Grace and Law...Reality or Illusion?
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth (aletheia) came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17)
The New Testament was written in Greek. I have read that in ancient Greek culture the Greek word aletheia was synonymous for “reality” as the opposite of “illusion”.
So, Moses received the Law, which had the illusion of providing a way for men to become righteous before God. But of course, it was only an illusion for mankind is not able to keep it, because…
“…it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God…” (Romans 3:10-11)
Most of what is taught among Christianity and all that is taught in other religions of the world is the “illusion” that we can do stuff to please God and therefore become "righteous" by those good works. That broad and proverbial religious road leads to destruction for…
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” and “…the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 3:23; 6:23)
The Law of Moses brings death to all who try to keep it and religious people who claim to succeed live in the “illusion” of self-righteousness. The "truth" (aletheia-reality) is that only by the grace of God will anyone become righteous, and that will occur for all when changed from flesh to spirit at the resurrection. This “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”.
This unmerited favor is freely given to sinners because the "truth" (reality) is that the written law kills people but the “Spirit gives life” to those same people at their resurrection by the "grace" of God. The Spirit will indeed grant life to dead sinners, abundant and everlasting. YEA Jesus! We are to proclaim that truth as our message…
“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…for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:6; Romans 6:23)
The New Testament was written in Greek. I have read that in ancient Greek culture the Greek word aletheia was synonymous for “reality” as the opposite of “illusion”.
So, Moses received the Law, which had the illusion of providing a way for men to become righteous before God. But of course, it was only an illusion for mankind is not able to keep it, because…
“…it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God…” (Romans 3:10-11)
Most of what is taught among Christianity and all that is taught in other religions of the world is the “illusion” that we can do stuff to please God and therefore become "righteous" by those good works. That broad and proverbial religious road leads to destruction for…
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” and “…the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 3:23; 6:23)
The Law of Moses brings death to all who try to keep it and religious people who claim to succeed live in the “illusion” of self-righteousness. The "truth" (aletheia-reality) is that only by the grace of God will anyone become righteous, and that will occur for all when changed from flesh to spirit at the resurrection. This “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”.
This unmerited favor is freely given to sinners because the "truth" (reality) is that the written law kills people but the “Spirit gives life” to those same people at their resurrection by the "grace" of God. The Spirit will indeed grant life to dead sinners, abundant and everlasting. YEA Jesus! We are to proclaim that truth as our message…
“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…for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:6; Romans 6:23)