"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." John 1:17-18 (Cf. Deut. 18:15-20)
When the Children of Israel stood before Mt. Sinai and heard the voice of God Himself as He gave the 10 Commandments, they were terrified and told Moses, "Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die" (Exodus 20:19). And which one of us could stand in the presence of the holy God and not fear death and eternal condemnation?
But God, through Moses, spoke to the people, saying, "The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken" (Deuteronomy 18:15).
And that's what God did. He sent His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to redeem us from our sins and rise again and to speak to us the good news of forgiveness and life through faith in Him as our Savior. Jesus is the eternal Word, the creator and life-giver, God Himself in human flesh, come into this world to fulfill the holy commandments of God which we have failed to keep and to suffer and die in our stead to bear the punishment we justly deserve (cf. John 1:1-5;14-18,29; cf. 14:8ff.).
Though none of us could endure the thunderings of God's law because of our sinfulness and failures to measure up to all that God's holy commandments require, yet He comes to us in Messiah Jesus with pardon, peace and forgiveness for the sake of Christ's holy life and His innocent sufferings and death for our sins and the sins of the world.
As the Bible says, "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:19-24).
Do you want to know God? If you seek to know Him only through the Law given on Mt. Sinai, you will be terrified and afraid of Him.
If you want to know God, learn of Jesus and know Him. He is God in the flesh. He came into this world to redeem you -- to die for your sins and rise again. In Him you will know God as your loving and merciful Father. In Him you will have forgiveness and life.
Dearest Jesus, Son of God and son of man, thank You for revealing to us not only our sinfulness but Your grace and mercy for the sake of Your holy and perfect sacrifice for our sins. Amen.
[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible. More devotions at www.godshepherdrogers.org.]
Community on 02/04/2015