The New Testament is only called “new” with respect to the Law of Moses,
not with regard to God’s dealing with humanity. There has never been more than
one way to please God in the history of mankind. The principle with which we
attain right-standing with God today is – and has always been – by FAITH. As
the Prophet Habakkuk declared six centuries before Christ, “the just shall live by his faith.” (Hab 2:4).
Abraham, Noah and the other Patriarchs all
received the gift of righteousness through their acts of faith (Rom 4:3; Heb
11:7; 2). This is the single thread that connects all of God’s people for all
time. There’s only one covenant and God
has only one people (Rom 9:6; Gal 3:7-9, 29; 6:16; etc.).
The ancient
Israelites never truly earned their
blessings; what they enjoyed was always positively disproportionate to their
acts of obedience. In the same way, their punishments and curses were always
less than what the Law prescribed. For example, there was no time in their
history that they fully met the rigid requirements of the Law, yet God never
really littered the Land with the bodies of non-compliers.
Grace had always been
at work, even back then. Perceptive saints like Moses, David and Jonah knew
this and even exploited it to full effect. But we today have all the facts and
details laid out for us.
Beloved, The New
Testament is here for you to enjoy. God’s not against you; instead He has gone
all out for you in Christ Jesus. All
you need and will ever need is available for you in Him. And like the great
Apostle, I pray that my God supplies all your needs according to His riches in glory (NOT according to
your performance) by Christ Jesus, (Phil 4:19).
AMEN.
More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.GREG ELKAN
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