Your Salvation and Law

Scripture/Bible: "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:17-20

Reflection:  There is always the great confusion between the commandments and its practice and God's free gift of grace, which St. Paul talks about.  The confusion is perpetuated by the vociferous voices who claim that they are no longer under the law and that they are free now to do what they want.

It is true that we are no longer under the law, but not to be under the law could either mean we are equal to it or above it.  And the later is true, we are above it. Yet, we are above the law not because of our doing but by the free gift of God in Christ Jesus who fulfilled all the demands and requirements of the law.

In this way we do not depreciate the law but uphold the law, because Jesus himself upheld the law and fulfilled it, because the law is truth. 

God who gave the law to the Israelites to show the strict demands of his righteousness approves it in the fulfillment of it by Jesus. He does not abolish it but rather in Christ Jesus through the Life giving Spirit writes it in our hearts and mind, after cleansing us and remembering our sin no more. (Jer. 31:31-34)

The Spirit makes our conscience alive against evil and enables us to co-operate with the grace of God to war against the sinful passions. 

In this strivings of ours we no longer seek to work out our Salvation alone.  In Christ Jesus we are not alone in our struggles but we have the life giving Spirit to help us in our weakness and never to lose heart; “for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”  Phil 2:13

Prayer:  Lord, I know that I have your presence and grace with me as I work out my own salvation. (cfr. Phil. 2:12) Help me not to lose heart in my daily strivings.

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