Covenant of Grace

 AATHAVAN 🖋️ 636 ⛪ October 25, 2022 Tuesday

"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." ( Romans 10 : 3 )

Today's meditation verse talks about two types of righteousness. They are:-

1. God's righteousness 

2. Own righteousness

Many think that God's righteousness is what the law says and obeys it. But not so, God's righteousness is more than that. That means not simply obeying orders. For example, the Law commandment says to keep the Sabbath day holy. But we cannot become acceptable to God simply by going to the temple on Sundays and doing some pious activities. Because God's righteousness is beyond these. It is not going to the temple but, abiding in brotherly love.

Similarly, the commandment, though shall not commit adultery. According to this, living a life without directly engaging in the sin of adultery is God's righteousness and fulfillment of the oath of righteousness. But though one does not commit adultery according to the commandment, if he has the intention of committing adultery in his mind, he becomes a sinner and commits adultery. This is God's true righteousness. This is why Jesus Christ said that one he looks at a woman lustfully, he has committed adultery. Yes. God's righteousness is to be clean in mind and heart.

Own-righteousness is living according to the virtues that the world teaches. There are various legal texts in Tamil language. All religions teach the teachings of justice. Self-righteousness is living according to what the laws say and living according to the principles of justice taught by religions. In short it means living according to conscience. Conscience warns everyone in the world and guides them to live in the right way.

Living above the commandments of the law, above the teachings of own-righteousness, is the righteousness that comes from our faith in Christ Jesus. This is what the apostle Paul says in the next verse of today's verse. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." ( Romans 10 : 4 )

Jesus Christ instituted the law of grace because the law of Moses could not guide us in the path of God's righteousness. "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:17)

Yes, because the commandments of the law could not make man righteous, Jesus Christ came into the world and made us a higher level through his redemption. The law was cast aside by Christ. If the law was sufficient, Christ need not have to come into the world and suffered. The commandments of Moses alone would have been sufficient to purify man. But it is not so. That is why Apostle Paul writes, "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." ( Galatians 2 : 21 )

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:" ( Romans 8 : 3 )

Beloved, we may have hitherto lived not against our conscience, living a life according to the righteousness taught by the world, and living own-righteousness life. But they are not enough. We have to live a spiritual life under the grace of Christ. When we surrender ourselves completely to Christ, He will hold us to His covenant of grace.

Message :- Bro. M. Geo Prakash Contact- 96889 33712