Freedom and the Law

May 15, 2022 Background Scripture: Galatians 3 Lesson Passage: Galatians 3:18 - 29 Admittedly, we get a lot of things twisted when it comes to New Testament doctrine versus Old Testament doctrine. Perhaps nothing compares to the confusion that surrounds the relationship between the Law of the Old Testament and grace in the New Testament. I believe we should always start with the understanding that God gave both, the Law and grace. Knowing this, we can clearly conclude that there should be no contradiction between Law and grace. There is no contradiction in God. One method the Apostle Paul used to show there is no contradiction is by noting three important historical milestones. First, Paul pointed out the relationship between God and Abraham that was based on Abraham's belief in what God promised him. God accepted Abraham's belief in His promise as putting Abraham in right standing with Him. Put another way, God considered Abraham to be righteous based solely on the fact that Abraham sincerely believed what God told him. Second, Paul noted that God gave the Law through Moses over four hundred and thirty years after God had declared Abraham to be righteous based on Abraham's belief in Him. Those two points make it clear that Abraham had been considered in right standing with God over four centuries before the Law was given. Finally, Paul noted that Jesus came after both events proclaiming faith (belief in God) for salvation. All who accept the message of salvation by faith are brought into the right relationship with God. This happens without a person demonstrating the ability to live according to the Law. Then what is the purpose of the Law? The Law was decreed by God to define holiness. Holiness is the state that a person must attain if they are to be in the right relationship with God. We don't know what God requires for a person to be in right relationship with Him except we have knowledge of the Law. In other words, if a person wants to be in the right relationship with God based on their own efforts, the Law details how to do it. The catch is anyone who has attempted to do what the Law requires has failed miserably. Anyone who sincerely wants to live according to the Law is confronted with an internal conflict that makes the person desire to do the opposite. The Law is like a spiritual mirror that allows one to see the unholiness that exist within one's own flesh. It is that unholiness of human flesh that causes us to rebel against the Law of God. And therein is the purpose of the Law. The Law reveals in us the unholiness that is against God and leading to our eternal condemnation by God. Grace is the call of God that draws us to Him that He might impart holiness to us. And when we dare to believe what God promises us through the grace of Jesus Christ, God brings us into right standing with Him. With that, we are accepted by God in the same way Abraham was accepted, and we become the children of Abraham because of our faith. After that, we are called by God to walk in that faith. Any attempt to use our own effort to follow the Law, after having been saved by grace, is confusion on our part. No one is made holy by keeping the Law. The Law is available to show us our need of grace—even as a tutor teaches us so that we understand what we previously did not know. A mirror cannot fix anything a person sees that is wrong with them based on their reflection in it. The reflection allows one to see what needs fixing. The mirror cannot fix the reflection. Sin is bondage. The Law allows us to see the chains, but the Law cannot remove them. Only grace can give us freedom and that is accomplished apart from the Law! Robert C. Hudson May 2, 2022

Freedom for the Future

May 8, 2022 Background Scripture: Romans 8:18 - 30 Lesson Passage: Romans 8:18 - 30 Adult Christians have learned the value of delayed gratification as it concerned a formal education, learning a trade, or honing a new career skill. We did not enjoy the benefits until the process was completed. Some of us had to forgo getting a decent job and earning wages until the process was completed. Some of us missed vacations, trips to exotic places, the ability to buy some neat stuff— including a car and having our very own place to live. All of that made waiting difficult from an emotional standpoint. However, after the process was finished, we began to experience some of what we denied ourselves earlier. Even more than that, the waiting allowed us to complete a program of study, learn a trade, or gain a new skillset. In essence, the delay had provided us with a much better future than we previously could have hoped for. We were eventually grateful when we obtained those things we wanted in the past. The potential for other blessings which were previously unavailable to us had been added to us because we chose to wait. Delayed gratification is one of the best lessons to be learned by an adult. On the other hand, salvation is much better than delayed gratification. Salvation allows us to be grateful today and abundantly blessed in the future. Salvation matters today, but its ultimate reward is in the future. That's one of the messages of today's topic. Our recent lessons have examined various aspects of freedom for those who are in Christ Jesus. Yes, there is much gained today when Jesus is accepted as one's personal savior. New insights, attitudes, perspectives, and dimensions of joy are all experienced by Christians. None of those things remove all burdens and hardships that afflict people in this world. In this life, we have tribulations, disappointments, and setbacks. These are experienced by Christians as well as non-Christians. Salvation in Christ Jesus does not exempt us from the trials and tribulations of this world. How Christians handle disappointments, setbacks, trials, and tribulations should be different than how non-Christians handle the same. But what about the sufferings that come because of our faith? Christians do suffer at times when non-Christians don't. This is more evident in some countries than it is in America. How do Christians know when enough is enough when it comes to suffering? We don't unless we practice seeking God for guidance and learn to listen to His voice. When difficulties come, we want to know the details of what God has planned for us in the future. However, faith demands that we believe everything God has said about the future and trust Him with the outcome. That is the heart of Paul's message in today's text. Christians have a future built on the precious promises of God. We believe that the future God promises is so great and glorious that it makes the sufferings of this present time insignificant by comparison. Nothing we suffer today will take anything away from the promises of God for our future. Every now and then God strengthens us by giving us a foretaste of what's in store for the future. This brings us an internal peace and joy that is unexplainable considering what may be going on around us. The personal experience of salvation gave us a foretaste, i.e., the Spirit as the firstfruits. So how should we handle situations today since we have been given a foretaste of the future? Christians should embrace God's promises for the future. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit in us, we possess the proof of a future freedom. And even nature awaits its unveiling. Robert C. Hudson April 23, 2022