon possessed were suddenly in their right mind, people born blind had their sight miraculously restored, and harlots became chaste and devout in their devotion to God. The power of God through the Gospel is able to fundamentally change a person from within, the very thing the Law or all the willpower a person can muster could never do. Having been born again God begins to grow in us new desires for what pleases God and conviction of our sin we never noticed before. This is evidence of what God promised by grace, to write His laws on our regenerated hearts that go beyond what is written in stone.
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