Notes From the Editor +

Notes from the editor, in this case me, can often clarify or give context. Today, I invite you in to some of my process and intentions as I write before we continue our journey.

When I write, my desire is to keep things on the shorter side when possible. I realize that all too often I drop in short comments about concepts that have taken time, sometimes years, or decades, for me to grasp. And I am always learning. Last week appears to be one of those occasions. 

Shortly, I hope to briefly, expand a bit on the concepts of law, and grace. More attention to obedience, will come before we face the concepts of time.

Another of my notes from the editor, concerns the links I add. There are two categories of links in most of my posts. One link each week is to something I have written before that is associated with this week’s post. My heart is to lead you deeper or broader into the topic at hand.

Hopefully you see that I add links to many of the Bible passages I quote. These links rarely take you directly to the verses themselves. . .on purpose. Context is very important. I always hope you will go to the Word to see if what I write is true. 

The final process note for today, could have been my first as well as my last. I only post once a week, in large part because it is all bathed in prayer, for at least for a week. May Abba touch what needs His touch in each of us. Yes, in me too. 

With these notes from the editor out of the way, let’s look at one category from the questions I received from last week. 

I LOVE it when you ask questions!

I think the Old Testament of the Bible too often gets a bad reputation. Without a bit of contextualization, it is understandable.

The New Testament might seem totally separate from the Old Testament. There are so many laws and rules in the Old, while the emphasis seems more on grace and mercy in the New. Interestingly, grace and mercy are all over the Old Testament as well. The difference is that we are given/offered the power to live into all of them successfully. . . after the resurrection.

The explanation of all of this revolves around the person of Jesus of Nazareth.

Paul tells us more about the relationship between that Law and grace in Galatians 3. 

“23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.
24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.” In other words, the Law highlights our need for God’s help. This prepares us for Jesus, full of grace and mercy.

The Law and grace are not separate or unrelated. Jesus himself made this clear in the Sermon on the Mount: ¹⁷ “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” Matthew 5

A large part of the distinction is the different ways the Holy Spirit is present in both covenants. In the Old, the Holy Spirit comes on people temporarily. In the New, after the death and resurrection of Abba’s only son, Jesus’ victory over death and evil releases the power of the Holy Spirit to remain in those who believe. Now, as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit living in us, we too can fulfill the law intended for our good. Not with our power, but with God’s. 

I pray we all let that sink in.

^“2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: ³ Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.” 2 John

And there is still more good news. . . .