But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it- not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it- they will be blessed in what they do.
This part of the verse gets sticky fast if you aren't paying close attention. At first glance, it looks like its promoting a works-based theology. What so many of us interpret here is: Do what the law says and God will do what you want in return… Be good enough and he'll give you good stuff… Cause and effect. That's a lie. That's the enemy's twist on the truth in order to deceive us and take grace out of the equation. There is NO amount of rule-following that justifies us or earns us God's favor.
Instead, we have to look at this small section in context of the whole verse. Remember yesterday's NASB translation about being an "effectual doer" and the purpose of the "perfect law" that we looked at the day before? What makes me effectual? Is it following rules? Nope, that was the way of the incomplete law… the Old Testament… the Law of Moses. And it didn't justify us to God. All our good works are "like filthy rags" according to Isaiah 64:6. All that law did was point us to our need for a savior. It showed us that we are a wreck and can do absolutely nothing to be enough.
But then there's the perfect law… GRACE… The law that says, no you're not good but I love you anyway. We were all in the same boat… separated from God… but Jesus lived a perfect life, died a painful and lonely death, and arose on Easter. And because of that, we no longer have to stand before God broken… we can stand redeemed. If we claim Jesus as savior, Jesus meets us at heaven's door and says, "She's with me."
That is the truth that transforms us! That is the law that, when it is written on our heart, floods out into our life. That is what causes us to be an effectual doer. It's not us striving to be good enough. And certainly not us trying to earn blessings.
Look at that verse again… "But doing it, they will be blessed in what they do." "It" is letting love flow out. "What" is living a life of humility realizing that it is by grace alone you are saved. We are not blessed because we have done enough, been faithful enough to receive his blessing. Our "what we do" is blessed because we are a new creation, transformed by grace (God's unmerited favor.) It's all about Jesus.
Application:
In Matthew 5, Jesus calls these people blessed: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry and thirsty, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. So instead of looking at this verse and saying, "If I do enough, I'll be blessed," let's be careful to put "they will be blessed in what they do" in context of the whole Bible. I will be blessed if I recognize there is nothing on that list of beatitudes that feels natural to me. I will be blessed if I recognize my inability to make anything good out of my life just by trying to be enough. I will be blessed if I completely surrender to Christ. I am blessed because he's transforming me and I am a new creation. Grace is the blessing… and we did nothing to deserve it!
This conversation came up yesterday two different times and so I feel the need to stick this in just in case anyone who's reading this didn't realize…
It's possible to know who God is… to believe in Him… even to acknowledge that he is directing your life… but never have surrendered your heart to Jesus and accepted grace. If you have questions about all this, please ask me. Or come to Easter at Faith Promise and hear the full story.
Lord, I love you! Thank you so much for grace! I can hardly understand that kind of love but I thank you for it. Help me to remember that I am blessed not because I am faithful but because you are gracious. In Jesus' name! Amen!
Today is the final part of this series. If you haven't been around for all 4 days, please go back and read the other sections.
Part 1: Looks Intently
Part 2: The Perfect Law that Gives Freedom
Part 3: But Doing It
Part 4: They Will Be Blessed
Confident in this…
Miranda
God is teaching me that I don't have to change my image to go to school, because I would always be someone else at school and someone else at home and church, but God showed that its good to be a difference maker. To lead others to him.
ReplyDelete