From Law to Grace: Embracing the New Covenant

Devotional

Day 1: The Law as a Mirror to Sin

The law, given through Moses, was never intended to make humanity righteous but to reveal sin and the need for a savior. It served as a mirror, reflecting humanity's shortcomings and lawlessness, highlighting the necessity of divine intervention. The old covenant was a tutor, leading people to Christ, who fulfills the law's requirements through His death and resurrection. In Christ, believers are no longer under the law but under grace, which empowers them to live righteously. This transition from law to grace is a profound shift, offering freedom from the bondage of sin and the law. [00:51]

Galatians 3:24-25 (ESV): "So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian."

Reflection: In what ways have you been relying on your own efforts to achieve righteousness, and how can you shift your focus to embrace the grace offered through Christ today?

Day 2: The Cross as the Ultimate Victory

At the cross, Jesus achieved a decisive victory over Satan and sin, granting believers authority over the enemy. This victory is not just a historical event but a personal empowerment for believers to overcome sin in their lives. Through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, believers are equipped to live as overcomers. The cross condemns sin in the flesh, allowing believers to live by the Spirit and not by the flesh. This victory is a call to die to the old self and live in the newness of life in Christ. [05:15]

Colossians 2:14-15 (ESV): "By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel defeated by sin, and how can you apply the victory of the cross to overcome it today?

Day 3: Embracing New Life in Christ

Believers are called to die to the old self and live in the newness of life in Christ. This involves a daily decision to put off the old man and put on the new, living by the Spirit and not by the flesh. The power of the cross enables believers to live as overcomers, free from the bondage of sin. This new life in Christ is marked by a conscious choice to live by the Spirit, allowing the grace of God to transform from the inside out. [09:59]

Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Reflection: What specific habit or mindset do you need to put off today to embrace the new life in Christ, and what practical steps can you take to do so?

Day 4: The Power of Personal Testimony

The testimony of what Jesus has done in a believer's life is powerful. It is through sharing personal experiences of God's grace that believers overcome the enemy and encourage others in their faith journey. Personal testimony is a vital aspect of living out the gospel authentically, reflecting the transformative power of grace. By sharing their stories, believers not only affirm their faith but also inspire others to seek the same transformative grace in their lives. [08:11]

Revelation 12:11 (ESV): "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."

Reflection: Who is one person you can share your testimony with this week, and how can you prepare to share it in a way that highlights God's grace in your life?

Day 5: Authentic Christian Living

Believers are called to live out their faith authentically, not as hypocrites. This means allowing the grace of God to transform them from the inside out, so that their lives reflect the righteousness of Christ. Authentic Christian living involves a daily commitment to live by the Spirit, embracing the new identity in Christ. It is a call to be slaves of righteousness, living out the gospel in daily life, and allowing personal testimony to be a powerful witness to others. [21:09]

James 1:22-24 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like."

Reflection: In what ways can you ensure that your actions align with your faith today, and how can you be intentional about living authentically as a follower of Christ?

Sermon Summary

The message today focused on the transition from the old covenant to the new covenant, emphasizing the profound shift from law to grace. The old covenant, established through Moses, was a response to humanity's lawlessness, serving as a mirror to reveal sin and the need for a savior. It was never intended to make men righteous but to highlight their need for God. In contrast, the new covenant, ushered in by Jesus Christ, is a covenant of grace, made possible through His sacrificial death and resurrection. This new covenant offers freedom from the bondage of sin and the law, symbolized by the Passover lamb, which foreshadowed Christ as our ultimate Passover lamb.

The sermon highlighted the story of the Israelites' bondage in Egypt and their deliverance, drawing parallels to how the law became a heavy yoke on the people, much like Pharaoh's oppression. Just as God delivered the Israelites through Moses, He delivers us through Jesus, who fulfills the righteous requirements of the law. The power of the cross is that it condemns sin in the flesh, allowing us to live by the Spirit and not by the flesh.

The message also explored the spiritual warfare described in Revelation, where the victory over Satan was achieved at the cross. This victory gives believers authority over sin and the enemy, empowering them to live as overcomers. The call is to die to the old self, to the flesh, and to live in the newness of life in Christ. This involves a daily dying to sin and a conscious choice to live by the Spirit, putting off the old man and putting on the new.

The sermon concluded with a call to action, urging believers to live out their faith authentically, not as hypocrites, but as those transformed by grace. It emphasized the importance of personal testimony and the power of the blood of Jesus in overcoming sin. The message is clear: we are no longer slaves to sin but are called to be slaves of righteousness, living out the gospel in our daily lives.

Key Takeaways

1. M28&t=51s'>[00:51]
2. The Power of the Cross: At the cross, Jesus defeated Satan and sin, granting us authority over the enemy. This victory is not just historical but personal, as it empowers us to overcome sin in our lives through the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

3. Living as Overcomers: We are called to die to the old self and live in the newness of life in Christ. This involves a daily decision to put off the old man and put on the new, living by the Spirit and not by the flesh.

4. The Role of Personal Testimony: Our testimony of what Jesus has done in our lives is powerful. It is through sharing our personal experiences of God's grace that we overcome the enemy and encourage others in their faith journey.

5. Authentic Christian Living: We must live out our faith authentically, not as hypocrites. This means allowing the grace of God to transform us from the inside out, so that our lives reflect the righteousness of Christ.

