A Document of Grace ~ By Eudora

Grace, Poured Out Upon His Lips

I based this whole study’s purpose to show ‘of a truth’ to folks who make the following statement: “We are not under law, but under grace.”

Basically, all of us, whether insiders or outsiders of the family of God, start out in identical conditions. We all start out as sinners. Scripture leaves no doubt about this. Whatever is written in scripture is not what God says to others but what He is saying to us. The ones who actually picks up the Bible and read it.

 It is clear that every one of us is found in the same sinking boat with out a paddle to get us upstream, were it not for the grace of God. And it’s clear enough, isn’t it, that we’re sinners in need of repentance and remission unto salvation and that our involvement with God’s revelation doesn’t put us right with God.

What it does; is force us to face the fact that we are all in partnership with wrong doing and that ’sin’ is against the law of God, ergo our need for the gift of salvation.

If we are on a journey to discover truth, lets just begin by finding the definition of sin in the Bible. What is sin? In first John 3:4, sin is described: Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Here is the word law in Greek. It is anomia, pronounced an-om-ee’-ah meaning: illegality, i.e. violation of law or (genitive case) wickedness: –iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.

Sin here is hamartia, pronounced ham-ar-tee’-ah from 264; a sin (properly abstract): –offence, sin (-ful) hamartia is a negative particle and the base of 3313; again, hamartolos, to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), i.e. (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin: –for your faults, offend, sin, trespass. ‘transgression of the law’ is also anomia, pronounced an-om-ee’-ah from 459; illegality, i.e. violation of law or (genitive case) wickedness: –iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness. Anomia is from nomos, pronounced nom’-os from a primary nemo (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle): –law.

So it is safe to say that a sinner is one who misses the mark or offends, is in violation of the law and so (shall) not share in the prize. (I believe the prize to be the gift of salvation.) We know that the ‘law’ that John is mentioning is the law given through Moses, for no other law has been written.

John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

It may seem that the author, John the Beloved is slanting Moses, but this is not so. That John should even compare or mention Moses, being a mere man who has no claim to divinity like that of Christ Jesus side by side of each other shows just how highly John regards Moses. Grace and truth are personal attributes of God that were revealed through the Son, but make no mistake about it, grace and truth and the law are all from God, supreme expressions of whom He is.

John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Jesus declares what God sent Him to declare.

John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

God gave the Commandments and judgements and statutes to Moses.  Would God give anything different to Jesus,  His only begotten Son?  Would Jesus who is The Word in the flesh, do away with the very law that God wrote and gave to Moses?  Is God the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever or does He change like a shifting shadow?

It has become obvious that we need to seek His kingdom and His righteousness huh?

First of all, where does this whole misunderstanding come from of folks who say, “We are not under law, but under grace.”

The first time we hear anything that resembles this statement is from Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Since Paul was of a very high intellect, we have to bring this down to our own understanding.

The world just needs to remember to be silent before God. It is His word written to us so that we can find our way. This scripture is saying that we know that whatever things the law says is to the ones in- connection with what the law speaks. It does this so that every mouth may be stopped and under judgment and they may become all the world to God because the works of the law will not be justified by all flesh before Him because it is through the law we find full knowledge of sin.

We all need to hang up our defenses and await His decision when we stand before Him. We might as well get it right now, working out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

Next verse that has maybe caused this great misunderstanding is found again in our brother Paul’s letter, here to the Romans: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14)

Paul is the most misunderstood fella in the New Testament so please do not feel bad when I say that there is a misunderstanding. What Paul is saying here is that we are not under legalism. How do I know this? The word law here is from a primary word of nemo (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle): –law.

We need to know this because where there is no law, there is no violation. We know that the only reason we need salvation is because we have committed a violation. That is why the law is fed to all, so that all reach the same conclusion that we cannot obey God through legalism.

Paul is saying we are no longer under the harsh subjection of legalism but are now under a gracious subjection unto the same law, put into our heart and written into our minds.

Our worship must come from the heart and the only reason it can come from the heart is because of the blood that Jesus shed and that by the power of the Holy Spirit, our hearts are being daily circumcised unto righteousness so that when Jesus returns, we can receive our rightful inheritance, the gift of salvation.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

There is only one way that this can happen and it is because God decided long ago that He would use the Holy Spirit to write the law upon our hearts.

This was prophesied through the mouth of Jeremiah in the Old Testament, having been brought back into our memories in the New Testament, through the author of the book of Hebrews, chapter 10. God says here: This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. However, God did not write a new law. 

This begs for our complete attention. Unless we have blinders on, we see that it must be the same law that God gave unto Moses that will be put into our hearts and minds where He will write the law. We know this because God gave no other law and He makes the declaration, that the law that will be written in our hearts is His law.

“I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them,”

We find that we are not under a legal obligation to keep the law for salvations sake because we know that the law cannot save us. It never could. It is and will always remain to be, that we are saved through the blood of Jesus that became a covering for our sin.

Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. ~ Romans 8:27

The “mind” of the Spirit means “from the point of view” of the Spirit – we must look at all things from His point of view, not ours. The fleshly point of view, or the MIND of the flesh, does not wish to be controlled by anything but its own rebellious nature:

Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the (set-apart) Spirit, whom (Elohim) has given to those who obey Him.”

