Day 107 "It's All About The Grace, About The Grace, No Trying! (Not By Works!")

My wife, Robyn, loves the song "It's All About The Base" by Meghan Trainor. Released in 2014, the co-written song with Kevin Kadish was intended to promote positive body image and self-esteem. The catchy hook, "It's all about the base, no treble" emphasized the contrast between the two.

Which made me think of grace versus works in the Christian walk. If you want to walk freely and joyfully in the Christian walk, you may want to read and study through the books of Romans and Hebrews in the New Testament. In earlier blogs, I walked through each of the books. Romans helps us to understand that we have been released from the the religious law and code to our lives by faith, that Jesus completed everything we need for living in an intimate relationship with God. Jesus made us holy and completely righteous in him before God without any need for works for religious effort on our part.

"But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known," Romans 3:21

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe."

Romans 3:22

"and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood."

Romans 3:24-25

"For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law."

Roman 3:28

Unless you see that God did everything through Christ to make us holy and reconciled us back in to a relationship with him, you will find yourself still under the bondage of trying to appease God through your own fleshly efforts, and when will it ever be enough? Isn't that the way we live all the other areas of our lives in this world- by performance and self effort?

But the book of Hebrews explains the two covenants that God created with man. The first was set up by the Mosaic law that required us to live our lives in such and such a manner that pleases God. There was much of the atmosphere that if you lived a certain way, God was pleased and dispersed out blessings. But if you failed to live up to these godly standards, only displeasure and punishment awaits. The law was only capable of showing us that we could not keep it, and condemn us for not doing so. The law could not change our hearts, therefore changing our lives. It could only show us what we couldn't do and show us our need for a savior.

"The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless ( for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God."

Hebrews 7:18-19

"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming-not the realities themselves."

Hebrews 10:1

"He set aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:9-10

This is what is meant by God establishing a second and better covenant with man based on faith in Christ, and faith alone. Rather than trying to live our lives in order to achieve a better relationship with God, God through Christ has already dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's. It is finished! It is complete! You have only to believe it and begin to live your life by it. You already have what you have been trying to achieve spiritually all of your life.

In God's love and grace, you have become God's child, co-heir with Christ. Your eternal destiny has already been procured and secured. We can't screw this up! God wants his love to transform you from the inside out and for you to allow his love to flow through you to love others around you. Your sins and unrighteousness, now get this, has been forgiven through Christ: Past, Present, and Future! If this is so, which by faith it is, then you can walk freely and without any consideration for condemnation from God.

"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those in Christ." Romans 8:1

Jesus took the test of life for each one of us and passed with a perfect score! Congratula-tions! Now, go and walk the rest of your life out from underneath the shadow of any shame and doubt to live in the full sunlight of God's love, mercy, forgiveness and grace.

"It's all about the grace, about the grace, no trying (works!)"

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"So if the Son sets you free,you will be free indeed." John 8:36

Believe not that your circumstances define how you are living before God, positively or negatively. For to do so, requires a belief in your effort and works. Rather, in the midst of your circumstances, continue to live your life in the security of God's love and grace, knowing that he has already done everything to secure your spiritual future forever. So, draw as close to God as you desire to experience an intimate relationship with him, for his desire is to draw close to you.

You were meant to walk in freedom and love!

In his love, see you tomorrow...

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love)