Under the Law
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The Law of Grace
The Law of Grace
What is grace and how is it applied?
Yesterday we spoke about the Torah of Messiah, and we dug deep into what the Lord requires of us. I was listening to a friends pastor speak and to my astonishment, he was preaching exactly what the Lord had spoken to me....
When I was speaking to my family about this, it hit me so hard when my mind asked… Are you practicing what you are preaching?
My mind was so set on what they were saying and what is going on in the church all around, and God was asking me… how am I showing the mercy of God.
If I know better, how can I be a testimony of the Grace of God!
When I think back to the moment that I recieved the Lord and said, God, You said that I am Yours, and now I say, You are mine. When I came into that covenant relationship with 100%.... where was I?
I was undeserving, in great need of a Savior, I was broken, doubtful, hurt, unsure, shaken, terrified, lost, unseen, and more. However, in this moment, though I was all of these things, I humbled myself before God and asked Him… If You are… then please!
You see Grace is God’s free and uncoerced action for individuals or for the whole people, in a situation of grave need, when God is appealed to as the only source of assistance.
John S. Kselman, “Grace: Old Testament,” ed. David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 1086.
The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Grace (New Testament)
God’s grace comes to those who are in need and humbly approach God for help
In so it is thought that grace can only be made known to the ones who do not deserve it, but ask for it.
Then in scripture we have come to this understanding that God is merciful to whom He wants to show Himself merciful. This brings me to the question… Who does God show mercy too?
This is what is read in this weeks Parsha..
The Lord chose the Children of Israel to enter a covenant relationship, and when they disobeyed the Lord didn’t allow them to enter into the land of the promise. The children of Israel tried to enter into the land in disobedience again, and the Lord didnt let them go in. Then we read in Deut. 1:45
Then you returned and wept before Adonai, but Adonai did not listen to your voice or pay attention to you.
So the children of Israel went around more time in the wilderness.
Some may ask, what does this have to do with grace. Isn’t grace something for all.
God’s grace is the revelation of His salvation to the Children of Israel, but the first generation of people that came out of Egypt did not stick to the fact that God delivered them from what was going on in Egypt.
This first generation except for Joshua and Caleb threw away God’s grace. As I continued to read the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, I read something so profound about Grace....
The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Grace (New Testament)
God’s grace is extended where the gospel is preached and received (2 Cor 4:15; 6:1
God’s grace is exteneded where the Gospel (The Good News of Messiah/The Law of the Spirit of Life) is preached.... and Received!
Many people think that once you receive it, you are good forever. However, All throughout scripture, that is not the case.
The moment God was left to the side… the Moment the convenant relationship is broken… that is the moment you exempt yourself from God’s Grace.
But I believe in Him… Even the demons believe!
Oh but I did good deeds....
Oh so if my life is full of more good things… then that means I’m good too…
Nooooo, not even close!
However, if you hold close to God’s Word to receive and keep on receiving it and share it! God’s going to show you more grace and favor.
Lets Check out
We have spoken openly to you, O Corinthians; our heart is open wide! You are not restricted by us, yet you are restricted in your own feelings. Now in return—I speak as to my children—open wide to us also.
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What harmony does Messiah have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement does God’s Temple have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God—just as God said,
“I will dwell in them and walk among them;
and I will be their God,
and they shall be My people.
Therefore, come out from among them,
and be separate, says Adonai.
Touch no unclean thing.
Then I will take you in.
I will be a father to you,
and you shall be My sons and daughters,
says Adonai-Tzva’ot.”
The Law of Grace is applied to the one who listens to the Father, receives the Son, and walks in the Spirit of life!
And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. We looked upon His glory, the glory of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John testifies about Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘The One who comes after me is above me, because He existed before me.’ ” Out of His fullness, we have all received grace on top of grace. Torah was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Yeshua the Messiah. No one has ever seen God; but the one and only God, in the Father’s embrace, has made Him known.
The power of His grace is not shown to us just once, but the revelation of His Word that He saved us is grace and the grace that is upon that is found in Messiah and Messiah revealed to and through us!
There is no wonder why Paul constanlty spoke to the Gentiles about this Grace of God!
So much that the Gentiles wanted to follow the law of Moses! Yet, Paul relays to them.... it’s not about following the law of Moses, but it is about understanding that grace abounds to the one who truly humbles themself to Messiah!
The grace of God abounds in great humiliation, and people do not understand that. Not too long ago, we spoke about God’s power being made known in our weakness… This does not means that we fall to temptation… actually this allows people to see that we struggle, but God makes Himself known so that I do not fall into great sin!
God’s grace is applied to my obedience to Him in resisting evil by calling out on the Name of God!
While 90% of the world is fallen into their sins, you having recieved the grace of God in Messiah recieved more grace in standing different… separated… pure… Holy!
Ofcourse the World is giong to see you weird, but God doesn’t see weird… He sees His Son in you and calls you His own!
For the grief that God wills brings a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret. But the world’s grief brings death. For see what this very thing—this grieving that God wills—has brought you! What diligence, what defense, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what rendering of justice! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
This is why we must be careful when we talk about grace. We must not use the grace of God in vain. Rather we must talk about the grace of God that has been made known that continues to be made known amongst us. We continue reading in 2 Corinthians 11 how Eve was deceived by the devil on the purpose and truth of God’s grace. God doesn’t hide or keep us from choosing. Rather when we choose wrong, we choose to hide from Him removing ourselves from grace.
when grace becomes an excuse to live in sin, you are no longer under grace
but under deception.
But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds might be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion and purity to the Messiah. For if someone comes and proclaims another Yeshua whom we did not proclaim, or if you receive a different spirit that you did not receive, or a different “good news” that you did not accept, you put up with that well enough!
The opposite of being led astray is to continue to walk in a sincere and pure devotion and purity to the Messiah.
