12.13 Living in Christ in the New Covenant
Beloved, let us now describe how a believer (you and I) should be living in the New Covenant. The Holy Spirit convicts us of righteousness. We are conscious of our righteousness in Christ (our new identity). We have no consciousness of sins (Heb 10:2), just like Adam before he fell into sin. We do not go into a sin-search. Instead, we confess the Word to wash our conscience and to remind ourselves of our righteousness in Christ.
When we walk by faith in the free gift of righteousness, the Holy Spirit is able to work powerfully in us. We bear the fruit of the Spirit and we manifest the Life of Christ. We walk above sin and Satan. We live perpetually in our Father’s presence and we enjoy an intimate and loving relationship with Him. We are a joy to His heart and we fulfill our calling in Him.
Rom 5:17 says that the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness will cause us to reign in life.
Comparing the Law vs. Grace Approach to God’s Presence
1) The law gives us knowledge of sin (Rom 3:20). But grace points us to Jesus the Lamb of God (Eph 1:7; John 1:29).
2) The law makes us sin-conscious (Heb 10:1-4). Under grace, we become Jesus-conscious and righteousness-conscious (Heb 10:2).
3) Under law, Satan uses the law to accuse us (Col 2:14-15). Under grace, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our righteousness (John 16:8-10).
4) Under law, we constantly and repeatedly confess our sins (Heb 10:1-4). Under grace, we constantly confess our righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 5:21). We confess Jesus as our High Priest.
5) Under law, we feel condemned and unworthy (2 Cor 3:9). Under grace, we receive assurance of justification (Rom 3:24; 5:1).
6) Under law, we fail to enter the throne of grace (Heb 10:19-22). It is more a throne of judgment. Under grace, we can boldly enter the throne of grace and remain there (Heb 4:16).
7) Under law, we experience defeat and death (Rom 7:9; 2 Cor 3:7). Under grace, we reign in life (Rom 5:17).
As we discuss on the topic of worship, it is important to know that we can only experience worship in a fulfilling relationship with God by approaching God on the basis of the finished work of Christ (the grace of Jesus) in the New Covenant.
When we walk by faith in the free gift of righteousness, the Holy Spirit is able to work powerfully in us. We bear the fruit of the Spirit and we manifest the Life of Christ. We walk above sin and Satan. We live perpetually in our Father’s presence and we enjoy an intimate and loving relationship with Him. We are a joy to His heart and we fulfill our calling in Him.
Rom 5:17 says that the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness will cause us to reign in life.
Comparing the Law vs. Grace Approach to God’s Presence
1) The law gives us knowledge of sin (Rom 3:20). But grace points us to Jesus the Lamb of God (Eph 1:7; John 1:29).
2) The law makes us sin-conscious (Heb 10:1-4). Under grace, we become Jesus-conscious and righteousness-conscious (Heb 10:2).
3) Under law, Satan uses the law to accuse us (Col 2:14-15). Under grace, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our righteousness (John 16:8-10).
4) Under law, we constantly and repeatedly confess our sins (Heb 10:1-4). Under grace, we constantly confess our righteousness in Christ (2 Cor 5:21). We confess Jesus as our High Priest.
5) Under law, we feel condemned and unworthy (2 Cor 3:9). Under grace, we receive assurance of justification (Rom 3:24; 5:1).
6) Under law, we fail to enter the throne of grace (Heb 10:19-22). It is more a throne of judgment. Under grace, we can boldly enter the throne of grace and remain there (Heb 4:16).
7) Under law, we experience defeat and death (Rom 7:9; 2 Cor 3:7). Under grace, we reign in life (Rom 5:17).
As we discuss on the topic of worship, it is important to know that we can only experience worship in a fulfilling relationship with God by approaching God on the basis of the finished work of Christ (the grace of Jesus) in the New Covenant.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 12:30 AM
<< Home