Amazing Grace
I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. Psalm 119:93 ESV
You have given me life – Frankly, I am amazed. I am amazed that the majority of Christians can read a verse like this and think that grace is all they need. I am amazed that we can read the Scriptures with the grace-colored glasses of Luther and simply ignore everything the Bible says about God’s precepts and instructions. I am amazed every time I hear the words, “Yes, but that’s the Old Testament.” It’s simply amazing that we use grace as an excuse to not hear what every Jewish author says, even those who wrote our precious New Testament. Grace does not produce life. Grace restores the relationship in order that Torah may produce life. Amazing!
Consider David’s choice of one Hebrew word, hiyyitani (you have given life to me). The root verb is haya. Life, alive, revive, live, live prosperously, remain alive, live forever—all these nuances are found in the use of this verb. Can there be any doubt about its importance? Can there be any question about its meaning? Aren’t you amazed that we have somehow disconnected haya from piqqudim (procedures, instructions, precepts)? By the way, this word is only used in the plural (so it can’t mean a single principle of “love” or some such thing) and it is only found in the Psalms. In its twenty-four occurrences it always means precepts, statutes or commandments. David was amazed too. He was amazed that God provided instructions that gave life. He will never forget them for to do so is to die. But somehow we are amazed that God would ever expect us to do anything. We think life comes because God is gracious. It’s amazing to realize how blind we have been when the text stands right in front of us.
So I suppose today’s question is this: Do we really want to live? Do we want life on biblical terms? Life full to the brim and overflowing? Life everlasting? Life as a share in the Kingdom? I would be amazed if anyone said, “No, thanks. I’ll take something else.” But I am equally amazed that we can’t connect the dots. Amazing grace brings me to God’s precepts in order that I might live an amazing life.
Right?
Topical Index: life, haya, precepts, piqqudim, grace, Psalm 119:93
CALENDAR UPDATE: I will be in Sandpoint, ID from June 27-29 for a weekend conference. Close to Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, if you are nearby, please come. See my calendar page on the web site for contact information.
Precepts, commandments, laws, statutes – are they synominous? If not, what are the differences? Every Blessing.
Good morning Harry, an excellent way to find out is to get a decent concordance and trace the root words in each of these terms. (you can find all of them in one place, pslm. 119) For example, torah (law) you will find out has to do with searching or seeking something out and is connected to light, (gen. 1) whereas judgments (mishphat), which start this weeks portion, seem to carry a sense of shaping (scraping. polishing, pounding, etc.) a society. I know that’s a rather brief overview, however it will get you moving in the right direction. Blessings back to you and happy hunting (Torah) 🙂
I recently had a conversation with a brother who happens to be Jewish, while we were talking I asked if he was Torah observant to which his reply was oh I am not an orthodox Jew, but I don’t make a habit of eating pork all the time and stuff like that. Of course it sort of blew me away that he really didn’t get Torah either well any more than most people I meet.
This is purely elegant! I am speechless and grateful! Thank you so much for returning both of these most precious gifts- Law and Grace- to their proper places.
What blows my mind is that, in the name of ‘free choice’, mind you, people seem to be saying that before they got ‘saved’, they had a choice to obey the Law or to sin. After they got ‘saved’, somehow all their choices disappeared! I mean, not only could they no longer choose to be ‘lost’ (once saved, always saved), but that their choices to do righteousness no longer existedeither, as somehow it did not matter any more what they did choose, because ‘grace’ would magically make all the choices not matter; that they would be ‘saved’ no matter what they chose. Well, no more free will for the saved! That’s what I hear, anyway.
I guess they could have extrapolated such twisted non-thinking out of their experience where they wake up in the morning still bound by sin because they don’t recognize it without the Law to show it to them; or, if they do sense it, they aren’t really sorry for it and decide that they don’t truly want to change; or they believe the lie that they cannot change. It can be a terrifying thing to be on the wrong side of the Law, and feel condemned by it, but because the option of truly obeying it has been removed by various and specious devices from the pit of hell (most of them masquerading as ‘grace’!), they remain stuck in trespasses and sins.
