Thinking with grace rather than justice, part 3; John 15:18;Thinking with grace rather than justice, part 3; John 15:18;
We continue in our study of the difference between justice in the world and grace that has come from God.
The prophet Isaiah made it clear that the fulfillment of the grace promises to Israel are earthly based. This is in contrast to the Church, who destiny and current election is from heaven and in heaven.
Because we are looking back to the cross we experience the fullness of grace in our lifetimes. There is no greater grace than position in heaven.
This stands out against Israel’s fulfilled grace promises.
Col 3:1 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
Don’t look for justice on the earth and don’t try and bring justice into your life or another’s. The only justice is with Christ, and that is fulfilled, so from Christ flows grace – you receive and God is glorified.
That’s unfair, get over it, calmly apply grace and doctrine to the situation, it’s never going to stop. At several times in your spiritual walk you are going to experience system tests in which things are going to be very unfair. Apply grace and doctrine and wait for God’s deliverance.
2 Cor 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
2 Cor 4:18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Col 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ [mystery doctrine] in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory [eternal security – the presentation of the Church at the Big Genuflect].
Phil 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
Phil 3:21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
The fulfillment of justice begins operation footstool which is the beginning of historical victory in the angelic conflict.
After the Lord’s strategic victory the policy for the Church is grace and not works and justice.
Rom 11:3 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works [Mosaic Law – justice], otherwise grace is no longer grace. “it” not in original.
Tactical victories for the expert witness now relies on grace, which is our victory over all enemies through Christ. Again, don’t look for justice on the earth, look for it in Him.
Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels has He ever said, "Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies A footstool for Thy feet "?
Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
Jesus Christ is the first witness in the appeal trial of the AC. Interestingly the second and third witness come from the Church and only come by means of grace. I find it just like God’s MO to win a conflict, a trial, under the laws of Jewish jurisprudence [2 or 3 eyewitnesses] and prepare the 2nd and 3rd witness by means of grace.
John 5:22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,
Heb 11:39 And all these [OT visible heroes], having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,
Heb 11:40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect [complete or fulfilled].
The covenant theologian who say that the unconditional covenants promised to Israel are to be now fulfilled in the Church are way off base. Tell me how that is possible when the Church’s citizenship is in heaven and Israel’s future is earthly.
Five covenants were given to Israel. All five of these covenants were to be fulfilled by Christ.
Existing before the cross in history justice was the current system that the Jew found himself under. The grace covenants for Israel that the Jew looked forward to could not occur before the cross. The cross must come before Israel sees her crowned King.
The Mosaic Law has been a great source of confusion to believer and unbeliever alike. As we have noted several times, man likes conditions because they make sense to him and so he has a very difficult time with the policy of grace.
The one conditional covenant was the Mosaic Law which they were asked to obey during their history as a client nation. The Law was a justice system.
Why was the Law full of justice? The cross had not yet occurred historically and so God put a justice system upon His people; a system that none of them could bear, since a fallen criminal cannot make his own justice.
The natural minded man would rather be under the Mosaic Law than the grace policy of Christ.
Despite its tremendous burdens that no man can bear the natural minded man would rather place himself under it and then lie to himself that someday he could fulfill it and by it be delivered in life. Even if he could fulfill it, it does not deliver, it was never designed to.
Matt 23:4 "And they tie up heavy loads, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.
Gal 2:21 "I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."
Matt 19:16 And behold, one came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?"
He wants to do, but nothing indicates that he understands faith. And once he is challenged he will reveal that grace is completely alien to him. He would rather do than receive. This is the plight of so many of us fallen creatures.
Christ in His genius is going to set him up to face a very real issue; grace!
Matt 19:17 And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."
Matt 19:18 He said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness;
Matt 19:19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself. "
6 of the 10 commandments are mentioned [codex #1]; which ones are missing?
1 - You shall have no other gods before Me. 2 – You shall not make for yourself an idol, 3 – You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, 4 – Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
These commands refer specifically to honoring God as a servant of Him while the next 6 refer to divine establishment law protecting freedom. Look again at verse 17 – “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good;” In other words, the decisions of good and bad, good or evil, right or wrong must be in the hands of the only One who is good. God is justice, perfect justice, so young man, “Do you know whom you are asking?”
The world appreciates the last 6 of the ten commandments – murder, adultery, stealing, false witness, honoring your father and mother, and not coveting your neighbor’s property. The criminal may ignore them, but he knows they are right in his conscience.
Kosmic man would rather be under such a system than to accept the grace policy of God; just like this rich man.
Matt 19:20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?"
Matt 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
If you wish to be fulfilled or complete or whole, nothing said here about eternal life, but Christ is asking him to get a glimpse of grace in his own soul. “Get rid of all your wealth so that you might see a glimpse of what I’m about to give up for you.” This has nothing to do with money. Christ is saying that what this young rich man lacks is any understanding of grace. He balks at the idea.
Matt 19:22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieved; for he was one who owned much property.
Another glaring and obvious testimony about the depravity of man is here also. What if eternal life was obtained by giving everything away? If it was, he wouldn’t do it. His earthly assets were more important to him and eternal life with God. This is the depravity of man and why in him, in all of us, we choose for justice systems when under the control of our sin natures.
The idea of grace leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of the kosmic person and so they hate Christ, grace’s author, and they hate the positive believer, grace’s follower. |