10 Commandments Today, 13of14

~ Jesus Christ Sends The Enabler ~

Introduction  ~  Jesus Christ said He did not come to do away with the Law but to fulfill the Law.  “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.  For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.  Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-29).

Jerry Bridges in his book Transforming Grace has a very succinct chart on the differences between the Law as given by Moses and the Law as explained by Jesus Christ.  In it he contrasts “The Old Way of the Law” versus “The New Way of Grace.”  Here is his summary:

External Code (law)  ~  The moral precepts of God are only an external code of conduct.  The law commands obedience but provides no inclination or desire to obey.

Internal Response (grace)  ~  The moral precepts of God are written on our hearts as well as being an external code.  The Spirit inclines our hearts and gives us a desire to obey.

Commanding (law)  ~  The law commands but gives no enabling power for obedience.

Enabling (grace)  ~  The Spirit enables us to obey the law’s commands.

Hostility (law)  ~  Because of our hostility to God’s law before our conversion, the commands of the law actually provoked and incited us to sin.

Delight (grace)  ~  The Spirit, by removing our hostility and writing the law on our hearts, actually causes us to delight in God’s law.

Fear (law)  ~  The law produces a legalistic response to God.  We try to obey because of a fear of punishment for disobedience or in order to win favor with God.

Gratitude (grace)  ~  The Spirit, by showing us God’s grace, produces a response of love and gratitude.  We obey, not out of fear or to earn favor, but out of gratitude for favor already given.

Working (law)  ~  Under the law, we perform in order to be accepted by God.  Since our performance is always imperfect, we never feel completely accepted by Him.  Thus, in our Christian life, we always work from a position of weakness.  We work to be accepted, but feel we never quite make it.  

Relying (grace)  ~  The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are accepted by God through the merit of Christ.  By relying solely on His perfect righteousness, we feel accepted by Him.  Thus, in our Christian life, we work from a position of strength, because we have been accepted through Jesus, and through Him, we have “made it.” 

Conclusion  ~  Notice that in each of the above sections the key to New Testament obedience is the indwelling Spirit of God.  When Jesus Christ left this earth to return to His Father He sent the Holy Spirit as our enabler! 

“But now I [Jesus, the Christ] go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’  But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.  Nevertheless I tell you the truth.  It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper [Holy Spirit] will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.  And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.  I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.  All things that the Father has are Mine.  Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:5-15). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .