Showing posts with label mediator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mediator. Show all posts

Sunday, September 25, 2022

Today's Word -- What The Law Reveals

 


The Law Cannot Give Life (eternal)

Galatians 3:20, 21
Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one. Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. 

1 Timothy 2:5, 6
For there is one God, and there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—The Testimony that was given at just the right time. 
 
MEDIATOR: intervenes to restore peace between two parties, especially as it fulfills a compact or ratifies a covenant.  

Hebrews 8:6
Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises. 

Law Cannot Make Perfect 
Hebrews 7:19
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. 

Law Does Not Justify
Acts 13:39
And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Law Cannot Give Life
1 Corinthians 15:56
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
Romans 3:20
Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.


Law Reveals Sin And Sin Brings Death
Romans 7:9-11
Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.  So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death. 



Law Reveals The Need For A Savior
Galatians 2:16
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.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 
Romans 5:18
So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. 
Isaiah 53:3-8
He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Do you see your need for a Savior? for this Savior which God has given us? Do you see your need for a Mediator between you and God? I do. I need Jesus to intercede on my behalf to God. Every day. 







Tuesday, May 31, 2022

How To Pray For Our Leaders

 


First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.

This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.
1 Timothy 2:1-6


These verses tell us how we should be praying for the authority and leadership of our nations, our states, our cities, our towns, our communities, our churches, our homes.

1. Petitions:
Pray for a specific need - a heart-felt deep personal need
2. Prayers:
Directed God-ward - both on an individual and congregational level: in a quiet place and in a meeting together place
3. Intercessions
Intervention led by God, marking intersection between heaven and earth as it reflects the Lord's specific will.
4. Thanksgivings
Thankfulness, gratitude for God's grace

With the end result being that we 'lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.' (verse 2)
Verses 3-4 denote why we should pray in such a manner, while verses 5-6 emphasize the omnipotence and sovereignty of God and His Mediator Jesus Christ.

Mediator: an arbitrator ("mediator"), guaranteeing the performance of all the terms stipulated in a covenant (agreement). A reconciler.

Romans 5:9-11 & Colossians 1:21-23
Reconciled by Christ Jesus through His death and His life

How can we love one another like Christ loves us, if we do allow the love of God through Christ Jesus to change us? We can't. Nor can we have faithful to God's Word leaders if we do not pray for them in this manner.
Self-love is not the way to a better life. A self-oriented lifestyle is not a God-oriented lifestyle. Submission to God is a wonderful way to live our lives. It is a life lived in joy. Even though trials and grief are a part of life, joy is still evident when we abide in Christ as He lives in us.
And so we pray for our leaders. We pray to God for His *good and acceptable will: *Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

* Romans 12:1
*Matthew 6:10