“It is for freedom that Christ has set us
free. Stand firm, then, and do not let
yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves
be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself
be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law
have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the
Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any
value. The only thing that counts is
faith expressing itself through love.”
Galatians 5: 1-6
Jesus said:
“Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, and the
wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins,
and both are preserved.” Matthew 9: 17
It seems that there will always be people
living under the law and trying to place others under it too. To do so denies the message of grace and the
entire New Covenant. In Jesus we are set
free from the law of sin and death and reborn into His wonderful Kingdom of
love, grace and light. To choose law
instead of grace places one under a yoke of slavery and bondage to the written
code that brings death in this life.
Furthermore, if we follow any portion of
the law we are obligated to obey the whole law and Christ becomes worthless to
us. Those who seek to be justified by observing the law are separated from
Christ’s grace. Jesus still loves them,
but the law places a wall between them and Christ that cannot be scaled by mere
human endeavor or obedience to the law.
The only way to grace, truth, and life is through a relationship with
Jesus, and one cannot serve both Christ and the law simultaneously. Once again the letter kills, but the Spirit
gives life.
However, a simple turning away from the law
and towards Christ again will restore our relationship with Him and place us
firmly within His hands of Grace and mercy once more. It is all about faith and never observance of
the law. Jesus waits patiently for us to
turn His way and never gives up on us.
No matter what we do, His face is continually turned towards us and He
is quick to forgive.
In the end the only thing that really
matters is faith expressing itself through love. The Lord has faith in us and He expressed His
love by going to the cross. The big
question is….will we deny ourselves, take up our very own cross and follow Him
daily? You say you have faith? Prove it by extending love and grace to
others along the way. Purposely walk
away from the law and the judgment it places on everyone, and instead open your
heart to Him and allow His great love and grace to flow forth through you to
both the washed and unwashed masses.
Jesus has filled our lives, our new wineskins, with the priceless new
wine of His Spirit. Drink deeply from
His fountain of life and allow Him to pour you out for the sake of others each
and every day.
by Chris Kirk
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