02/03/2015 - THE EMPIRE OF GRACE

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Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. Romans 5.20

When mankind became corrupt because of the sin of Adam, the Lord prepared the Law and gave it to Moses for him to teach the children of Israel (Ex 24.12). Only through the Law, the actions of the devil would be avoided. But in truth, because of its rigor, nobody was able to obey it as they should. However, in those conditions, it was the best that the Israelites could receive. However, due to the fact that they were not able to follow it completely, they were left without the blessings.

The Law was important until the coming of Jesus, and in Christ, all its aspects were fulfilled (Mt 5.17). Nowadays, we have nothing to do with the Law. However, four items remained to be observed: abstention from the things sacrificed to idols, blood, flesh from suffocated animals, and illicit sexual relations: adultery, fornication, homosexual relationship, and other deceptions that are included in debauchery – the lack of a moral restraint (Ac 15.29).

Since the Israelites were not born again, since this was only possible after the salvation given through the death of the Lord Jesus, they were not able to keep the biblical precepts, and so their offenses were abundant. Nowadays, this should not happen in our midst, for we have the grace of God operating in our favor, which is the way that God deals with the members of the New Alliance (Hb 12.24). We are saved – forgiven, healed, and set free – by this divine action (Is 53).

In the Law, the offence abounded, for since nobody was able to fulfill it, the Law accused them all before God (Rm 3.20). Now by grace, we have the power to be freed from all oppression of the enemy, and at the same time, with Jesus as our Lawyer, interceding for our sake before God (1 Jo 2.1). However, this does not mean that we can sin without being punished (Gl 5.13). Those who fall and do not repent will certainly taste the second death (Rv 21.8).

Something very serious happens to those who practice the negative aspects of the laws of Moses: they are separated from Christ. Lord, have mercy! What is even worse is that many do not see a problem in being influenced by a prohibition. Consequently, the divine power does not operate in them. Whoever fulfills the commandments pleases God and is set free from the offense that abounds through the Law.

In the Law, sin abounded, leading people to madness. However, in the New Covenant, the grace of God abounded much more, leading people to please the Lord. This is the basic difference between the two institutions: the Old and New Testament. No Christian in proper judgment will commemorate the Jewish festivals, for they were only a figure of what was to come (Cl 2.16,17). Whoever has taught this practice must repent urgently.

Now, the divine orientation is so that we may enjoy the abundance of grace and the gift of justice, for then, we will be able to reign with Jesus Christ (Rm 5.17). However, those who reject the biblical orientation of being set apart from the Jewish practices will get to the conclusion that they opened themselves to the enemy. Those who despise the Word of God will be lead towards death.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares