Today we continue our series entitled, “Grace and Truth” by continuing to look at by continuing to look at The Law given under Moses vs. the Grace provided by Jesus. Our main scriptures are John 1:14 & 17. Let’s look at them again.
(John 1:14 New International Version)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:17 New International Version)
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
In this series we studied Galatians 3, 4, and 5. We spent several days on Galatians 6:17. Today we make it to verse 18. To ensure we get what the Apostle Paul is saying, ;et’s take a look at it in four different translations.
(Galatians 5:18 Easy to Read Version)
“But if you let the Spirit lead you, you are not under law.”
(Galatians 5:18 New Living Translation)
“But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.”
(Galatians 5:18 The Passion Translation)
“But when you are brought into the full freedom of the Spirit of grace, you will no longer be living under the domination of the law, but soaring above it!”
(Galatians 5:18 Amplified Bible)
“But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.”
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. The Bible says, in no unclear terms, that once you are led by the Holy Spirit (meaning that you are Born-Again, God’s Spirit is IN you, and you are actually allowing Him to lead you in all things), you are not under obligation to the Law of Moses. These are not my words. They are God’s words (Gal 5:18). Penned by the Apostle Paul. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Himself. You can argue against it. You can reject what the Bible says, even though it is written in plain English. But what you can’t do is change what God said. If you are led by God’s Spirit, you are NOT under The Law. Period.
2. In this series we have learned that The Law of Moses was given as a tutor (Gal 3:24). It served as a guardian until Jesus came. Once Jesus came and He ushered us into the New Covenant, we no longer need a tutor or a guardian. Our Heavenly Father Himself, in the form of His Spirit, lives down on the inside of us. Please allow Him to lead you today. This is how we get to live like Jesus lived in this world. This is how we become human conduits of the divine. This is how we get to the point where people come in contact with God Himself, when they come in contact with us. And that’s the goal!
3. In this series I have provided a few “macro” views to the Bible. Let’s do that again today. Let’s take a macro view at what God did.
God created Adam in His image. He placed His Spirit down inside of Adam. Adam was given divine authority and power. He was created to rule and dominate this planet. To ensure Adam had the freedom to make his own decisions, Adam was given one rule. Guess what? He broke that rule. As a result, sin and death were introduced into the world. Adam was kicked out of the Garden and every human being born after Adam was born in sin and shapen in iniquity. Billions and billions of people were made sinners because of one man.
God then chose to bless Abraham. God did not give Abraham any rules. Had God given Abraham even one rule, he would have surely broken it. Because we, as humans, are not perfect. Since we are all born with the nature of Adam, we are born as rule-breakers. You don’t have to teach a baby to lie or to say “no”. We are all born that way.
430 years after Abraham God gave The Law to Moses. There were 10 commandments written on tablets of stone and 603 more commandments. These rules were NOT designed to make men right. Rules cannot make you right. They can only show you when you are wrong. These rules were designed to prove to man that we need a Savior. Guess what? That Savior came. His name is Jesus. He saved us from our sin. He delivered us OUT OF everything Adam got us INTO.
Jesus restored us to the fellowship and intimacy Adam had with God the Father in the Garden. Like Adam, Jesus walked around with the Holy Spirit inside of Him. Jesus did not focus on rules. He only said what He heard the Father say. He only did what He saw (by revelation) the Father do. Adam (before the fall) and Jesus (in the New Testament) were not rule-based. They were both spirit-based. This is how we are supposed to live today.
The Bible tells us that if we are led by the Holy Spirit, we are NOT under the bondage associated with The Law of Moses. Like Jesus, you can now be led by the Holy Spirit everyday, in every way. This is how we are supposed to live. This is the gospel. Don’t fight it. Embrace it. This is the only way you will ever become the man/woman you were born to be. Living led of God’s Spirit, empowered by His grace, and doing all you do for His glory!
That’s enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith, as I am led of Your Spirit. You live inside of me in the form of Your Spirit. I am walking around with God on the inside of me. Therefore, my focus is no longer on external rules. My focus is on the internal leading of Your Spirit in all things, at all times. I say what You tell me to say. I do what You lead me to do. You lead me to do things that far exceed my power, ability and strength. And because You are leading me, I know I can. Without You I am nothing. With You, I can do all things. So I boldly declare that I am led by Your Spirit, I obey all I am led to do, and as a result, You change the world through me today and every day! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
