“Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact sin is lawlessness. But you know He appeared so that He might take away sins. And in Him is no sin..”
1 John 3: 4-5
As the Apostle John was writing this, the children of Israel were under the Law given by the Lord to Moses. Over the years the Religious Leaders had taken it and put so many other “laws” in place it was impossible to keep. They had set up shop inside the Temple to sell the things that they said needed to be sacrificed for particular ‘sins’. Grains, pigeons, lambs, goats, bulls, heifers, etc. It was man made religion for the most part with little true worship coming from it. But John reminded them of the good news:
“In Him is no sin”. When there is no sin, there is no need for sacrifice.
The Apostle Paul said, “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood. – to be received by faith. Romans (3: 21-25)
Father God saw how far man was missing the mark. He looked down in Love, and said unto His Son, “It is time. Be born as Son of man, and set them free.” In love, The Lord Jesus presented Himself as the one true sacrifice for every soul, “Once for all”. (Hebrews 7:27.) There will never be another need for a sacrifice for sin.
When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, He who fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17), and totally justified us by His grace, and mercy, and love, through His own flesh and blood, the Holy Spirit washes our soul white as snow. We are born again – this time as a child of God. His perfect Spirit is in us to help us, and teach us, as we continue our walk of learning, and growing as a child of man, child of God.
There is no longer a ‘Law’ to break when we are in Christ Jesus, there is only grace. Some try to combine the two, but it cannot be done. Christ set aside the Covenant of the Law, and established the Covenant of Grace. Some try to require payment in some way of themselves or others if they sin – it cannot be done. There is no debt to pay. “Because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:14.)
Let us believe in His Covenant of grace. Let us walk and rejoice in it. Christ Jesus gave His life for it to be ours. In Him, we walk not in lawlessness, but in His perfection, being made holy as He does His good work in us.
His blessings and love be upon you, and yours, God’s Beloveds. May you prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers.
Poppa B.
Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, On Line