Just as I have posted notes on the agreement of the Old Covenant (Also known as the Covenant of the Law or the Mosaic Covenant), we need understand the agreement of the Covenant of Grace (Please click on The terms of the Old Covenant (Also known as the Covenant of the Law) if you have not read it.
Romans 3:20, “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. (KJV)” What? So, we are not declared righteous by doing the works and instructions of the Law? Let us break down this verse for clearer understanding by reading from the Amplified Classic Edition, “For no person will be justified (made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable) in His sight by observing the works prescribed by the Law. For [the real function of] the Law is to make men recognize and be conscious of sin not mere perception, but an acquaintance with sin which works toward repentance, faith, and holy character]. (AMPC).”
The Law shows you what is wrong with you but does not do anything to correct it. I always thought that I would be more righteous if I kept the commandments of the Law, so I was always striving to do right, and I did everything possible to live right to be righteous. I thought that it was a prerequisite to be blessed.
Galatians 2:16 says, ” Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (KJV)” Let’s see this same scripture in the Amplified classic version, “Yet we know that a man is justified or reckoned righteous and in right standing with God not by works of the Law, but [only] through faith and[absolute] reliance on and adherence to and trust in Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). [Therefore] even we [ourselves] have believed on Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law [for we cannot be justified by any observance of the ritual of the Law given by Moses], because by keeping legal rituals and by works no human being can ever be justified (declared righteous and put in right standing with God). (AMPC).” Please, read these verses again and slowly for a better understanding. The Law cannot make you righteous. Under the New Covenant, we are justified and declared righteous through faith and absolute reliance on Jesus Christ and not by the deeds or by the works of the Law.
Let’s keep digging into the scriptures for more understanding. Galatians 2:21, “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (KJV).” What?? So, if Righteousness was by the Law, the death of Christ was in vain!!! The Amplified Classic Version reads, “[Therefore, I do not treat God’s gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain. [His death was then wholly superfluous.] (AMPC).” Hmmmmmmmm……
Hebrews 7:19, “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. (KJV).” Can you see that the 613 Laws of the Old Covenant made nothing perfect? Another version reads, “For the Law never made anything perfect—but instead a better hope is introduced through which we [now] come close to God. (AMPC).”
It is also crucial for us to refer to what Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (KJV).” So, what was Jesus referring to here? Jesus was the only One that could fulfil the Law. Every other person was born into sin and committed sin; Jesus was the only One that fulfilled the Law by obeying all the 613 commandments of the Old Covenant. Jesus was living under the Old Covenant while He was on earth and He was the only One that could fulfil all 613 commandments. That’s why we have to be careful when we read the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and what Jesus said while He was on earth. Jesus was Jewish while He was on earth and He was operating under the Old Agreement while He was still physically walking on earth. He had to be born Jewish for Him to be under the Law to enable Him to free us from the Law after He died on the cross. The Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are still part of the Old Testament. Hebrews 9:16-17, “For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. (NKJV).” If someone leaves you a will of ten million dollars, you do not get the money until after the person dies. It is essential for you to totally understand that the New Testament did not begin until after Jesus died on the cross.
Please continue to the Part 2 of this message for more understanding.
