39 lines
4.5 KiB
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39 lines
4.5 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<script src="./js/MainHeader.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div class="head">
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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July 18
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<h1>Truth to Deliver Us from the Law</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>The <b>law</b> has <b>dominion over</b> a man as long as he lives…But now we have been <b>delivered from</b> the law, having died to what we were <b>held by</b>, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom', 7, '1-1');">Romans 7:1</a>, <a onClick="return mV('Rom', 7, '6-6');">6</a>)</div>
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<p>In the word of God, the Lord has promised truth which brings spiritual liberation. <i>"The truth <b>shall make you free</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 8, '32-32');">John 8:32</a>). We have considered such truths that set people free from <b>bondage</b> to <b>sin</b>, from <b>bondage</b> to the <b>fear of death</b>, and from <b>bondage</b> to the <b>influence</b> of the <b>evil one</b>. Now, we will look at another category of liberating truth: <b>truth to deliver us from the law</b>.</p>
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<p>This issue pertains to everyone initially, because we all begin under bondage to the law. <i>"Now we know that whatever the <b>law</b> says, it says to those who are <b>under the law</b>, that every mouth may be stopped, and <b>all the world</b> may become <b>guilty before God</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom', 3, '19-19');">Romans 3:19</a>). Everyone who has ever lived, is living now, or will live in the days to come (<i>"<b>all the world</b>"</i>) is initially <b>held</b> in a <b>state</b> of <b>condemnation</b> (<i>"<b>guilty before God</b>"</i>), because of their sin. This guilty condition would persist for a lifetime, if God did not supply a remedy. <i>"The <b>law</b> has <b>dominion over</b> a man as long as he lives."</i> However, this condition need not persist, because the Lord's word proclaims liberating truth for this drastic need. <i>"But now we have been <b>delivered from</b> the law, <b>having died</b> to what we were <b>held by</b>."</i> The person we were at physical birth died on the cross with Christ, when we believed in Him. The new creature in Christ now stands <b>justified</b> by <b>faith</b> in <b>Christ</b> (not by law performance). <i>"Therefore we conclude that a man is <b>justified</b></i> [declared <b>not guilty</b>, pronounced <b>righteous in Christ</b>] <i>by <b>faith apart from</b> the <b>deeds</b> of the <b>law</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom', 3, '28-28');">Romans 3:28</a>).</p>
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<p>All of God's children have experienced these liberating truths, as they apply to <b>justification</b> (our eternal righteous standing before God in heaven). However, many of God's people are unaware of deliverance from the bondage of the law concerning <b>sanctification</b> (our daily growth in personal, practical godliness on earth). This matter is repeatedly addressed in the word of God. Here, in one of our primary verses for meditation, we see these truths given a sanctification implication. <i>"Now we have been <b>delivered from</b> the law, having died to what we were <b>held by</b>, <b>so that</b> we should <b>serve</b> in the <b>newness</b> of the <b>Spirit</b> and <b>not</b> in the <b>oldness</b> of the <b>letter</b>."</i> Yes, understanding the truth of deliverance from the law determines whether we will struggle in bondage to law performance, or live freely by the ongoing, fresh work of the Spirit of God.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord of deliverance, I worship You for delivering me
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from the condemnation of the law, by grace through faith. Teach
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me how to live daily by grace through faith, that I might be practically delivered from law performance as I serve You, Amen.</div>
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