** [00:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:25] - Introduction to Covenants
[00:38] - Purpose of the Old Covenant
[01:03] - Transition to the New Covenant
[01:35] - Jesus: The New Covenant of Grace
[02:01] - Bondage and Deliverance of Israel
[02:43] - The Passover and Its Significance
[03:21] - Jesus as Our Passover Lamb
[04:22] - Spiritual Warfare and Victory
[05:15] - Authority Over Sin and Satan
[06:09] - The Importance of the Blood of Christ
[07:29] - Are You an Overcomer?
[08:11] - The Gospel According to You
[09:59] - Dying to the Old Self
[12:49] - No Condemnation in Christ
[14:00] - Living by Grace, Not Law
[17:30] - Overcoming Through Faith
[21:09] - Working Out Salvation
[23:30] - The Temple of God
[26:42] - Embracing Our Identity in Christ

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Romans 8:1-4
Revelation 12:7-11
Galatians 5:16-18

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Observation Questions:

What was the purpose of the old covenant according to the sermon, and how did it serve as a "mirror" for humanity? [00:38]
How does the sermon describe the transition from the old covenant to the new covenant through Jesus Christ? [01:35]
In the sermon, what parallels are drawn between the Israelites' bondage in Egypt and the law's impact on people? [02:01]
According to the sermon, what role does the blood of Jesus play in overcoming sin and the enemy? [06:09]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the sermon explain the significance of Jesus being our Passover lamb, and what does this mean for believers today? [03:21]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between living by the Spirit and overcoming the flesh? How is this related to the concept of dying to the old self? [09:59]
How does the sermon interpret the victory over Satan described in Revelation 12, and what implications does this have for believers' authority over sin? [05:15]
What does the sermon say about the importance of personal testimony in the life of a believer, and how does it contribute to overcoming the enemy? [08:11]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt burdened by the "law" or rules in your life. How can embracing the new covenant of grace change your perspective and actions? [00:51]
The sermon calls believers to live authentically and not as hypocrites. What specific steps can you take this week to ensure your faith is reflected in your daily actions? [21:09]
Consider the concept of dying to the old self. What is one specific area of your life where you need to "put off the old man" and "put on the new"? How will you start this process? [09:59]
The sermon emphasizes the power of personal testimony. Identify one person you can share your testimony with this week. How will you approach this conversation? [08:11]
How can you actively live as an overcomer in your daily life, especially when facing challenges or temptations? What practical steps will you take to rely on the Spirit rather than the flesh? [05:15]
Reflect on the idea of being a "slave to righteousness." What does this mean for your current lifestyle, and what changes might be necessary to align more closely with this calling? [10:14]
The sermon discusses the importance of living by grace and not under the law. How can you remind yourself of this truth in moments of self-doubt or when you feel condemned? [12:49]

Sermon Clips

The old covenant, God gave a law because men were lawless. It was intention that men would live by faith, but because sin was abounding, he saw it necessary to bring the ten commandments by the hands of Moses and many other laws to show the children of Israel that they were law breakers. [00:00:27]

Jesus Christ now is our passover lamb, that he satisfies the wrath of sin and passes over us, and so we can overcome the pharaoh, we can overcome the enemy, we can overcome satan through the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. [00:03:21]

So what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God did by sending his own son Jesus in the likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin he condemned sin in the flesh that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us because of the work of the cross. [00:03:52]

The good news is that Jesus died and not only died for our sins but he rose again, and that we can also be raised up with Christ. I was reading here in Revelation in chapter 12, something in it says in verse 7 that a war broke out in heaven and Michael and his angels fought with the dragon. [00:04:09]

Now salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ have come. When did this happen? I mean I know this happened at the cross. I don't know if it happened any other time but I know that at the cross this happened salvation and the power of Christ had come. [00:04:52]

The accuser of the brethren who kept what reminding us of sin, reminding us of the law, reminding us of all those things the do's and don'ts and the righteous requirements of the law have now been satisfied to the shed blood of Jesus Christ to those who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. [00:06:24]

We have to die to what we're held by so that we can be raised in the newness of his resurrection but if while the old man is alive if while we're still living for the flesh and while we're still practicing sin, we say that we are joined to Christ and there's no change, then people will look at us and call us hypocrites. [00:09:35]

We have to die to what we're held by so that we're no longer slaves of sin but slaves of Christ bond servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. The law was dealt with at the cross but there's many people today who are still under bondage they're still practicing sin they're still governed by the rule of the law. [00:10:02]

Jesus satisfied the righteous requirements of the law at the cross but now we have to die to what we're held by, this is baptism and Dan shared it we have to die daily, daily there's things that we need to die to because in my flesh dwells no good thing, so with the mind I serve the law of Christ. [00:11:18]

Grace is not a license to sin it's the power of God to deliver us and raise us up with Christ. Baptism there's one baptism death to the flesh down to what we're held by and being raised up in the likeness of his resurrection being joint heirs with Christ being seated with him in heavenly places. [00:13:07]

We need to love the word when the word comes and says if you look at a woman to lust after her you commit adultery in your heart, and he says you adulterers and adulteresses friendship with the world is hatred toward God anyone who wants to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. [00:19:09]

Jesus finished the work at Calvary but he also said something to us that we have a responsibility to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. This is how we pick up our cross and follow him and so proving that we are his disciples because it's God who works in us both to will and to do for his good pleasure. [00:21:01]

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From Law to Grace: Embracing the New Covenant

Devotional

Day 1: The Law as a Mirror to Sin

Day 2: The Cross as the Ultimate Victory

Day 3: Embracing New Life in Christ

Day 4: The Power of Personal Testimony

Day 5: Authentic Christian Living

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

From Law to Grace: Embracing the New Covenant

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