Yeah, "Good" But....

There's a perception given by many today that Romans 6: 14, 15 ("not under law, but under Grace") imply that there was a time when God dealt with His people purely on the principle of law and not by the favour of His Grace; that the Old Testament was the era of law, and the New Testament (with the advent of Jesus Christ) is the era of Grace. Hence, His favour at first came by merit, but later by grace. Wrong, Wrong, Wrong... It was Grace all along!!!

Why, "Noah found GRACE in the eyes of the Lord!" Gen. 6: 8.

Well, let’s put it this way:  Law was/is always present, but since sin entered, Grace also stepped in.  Being under law is to be in a state of sin, which places us UNDER the condemnation of the Law.  To be reconciled to God (having our confessed and forsaken sins forgiven) is to be UNDER Grace.

In this chapter I'm gleaning that Job is painfully aware God's favour doesn't come by the merit of being "innocent/good/righteous;" but entirely at His discretion. Hence Job correctly declared, "For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge." (Verse 15). God only had/has to be besought.

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/waitingfortheword/5733184744/in/photostream/

But unlike the sense that Job seems to have at this point though, thank God I know I have a Mediator in Jesus Christ, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" 1 Tim 2: 5. The thing about this Mediator is that His righteousness is acceptable with God. This righteousness He not only imputes to us when at the point of justification He declares us righteous, but in the process of sanctification (the work of a lifetime) He imparts His righteousness to us. These are His doings, not ours; we only need to accept Him by faith - He will make of us what He desires.

Job's friends (and possibly Job before now) thought you only had to be "good" and only good things will happen to you; Job now knows better. Do we know better; or are we still trying to earn God's favour today? Let's not forget that at our best, our "righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Isa 64: 6. Let's therefore seek Christ's.

This reading is based on Job 9.  To read and/or listen to this chapter and to read other related blogs, please click here.