“Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, ´You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said to the people, ´Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin. So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was. Many people struggle with the God displayed in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament. It is important to note that God is both and displays both for glory. The OT expresses the difference between God and man with fear and trembling. “When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. Through it He gives the law, which is simply the Holy character of God. To us, as a fallen creation, the law was contrary to us, even called a curse in the NT. “For as many as are under the works of the law are under the curse; ´Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them. But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident. Its not that the law was not good, or more accurately holy, its that it was unable to perfectly be complied to. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. More so, Jesus expressed that true adherence was obeyed from the heart and not merely outward. The Lord was expressing his holiness. When God made a covenant with Abraham to give him descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, he appeared to Abram in a dream as a smoking oven and a burning torch. The Lord is a consuming fire, a jealous God, what He says He accomplishes. He wanted the children of Israel to know and see that. He gave us this truth that they and we may not sin. Its not that God is against us, sin is against us for it is against God. So as God is hotly holy and we are not, which puts us in trouble, He created another covenant on our behalf. “A man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. This covenant was through the fulfillment of the law by Jesus Christ. As we trust our works to Him we believe Him to simply show mercy and grace as a new creation. Being born again by the water and the Holy Spirit we become justified and declared holy, we grow in practical righteousness through sanctification, and are redeemed for salvation. In Christ, we see the completion of Gods character. “For God so loved the world. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory the glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Im guessing it was nearly 2,000 years later, God transfigured Himself on a mountain, Jesus face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. “Peter answered and said to Jesus, ´Lord, it is good for us to be here. The Lord revealed Himself progressively for us to more fully understand who He is and what He requires from us. That we may understand the necessity for the cross and the weight of holiness. In Jesus we obtain grace and truth. For it is written, “Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Praise the Lord!
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 00:08:24 +0000
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