(Writer : Dessy Ariadna – Stand To JESUS)
Torah Law and Grace (Grace), the Old Testament and the New Testament, both have differences from each other. The Law requires perfect actions without the slightest error, while Grace says : the righteous will live by faith.
Galatians 3:10 (IMB) Cursed is everyone who tries to live righteously by relying on the works of the Torah. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not faithfully do all that is written in the Book of the Torah. ”
Galatians 3:11-14 (IMB) Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by keeping the law, for: “The righteous shall live by faith. ” And the law of the Torah is not based on faith, but rather: “He who does it will live in it. ” Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is the one who hangs on the cross,” so that in Jesus Christ the blessing of Abraham may reach the Gentiles, so that by faith we may receive the promised Spirit.
No human being is justified by keeping the law, because humans are justified only by faith. No one is able to carry out the law of the Torah perfectly without the slightest mistake, only JESUS is able to do it, that’s why JESUS came so that everyone who believes in Him will be justified by faith in Him, so that people no longer rely on their deeds and efforts but only rely on to JESUS and what He did on the cross.
Like our forefather Abraham, he was justified by faith, because if Abraham was justified because of his works and deeds, then Abraham would have grounds to boast in his deeds and that would not be pleasing before God, for whoever wants to boast should boast in God.
Galatians 3:6-7 (IMB) Just as Abraham believed in God and it was credited to him as righteousness, so know that those who have faith, they are Abraham’s children.
Romans 4:2-3 (IMB) For if Abraham had been justified by his works, then He could boast, but not before God. But what does the Scriptures say? “Abraham believed in God and it was counted as righteousness to him. “
I know you will say, “But in the book of James it is recorded that Abraham was also justified because of his works? Is the Bible a contradiction?” My answer is that the Bible is not contradictory at all, contradictions only exist in the human mind, the Bible complements one another. Let’s look at the verse :
James 2:21-23 (IMB) Was not Abraham, our forefather, justified by his works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith works together with works, and by those works, faith is perfected. The passage of Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed in God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” so he was called, “A friend of God. “
This verse actually confirms what is said in Romans 4:2-3, it does not mean that the Bible is a contradiction, in fact here it proves that Abraham was justified by faith, in fact his faith resulted in an action which is called an act of faith. People who live in their grace do not become passive but active. Pay attention to this verse carefully :
Philippians 2:13 (IMB) For it is God who works in you, both the will and the ability to act, to please Him.
So those who are justified by faith, their faith produces action, that action is called an act of faith. Grace encourages a person to be even more active in God, because he realizes that he is a person who has been saved, has been justified. The Holy Spirit will not allow people who live under grace to become lazy individuals, but individuals who are diligent in doing good deeds, no longer in order to be saved, because we are already saved, good deeds are what we do is the fruit of faith and salvation which we have obtained by grace.
So on what basis do we boast? Is it because of our actions? No. We glory not in our works but in our faith in JESUS Christ.
Romans 3:27-28 (IMB) So, is there any reason to boast? There isn’t any! Through what? Through actions? No, but through faith! Thus man is justified by faith, without keeping the law.
