DON'T THINK !!! Most people don't when it comes to looking at the New Covenant and the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant was an aggregation of 613 specific laws to govern and rule a nation== the children of Israel. It Worked!! Somewhat. Israel never could have been accused of keeping the law in its purpose and entirety. But , God is merciful and He loved Israel and delivered them anyway. So the Old Covenant of dos and dont's, obey and keep and observe was really a "religion " of control. A religion of performance. Keep and do this and I will bless you, God said. Don't keep and don't do these things and curses will befall you.( Deut.28 and Lev.26). All religions of the world since Adam have had this formulae. But.........With Jesus came a new and different covenant . Not like the first one AT ALL.!!!!!!
The New Covenant is based on the Spirit. There are NO laws to be expressly kept. None that are articulated as to "You must do this or that". No 'thou shalt do this or thou shalt not do that. No keep this or keep that. There are no proscriptions or requirements under the New Covenant. NONE. Check out your New Testament. NONE.
The motivating factor under the New Covenant is our being led and guided by the Holy Spirit. It leads, Guides, inspires, and directs toward the truth that is in Jesus.
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There simply are NO rules, regulations, statutes, laws, requirements, dictates, or any thing else required of Christians in this New Covenant period of time to be done by anyone. We simply worship in Spirit and in Truth believing WHO we are in Jesus.
Why are there no great lengths of verbiage of Jesus or Paul in their writings to point out to all of us 'REQUIREMENTS' for all of us to measure up to in order to receive the blessings of the New Covenant? Reason: THERE ARE NONE. The New Covenant is NOT LIKE the OLD. Different entirely. Simply No Laws. Can you see that?
The New Covenant is a Gift of God to Humanity in Jesus. It declares that Jesus loved us before we were ever born. Before the foundation or creation of the world. Eph. 1:3-14. We are God's Children and Adopted from before creation. Included in the very Life of God. Made so by Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and Ascension carrying all of us to the Father's right hand. Eph. 2:6. Wow.
Now. One MUST believe this in order for him or her to 'experience' all of these wonderful blessings Jesus has to offer in His Life forever.
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. Please.
Paul Kurts
www.newlifewcg.org
www.pastopaulsinteractiveblog.blogspot.com
Madison, AL
256-468-8081
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2 comments:
Paul quoted, "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. Please."
If I believe; it is the work of the triune God.
As to the Atonement, we have no part, period. As to the overcoming life, we have no part, apart from Christ. Even our "subjective" belief that aligns with objective reality of who we are in Christ is of Him. In Him, we live and move and have our very being. It is all his work.
Our freedom to choose, is of Christ.
Our positive response to his "yes" is the work of Christ.
We have no part, apart from Christ, by his grace.
“Repentance, faith and love, are not conditions of grace, but our response to grace, and the way to evoke that response is to hold out to people the love of the Father, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the promises of the Spirit – and this is the road to assurance.” – James B. Torrance in the Introduction to “The Nature of the Atonement” by J. McLeod Campbell, pp.3-4.
Thus, “our response” is the work of the triune God; not our work.
“Gratefully disillusioned”,
Bill Ford
Bill, always good to hear from you. I appreciate your blog response as I 100% agree with you. God simply is in charge and loves us with His Love and He orchestraites it as He chooses in His will and Love for us.
Thanks again for this response. It shows just how much The Great Triune God is.
PS. I am 65 today, August 26.
But don't send any gifts. Just prayers.
love,
Paul
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