I wrote this note to encourage those in Grace who toil night and day for the glory of God and for those who are discouraged. I believe that many who are in Grace is misunderstood and being persecuted unfairly.
Like many who have heard this message for the first time, doubted because it sounds heretical. I tried every means to disapprove, to debunk and to find verses that says the opposite. Yet my effort is futile. In fact God continually challenged me with findings to approve of this message. Below are some of the findings that God showed me and I would like to share them with you.
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Crystal Clear Biblical Verses
Hebrews 7:18: “On the one hand, a former commandment is annulled because of its weakness and uselessness…”
Hebrews 10:9: “Then he says, ‘Behold, I come to do your will.’ He takes away the first [covenant] to establish the second [covenant]…”
2 Corinthians 3:14: “For to this day when they [the Jews] read the Old Covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away”;
Hebrews 8:7: “For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another”;
Colossians 2:14: “Having canceled the written code, with its decrees, that was against us and stood opposed to us; He took it away nailing it to the cross”;
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Testaments of Early Fathers and Renowned Theologians
Pope Pius XII, Mystici Corporis, para. 29: “…the New Testament took the place of the Old Law which had been abolished…but on the gibbet of His death Jesus made void the Law with its decrees fastened the handwriting of the Old Testament to the Cross”;
- Gibbet - To hang on a gibbet for public viewing or to expose to infamy or public ridicule.
The Catechism of the Council of Trent: “…the people, aware of the abrogation of the Mosaic Law…”
- Abrogation - To abolish, do away with, or annul, especially by authority.
- The authorities in the Council of Trent and the society at that time was aware of the annulations of the Mosaic Law
Council of Florence: “that the matter pertaining to the law of the Old Testament, of the Mosaic law…although they were suited to the divine worship at that time, after our Lord’s coming had been signified by them, ceased, and the sacraments of the New Testament began”;
- The Council of Florence agreed that the Mosaic law has ceased and a new covenant has begun
Council of Trent: “but not even the Jews by the very letter of the Law of Moses were able to be liberated or to rise therefrom”;
- The authorities in the Council of Trent agreed that even the Jews can't keep the whole law of Moses and be justified through it
Cardinal Ratzinger: “Thus the Sinai [Mosaic] Covenant is indeed superseded” (Many Religions – One Covenant, p. 70).
- Cardinal Ratzinger agrees that the Mosaic law is superseded by a new covenant in Christ
St. John Chrysostom: “Yet surely Paul’s object everywhere is to annul this Law….And with much reason; for it was through a fear and a horror of this that the Jews obstinately opposed grace” (Homily on Romans, 6:12); “And so while no one annuls a man’s covenant, the covenant of God after four hundred and thirty years is annulled; for if not that covenant but another instead of it bestows what is promised, then is it set aside, which is most unreasonable” (Homily on Galatians, Ch 3);
- Paul's main ministry is to annul the Law. St. John continues by arguing that the Jews opposed grace because of fear and horror - that it is radically different from what they have known and taught
St. Augustine: “Instead of the grace of the law which has passed away, we have received the grace of the gospel which is abiding; and instead of the shadows and types of the old dispensation, the truth has come by Jesus Christ. Jeremiah also prophesied thus in God’s name: ‘Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah…’ Observe what the prophet says, not to Gentiles, who had not been partakers in any former covenant, but to the Jewish nation. He who has given them the law by Moses, promises in place of it the New Covenant of the gospel, that they might no longer live in the oldness of the letter, but in the newness of the spirit” (Letters, 74, 4);
- Again here, St. Augustine clearly teaches that God will make a new covenant through the Spirit to replace the old letter of the law
Justin Martyr: Now, law placed against law has abrogated that which is before it, and a covenant which comes after in like manner has put an end to the previous one; and an eternal and final law – namely, Christ – has been given to us, and the covenant is trustworthy…Have you not read…by Jeremiah, concerning this same new covenant, He thus speaks: ‘Behold, the days come,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah…’” (Dialogue with Trypho, Ch 11).
- Here too, Justin Martyr teaches that the eternal, final covenant through Christ replaced the old law
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Fruits of Real Change
Peace that Surpasses understanding: For this past month, there is a sense of peace in my life amidst a lot of troubles that I am having; financially and in my relationship with my family due to these grievous financial problems - I believe this is the product that I trust in Him with my all and especially when I continually remind myself of Jesus' parting words (John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.)
God's Amazing Grace! God's providence is amazing! Due to the financial problems that I have, sometimes I would come across days of having zero with me... Yea you got that right, zilch... But God is able to provide each day according to my needs. Sometimes there are friends or clients treating me lunch. Sometimes my boss would buy me lunch. And there was even once I was even given money out of nowhere into my bank account. Not once have He failed. (Please do not ask me more on this as this is very personal to me and I would appreciate if you could just pray for me)
Continual urge to share the gospel and speak about Jesus: I can't help but think of Jesus all day long, in every event trying to relate it back to Him and have a deep sense of His presence in me throughout the day
My family especially my mum is noticing the change: I begin to open up a lot more to my mum and showed a lot more patience to her 'naggings' :)
Even my boss noticed a stark change in me: I even went up to him last week to tell him I will pray for him as he had some problems with the company's finances and investors.
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Therefore I dare say that:
I know whom I have beliveth and am persuaded
that He is able to keep me from stumbling,
And to present me faultless
before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God my Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.
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