The Law of Liberty (James) is the only gateway to freedom from sin. As Skip puts it so well, grace grants us access to the ability to truly keep it. That happens by G-d writing the Law on our hearts through the Spirit of Yeshua and His righteousness, which is what we are choosing every time we repent for being outside that Law. I think I can see, from my perspective, anyway, that it is repentance, not grace, that grants me His RIGHTEOUSNESS. I repent through faith that He will forgive me. It is the knowledge of His grace that assures me that I will find that pardon, and gives me the courage to repent. And repent. And repent. Repentance the action I do; righteousness is the action that He does through me in return. Grace makes this exchange possible. It is not a substitute for my action of repentance for the transgression of the Law, nor is it a substitute for His action of righteousness, which is that Law perfected in me. My action clears the way for His action to operate.
There was a commercial on PBS years ago for a company whose slogan was “we don’t make the products you buy; we make the products you buy better”. It struck me at some point that that could also be an advertisement for grace, too: it makes the products of repentance and righteousness POSSIBLE. Halleluah!
Laurita, I very much have enjoyed your comments and commentary this morning..
It is “sad, but true” in many lives (self included) “We ALL do err, not knowing the scriptures (yes, the Older ones), nor the power (authority) of God.”
If only.. -If only we (all) would look in the Book- for the answers are (just like Ragu spaghetti sauce)- “it’s in there..”
It is NOT (I firmly believe) the will of God to leave us (His own children) in a state of confusion (where many live, even today) but rather His “grace” gift (one of them) to us is “clarity.” May I? “Oh, I see..”
To see is to understand. Savvy? Comprende? Have you (anyone?) ever had the “Aha moment?” The pieces of the puzzle, (Life 101- Some Assembly Required) suddenly fit together and in 20/20 hindsight (we know the future by remembering the past) it “dawns” (yes, sometimes slowly) upon us and the “Amen” (it is so!) of YHWH rises in our hearts to sing out (with glorious gusto- “Hallelujah!”
I would like to address (if I may) the following:
What blows my mind is that, in the name of ‘free choice’, mind you, people seem to be saying that before they got ‘saved’, they had a choice to obey the Law or to sin. After they got ‘saved’, somehow all their choices disappeared! I mean, not only could they no longer choose to be ‘lost’ (once saved, always saved), but that their choices to do righteousness no longer existedeither, as somehow it did not matter any more what they did choose, because ‘grace’ would magically make all the choices not matter; that they would be ‘saved’ no matter what they chose. Well, no more free will for the saved! That’s what I hear, anyway.
Do I believe in the Sovereignty of God? Absolutely!- From the macro to the micro- “every” jot and “every” tittle, God is (both) large and “in charge.”- In all things,- the good, the bad, and the ugly. And as a preemptive strike (if I may) just so folks may know- “life is not fair,” but God (and these two words are the key!- “but God!”) is just. He is LORD and He is Master- not this “little boy” nor his “little boy brain!” Some things, – many things are above and beyond my “pay grade!”
But.. (I like this word too!) But!!- I and you and you and you DO have a “choice” in the matter.. Yes, even “after” we are saved. Today, this day- I have choices to make, and so do you (and you and you!) And of course.. (hopefully) as we all know by now..- every choice (large or small-good or bad) has a consequence.
Every day is a new day and every day is (absolutely-positvely) another grace-gift from God. Let us (all) listen to the “eternal-everlasting” Words of God once again.. (the word of the LORD remains/abides forever!)
Are we listening? .. “THIS” is the day which the LORD has made.. (just the facts..) Who is Large and in charge- of “this” day? No matter a Monday or a Tuesday-etc..- if the day ends in “y”- (selah) God is the Creator and Sustainer and is very near, -intrinsically, intimately involved in every single detail- attending sparrow funerals and still counting every hair of every head of every man! – Not only is He the Creator of this day (but today – it is my choice, and mine alone- to obey His instructions to me- and to follow Him. Not “do as I say, but do as I do!
What I need to make this happen, He will provide, for (because) He has promised: (again, -according to the scriptures, – yes, -(Hallelujah!)- “it is written: ~ and my God (sounds personal to me!) -“my God” -the one Paul, formerly known as Saul knew.. “will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Parental Warning: Proceed at your own risk!- For what this child (me) needs is a good spanking! (ouch!) Father, ~ chasten your son while there is yet hope!! ~
What is the “purpose” of chastening? Why does God (now, our Father) chasten His children? – and.. is (big, really big*) this “chastening” one of our “needs?” Oh, “little Johnny.. are you listening to Me?” – “May I now have your full and undivided attention please?”
~ Shall we then continue in sin that grace may abound? ~ And the answer is? -Friend, what do the scriptures say? “It is (clearly) written..”
