tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post5111709347270042198..comments2023-10-03T06:25:41.357-05:00Comments on Grace Roots Blog: The letter of the New Testament - Part 2Joel Bruesekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10395847887953875757noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-27599176035929811712008-02-28T11:38:00.000-06:002008-02-28T11:38:00.000-06:00Bino... Yes I fully agree! The New Testament is f...Bino... Yes I fully agree! The New Testament is filled with all kinds of commands and instructions, and if people aren't being taught who they are in Christ, and aren't becoming firmly rooted and grounded in Christ and grace, then it's very easy for them to look at all of these commands and instructions as the Christian life, and not understand that Christ is the Christian life, and all of these things simply describe what that looks like when we have Christ living in us and through us.<BR/><BR/>Terry... those are two very great points! All of these things truly are the heartbeat of Jesus. I don't think He ever meant us to live by rules, but from His heart beating with ours. As we grow in grace and as we look at these New Covenant commands (and as you say, even the Old Covenant laws), and find that our lives aren't beating along with His heart, we don't need to feel condemned and we most certainly don't need to begin to start working on trying to follow the rules and commands, but we simply realize that we've been following the flesh and we turn our hearts and minds back to trusting in the Spirit, and walking in the Spirit.Joel Bruesekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10395847887953875757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-65391489376143332122008-02-28T10:17:00.000-06:002008-02-28T10:17:00.000-06:00Joel,Really well put!Must've taken you a while to ...Joel,<BR/><BR/>Really well put!<BR/><BR/>Must've taken you a while to compile that list of commands, but your point wouldn't have been as poignant without it.<BR/><BR/>Why the commands in the New Covenant then, if we are no longer under law but under grace?<BR/><BR/>1. Because they reflect the heart of the One we love, and we want to know His heart. This is even true of Old Covenant laws. The juice of the heart of our Lord may be squeezed out of the orange of the law that we are no longer under.<BR/><BR/>And thus we can agree with Paul that the law that we are no longer under is nevertheless beautiful and good.<BR/><BR/>2. They are a blessed red flag to us when we are walking by the flesh, that we may run back to Him and walk in His glorious Spirit, never with any condemnation.<BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/>TerryTerry Rayburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00888533194435826837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-18481789978503925782008-02-28T07:02:00.000-06:002008-02-28T07:02:00.000-06:00Joel,It brings a lot of clarity. I think one of th...Joel,<BR/><BR/>It brings a lot of clarity. I think one of the reasons the preachers preach those things (Christian principles) is the emphasis of it in the Bible (NT). Like the things you listed, there are a lot more such as the things Jesus told in the Gospels, sermon on the mount etc.<BR/> <BR/>I think all the Christian preachers agree to one point that we cannot do it without God’s ‘help’. So they encourage people to pray to God to ‘help’ them to do those. And the fundamental thing they miss is the verse you quoted first. It is the Spirit who gives the life and Christian life is Christ living His life in and through believers. It is NOT Christ 'helping' believers to live His life, but it is Him <I>living</I> His life in believers.<BR/><BR/><I>in doing so we're trying to help people live like Christ, but in reality we're leaving Christ out of the picture!</I><BR/><BR/>Absolutely! I agree. But it is so hard to <I>realize</I> that if we weren’t revealed the truth of God’s grace. Things would be much better if the <I>ministers of the new covenant</I> preach the message of <I>all sufficiency</I> of Christ.<BR/><BR/>Hey these posts have been very helpful! So keep it going…Bino M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com