In order to understand why Jesus needed to come
to this Earth, we took a look last Friday at the story of the rich young
ruler. We came to understand that we cannot work our way into Heaven: "As he
watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, 'Do you have any idea how
difficult it is for the rich to enter God's kingdom? Let me tell you, it's
easier to gallop a camel through a needle's eye than for the rich to enter
God's kingdom.'’' (Matthew 19: 23-24 MSG).
Wait. Where did these commandments that apparently
cannot be completely kept come from anyway?
The answer to this question is easy. Just ask
anyone in the Jewish culture this question, and they will say, "Moses”.
Moses brought the law. This is even recorded in John 1:17: "For the law was
given through Moses...” (NIV; See also 2 Cor. 3:4-6).
But if no one can keep the law, then why try?
The Rich Young Ruler tried, because anyone in this
Jewish culture would be stoned if he didn’t keep the law! No one would dare
do that!
Jesus, on the other hand, taught something very
different. John 1 tells us: "For the law was given through Moses, but grace
and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17 NIV). We have, therefore, a
choice to make: Either we try to work our way into Heaven by the law of
Moses, or we can enter in through grace.
But who is to say which is better?
For starters, the law was given by a servant of
the most High God, Moses. That seems like a pretty reliable source. However,
grace came through Jesus Himself...(See John 1:17; 2 Cor. 3:4-6). What
higher standard could there be?
Jesus left Heaven and entered the womb of Mary so
many years ago with one mission: To bring grace to humankind. He did so by
His unjust death on the cruel cross. He had never hurt anyone, for He is
completely and thoroughly love. He died an unjust death so that we, the ones
who deserve His death, could live. That is grace! That is love! That is
Jesus!
Even if we sin, we cannot lose that grace for
grace cannot change. We are saved by the blood of Jesus and nothing else:
"Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may
receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16
NIV)
Thanks to Jesus Christ and His perfect gift of
love and grace, begun as a tiny baby on this earth and brought it its grand
finale at the cross, we are no longer strangers to God. Consider the
following: "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but
fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household...”
(Eph. 2:19 NIV); and "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through
faith...” (Gal. 3:26 NIV).
So we are children of God!
Think about it: Would we want our children to obey
our rules because they have to? Or would we prefer that they obey the house
rules because they respect us?
Of course it is the later, and God is no
different. He never wanted His children to be legalists. That was not His
way. Rather, Jesus willingly died for us and was resurrected on the third
day. Through Jesus, we are saved! He is our Saviour!
"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and
what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ
appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2
NIV). You are saved when you accept Jesus. Our heavenly Father will be with
you, and Jesus and the Holy Spirit as well. Yahoo!
When did grace come down? That star-filled night
in Bethlehem when Jesus was born in that manger because there was no room
for Him in the inn. Will you stop trying to work your way into Heaven? Will
you accept His gift of Salvation today?
Rob Chaffart