Our re-reading of the account of the “giving of the law” at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19 & 20) should leave us in little doubt about the absolute holiness of God and His desire and expectation that His people should also be holy – as He is holy (Leviticus 11:44).By instructing Moses to tell the people that “if [they] obey [Him] fully and keep [His] covenant, then out of all nations [they] will be [His] treasured possession” (Exodus 19:5), God was clearly declaring that holiness matters and that His people’s favoured position and relationship with Him was dependent upon them living according to the law that He would give them; dependant upon them being holy, as He is holy.
This startling and uncompromising truth reminds us once again of the necessity, hope and wonder of all that God has done to save us in and through Jesus Christ. Left to our own efforts, we would never be able to meet God’s holy standard and we would be lost forever.
But praise God, He has not abandoned us and has instead sent Jesus to not only wash us clean of all our sins through the shedding of His own blood (1 John 1:7), but to also provide us with the record of perfect obedience and holiness (His record of perfect obedience and holiness) we need to possess if we are to know God (Hebrews 12:14).
Praise God that He has sent Jesus to be our new representative (Romans 5:19); He has sent Jesus to fully obey the law (Matthew 5:17) and to live a perfect, sinless life (1 Peter 2:22) on our behalf – a life that is deemed to be ours, by faith. Hallelujah!
Why are we able to approach God and know Him as our Father? How have we become a part of His “treasured possession”? Is it because we have fully and perfectly obeyed His law? No, fortunately it has nothing to do with our own ability to fulfil the demands of His law! We have become a part of His “treasured possession” because, by faith, we are now in Christ and have been washed clean by His blood and clothed with His perfect righteousness. We have become acceptable in God’s sight because if we are in Christ, all our sinfulness is hidden from view and all God sees is Christ’s perfection. Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
A debtor to mercy alone,
Of covenant mercy I sing,
Nor fear, with God’s righteousness on,
My person and offerings to bring.
The terrors of law and of God
With me can have nothing to do;
My Saviour’s obedience and blood
Hide all my transgressions from view.
The work which His goodness began,
The arm of His strength will complete
His promise is Yea and Amen,
And never was forfeited yet.
Things future, nor things that are now,
Not all things below or above,
Can make Him His purpose forego,
Or sever my soul from His love.
My name from the palms of His hands
Eternity will not erase;
Impressed on His heart, it remains
In marks of indelible grace.
Yes! I to the end shall endure,
As sure as the earnest is given;
More happy, but not more secure,
When all earthly ties have been riven.
Notices and Points for PrayerLet us thank God for His incomparable mercy and goodness to us in Christ Jesus, that in Christ we have been washed and that we do possess the holiness we need to be acceptable in His sight.Let us thank God for the truth concerning Christ’ victory over Satan (a victory that is ours, by faith) that we heard about on Sunday – what a blessing that was! Let’s pray that we will be watchful and prayerful in the battle.It’s Val Tudor’s 90th birthday tomorrow (May 13th). We thank God for her and wish her a very happy birthday!
With love, in Christ
Rich–
Richard Jenkins 1cor6v11@gmail.com; 07761979015