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Issue link: http://magazine.kcm.org/i/397930
Grace Is Redemption Galatians 3:10 and 13 says: "And all who depend on the Law [who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals] are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and destruction, for it is written in the Scriptures, Cursed (accursed, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment) be everyone who does not continue to abide (live and remain) by all the precepts and commands written in the Book of the Law and to practice them. Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified)” ("AMP"). In other words, if you’re convinced that you need to live by the Law, you’ve got to make sure you do all of it. You can’t just keep a few commands and miss the others. No, if you miss even one, it’s as though you miss them all. Some people think, God was just so in love with us that He gave us the Law so we could have 10 steps by which to live life. Others believe He looked down and said, “Oh, the people are so sinful. I’d better give them the Law.” Neither is correct. God gave the Law to bring us to the end of ourselves. Galatians 3:19 ("AMP"), answers the question of the Law’s purpose: “What then was the purpose of the Law? It was added [later on, after the promise, to disclose and expose to men their guilt] because of transgressions and [to make men more conscious of the sinfulness] of sin; and it was intended to be in effect until the Seed (the Descendant, the Heir) should come, to and concerning Whom the promise had been made.” Man had no understanding of sin until the Law was given. That understanding brought sin-consciousness, guilt and condemnation. God was trying to bring us to a point where we recognized that we couldn’t keep the Law. We were never going to be good enough. We needed a Savior. We needed Jesus! Grace Is Undeserved Favor In today’s dispensation of grace, we enjoy a wonderful covenant of the unmerited favor of God. There’s nothing we can do to earn it. God gave it to us free and clear. Even when we don’t deserve His favor, it shows up anyway. God gave it because we didn’t deserve, earn or work for it. Begin to believe God for an abundance of undeserved favor. Under the old covenant, you had to work to deserve God’s favor and be found righteous and blessed and prosperous, but no more. Hebrews 8:10 says, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.” God was revealing the law of love. When He said, “I’m going to be your God,” He was saying, “When you’re sick, I’m going to heal you. When you need deliverance, I’m going to deliver you. I’m your God, and I’m committed and faithful to you!” This Is Grace We serve a God who wants us to want Him. He wants us to be saved because we’re in love with Jesus, who paid the ransom for our freedom and has been merciful despite all our unrighteousness. Grace can be summed up simply like this: Under the old covenant, you were in bondage to the Law. But under the new covenant of grace, you’ve been delivered from the Law. Under the Law, you had to obey a code of written regulations. But under grace, you obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Under the Law, you had to do good to get good results. But under grace, you get good results because Jesus, not you, is good. Under the Law, you got what you deserved. But under grace, you get what you don’t deserve. It takes faith to grasp what grace has made available. Instead of focusing on sin and how to avoid it, look at what the love of God has given you. Receive His love by grace, and you’ll receive the necessary restraints to withstand sin. You’ll be motivated to live a godly life because you’re focused on the God who loves you so much that He paid a ransom for you before you were ever created. It’s the new covenant gift of grace, and it’s available to you! V ABOUT: Creflo Dollar is the founder and senior pastor of World Changers Church International in College Park, Ga.; World Changers Church-New York; and several satellite churches across the country. For more information, visit creflodollarministries.org. BVOV : 11