Thinking with grace rather than justice, part 5; John 15:18; Rom 5:15-17.

Thinking with grace rather than justice, part 5; John 15:18; ROM 5:15-17.

 

Christ is grace’s author and Prince Ruler through the cross, ROM 5:15.

 

ROM 5:15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

 

The believer is grace’s follower who reigns in life through that same grace and never by justice, ROM 5:17.

 

ROM 5:17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

 

ROM 5:18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

 

ROM 5:19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

 

ROM 5:20 And the Law came in that the transgression might increase [added pressure will increase sin]; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

 

ROM 5:21 that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

God’s justice requires perfect righteousness and fallen man has no hope of attaining it and the Law cannot give it.

 

Deut 32:41

If I sharpen My flashing sword,

And My hand takes hold on justice,

I will render vengeance on My adversaries,

And I will repay those who hate Me.

 

Ps 33:5

He loves righteousness and justice;

The earth is full of the lovingkindness [love, strength, patience, mercy, grace] of the Lord.

 

Though God had put a law of justice upon His people He would be patient towards those who rejected it, warn them, console them, plead with them, in other words, He would operate in great love and patience towards them until the end. 

 

Lovingkindness is not exactly the same as grace in the NT.

 

Lovingkindness passes over sin and evil anticipating atonement, while grace completely overwhelms sin and evil.

 

HEB 10:8 After saying above, "Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast not desired, nor hast Thou taken pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the Law),

 

HEB 10:9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Thy will." He takes away the first in order to establish the second.

 

HEB 10:10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

 

HEB 10:11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;

 

HEB 10:12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,

 

HEB 10:13 waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.

 

HEB 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

 

Ps 37:28

For the Lord loves justice,

And does not forsake His godly ones;

They are preserved forever;

But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.

 

Ps 106:3

How blessed are those who keep justice,

Who practice righteousness at all times!

 

Prov 29:26

Many seek the ruler's favor,

But justice for man comes from the Lord.

 

Hence, it is silly to put justice on myself or anyone else for justice can only come from the Lord, the Lord who loves justice.

 

In a society of fallen men justice is perverted:

 

HAB 1:4

Therefore, the law is ignored

And justice is never upheld.

For the wicked surround the righteous;

Therefore, justice comes out perverted.

 

Our founders were very much aware of this, which is why they instituted the separation of powers as well as limited federal government along with limited state and local governments that provide checks and balances.

 

The Mosaic Law isn’t evil, it is good. It is man that is evil. The Law as well as divine establishment principles today give a small measure of prosperity. If an unbeliever operates in morality he can experience a measure of happiness in time. This is God’s gift to the unbeliever, however, this will never happen for the believer. The believer is under a greater law, which if ignored creates misery in the heart.

 

God gave the Mosaic Law which gave man a portion of justice that provided some prosperity.

 

1 Tim 1:8-9

But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious,

 

Codex #3 is the establishment code known in the KJV as the judgements. It presents divine laws of establishment designed to provide freedom and privacy for Israel. It was designed to protect their property, their rights, and their privileges. It included the functions of the divine institutions, many practical and wonderful things such as diet, sanitation, quarantine, soil conservation, taxation, universal military training, and many other things. This gave them a tremendous advantage over other nations.

 

Codex #2 is the theological code, known in the scripture [KJV] as the ordinances. It is a complete Christology designed to present the Lord Jesus Christ as the only saviour and the God of Israel. The gospel is a tremendous advantage over the fall.

 

Codex #1 is the freedom code or the 10 commandments. There are more than 10 sins. The purpose of this code was not to reveal sin but to protect privacy, property, and freedom as each of these sins violates one of them. This part of the Mosaic Law is pertinent today under the laws of divine establishment.

 

The Mosaic Law increased sin since man could not bear the load of justice.

 

ROM 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "You shall not covet."

 

ROM 7:8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.

 

There is something way more important than sinning less and that is the knowledge that one needs a Savior!

 

The Law could not justify anyone when in fact it brought about the knowledge of how none of us could bear the burden of justice.

 

ROM 3:19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God;

 

ROM 3:20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

 

Jesus Christ had to bear the burden of justice for the entire human race, therefore it is only through faith in Him that any man is justified.

 

If God abolished in Christ the only justice system He ever gave to man, how is it that Christians feel justified to operate under their own justice systems.

 

GAL 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.

 

GAL 3:1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?

 

GAL 3:2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

 

 “works of the law” - bearing your own justice; “hearing with faith” - Christ bearing your justice.