Thursday, 19th January 2023
Pastor Alex Buabeng-Korsah
TOPIC: THE OLD VERSUS THE NEW
THEME SCRIPTURE: Exodus 19:5
PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:
- What is the law and what is the grace of our Lord Jesus?
- In which way is the law different from the grace of Christ?
When Jesus was on earth, He taught many principles. One of the most profound principles He revealed was that we do not put new wine in an old wineskin. This is because, if we do, the new wine will destroy the wineskin (Matt 9:17). Similarly, no one puts a new cloth on an old one. This suggests that mixing the old with the new is not a wise thing to do. This is why it is not proper for the Christian life to be founded on both grace and the law.
Having been born again by grace through faith, we can only sustain this new life by the same grace. Some Christians are good at mixing the law with the grace of our Lord Jesus, and their frustration in life is evident to all.
What then is the law and what is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Remember, the law was given by Moses as a schoolmaster (Gal 3:24) to point us to grace and truth which came by Jesus. From the theme scripture, the law is simply obeying God with the objective of getting something (reward) from God. So God said unto the Israelites that if they will obey Him and keep His covenant then He will make them a peculiar treasure above all people (work and reward system). Meaning, until Israel fulfils their part of the agreement God cannot fulfil His.
But those who have been brought under grace have different terms and conditions. Under grace, Jesus has fulfilled every requirement, hence, we don’t have to fulfil any.
This has enabled God to go ahead to fulfil His part without our consent to make us a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9). Isn’t this grace – without doing anything for God He has made us what Israel had to work for? However, all that God is expecting from those under grace is to just believe that He has made them righteous, unique, special, etc. and that they should walk in this reality.
Precious One, those under grace do not work for anything. Rather, by reason of what we have become it is natural for us to do what God wants. For instance, I have seen many good Christians, born of God, and yet they are trying to pay tithe to be blessed. If tithe could bless a man who is complete in Christ (Col 2:10), then 2 Corinthians 8:9 would be unnecessary. I have also seen a man who is a new creation in Christ (where old things are passed away for him and everything has become new – 2 Cor 5:17), and yet worried and concerned about his family curses and the bloodline of his ancestors. If only you can understand what it means to be born of God, you wouldn’t worry a thing about the ‘old-you’.
From today going forward, you are walking strictly in the grace of our Lord Jesus, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit to do exploits like never before. Glory to Jesus!
FURTHER READING – Galatians 3:18-29
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:
- Which areas of your life do you see yourself walking against the grace of our Lord Jesus?
- Check out our article on tithing. It will bless you
CONFESSION
Precious Father, thank you for the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ. I affirm that I am born of God and in me are all the fullness of God. I also affirm that I am chosen, empowered to fulfil the plans and purposes of the One who birthed me. Through my union with Christ I triumph over all things. In Him I have become fruitful in every way. Glory to God!
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Genesis 32; Genesis 33; Psalm 36; Matthew 21
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