37 lines
4.5 KiB
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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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October 10
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<h1>Living by Faith Contrasted with Living by Law</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>For as <b>many</b> as are of the <b>works</b> of the <b>law</b> are under the <b>curse</b>; for it is written, "<b>Cursed</b> is <b>everyone</b> who does <b>not continue</b> in <b>all things</b> which are written in the book of the <b>law</b>, to <b>do them</b>." But that <b>no one</b> is <b>justified</b> by the <b>law</b> in the sight of God is <b>evident</b>, for "<b>The just shall live by faith</b>." Yet the <b>law</b> is <b>not</b> of <b>faith</b>, but "The <b>man</b> who <b>does</b> them shall <b>live by them</b>."</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gal', 3, '10-12');">Galatians 3:10-12</a>)</div>
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<p>In our previous meditation, we considered God's call to live by faith, given through the prophet Habakkuk. <i>"Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the <b>just shall live by his faith</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hab', 2, '4-4');">Habakkuk 2:4</a>). We also looked at the first of three appearances of this quote in the New Testament. <i>"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The <b>just shall live by faith</b>.'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom', 1, '16-17');">Romans 1:16-17</a>). The second appearance is given in Galatians, where <b>living by faith is contrasted with living by law</b>.</p>
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<p>This contrast between law and faith involves a curse that is related to the law. <i>"For as <b>many</b> as are of the <b>works</b> of the <b>law</b> are under the <b>curse</b>."</i> The curse is upon those who attempt to establish an acceptable relationship with God based on human works, as measured by God's holy law. The accompanying Old Testament quote explains the curse. <i>"For it is written, '<b>Cursed</b> is <b>everyone</b> who does <b>not continue</b> in <b>all things</b> which are written in the book of the <b>law</b>, to <b>do them</b>'."</i> The curse is that those who choose to live by human performance under the law must <b>always</b> accomplish <b>everything</b> the law commands. Performance of <b>some</b> of the law's demands <b>some</b> of the time is unacceptable. This relentless pressure requiring perfect performance may seem curse enough. Yet, the consequences of inevitable failure intensify the curse. This dreadful consequence can be seen in the reminder of the blessed remedy that God's grace provides. <i>"<b>Christ</b> has <b>redeemed</b> us from the <b>curse</b> of the <b>law</b>, having <b>become</b> a <b>curse</b> for <b>us</b> (for it is written, '<b>Cursed</b> is <b>everyone</b> who <b>hangs</b> on a <b>tree</b>')"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gal', 3, '13-14');">Galatians 3:13-14</a>). Those who violate any portion of the law's demands deserve the judgment that Jesus took on the cross.</p>
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<p>This gracious provision of salvation through the substitutionary death of Christ reminds us that <b>faith</b>, <b>not law</b>, is our abundant hope. <i>"But that <b>no one</b> is <b>justified</b> by the <b>law</b> in the sight of God is <b>evident</b>, for '<b>The just shall live by faith</b>.'</i> Faith depends upon the work of another, even Christ. Living by law is not living by faith. It is living by human performance. <i>"Yet the <b>law</b> is <b>not</b> of <b>faith</b>, but 'The <b>man</b> who <b>does</b> them shall <b>live by them</b>.'"</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord, I praise You for taking upon Yourself the curse of the law that I deserved. My heart exults that the just shall live by faith, not by human performance. Please teach me to live by faith and not by law, Amen.</div>
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