“Liberty and Justice for All”
Liberty and Justice for all! Ever thought the reason we end the pledge of allegiance with that is because it is something we all desire? But what if it is more than that? What if our freedom is found in something higher? Would we believe that living out Liberty and Justice is found in Grace and Truth?
- GRACE
- In Old Testament (Hebrew) = hen (mentioned 60 times)
- Means finding favor in God’s eyes
- When we look at the Old Testament the system of keeping the Law is how men/women found favor in God’s eyes. If we were disobedient to the Law we couldn’t experience God’s favor.
- In New Testament (Greek) = charis
- Means unmerited favor of God
- This is a HUGE shift because of Jesus. It completely changes from finding favor in God’s eyes to having the unmerited favor of God.
- We have to see the difference in Grace from before Jesus to after to see where we sit today! Do we operate out of the Grace that we have unmerited favor of God or do we operate out of finding favor in God’s eyes! The difference is religion vs. relationship.
- In the world we live in today and in this country where freedom (Liberty) is our foundation we have to show the world the freedom in Christ. Not in religion but in Christ. The freedom is found in Christ alone…not in the way we work to get there!
- In Old Testament (Hebrew) = hen (mentioned 60 times)
- TRUTH
- In Old Testament (Hebrew) = emeth
- Means firmness and stability
- In the Old Testament the Truth is about God revealing Himself to be who He says He is (we’ll get to the New Testament in a moment :D). God is firm and never wavering in who He is.
- In New Testament (Greek) = alethes
- Means Unconcealed Reality or Genuine
- In the New Testament the Truth is revealed in a person…Jesus! Jesus is the fulfillment of over 300+ prophesies in the Old Testament! He is God unconcealed (remember Paul talking about the Mystery being revealed in Ephesians 3?).
- When we see Truth in America we see that through the lens of Justice…or even scales. We live in a world where Justice is polluted & perverted by the eyes of the one executing judgement.
- For us as Christians we get to live out the Truth because we have a relationship with Jesus & He is in us! The mystery of God’s plan to reconcile all of creation back to Him not just the Jewish people was revealed in Christ in the New Testament.
- In Old Testament (Hebrew) = emeth
The freedom in Christ is that we get to live lives that aren’t stuck in executing judgement on one another…that’s God’s job. We don’t even have to convict others…that’s the Holy Spirit’s job. We get to love others…that’s our job! And when we do that well we will live out a life that is Liberty and Justice for all!
Take Away:
Do you tend to lean more toward grace or truth? What does it look like to lean all the way in either direction?
What are some specific ways you can live with both grace and truth to influence the culture around you?
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Tyler West 