Law vs Grace

Here's a tough one for you - the concept of Law vs. Grace. The picture you see here is of a woman about to be stoned to death. Half-burried and tied, she is unable to defend herself. This is The Law.

You might say, "How barbaric!" And, you'd be right, but open up your Bibles.

"While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. 33Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, 34and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. 35Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.” 36So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the Lord commanded Moses." - Number 15:32-36

For picking up some sticks? Too harsh?

Let's go back to the Book of Exodus, Chapter 20, The Ten Commandments. Key word =  "COMMAND-ments."

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work," - Exodus 20:8-10

A command from God. We are supposed to obey those things. How are we doing what that commandment in today's world? Not very well I'm afraid. Ahh, but Jesus!

"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." - Romans 6:11-14

Tell me, would you rather live under The Law, or under God's grace? Everybody gets to make that choice in this life. We can choose to live things our own way and follow other gods, or we can choose Jesus. It's our choice. Picture Jesus being stoned to death in our place. That was HIS choice. He died for us on the cross. He took our place. He was "stoned" for OUR sins.

It is right to give Him thanks and praise.