This morning as I talked to the LORD a verse came to mind along with the name of a person. From past experiences I knew instantly I was to share that Bible verse with her. When I obeyed that prompting, she said it was a timely word, a word she needed to hear. That illustrates the outworking of the New Covenant that JESUS established through HIS blood on the cross (1 Corinthians 11:25).
Some inadvertently seek to teach the law or rule keeping. The Bible says that they neither understand what they are saying or what they affirm (1 Timothy 1:7). For, “The law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this that the law is not made for a righteous person (a believer in JESUS covered with the righteousness of GOD), but for the lawless and insubordinate …” (1 Timothy 1:8-9).
Isaiah speaks of righteousness 51 times but a key to understanding it is seen in Isaiah 64:6. It states that only a sinless person can do right. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”
The purpose of the law is to show what sin is to those who are sinning, that they might know they are guilty before GOD (Romans 3:19-20). Whereas: a person is not considered by GOD righteous by their actions for our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) in GOD’s eyes for all of us have sinned (Romans 3:23).
“The righteousness (required by) of GOD is through faith in JESUS CHRIST to all and (placed by GOD) on all who believe (in JESUS)” (Romans 3:22).
You see once we in sincere faith call upon the name of the LORD we are saved (Romans 10:9-10, 13) our sins are washed away, and we get the HOLY SPIRIT (John 7:38-39). The HOLY SPIRIT seals us to GOD and as a down payment guaranteeing we belong to GOD until HE comes gets us (Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30). The HOLY SPIRIT then teaches us/ leads us in the way we should go and explains what GOD means and wants us to do and reminds us of the Word of GOD when we need to use it as a sword against the enemy (1 Corinthians 2:10, John 14:26, Ephesians 6:17).
This is the New Covenant established by JESUS on the cross (1 Corinthians 11:25). This New Covenant is defined in Hebrews 10:16-17: “…I will put my laws in their hearts (so they want what I want) and write them on their minds (so they know what they are supposed to do) and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more.”
In Philippians 2:13 GOD states this New Covenant as: “It is GOD who works in you both to will (to want to do) and (be enabled/ strengthened) to do HIS (GOD’s) good pleasure (what HE wants done.). That’s GOD’s part and now comes ours. Philippians 2:12- work out (do) what GOD has put within you (nudged you) to do. Or as I often say, obey the nudges.
No longer is it attempting to keep a set of rules to gain GOD’s favor, but rather it is listening to and letting GOD lead us step by step. We do what HE says because we believe HE is right and knows what to do. We don’t throw out our Bibles, but we go meet with GOD in HIS word and there learn more about HIM who loves us. While there we learn HIS ways and standards, we hear HIM speak personally to us in our own situations and instruct us in what HE wants us to do.
We are given a new heart when we believe in JESUS and enter the New Covenant (Ezekiel 36:26) but we are told to then renew our minds daily (Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 4:23). That means we need to get in GOD’s word and to talk with HIM.
Are you striving to obey rules or are you taking time with GOD, then doing what you know HE wants you to do in the strength HE gives you when you ask (Hebrews 4:16)?
Hugs
Sharon
wakemyear 