“Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." (Exodus 19:7-8)
Man centered religion is based on Law and always focuses on what we have to "do”. The gospel of Grace, however, is focused on God and what he “has done”. When men get caught up in Law based religions (and ALL religions are Law based) they enthusiastically say as did Israel “all that the LORD has spoken we will do”. Of course they don’t and reap the consequences….death.
"You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them" (Leviticus 18:5)
In other words Christianity, as all other religions, tries to live by promises MAN makes “TO GOD”. That is the Old Covenant which fails to save mankind.
Those who understand the Grace of God in saving mankind live by promises GOD makes “TO MAN”. That is the New Covenant first revealed to Israel by Jeremiah where God changes their minds, saves them, and makes them new.
"I will make a new covenant…I will put My law in their minds" (Jeremiah 31:31, 33).
Paul revealed this would also happen for all mankind in due time.
“For by Grace are you saved…It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men…” (Ephesians 2:8; 1 Timothy 4:-9-10)
This glorious gospel is almost lost to Christianity it seems to me. We are all about religion…what we have “to do”…rather than about the good news…what God “has done” in Christ Jesus for ALL.
Man centered religion is based on Law and always focuses on what we have to "do”. The gospel of Grace, however, is focused on God and what he “has done”. When men get caught up in Law based religions (and ALL religions are Law based) they enthusiastically say as did Israel “all that the LORD has spoken we will do”. Of course they don’t and reap the consequences….death.
"You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them" (Leviticus 18:5)
In other words Christianity, as all other religions, tries to live by promises MAN makes “TO GOD”. That is the Old Covenant which fails to save mankind.
Those who understand the Grace of God in saving mankind live by promises GOD makes “TO MAN”. That is the New Covenant first revealed to Israel by Jeremiah where God changes their minds, saves them, and makes them new.
"I will make a new covenant…I will put My law in their minds" (Jeremiah 31:31, 33).
Paul revealed this would also happen for all mankind in due time.
“For by Grace are you saved…It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men…” (Ephesians 2:8; 1 Timothy 4:-9-10)
This glorious gospel is almost lost to Christianity it seems to me. We are all about religion…what we have “to do”…rather than about the good news…what God “has done” in Christ Jesus for ALL.