Hi!
The subject of this thread is the nature of the way of God...who doesn't change.
In times past the law stated that...
Deut. 19:21 "Thus you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Jesus paid that penalty, fulfilling the law of ordinances against us, by giving His life so that we may live.
He then gave us a sample of that life...a downpayment of sorts to show his resolve in purchasing our freedom and the gift of His life.
2 Cor 1:22) Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest [aravon] of the Spirit in our hearts.
The aravon...or "earnest" of the Spirit is from the Hebrew and means a token or pledge of something promised IF the conditions are met. So then Jesus died for us...and given us a pledge of life ...if we lay down our lives for Him in return. That is the new covenant. A Life for a life. He gives us all He has first...in order to encourage us to give Him all we have.
Many people have been led astray into thinking that God expects nothing in return for grace. But God doesn't change His purpose...God demands ALL...for His all. That is all!
When we have given up our lives THEN we can say..
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Gal. 2:20
He gave up His life for me so that I would do the same for Him. Be reconciled to God.
The subject of this thread is the nature of the way of God...who doesn't change.
In times past the law stated that...
Deut. 19:21 "Thus you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Jesus paid that penalty, fulfilling the law of ordinances against us, by giving His life so that we may live.
He then gave us a sample of that life...a downpayment of sorts to show his resolve in purchasing our freedom and the gift of His life.
2 Cor 1:22) Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest [aravon] of the Spirit in our hearts.
The aravon...or "earnest" of the Spirit is from the Hebrew and means a token or pledge of something promised IF the conditions are met. So then Jesus died for us...and given us a pledge of life ...if we lay down our lives for Him in return. That is the new covenant. A Life for a life. He gives us all He has first...in order to encourage us to give Him all we have.
Many people have been led astray into thinking that God expects nothing in return for grace. But God doesn't change His purpose...God demands ALL...for His all. That is all!
When we have given up our lives THEN we can say..
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Gal. 2:20
He gave up His life for me so that I would do the same for Him. Be reconciled to God.