37 lines
4.5 KiB
HTML
37 lines
4.5 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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June 17
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<h1>Substance, not Shadows, under Grace</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>For the <b>law</b>, having a <b>shadow</b> of the <b>good things to come</b>, and <b>not</b> the <b>very image</b> of the things, can <b>never</b> with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach <b>perfect</b>…Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a <b>shadow</b> of things to come, but the <b>substance</b> is of <b>Christ</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 10, '1-1');">Hebrews 10:1</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Col', 2, '16-17');">Colossians 2:16-17</a>)</div>
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<p>Another superior aspect of grace is seen in the difference between a <b>shadow</b> and the <b>substance</b> that casts a shadow. Shadows supply various benefits, but they have critical limitations. Shadows can provide a visible outline of an actual reality, but they cannot supply what is inherent to the reality. Also, shadows can give indication of an approaching person, but they cannot provide a relationship with that person. The old covenant of law is likened unto a shadow: <i>"For the <b>law</b>, having a <b>shadow</b> of the <b>good things to come</b>."</i> The new covenant of grace (God's sufficient resources freely available in Christ) is the substance. <i>"The <b>substance</b> is of <b>Christ</b>."</i></p>
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<p>One of the shadow-like characteristics of the law was contained in its sacrifices. <i>"For the <b>law</b>, having a <b>shadow</b> of the <b>good things to come</b>, and <b>not</b> the <b>very image</b> of the things, can <b>never</b> with these same <b>sacrifices</b>, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach <b>perfect</b>."</i> Christ would perfectly fulfill all that those ancient sacrifices represented, while making all of their desired benefits available to those who would believe in Him. The Passover lamb is a clear example of this truth. <i>"Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the <b>Passover lamb</b>…For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, <b>the LORD will pass over</b> the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Exd', 12, '21-21');">Exodus 12:21</a>, <a onClick="return mV('Exd', 12, '23-23');">23</a>). This shadow of temporal deliverance becomes substance of permanent deliverance in Christ, who delivers us from eternal judgment. <i>"<b>Christ, our Passover</b>, was sacrificed for us"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Cr', 5, '7-7');">1 Corinthians 5:7</a>).</p>
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<p>Another shadow-like characteristic of the law can be seen in its righteous commands. Whatever the law demands is related to holiness, to righteousness. <i>"You shall be <b>holy</b>, for I the LORD your God am <b>holy</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Lev', 19, '2-2');">Leviticus 19:2</a>). This call to righteousness can only become a substantial reality through the Lord Jesus Christ: <i>"that I may gain <b>Christ</b> and be found <b>in Him</b>, <b>not</b> having my <b>own</b> righteousness, which is from the <b>law</b>, but that which is through <b>faith</b> in <b>Christ</b>, the <b>righteousness</b> which is from <b>God</b> by <b>faith</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Phl', 3, '8-9');">Philippians 3:8-9</a>).</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Lord Jesus, You are all of the good things to come that were foreshadowed in the law. Help me to avoid being caught up in the shadows of the law. May Your Spirit draw me to the unlimited spiritual substance that is found in You alone, Amen.</div>
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