Beleieve It and Be Happy!

According to this gracious covenant [New Covenant], the Lord treats His people as if they had never sinned. Practically, He forgets all their trespasses. Sins of all kinds treats as if they had never been; as if they were quite erased from His memory. O miracle of grace! God here does that which in certain aspects is impossible to Him. His mercy works miracles which far transcends all other miracles. Our God ignores our sin now that the sacrifice of Jesus has ratified the covenant. We may rejoice in Him without fear that He will be provoked to anger against us because of our iniquities. See! He puts us among the children; He accepts us as righteous; He takes delight in us as if we were perfectly holy. He even puts us in places of trust; makes us guardians of His honor, trustees of crown jewels, stewards of the gospel. He counts us worthy, and gives us a ministry ; this is the highest and most special proof that He does not remember our sins. Even when we forgive an enemy, we are very slow to trust him; we judge it to be imprudent to do so. But the Lord forgets our sins, and treats us as if we had never erred.O my soul, what a promise is this! Believe it and be happy. - Charles H. Spurgeon

Law & Grace

Under Law Man Says	Under Grace Christ Says
Look at what I'm doing for you!	Look at what I did for you!
Look at how I went to church.	Look at how I went to Calvary.
Look at how I was raised in my denomination.	Look at how I was raised from dead.
Look at how I gave my money.	Look at how I gave My life.
Look at how I confessed my sins.	Look at how I took away your sins.
Look at how I stood against sin.	Look at how I died for your sins.
Look at how I judged the lost world.	Look at how I saved the lost world.
Look at how I marched against evil-doers.	Look at how I suffered for evil-doers.
Look at how I bowed down to you.	Look at how I became one of you.
Look at how I healed the sick.	Look at how I raised the dead.
Look at how I spoke in tongues.	Look at how I spoke in love.
Look at how successfull my life was.	Look at how successful My death was.

Source: Classic Christianity Conference Manual

What is legalism?

Being under total grace is an extreme. It gives us a dangerous sense of freedom. It can bring us humility and security but at the same time a secret pride. God loves me unconditionally and I am safe in His hands. There is no feeling of guilt or fear. Does it promote sin? Does it give a license to sin? Isn't it too dangerous? And the entire Christendom says --- YES! So what is the solution? We need law! Law is Good! Law keeps us morally pure! Law makes us holy! We love law!

I think I know what Legalism means but I struggle to define it.

What teaches me to say 'no' to ungodliness? Law or Grace?

There are 2 ways I can stop watching R-rated movies:

1. I don’t watch R-rated movies because I am a Christian and I want to be holy.
2. I don’t watch R-rated movies because the wisdom from God tells me that my flesh is too bad and I may indulge in sin and destroy my earthly relationships.

In either case God is not pleased or displeased. Because there is only one thing which can please God- faith.
The first one is legalistic but the second is not. In the second case I am not motivated by the law, fear or guilt. I know that I know that I know, nothing can separate me from the love of God. The same grace teaches me to say ‘no’ to ungodliness, not the law. If it is law it is legalism and it promotes more sin.

11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. (Titus 2)

Shadow Vs Reality

Shadow	Reality
7th day physical Sabbath.	Everyday spiritual sabbath.
Physical Circumcision.	Circumcision without hands.
Passover Lamb.	Jesus the true passover lamb.
Blood on the door post keeping physical death away.	Blood of Jesus saving people from spiritual death.
Redemption of Israelites from Egypt by Moses.	Redemption of a sinner from the state of spiritual death through Jesus.
Walking in the wilderness for 40 years.	Christian living under the law.
Entering Canaan.	Entering God’s Grace.
Earthly tabernacle built by Israelites.	Heavenly Tabernacle not made by hands.
Curtain which separated the Most Holy place.	Body of Christ.
Human High priest in the Tabernacle.	Jesus the eternal High Priest.
Shedding the blood of animals.	Shedding the unblemished blood of Jesus.
Putting the sins of Israelites on the animal and performing the death penalty which covered the sins for one year.	Putting the sins of the entire world upon Jesus performing the death penalty which took away the sins of the entire world.
Human High priest entering the Holy of holies with blood of animals for his sins and the sins of the nation.	Jesus entering the true heavenly tabernacle with his own blood for the sins of the world.
Manna from heaven which satisfied physical hunger	True bread from heaven– Jesus who satisfies spiritual hunger.
Water from rocks which quenched physical thirst.	Real water which quenches the spiritual thirst from the rock of our salvation - Jesus.
Moses lifting the brass serpent.	Jesus lifted on the cross.
Physical lives saved of whom looked at the brass serpent.	Spiritual lives regenerated of whom looks upon Jesus lifted on the cross.
Ceremonial Washings.	Washing sins away by the blood of Christ.
Law through Moses - Men trying to do what is impossible for them.	Grace through Jesus - God doing what is impossible for men.