For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known. John 1:17,18
These two verses from John’s Gospel give you a very brief summary of the whole Bible. The Old Testament was written to give us laws, rules and regulations and the example of the relationship between God and his chosen people, Israel. The New Testament tells us more about God and about his true character. The strict God who gave us eternal laws and essential guide lines, is made known to all people by Jesus Christ – the living Word of God. Jesus shows us who God really is: a loving, forgiving heavenly Father who is patiently waiting for his wandering children to come back home.
Click here to listen: Old Testament, Jeremiah (= Real player audio file*) Jeremiah 31:31-34, read this passage here! Click here to listen: New Testament, Hebrews (= audio file*) Hebrews 8, read this passage here!
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:19-26
* You need to use Real Player to listen to these audio files.
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2 comments:
Hi Paul,
Just surfing blogs and ran across yours. I was caught by your remark that it is hard to follow Jesus. We're studying the basics with a focus on Jesus and it's an open forum. Feel free to stop by and join us.
Thank you, Loren!
Yes, it is hard to follow Jesus because He is so PERFECT! And He is also quite demanding... just ask the rich young ruler! But at the same time: His yoke is easy; His burden is light. I am only trying to be more like Him, with the help of the Holy Spirit, and guided by the Word of God. Growing into His likeness, they call it! Yes, I do want to follow the Lord with all of my heart. But I also remember what the Apostle Paul said:
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
I will certainly check out your open forum! Blessings!
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