Someone in the congregation said it....
If the Spirit of God is not showing you what it means to be ready for the groom, then you are not the bride.
The Spirit of God… the Spirit of Life in Messiah Yeshua causes one to be ready to receive all that He is!
Having been washed clean, it is time that we dress in the garments of His glory.
The law of Grace says… sin is no longer the master over you do not let it be master over you! Rom. 6:14-15
For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!
The law of Grace says… I saved you, and called you mine!
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling—not because of our deeds but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Messiah Yeshua before time began,
The Law of Grace says be strengthened by His offering of Himself, bear His disgrace and offer up to God a sacrifice of Praise!
So let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing His disgrace. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come. Through Yeshua then, let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips giving thanks to His name. Do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
In so when you walk in His grace to obey Him, Moses tells the next generation, God has already given you this land, God is already giving to you His Shalom, you have seen what God has done… Remember… It is Adonai your God who fights for you!
The law of Grace in all is about God going before You! Do not walk away from His Grace! Messiah has called you to it, and He will guide you through it!
Command the people saying, “You are about to cross into the territory of your relatives, the sons of Esau, who dwell in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so be very careful. Do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land—not even a footprint—because I have given the hill country of Seir to Esau as a possession. You are to buy food from them for money so that you may eat, and you are also to buy water from them for money so that you may drink. For Adonai your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand—He has known your wanderings through this great wilderness. These 40 years Adonai your God has been with you—you have lacked nothing.” ’
I want to emphasis on where it says… they will be afraid of you, For Adonai Your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand — (Listen to this) He has known your wanderings through this great wilderness. These 40 years Adonai your God has been with you — you have lacked nothing.
His grace is made evident, and He tells the children of Israel what it means to remain in His grace.
God asks the children of Yisrael to deal righteously not to go against God’s Word, because His Word was given to Esau that Esau would have this land, and Israel will has theirs.
God reveals to us again, and even this day....
Not to look at the church as to replace the church, but to deal righteously with our brothers and sisters who are also under God’s grace. However, It is our duty for all to understand that God has chosen Israel to set the example for having grace on top of grace. However, if you take His grace in vain, this is what Isaiah says....
“Come now, let us reason together,”
says Adonai.
“Though your sins be like scarlet,
they will be as white as snow.
Though they be red like crimson,
they will become like wool.
If you are willing and obey,
you will eat the good of the land.
But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be devoured with the sword.”
For the mouth of Adonai has spoken.
Yet, He still accomplishes His Word through whom He has chosen as we continue to read,
I will restore your judges as at first,
your counselors as at the start.
Afterward you will be called
City of Righteousness, Faithful City.
Zion will be redeemed with justice,
her repentant with righteousness.”
The Law of Grace is applied to the preaching and the receiving of the Gospel of Messiah, and Stephen is a prime example of what it means to act in the Grace of Adonai as we see Him speak directly to the “Uncircumcised in heart and ears”
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed the ones who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. Now you have become His betrayers and murderers— you who received the Torah by direction of angels and did not keep it!”
And in speaking of Messiah before the people God reveals Himself to Stephen.
The people feared Stephen and were enraged… they put him to death while he spoke… Acts 7:60
Then he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” After he said this, he died.
Saul approved the death of Stephen and went against the body of Messiah. And guess what...
God went against Saul. God spoke to Saul asking… “Why are you persecuting me?
As he was traveling, approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
“Who are You, Lord?” Saul said.
“I am Yeshua—whom you are persecuting. But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
The men travelling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul got up from the ground—but opening his eyes, he could see nothing. They led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he could not see, and he did not eat or drink.
When we see this scripture, you must understand that Saul was not able to see, and had to humble himself.
This is the moment I was talking about earlier…
God displays His love, life, compassion, grace, mercy, lovingkindess, and forgiveness to EVERYONE!
However, are you receiving it?
Saul had a serious wake up call. He was so awake that his eyes were open, and yet he realized he was blind.
His response was the Jewish response to fast, because he knew that he sinned greatly. However, God revealed to him a vision of the fullness of God’s grace when the Lord speaks to Ananias.
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a choice instrument to carry My name before nations and kings and Bnei-Yisrael. For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
So Ananias left and entered into the house. Laying hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Yeshua, the One who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming—has sent me, so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh.”
Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was immersed; and when he had taken food, he was strengthened. Now for several days, he was with the disciples in Damascus.
Saul was strengthened and began to proclaim the grace of God as it is written...
But Saul kept growing stronger, and he was confounding the Jewish people living in Damascus by proving that Yeshua is the Messiah.
Paul found God’s grace, because Paul was surrendered/obedient to Messiah (God).
God is calling you into His grace, but know that this means… the people of this world will fear you. God wantyou to know that you must be strong in this… that the Lord goes before you! This means the enemy is going to fight you, but you must know that it is Adonai that Lord of Hosts who fights for you!
God’s grace upon grace comes through your obedience of His very Word that all may see and be proved that Yeshua is the Messiah.
I once was a slave to sin, but now I am found to be a slave to righteousness, because I have come to the obedience of the Word of God - that is Messiah Yeshua!
But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching under which you were placed; and after you were set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you yielded your body parts as slaves to uncleanness and lawlessness, leading to more lawlessness, so now yield your body parts as slaves to righteousness, resulting in holiness.
Let us understand now that if you choose to receive the Messiah, to believe Him wholeheartedly - to consistently listen, follow, and obey - that He is the Son of God who died and rose again for you and you… then you will have found grace. Again do not decieve yourselves to not do what the Word of God says, rather do what it says!
Now may the God of shalom, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of an everlasting covenant, our Lord Yeshua, make you complete in every good thing to do His will, accomplishing in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Messiah Yeshua. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.