If you use Facebook, we are posting these each day on our page there, and we will also post these here each day. We welcome your thoughts here or on Facebook.
Day 233 – Thru the Bible
Today we continue Second Chronicles.
2 Chronicles 28-31 – The cycle of infidelity and fidelity continues in 2 Chronicles. One king is unfaithful to the Lord by forsaking the law of the Lord and the regulations for temple worship (Ahaz in 2 Chronicles 28), and then another king comes along who is faithful, keeping the law and reinstituting proper temple worship (Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 29). In the end, however, every pledge of obedience (2 Chron. 29:10) and all temple sacrifices cannot break the cycle that inevitably leads to more sin and God’s judgment.
So the question becomes, why can’t this cycle be broken under the administration of the Mosaic covenant? The answer: “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near” (Hebrews 10:1). Note the vigor with which sacrifices were made in the Old Testament (example, 1 Kings 8:62–64). Even here, it is noted that the sacrifices were so numerous that they were unable to complete the work without additional help.
In the light of this, consider the radical nature of the work of Jesus on our behalf: “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. . . . For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:12, 14). The blood of every Old Testament sacrifice cries out to us, “look to Jesus; we were not enough!”
Because of the sacrificial work of Jesus on our behalf, Believers are no longer condemned because of their own sin. As grace abounds in the life of the Believer, sin is put to death. Remember: with the law, sin increased (Romans 5:20). But now, grace reigns through the righteousness of Jesus, leading to eternal life (Romans 5:21).
It is so easy for us to think, “Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it (the Law)” thinking we may actually pull it off successfully. But if there’s one thing the Old Testament reveals, it’s that we won’t pull it off. We cannot do it.
In light of this truth, how do you recognize you need grace (not law), you need Jesus’ finished work on your behalf, not your own (failing) effort?
What other thoughts or questions does today’s reading bring up?
Some of these notes are from the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible study notes. We highly recommend this study Bible.
Videos produced by www.TheGospelProject.com.
All links you need to be a part of this are here – Thru the Bible in 2018.