“What God Requires for His people and the Obligations of the Believer”

What does God want from us? What does He want us to do? The answer is found throughout the bible in the demands of law and the gracious invitation of the gospel. These are two totally different ideals yet, the law and the gospel work in divine concert for the ultimate benefit of humanity. The principles of law and gospel are the heart and soul of scripture. Martin Luther stated that a true doctor of theology is one who properly distinguishes between the law and gospel. God succinctly sets forth His requirements for humanity in His Ten Commandments - His law. If we regard the law as a code of conduct its demands are entirely impossible to achieve. In Matthew 5:48 Jesus refers to the Old Testament book of Leviticus (19:2) as He explains God's standard with crystal clarity; “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” O uch! God sets the bar at perfection. To enter heaven ones name must be written in the Lamb's book of life, and nothing impure (imperfect) will enter its gates. Yet, in Psalm 14:3 we read “…there is no one who does good, not even one.”

In James, chapter 2 comes the admonition: “…whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” So the universal conflict between God's perfect demands and humanity's imperfect flesh first revealed in Genesis 3:15 needs resolution. Fortunately for us it has been resolved (reconciled) without effort on our part. God's wrath and vengeance, and His punishment of sin collided with His grace and healing at a place called Golgotha – the place of the skull – the place of the cross. It was payment in blood - payment in full.

The law sets forth the do's and don'ts of human activity, but it is much more than a divine “Miss Manners” rule book of manners and behavior. The law illuminates the harsh reality of our sin, and the fierce wrath of God. The law accuses, and makes the case for our guilt of sin, which shows the need for confession; it breaks our hearts (contrition), allows us to realize the need for a change of heart (repentance) and drives us to our knees pleading for forgiveness. In Romans, chapter 3, we read: “Through the law we become conscious of sin…” So the law is a blessing in its unyielding, rigid demand for perfection in that it forces us to realize our helplessness in sin, and our need for a savior.

The gospel, on the other hand, is the gracious invitation to receive absolution from a loving God through the sacrificial death of the savior Jesus. The law is like the surgeon's scalpel, cutting, and exposing the disease of sin. The gospel is soothing salve that heals the wound, and cures the malady. The law governs our activity, but the gospel is entirely God's activity.

We find guidance for our lives relationships not only in Jesus' teaching, but in the example of his life. In the third chapter of Colossians we, as God's chosen and dearly loved, have these instructions: “…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…forgive as the Lord forgave you…” Then, Paul's directions take on a deeper dimension whose principles make the other requirements possible; “…Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts….Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…sing songs, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God….” And, finally, Paul gives us the key to satisfying God's seemingly impossible requirements: “…whatever you do…do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through Him.” These things cannot happen apart from faith. We cannot thank, praise, believe, or even acknowledge God as savior without faith. With faith, the bible teaches all things are possible with God, even the satisfaction of His demands of perfection. All God's requirements have been satisfied in the work of Christ Jesus. We receive Him in faith, our sins are completely absolved, and God is satisfied. The first and foremost obligation of a believer is – to believe.

Dear Lord: Help me in my belief, my faith… I need the Holy Spirit as I cling to Jesus for my only source of Grace, Joy and Peace. Amen

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