Law or Grace? Today, I want to pose this question? Last week we talked about our LIFE through Jesus.
24 “When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some [a]uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, 2 when she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man’s wife, 3 if the latter husband detests her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife, 4 then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is [b]an abomination before the Lord, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Who are you married to?
These verses in Deuteronomy foreshadow a new covenant built on better promises. A covenant that we today are a part of if we are Christians.
These verses are really talking about you and I as believers today.
Verse 1
“When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some [a]uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house,”
Jesus is the man in this verse. Genesis talks about Adam walking in the cool of the day with God. The women represents Adam in this story – built for God, but God found some uncleanness in Adam. And like this verse says, He gave a bill of divorce and removed him from the garden.
At that moment, humanity needed a savior because we had no one to protect us. We were separated from God who was the best husband anyone could ask for and yet God was already planning a way back. We were out of the protection that God had to offer for us because we chose to go away.
Verse 2
“when she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man’s wife”
This one verse is speaking of all the time prior to when the Law was given. Mankind was without its protection, but sin was without its power.
13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
Romans 5:13-14 New King James Version (NKJV)
Nevertheless, mankind needed the power and position that we gain when we are found in Christ.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12 King James Version (KJV)
Without Jesus we are powerless to defend ourselves from the attacks from an enemy who hates us. This enemy is the devil, but God was already making a way for us to return to Him.
20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but [a]rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
Luke 10:20 New King James Version (NKJV)
We needed protection from the enemy until He could get Jesus into this world. That’s where Exodus 20 comes in. God gave Moses the Law – our second husband. As long as we obeyed the Law and offered the proper sacrifices for our trespasses God could show up and prosper us.
Verse 3 + 4
“if the latter husband detests her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife, 4 then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is [b]an abomination before the Lord, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.”
The problem is that the Law is holy (Romans 7:11 ), yet all men are not on their own. Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
James 2:10 King James Version (KJV)
All have sinned and therefore even with this second husband (the Law) which is holy and can protect us and allow us to fellowship with God has a right to give us a certificate of divorce because no man is capable of keeping the whole Law without fault.
21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died [a]in vain.”
Galatians 2:21 New King James Version (NKJV)
But what does it say? “then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is [b]an abomination before the Lord.” So then it’s impossible to return to God right? We blew it. He gave us one chance and Adam sold dominion over to the devil. He gave us a second chance and no man can measure up.
NO! There is a way.
Thank God for JESUS!
Jesus is the only way.
15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Romans 5:15-17 King James Version (KJV)
Jesus is the way. God in His wisdom gave Jesus as a sacrifice for sin, and at that moment we too were crucified with Him.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 King James Version (KJV)
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be[a] joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Genesis 2:24 New King James Version (NKJV)
Christ Died as a Substitute for us
Christ died as a substitute for you and I. Why? Because we are his bride. We are one with Christ who loved us and gave himself for us. And just as a husband and wife are made one so are we made one with Christ. We are new creations. Once dead in sin because of the Law, now we are alive in Christ.
How is this possible!? Didn’t the verse 4 say that we cannot return? But remember it’s no longer I that lives but Christ alive in me. I have NO IDENTITY apart from Christ. We are made one forever destined to be together. Christ within me makes me who I am. Without Him, I am not even alive.
Reading Jeremiah chapter 3 we see the Bible talking directly to present day Israel about these very facts.
“They say, ‘If a man divorces his wife,
And she goes from him
And becomes another man’s,
May he return to her again?’
Would not that land be greatly polluted?
But you have played the harlot with many lovers;
Yet return to Me,” says the Lord.
Jeremiah 3:1 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Lord is calling each of us to return to Him like the prodigal son coming home, return to God and be welcomed into the family.
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
John 7:37-38 New King James Version (NKJV)
So I ask again…
Who are you married to?
Salvation
GOD wants a relationship with you
2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
EVERY man has sinned
Romans 3:23 (KJV)
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
SIN separates us from God
Isaiah 59:1-3 (KJV)
Behold, the Lord‘s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
JESUS came to remove sin and restore our relationship with God
John 3:16 (KJV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth Jesus is Lord brings salvation.
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV)
“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus Name, Amen.“
Prayer of Salvation
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