9.17 The Word of God produces faith in the New Covenant
Yesterday, we said that the focus of the Old Covenant was “doing”. They read the law to find out what they must do in order to be righteous. In fact, anyone who fails to do all things written in the book of the law will come under the curse.
(Galatians 3:10)
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not CONTINUE IN ALL THINGS which are written in the book of the law, TO DO them.”
But under the New Covenant, we read the Word to find out what Christ has done for us. The reading of God’s Word produces faith in Jesus. Paul contrasts the doing of the law to “faith” in Jesus Christ. He said that the law is not of faith.
(Galatians 3:10)
Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who DOES them shall live by them.”
Why is this so? The law tells the person he is unrighteous. It tells him what he must do to be righteous. But the Epistles tell us that we have received the gift of righteousness. It tells us what Christ has accomplished on the cross.
We can either believe the Epistles – to have faith in Jesus, or we can walk away from the grace of Christ – to try to earn it through the law. So Paul is saying that if we go by the law, we are not going by faith – the law is not of faith. The man who does the law shall live by doing the law. But the righteous shall live by faith in Christ.
So the secret to reading the Bible is to see what Christ has done for you – so that it results in faith. Let us use two verses to contrast this truth. Yesterday we showed that under the Old Covenant, Joshua had to meditated on the law, in order TO DO all that is written in it (Joshua 1:8). But under the New Covenant, FAITH comes by hearing the good news of Jesus Christ.
(Romans 10:17)
So FAITH COMES from hearing the Good News, and people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.
When you read the good news of redemption, you have faith for redemption. When you read the good news of healing, you have faith for healing. When you read the good news of the gospel of peace, you will have faith to receive peace. When you hear about His grace, you always respond in faith. You don’t have to struggle. Faith comes… faith comes by simply hearing. You can grow in faith by reading the Word of Christ.
(Galatians 3:10)
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not CONTINUE IN ALL THINGS which are written in the book of the law, TO DO them.”
But under the New Covenant, we read the Word to find out what Christ has done for us. The reading of God’s Word produces faith in Jesus. Paul contrasts the doing of the law to “faith” in Jesus Christ. He said that the law is not of faith.
(Galatians 3:10)
Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who DOES them shall live by them.”
Why is this so? The law tells the person he is unrighteous. It tells him what he must do to be righteous. But the Epistles tell us that we have received the gift of righteousness. It tells us what Christ has accomplished on the cross.
We can either believe the Epistles – to have faith in Jesus, or we can walk away from the grace of Christ – to try to earn it through the law. So Paul is saying that if we go by the law, we are not going by faith – the law is not of faith. The man who does the law shall live by doing the law. But the righteous shall live by faith in Christ.
So the secret to reading the Bible is to see what Christ has done for you – so that it results in faith. Let us use two verses to contrast this truth. Yesterday we showed that under the Old Covenant, Joshua had to meditated on the law, in order TO DO all that is written in it (Joshua 1:8). But under the New Covenant, FAITH comes by hearing the good news of Jesus Christ.
(Romans 10:17)
So FAITH COMES from hearing the Good News, and people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.
When you read the good news of redemption, you have faith for redemption. When you read the good news of healing, you have faith for healing. When you read the good news of the gospel of peace, you will have faith to receive peace. When you hear about His grace, you always respond in faith. You don’t have to struggle. Faith comes… faith comes by simply hearing. You can grow in faith by reading the Word of Christ.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 11:15 PM
<< Home