Grace is Our Mother Today

"But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." (Galatians 4: 26)

In the Fourth Chapter of Paul's letter to the Galatians, we learn about the two covenants, the Old Covenant of Law and the New Covenant of Grace.

The Galatians then, and many Christians today, are still living under law, even though today the dispensation is one of grace, in which all our sins are put away forever:

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" (Colossians 2: 13)

Before, under law, man would seek acceptance based on his performance:

"5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." (Exodus 19: 5-6)

Today, we are not accepted because of what we do, but because of all that Jesus did:

"3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 3-6)

Why has this occurred? Because of the blood of Jesus!

"7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; " (Ephesians 1: 7)

The blood of Jesus set in place a New Covenant:

"And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many." (Mark 14: 24)

Today, we are no longer under law, but rather under grace:

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6: 14)

Paul explains further about our new mother, the grace of God:

"21Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children." (Galatians 4: 21-25)

Notice that Paul repeats the word "bondage" twice, for the law brings bondage and death, not because the law is bad, but because man is sinful, in need of a Savior:

"7But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory." (2 Corinthians 3: 7-9)

then

"If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good." (Romans 7: 16)

Today, because of Jesus, we have a new mother, Grace, and she is a better teacher in godliness than the law ever could:

"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)

Happy Mothers Day!