“God forbid.” Come on now folks.. let us give this at least two seconds worth of thought. Put very bluntly (as blunt as I know how..) Sin is stupid. Sin (sheeple) is dumb and dumber. Sin IS a form (perhaps the worst form) of insanity. People who continually live in sin are not in their “right mind.”
Sin (yes, transgression of God’s commands) is debilitating and causes great harm. Pick a card.. er “sin”- any sin and follow it to its end. Where does this sin lead? Let us hear the conclusion of the matter.. sin leads (every time folks..) to death/separation. Separation between God and man and separation between man and man, between husband and wife, between sons and their fathers, between mothers and their daughters. Sin separates. Sin divides relationships.
~ Behold, (take a good, long -“refreshing” look) ~ how good and how pleasant it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity! ~ (amen!)
One big, happy family! With this, the Father (and this father) is “well-pleased.”
~ I have no greater joy than to hear that My children are walking in the truth ~
May it be true of us “this day”- today.. Amen.
For a while I struggled with reconciling how people used the word grace with what I saw in God’s word as well as what I had read in my hardcover Strong’s about the meaning of grace. The Strong’s I have states, “charis–graciousness of manner or act (abstr. or concr.; lit., fig or spiritual; espec. the divine influence upon the heart and, its reflection in the life; including gratitude): acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worhty). I believe the Lord drew me when I was pondering with Him to the part in the parentheses of the Strong’s definition. Based upon my contemplations with the Lord and with Him digging into His meaning of His Word, God’s grace to me cannot be defined as our culture defines favor. God’s favor truly seems to be in His restoring us to relationship with Him where we are privileged to have His divine influence upon our heart and the power to reflect it in life–live His thoughts and ways/instructions with gratitude, abundant joy. People get annoyed with me at times because I press them for what they mean by grace. Grace is used as if everyone accepts it as God doing a favor for us through forgiveness in Christ without anything else in the equation leaving us free to do as we please and it’s all good and free of judgment. It makes me cringe. Although we obviously have done nothing to deserve anything God has done and continues to do for us and no works could secure it, how devoid of knowing God to think that God in the fullness of Who He Is, His Love, would be fine with letting us be free from all that encumbers us which seems to be defined as the Law? How could God let us still run loose in our own thoughts and ways–wisdom/sin? When I speak of God’s grace, I define it as what I shared at the beginning of this comment. God’s grace is all about His pursuit of covenant with us, allowing us to know Him, desiring for us to be one with Him, and His call to us to live in the spirit and truth of life with Him as our Lord/Master following His way of life because it is the only way of life–giving us all that we need to be in intimate relationship with Him through His divine influence (His thoughts/ways/instructions) and power. Grace is living His covenant–He provides, we trust. A trust which has been lived in Christ, which leads forth in joy/gratitude even in the midst of trials and tribulations because His provision/Word is enough/sufficient. I pray that we continually seek the Lord to know/live the fullness of His grace.
What “majority” of Christians think grace is all they need?
I’ve known “some” who do, but certainly not most.
I have been a follower of Jesus Christ since 1979.
Call me a “Christian” if you must, but I prefer not to
label myself.
Every speck of my faith coming from direct studying of
the Bible and virtually every teacher I’ve been blessed
to sit under, has never mistaken or misplaced the role
of the law with grace, or characterized the Old Testament
in a deferential way.
Have I known a few folks who have been so mis-lead? Sure.
Mis-lead people exist in all areas of knowledge.
I have noticed often on this blog folks who have apparently
come from certain perversions or denominational mis-interpretations
of the scriptures. Sadly, it happens.
“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs
and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Mat 24:24
Today, thank God, we all look afresh! Searching the depths of God
is a long, joyous process (hiccups included). But the amazing life of
grace we currently know, lovingly pushes us forward. And the more of Him
we know and abide with, the more deeply rooted we become in this
eternal life we have just begun. Obedience keeps us right. it also
keeps us in the light.
Thanks, Skip, for always pressing in. Amazing grace at work!
And, Laurita, my heart is in lock-step with your thoughts
this morning.
Blessings to all!
“Every speck of my faith coming from direct studying of
the Bible and virtually every teacher I’ve been blessed
to sit under, has never mistaken or misplaced the role
of the law with grace, or characterized the Old Testament
in a deferential way.”
