The calm blue waters and the lady relaxing in the sun show what it is like in the new covenant of Grace which came to us from Jesus; as opposed to the Law of Moses which existed before Jesus (rough waters).
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There are an amazing amount of "reasonings" around, about God, in the face of various sicknesses, trials, sufferings, calamaties, wars and death.
These are some of them:
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"He has His reasons."
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"God works in mysterious ways"
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"He does miracles, just not for them"
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"God is teaching them a lesson"
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"It will happen in God's time"
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"God is in control of everything"
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"God is punishing them for their sins"
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"God is wicked because He is responsible for sickness, wars, and death"
These thoughts above are based mainly from the Law of Moses.
Some people try to apply the Law of Moses alongside this Time of Grace and wonder why it doesn't work.
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They try measurement of works, or sin. They wonder why they don't get healed. They don't get healed because they can't apply a mixture of the 2 - The Law of Moses and this Time of Grace. They cannot apply both doctrines at the same time - it's like trying to mix oil & water. Let's look at them both below:
BEFORE THE LAW OF MOSES
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For 2,000 years, after Adam's fall, God dealt with mankind through mercy and grace. For instance, God protected the first murderer (Cain) (Genesis 4:13-15) instead of killing him as the Law of Moses later prescribed (Leviticus 24:17).
THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW OF MOSES
The purpose of the Law of Moses (which was meant for Nation of Israel only, though it spread to the Gentiles and others), was to make the Israelites aware of their sins and accomplish a much needed change from their existing evils. It did exactly that. Anyone using the Law of Moses became conscious of their sins. Romans 3:19-20. (below)
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A wrong understanding of the purpose of the Old Testament Law of Moses leads to a misunderstanding of the true nature of God.
Romans 10:3-4; Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
The Law of Moses was given to show the Nation of Israel how unholy and sinful the Nation of Israel was.
Application of the Law of Moses corrected a lot of their sin. Finally, they (and others) would despair of trying to earn salvation and become ready for this Time of Grace and receive their gift of salvation (Time of Grace). "Christ is the culmination (finish) of the Law of Moses". Romans 10:3-4.
Galatians 3:23; Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.
"Before the coming of this faith," (Time of Grace which we are in now) "we were held in custody under the Law" (of Moses), "locked up until the faith that was to come" (After the death of Jesus) "would be revealed." Galatians 3:23.
Romans 3:19-20; Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
Mouths under The Law of Moses "may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God"
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No one can "be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law".
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Living by the Law of Moses "we become conscious of our sin"
We get what we put our attention on. If it is sin, we get more sin. If it is God, we get more of Him.
Romans 7:9: Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.
This is another way of saying what the Law of Moses did. "Sin sprang to life and I died. "Romans 7:9
Therefore no one will be declared righteous
in God’s sight
by the works of the law;
rather, through the law
we become conscious of our sin.
Under the Law of Moses, there were so many rules and penalties,
people became sinners, because they had their attention on sin.
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Today, there are many people who do not know of the fact that since Jesus we are given Grace, and we are released from the restrictive and condemning Law of Moses.
The Law magnified sin.
God revealed His standard of holiness (the Law of Moses), which was infinitely higher than any person, could ever attain.
Operating under the Law of Moses, people had to come to the end of themselves before they could begin to find God. The Law was perfectly suited to do that and showed them their sin by showing them how imperfect they were, in the fact no one could ever be perfect in the eyes of The Law of Moses and that would drive people to Jesus for salvation.
LEGALISM is another word for living under the Law of Moses.
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If you believe that God moves in your life proportional to your performance (You do this, and this then God will perform what you want for you, or because of your actions you will get into heaven.) - that is legalism - that is the Law of Moses.
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CHURCHES AND VARIOUS AUTHORITIES STILL TEACH 'WORKS' AND THE LAW OF MOSES.
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I cannot imagine why this is. If we look at the following verses we can see the obvious:
THE TIME OF GRACE
If people knew how good God is, they would love Him and live for Him. That in turn would solve all the problems of the world. But God has been so slandered by the fact that He is responsible for all the evils, sins, wars, ills, deaths and etc; that most people don't know Him as the good God He really is. (See 'UNDERSTANDING GOD')
God has given us this Time of Grace. If we are to utilize it's benefits, then we would need to follow it's guidelines - all of them in their purity, not a mishmash of the Time of Grace and the Law of Moses.
Romans 6:14; For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
This verse is telling us that if we are under the time of Grace (since the death of Jesus), then we are released from sin which mastered us because of the Law of Moses.
Romans 11:6; But if it is by grace,
it is no longer on the basis of works,
otherwise grace is no longer grace.
The Law of Moses was based upon the 'works' we did and we would get rewarded because of these.
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Grace (since the death of Jesus) is not this way.
Jesus extended mercy and grace toward people which was radically different from the "eye for eye" and "tooth for tooth" of the Old Testament Law.
Jesus was the perfect representation of God (Hebrews 1:3). He said if we have seen Him, then we have seen the Father (John 14:9). He did exactly what He saw His Father do (John 5:19). Jesus showed us that God is love (1 John 4:8). Yet He was constantly accused of breaking the Law (the Law of Moses).
Jesus forgave a woman whom the Law condemned to death (John 8:1-11). Jesus ate and fellowshipped with publicans and sinners, which the legalistic Jews of His day wouldn't do (Matthew 9:11). Jesus touched the untouchable (Matthew 8:3). He showed us grace and mercy, which the Old Testament Law didn't do. Jesus manifested and demonstrated Grace, which since His death, has brought to us all this Time of Grace.
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Provided we have asked for it, we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us. This is a part of God! This means we have the abilities of God within us! (See 'UNDERSTANDING GOD')
A REBOOT
God is a God of choice. We can still follow The Law of Moses, or we can follow the Time of Grace. (We cannot do a combination of the two with any real success since they are opposing doctrines).
We can also follow Satan and the ways of the wicked one.
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This Time of Grace gives us all a new start (a reboot). God sent His son Jesus to end the sin-driven life we might have with Satan and gave us a new set of choices.
The Bible repeatedly calls God's Time of Grace a “gift”. Here is why:
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Grace (unmerited Devine assistance) is a gift of God Ephesians 2:8, and salvation (freedom from the power and effects of sin) Titus 2:11; and is free.
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God is a God of choice. This means we can follow any road. Galations 5:13; (See 'UNDERSTANDING GOD') There is a Judgement Day at one point (See 'JUDGEMENT DAY').
There is a very good series of free videos on this subject by Andrew Wommack.
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It is called “The True Nature of God”. This teaching harmonizes the wrath and punishment of the Old Testament Law with the grace and mercy of the New Testament and reveals our loving heavenly Father in a way that enables you to receive His love as never before.