How to Rise Above Abuse (Counseling Through the Bible Series) by June Hunt Page A
Book: How to Rise Above Abuse (Counseling Through the Bible Series) by June Hunt
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Authors: June Hunt
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Law
Q UESTION : “Is there no law for Christians to live by?” 9
A NSWER : The Bible says that under the New Covenant, God will put His law in the minds and the hearts of every Christian. In addition, everyone has an internal law that is not the law of Moses but rather the Lord’s personal law for each of us. According to Romans 2:14-15, “When Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.”
Because Christ indwells every true believer, we who are Christians naturally have both His will and His supernatural power to do His will:
“ ‘This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time,’ says the Lord.
‘I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds’ ”
(H EBREWS 10:16).
• He prompts you to desire and to do His will.
“It is God who works in you to will
and to act according to his good purpose”
(P HILIPPIANS 2:13).
• He provides you with the power to do what He calls you to do.
“The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it”
(1 T HESSALONIANS 5:24).
C. What Is the Difference Between Law and Grace?
They were at it again, trying to trip up the Teacher.
The religious leaders of the day rejected the teaching and ministry of Jesus and were doggedly determined to disgrace Him publicly by asking complicated, manipulative questions. He silenced them each and every time with perfect wisdom, but still they persisted.
Early one morning in the temple courts, during the quiet of dawn, Jesus sat down to teach. While He spoke, commotion broke out. The Pharisees brought a woman before Jesus and made her stand in front of the crowd in utter humiliation, claiming she was caught in the very act of adultery. It was an opportune moment, the Pharisees connived, to “catch” Jesus once and for all and curtail His ministry. They would do anything—and use anyone—to satiate their sinful quest.
And so they asked Him: “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” (John 8:4-5).
The difference between law and grace was about to be displayed. While the Pharisees kept firing away with questions, Jesus was silent. He bent down and wrote on the ground with His finger. Then He stood up and replied, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7).
Wisdom spoke and silenced once again His adversaries. And one by one, the people left the temple courts. When Jesus and the accused woman were the only ones who remained, again grace was dispensed. Jesus told her He did not condemn her, and He exhorted her to repent and pursue righteousness. He said,
“Go now and leave your life of sin”
(J OHN 8:11).
D. What Questions Concerning the Law Cause Confusion?
They were spiritual leaders devoid of the Spirit. They claimed to esteem the law of Moses, but they desecrated it daily by their pride and hypocrisy. The Pharisees, Israel’s supposed spiritual shepherds, frustrated their flock by requiring them to follow man-made traditions they themselves didn’t keep.
Jesus taught a new and different way to please God in the power of the Spirit, to engage the heart, mind, and will in obeying God’s commands. Butthe Pharisees would have none of it. Their rejection—their rebellion against the very God they claimed to serve—prompted harsh rebuke from Jesus Himself.
“Woe to you, blind guides!…
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!
You clean the outside of the cup and dish,
but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish,
and then the outside also will be clean”
(M ATTHEW
Q UESTION : “Is there no law for Christians to live by?” 9
A NSWER : The Bible says that under the New Covenant, God will put His law in the minds and the hearts of every Christian. In addition, everyone has an internal law that is not the law of Moses but rather the Lord’s personal law for each of us. According to Romans 2:14-15, “When Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.”
Because Christ indwells every true believer, we who are Christians naturally have both His will and His supernatural power to do His will:
“ ‘This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time,’ says the Lord.
‘I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds’ ”
(H EBREWS 10:16).
• He prompts you to desire and to do His will.
“It is God who works in you to will
and to act according to his good purpose”
(P HILIPPIANS 2:13).
• He provides you with the power to do what He calls you to do.
“The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it”
(1 T HESSALONIANS 5:24).
C. What Is the Difference Between Law and Grace?
They were at it again, trying to trip up the Teacher.
The religious leaders of the day rejected the teaching and ministry of Jesus and were doggedly determined to disgrace Him publicly by asking complicated, manipulative questions. He silenced them each and every time with perfect wisdom, but still they persisted.
Early one morning in the temple courts, during the quiet of dawn, Jesus sat down to teach. While He spoke, commotion broke out. The Pharisees brought a woman before Jesus and made her stand in front of the crowd in utter humiliation, claiming she was caught in the very act of adultery. It was an opportune moment, the Pharisees connived, to “catch” Jesus once and for all and curtail His ministry. They would do anything—and use anyone—to satiate their sinful quest.
And so they asked Him: “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” (John 8:4-5).
The difference between law and grace was about to be displayed. While the Pharisees kept firing away with questions, Jesus was silent. He bent down and wrote on the ground with His finger. Then He stood up and replied, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7).
Wisdom spoke and silenced once again His adversaries. And one by one, the people left the temple courts. When Jesus and the accused woman were the only ones who remained, again grace was dispensed. Jesus told her He did not condemn her, and He exhorted her to repent and pursue righteousness. He said,
“Go now and leave your life of sin”
(J OHN 8:11).
D. What Questions Concerning the Law Cause Confusion?
They were spiritual leaders devoid of the Spirit. They claimed to esteem the law of Moses, but they desecrated it daily by their pride and hypocrisy. The Pharisees, Israel’s supposed spiritual shepherds, frustrated their flock by requiring them to follow man-made traditions they themselves didn’t keep.
Jesus taught a new and different way to please God in the power of the Spirit, to engage the heart, mind, and will in obeying God’s commands. Butthe Pharisees would have none of it. Their rejection—their rebellion against the very God they claimed to serve—prompted harsh rebuke from Jesus Himself.
“Woe to you, blind guides!…
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!
You clean the outside of the cup and dish,
but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish,
and then the outside also will be clean”
(M ATTHEW
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