Hi, Rich. While I agree with what you’ve said, I wish I could have said the
same as the above paragraph you wrote. “never” mistaken or misplaced is
something I can’t testify to. The last two churches I attended were mainline
Southern Baptist churches with 1500-2000 in attendance each Sunday. Grace
was the only thing preached. Following Torah was suggested and given a nod
in the most superficial manner. Forgiveness and love were the main ingredients
in one’s walk. Do your best in the best way your and your Sunday School teachers
could figure out, irregardless of what Torah commands. One of the Ten Biggie commandments
WAS taken out of contention, dietary instructions WERE discounted and ignored, all
in the effort to say all is forgiven. Don’t worry so much about your behavior as you
always have forgiveness available and no consequences.
I don’t like labels either. But now I don’t even want to really be associated with the
Christian label very much.
And every church I attended, while maybe not directly drawing a line of differentiation
between “old” and “new” testament, they certainly discounted the “old” to the “new”
constantly and consistently with the icing of grace applied.
NO church I’ve ever been to has ever really grasped and owned a mentality of understanding
the Scriptures, Yeshua and the other individuals in any way other than through a modern, western mindset. Yes, they
paid homage to a peripheral recognition of the historicity, and contextual understanding, but, in
actuality, was truly just a massaged translation of a Greek rendition applied to it covering any
possible Hebraic understanding of it. NO pastor conveyed ANY real understanding of the Hebrew
language undergirding the entire body of Scriptures. Yes, they, again, paid homage to the Greek
and Hebrew languages but truly had NO mastery of either enough to fairly gage the true meanings
of the thousands of Hebrew idioms, cultural mindsets or social/economical meanings.
And I’m talking about pastors claiming PhD’s from their respective cemetery’s, er, seminaries.
I’m sorry, but if that sounds harsh, I mean it to. If one lead’s and teaches and demands respect,
they should at least know what they are talking about, I would think.
For the most part, the accomplishments are simply copies and mimicry of the erred theology
of the established seminaries that reproduce their respective beliefs. In fact, I can’t ever recall any of my pastors saying in a sermon,
“I may be wrong, but . . .” It has consistently been, “God’s Word says . . . ” followed by their
rigid interpretation of it. No room for disagreement, at least not publicly.
Am I complaining? Not really. Just stating observation from a different perspective now. There was
rarely ever any opportunities to discuss things openly with any of these pastors. If there ever was it
was brief and very controlled. It was as if the only thing the pastor could dispense was via a sermon
or one-way talk to a group. Why? Of course there are a lot of reasons why, however, none that I haven’t
just given up trying to pursue. If I showed any doctrinal disagreement, there WAS a price to pay, somehow.
Anyway, just sharing wishing I could have been in some of those churches that did all the things you mentioned.
The so called charismatic or nondenominational ones I attended weren’t any different just louder and danced more proclaiming their freedom but when I look back they and I weren’t any more free than the rest. When someone gets up into the pulpit and announces now we know this isn’t Jesus’s birthday but we choose to celebrate it as if it is well need I say more. His grace was enough to pull the scales off my blind eyes to see His truth and lead me to the water that brings true satisfaction, His grace was enough to pull me out of the lies of lawlessness and perversion that I was taught but knew deep in my heart when I read His word just didn’t make sense. I could never get past the verses that said to do this forever and then hear the preacher tell me that forever didn’t mean forever for everything just somethings. Whew, glad I got that out of my crawl!
I think “many Christians would have been more appropriate. There are millions of Catholics who don’t believe “grace is sufficient” and most of the Christians I know do not believe this either. It does not render your point moot but it is a bit of a generalized lead in
Point made. Thanks.
So I suppose today’s question is this: Do we really want to live?
Do you want to be made well? Pick up your bed and walk!
Come to Colorado!
Invite me. Speak with Rosanne and make it happen.
“I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.” Psalm 119:93 ESV
Hi Skip,
I like the translation in my old Bible, The Jerusalem Bible, it’s just more hip IMHO
Psalm 119
In praise of the divine Law
Ah, how happy those of blameless life
who walk in the Law of Yahweh!
How happy those who respect his decrees
and seek him with their whole heart
and doing no evil
walk in his ways!
AwHaaw , it actually makes me LOL, everytime I read it
“Grace does not produce life. Grace restores the relationship in order that Torah may produce life.” Wow… “grace” is obviously way too big of a Word for us to comprehend since most of us haven’t had a clue until recent years about TORAH’s gift of life to us! Giving Torah IS giving grace and mercy. Then He giveth still MORE grace. Wow.
Skip, you are coming to SANDPOINT??? We will most definitely be there. My birthday is around that time… I’ll consider “you” my birthday present!
It will be great to meet you.