The Laws of God...Or The Age of Grace?

I cannot count the number of times I've heard it said, "we're living in the age of grace now brother" or "we're New Testament Christians", with the implication that God's Laws are now thrown to the wind. If that it true, then what is our guide to life itself? Stop... and think about this for a moment. Which Laws? All Laws? The 10 commandments? Remember that there was differentiation between clean and unclean animals when God instructed Noah how to load the Ark. So, there were obviously Laws given before that time. How else would Noah have known what God was talking about? What about the sacrificial laws? Does God still require a sacrifice for sin? The Laws of cleanliness? The Laws of Theft and Restitution? I'm not even scratching the surface here... The food Laws? What about Peter's dream? Was that really an indication that "God declared all food clean?" Or was it hyperbolic? Given to Peter as an overstatement to make a much larger point to him? Did the physical characteristics that made a pig (I'm be picking on pigs for a moment here) bad for you, (according to a perfect Law given by a perfect God) change, the instant that Christ died on the cross. Did it happen when He was resurrected? Maybe when He ascended into heaven? Maybe not at all? Maybe a pig is still a pig. And maybe a pig is still not put here for you to eat, but for another purpose. God's purpose. Is everything that crawls, walks, flies, hops, slithers or swims now meant for human consumption by God's people? God's people who are to set themselves apart from the world. If God is the same, yesterday, today and forever, then how exactly is, what was many times declared perfect in the operating manual for God's set apart people, tossed out the door, under the guise of the law of Grace through Christ? Is grace a New Testament phenom? Was King David telling the truth when he wrote in Psalms 19:7, The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul." Maybe he was just lucky. Maybe the stars just lined up in the right direction for Noah and his family. How do we live as "Christians?" Some will say, "live as Christ did and follow his example". If Christ submitted to The Father's will on earth, does He still submit to Him, while sitting at His side? Is God still the Father here or is Christ now over God?

Maybe we're as stiff necked, rebellious, hard headed and blind to the truth as the Israelites of old. Maybe even more so. Maybe we have scales in our eyes twice as thick as Paul did and still we think we can see. I believe that we need to dust off and re-visit that foundation that trains us in obedience to our Father through Christ. That foundation is the bright lamppost of Gods Perfect Laws.

"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in His ways and by keeping His commandments, His statutes and His rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take posession of it. But if your hearts turn away, and you will not hear but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish."
-Deuteronomy 30:15-18 ESV

much more to come...plus your comments please

-The Arkanblogger

Recent Happenings

It has been awhile since I last posted, actually, it has been awhile since anyone posted. So I thought that I would sit down and change the view on the blog a little bit. One small thing, you will (or should) note that the tool bar up on top is no longer the traditional blue, but black. I am not sure if anyone else will like that though. We also have a new link on our blog. It is to one of my dear friends blog who is new to the blogging network.

A lot of things have happened since I last posted. One of them being the play. First of all I will say that it was good experience. I missed not one line or cue (only a small number did) and only had one mishap. Luckily it was backstage where the only people to see it were two other fellow actors. I got a little too exited because it was closing night, and I had just said my last line. Who wouldn't be exited? Well, I briskly went to put my script up that I had been following along in, and as I went I tripped and did a lovely swan dive onto the ground. I made a loud crash and everyone came running. When I fell it didn't really hurt. Not even my pride. (I was too busy trying not to laugh very loud) So, over all it went well. I am glad that one is finally over and am really looking forward to the next one. I don't know what it is yet though. Hopefully a musical.

Another thing that happened was our choir trip. Caitlin, Elizabeth, myself, and 67 other choir members plus numerous adult sponsors and parents all went to Birmingham, Alabama, for a weekend of almost non-stop singing. We left early in the morning and rode on a big bus all the way. It was only around 4:30 when we pulled into the hotel parking lot. Before we walked in to the huge Baptist Church our choir director really stressed a few facts. He always says that you only get one chance to make a good first impression, so you should always be at your best. I think that is something that you can also apply to everyday life, just like the self-discipline that you gain from choir. Back on subject, I think we did a pretty good job of making a good impression. We had the second biggest choir there, the home being the largest. I believe that our choir was also the most prepared in more than one way. We owe that to our wonderful director. He does more than just teach us the music. He tells us to look at the words to what we are singing, so that we can sing them better from our hearts. Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men" is our guiding verse for our choir. Another thing that can and should be applied in everyday life. It reminded me this weekend to really push harder than ever to do my best. Especially when I got almost no sleep, and was losing my voice. So, before the grand concert, after a long weekend of rehearsal after long rehearsal, our choir director said to pray that the God fills us again, and helps us go on when we can't go it alone. I did, and when it came time to sing, I was able to sing with everything I had. Not for me, but for the Lord. It was an amazing experience. I am so blessed to know all of those people that went along with me. I know this is a little cliche', but it was one trip I don't think I will ever forget.

I have been noticing how there has been conversation on a few different theological subjects. I am anxious to join in to this especially since lately I have been researching one of those main topics. I apologize if this post was a bit too long and jumbled, I only had time for a spell check, and I really needed to do this in around three sittings. Thank you for your patience.

-Paige ;)