Are You Free? Loving God, Part XXIV

One topic that I think never gets old and something that I think should be taught more frequently is our freedom in Christ and how we are no longer under the law. Yes, we are free indeed!

Let’s review the old covenant:

Deuteronomy 30: 15 “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. 16 For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.

This clearly says that if we love God, keep His commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in His ways, then we are choosing life if we obey Him. Just like the gospel message, the Israelites were given a choice and it was a matter of life and death, spiritually.

Why did Jesus come to earth?

Matthew 5: 17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

This says that Jesus came to accomplish the purpose of the law, other translations say “fulfill the law”. We just read that if we are able to follow the law then we will have life. Which means that if Jesus accomplishes the purpose of the law, or fulfills it, then we no longer need the law.

So did He do what He said He came to do?

John 19: 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Absolutely! The work has been done. That’s why we are saved by grace and not by works.

Now let’s read this…

Matthew 22: 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Read verse 40 once more

It is quite liberating to know that we are no longer under the law. These two commandments cover all of them. Verse 37 blows me away (which I’m still trying to figure out). Let me be clear: Our salvation is not based on our efforts to follow these two commandments. We’ll always fall short.

To grow spiritually, however, I believe it is wise to live by these commandments. We should use them as our prime directives so that we can’t go wrong.

All I can say is that the more you seek God and get to know Him, the greater your desire to please Him will become.

Let’s close with this:

Titus 3:  4 But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

Do you walk in His freedom?

“Dear Lord, I want to know you more. Your ways are so foreign to me. I easily lose focus on you and the work you completed here on earth. Thank you, Jesus, for paying the ultimate price by dying on the cross for my sins. Please help me to continue learning as I meditate on your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Photo by Enoch Hsiao on Unsplash