My Worship To God

We have been observing some Pharisees and teachers of the law and how they boldly speak to Jesus, a Jew Himself, about His looseness and slackness in allowing and by extension, encouraging His students to live contrary to the tradition of the elders.

We have also made parallel connections with many of us believers, who live according to law, holding up works of the hands, and not works of the hearts. The reality is that too many of us are preaching, teaching and showing that we receive eternal life and will only go to heaven by keeping all the commandments. As true as it may be, it is completely dead to all people, regardless of how religious and law-abiding as he or she may be. This is so because every single one of us has sinned and we, every single one of us, fall short of the glory of Sovereign God. No amount of law-keeping then, will save us and guarantee us a place in heaven, for no one can keep all the law, without falling short in even one aspect.

Is this not why Jesus has come, has died, has risen and has sent the Holy Ghost, that by grace, through faith, we may receive His pleasing works done in us, to God’s honour and glory? Jesus is the One Perfect Example and Pattern. He is the One and Only Way to the Father, for He gives grace and more grace to the humble. The hypocrites – the proud and stubbornly arrogant – are refused more grace. Do you know that it takes faith and trust to receive the saving works of Grace, in and through Christ Jesus?

Listen to the mind, understanding and heart of works. Some genuine believers of the Lord Jesus Christ have heard of Gentiles being converted and the first thing they recommend is that these non-Jews be told the things that they have to do. Just listen to what is stated as a response by some believers, after hearing all the works of grace which the Holy Spirit had been doing among Gentiles. Acts 15: 5. Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.

It’s like saying that Jesus came and gave me freedom from the condemning law so that in Him I respond and live according to works of grace. I live by His grace and not by my works of law. However, I accept all that He has given me, but still remain under the tradition and noose of what I cannot fully keep, no matter how I try. Here goes! So I have to remember at all times and in all places to ceremonially have my hands cleansed before I eat. Jesus comes into my lawful, ritualistic, dead life and fulfils all the requirements of law. Law is completely removed from my hands, the works of my hands, to my heart and the works of His Grace, which Jesus has wrought within.

Will you pause and see whether you too are speaking of grace, yet pushing works as the way? Will you really examine yourself, and know whether or not your ways are as those controlled and ruled by law? Ae you a law-abiding worshipper, as the Pharisees and teachers of the law, who could never abide by the ways of Jesus?

Tomorrow we look in greater depth at Jesus’ judgment on the Pharisees and others.