Now… what about that grace? The word grace in that text of Romans 6:14 is charis, pronounced khar’-ece meaning graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): –acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, grace (- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).

Paul goes on to ask a valid question: What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. (Romans 6:15)

Are we controlled by legalism or are we controlled by the grace of God who sent His only begotten Son?

Another way Paul poses this question is Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. (Romans 3:8 part b)

Here Paul is asking, “Is God going to do more good, the more evil we do? No of course not. God’s damnation over evil is just. Paul is obviously trying to make this point because he even poses this question a third time:

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Romans 6:1-2

So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving?

It seems somewhat perverse to think that our lies could show off God’s truth all the more gloriously, but that is what the law does. If we leave the earth where sin runs rampant, towards our goal where God is still sovereign both in heaven and on earth, without Jesus or God’s grace, how could we live in His house?

It is my understanding that we are to live with- in the framework of the law given to Moses by the power of the Holy Spirit who leads and guides us continually.

It is also clear to me that this is ‘in fact’ the law that God mentions through the mouth of Jeremiah and again in Hebrews through it’s author, that God, will put into our hearts and minds where He will write the law.

God giving us these guidelines of the instruction of the law has always been under His grace. The difference like Paul mentions is that we are no longer under the harsh subjection of legalism but are now under a gracious subjection unto the same law, put into our heart and written into our minds.

The law of instructions that were given to Moses was a tool that God intended to be used to teach all man how to live in a communal environment.

Jesus taught and lived His life based on this same law and its principles. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.’ (John 13:34)

Later He said, Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word, which ye have heard from the beginning. (1st John 2:7)

What ‘word’ do you suppose He was talking about that was heard from the beginning?

Jesus went on to teach about how darkness verses the light. “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” 1Jo 2:8-11

He is saying, “My dear friends, I’m not writing anything new here. This is the oldest commandment in the book, and you have known it from day one. It’s always been the same message.”

On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted because He is in us and so is the law being put into our heart and written in our mind and this my friends is the law of love. His love toward us. If it were not for His love toward us, none of us would be here anyway. We would have all been wiped out in the great flood.

The darkness of legalism is on its way out because His Light is burning away that old legalistic mentality that we can do things our own way. Anyone who claims to live in God’s light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark.

It is the person who loves his brother and sister who dwells in God’s light and does not block the light from others. Nevertheless, whoever hates, is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, does not know which end is up and is blinded by the darkness.

The yoke of legalism is heavy and burdensome, but through Jesus, we find that His yoke is easy because it is the Holy Spirit who opens our heart and minds so the we might understand the scriptures and the teachings of God’s institution, being written there.

So those now who live by faith are blessed along with Abraham, who lived by faith—this is no new doctrine! In addition, that means that anyone who tries to live by his own effort, independent of God, is doomed to failure. Scripture backs this up: “Utterly cursed is every person who fails to carry out every detail written in the Book of the law.” Galatians 3:10

Until the time came when we were mature enough to respond freely in faith to the living God, we were carefully surrounded and protected by the law given under Moses. The law is like someone who watches out for you while you are on your way to school, crossing the street, protecting you from danger and distractions, making sure that all the children get to the place they have set out for. Galatians 3:23

When the time came, God the Father, sent His Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that He might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by legalism of the law to set us free to experience our rightful heritage. We can tell that we are fully adopted because we can now call God, ‘our Father’. Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that we are not a slave, but a child?

Why would a God of love, take His children out of slavery and bondage in Egypt just to put them back into slavery and bondage under the law?

Isn’t it conclusive? We are not children of the slave woman Hagar who was expelled. We are the children of promise. We are not bound in harsh subjection to the system that results from perverting the law into legalism, but satan would like us all to think that we are.

Hagar represents the law of slavery because she was Sarah’s handmaiden. Sarah was the chosen wife of Abraham who lived in the law of freedom, their marital relationship.

Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. We must choose to be led by the Spirit and escape the compulsions of a law-dominated existence of legalistic thinking and know and trust that God, through the help of the Holy Spirit, we can find the law, given through Moses, tried and true and nothing to fear.

Before the time we became aware of God’s faithfulness, we were all imprisoned. Each and every one of us.

The law functioned until Jesus came. It was the people who distorted God’s law. God spoke this through the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

The author of Hebrews also repeated the same: Hebrews 8:8-9 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

The fathers broke the covenant that He gave to Moses. God found fault with the people. It was not the fault of the law because the law always pointed to the restoration of walking with God in an intimate relationship. This would happen through Jesus who we now walk with, side by side, in an intimate relationship, just as Adam and Eve walked with God before the fall.

There are 37 verses in the Old Testament with the word grace so make no mistake about it; God’s grace lived in the Old Testament no different than it does in the New. We have seen His favor upon all those who walked upright before the Lord in the Old Testament, no differently that we see His favor upon all those who walk in righteousness before Him now.

Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.

“The Lord will give grace, culminating in His glory at the end of life’s road.”

“In the past (Elohim) overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.” Paraphrased from: Acts 17:30-31

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. ~ Ecclesiastes 12:13

“How wrong can so many be wrong… and still be right?” Written by ~ Eudora 12/09/2011

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