Our faith in the finished work of the Cross of Jesus, the gift of God, brings us into right standing with God. Religion may try to make it a matter of works but faith in Jesus and His sacrifice alone saves us. We show our gratitude and praise Him in loving God above all and loving and caring for our neighbors as much as we do ourselves.
The New Covenant will be totally fulfilled in Israel when Jesus returns and they see Him and accept Him as their Redeemer King.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
God never gives up on His creation. Even though we are unfaithful He is not! When we repent and change He is there in Holy Spirit to guide us, teach us and direct us back to His truth in Jesus. Nothing can separate us from God our creator but ourselves. We choose whom we will serve.
Jeremiah 32:37-41 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. 38 They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39 then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. 41 Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.’
Israel will forever be God’s covenant people. In the New Testament Covenant the ways of God will be written on the hearts and minds of Israel and on those who by faith in Jesus believe.
2 Corinthians 3:5-6-11 that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
In the Holy Spirit we have life. The Law in the ten commandments allowed us to see sin but it had no power to save us from iniquity.
the New Covenant, the forgiveness of sin, the gift of God was given to all who would receive the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ in full payment of their sin. In Israel’s rejection of their redeemer King God allowed a period of time to accept His gift by faith. in Him we are adopted as His sons and daughters and fellow heirs of the promises given to Abraham that through him the world would be blessed.
Romans 3:23-26 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Blessed by God’s grace and our faith in the blood of Jesus the Christ who paid in full the consequences of sin and in His righteousness we abide not in our righteousness but in His.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
We, who in faith believe in the gift of grace God has given in the salvation of Jesus the Christ, we become joint heirs as adopted sons of the most high God. Our faith is counted to His righteousness not our own. Carla
Jews and Gentiles have failed to live up to God’s standard; sin is universal. As a result, God’s provision of righteousness by faith, as opposed to law or race, relates to all people. In Jewish tradition, God created humanity in His likeness to reflect His glory (Romans 1:23). But when Adam sinned, humanity lost the reflection of God’s image. It refers to both the acquittal of all charges and the provision of right status before God. Justification stands in contrast to condemnation.
The Greek word for redemption used here, apolytrōsis, refers to the act of freeing a slave or prisoner by payment. People were enslaved to sin so God offered His Son as the payment to “redeem” them.
The Greek word for mercy seat used here, hilastērion, refers to the lid of the ark of the covenant (Leviticus 16:15–16; Hebrews 9:5). Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the Jewish high priest would apply animal’s blood to this lid (Leviticus 16:14). Paul’s description suggests that Christ functions as the locus of atonement in the new covenant. Atonement Identifies Jesus’ blood as the means for dealing with sin. Elsewhere, references to the blood of Jesus signify His violent and sacrificial death (Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Revelations 1:5).
Through the crucifixion of Christ, God showed Himself righteous. He judged sin but also provided righteousness for those who have faith in Christ. God had left the sins of previous generations unpunished. This demonstrates His kindness toward humanity, not indifference toward sin. The forbearance of God refers to the patience God displayed when delaying punishment for sin. Paul’s hypothetical conversation partner raised a question about the legitimacy of God’s character in relation to human sin. Paul argued that sin is universal and God’s condemnation is therefore just. The apostle now explains that Christ’s death showed that God was not indifferent to sin. He is just. If God is just, then He is the only one who can justify.
Faith is the means by which God justifies a person. Faithlife Study Bible.
God revealed to people how they should live, but no one can live up to God’s perfect way. No one can live up to what God created us to be; we all fall short of His glory. We cannot save ourselves because as sinners we can never meet God’s requirements.
Our only hope is faith in Jesus Christ.
Those who believe are justified, that is, “declared righteous,” freely, without cost, by God’s grace, or “favor.” Christ Jesus died to provide redemption, which means He died to pay the price required to ransom sinners. By paying the penalty of their sin through His death, Jesus can free people from their sin and transfer His righteousness to those who believe in Him. On the basis of Christ’s righteousness alone, believers can approach God’s throne with praise.
Through God’s initiative, they have been restored to a proper relationship with Him. By His death, Christ satisfied the justice of God. He paid the penalty of sin in full. Paul cites two reasons why the righteousness of God comes through Christ’s death. The first is to demonstrate that God Himself is righteous, and did not judge the sins committed prior to the Cross. The second reason for the Cross is that God wanted to show that He is both righteous and at the same time the One who can declare sinners righteous. Because of Christ’s death, God does not compromise His holiness when He forgives a sinner. The NKJV Study Bible
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
Acts 17:30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
Romans 3:9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin
When God created the world and everything in it, everything was ideal. Light, darkness, sky, water, land, sun, moon, stars, birds, fish, animals, humans … Not one thing was out of place. First5
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3
Our invitation this week: to “become like a child.” The invitation to remember and to reclaim the profound sense of joy, innocence and trust. And the invitation to play. And let us never forget: this invitation is always linked to “we”.
Because no one of us is on this journey alone. Sabbath Moments
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance,
praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.
St. Therese’s Prayer: St. Therese of Lisieux
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