Holiness Day by Day: Transformational Thoughts for Your Spiritual Journey Devotional by Jerry Bridges

Author:Jerry Bridges [Jerry Bridges]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Is God Really in Control?

Week 27 / FRIDAY

THE LAW IS FOR GRACE

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

(MATTHEW 9:13)

Ironically, the Law of God, viewed as commands to be obeyed, should actually promote living by grace. When we view God's commands as optional - or think that as God's children we are no longer under the law as a moral requirement-we subtly slip into a works mentality. If obedience to God's Law is optional, then in our minds we begin to accumulate merit or extra points. "After all, I don't have to obey, so I must gain some merit by voluntary obedience."

But the person who knows he's required to obey God's commands, even as a child of God, will see more and more how far short he comes in obedience. And if that person understands the biblical concept of grace, he'll be driven more and more into the arms of the Savior and His merit alone.

Evangelist D. L. Moody is reported to have said something to this effect: "You've got to get people lost before you can get them saved." He was saying that only those who recognize they are lost will turn to the Savior. The Lord Jesus stated the same principle: "For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matthew 9:13).

This principle applies to us even as believers living under grace. We need to be reminded that we are still sinners. The best way to do this is to take seriously the commands of God as a required rule of life. We'll be continually reminded that we really are spiritually bankrupt - even as believers. And as redeemed sinners in a perpetual state of bankruptcy, we'll come to appreciate more each day the superabounding grace of God.

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