This post by kathylarkman was originally published at GRACE PLACE
Excerpt from 24 February Bible Study:
We have to own our sin to be able to take in the glorious news of the Gospel! 1 John 1:8-10 “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that His word has no place in our hearts.”
What do we make of all this? In short, the law of the Old Covenant reveals to us our sins. Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. (Rom 7:7)
The OLD COVENANT points us to Christ, the reality.
It is drawn out in the scriptures calling it the NEW COVENANT (JESUS) with new hearts.
This is the spiritual circumcision of our hearts which Paul speaks of in
Colossians 2:11. “When you came to Christ, you were ‘circumcised,’ but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision-the cutting away of your sinful nature.
Deuteronomy 30:6
“The Lord God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants so that you may love him with all your heart, and all your soul and live.” NIV
Ezekiel 36:26-27
“And I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.”
Romans 2:29
“No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.”
Philippians 3:3
“For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort.”
This is the gospel which is radically counter-cultural. This is the gospel which gives us our only hope, purpose, identity, meaning. It teaches us how to love this broken world in the same way that Christ loves us through His life, through His death on the cross, and resurrection to eternal life. Amazing Love. Let’s continually thank our Lord that we are His image bearers, and pray that we will rooted and built up in Christ, and grow in the faith that we were taught!