And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Hebrew 10:18
It is taught, beginning at a very early age, hard work will get you where you want to go. There is logic in an exchange. I do, therefore I get. In Old Testament Judaic life, there was an exchange in the covenant relationship between God and His people. They obey, He provides. When man broke the law of God, a sacrifice was made for atonement and man was again, right with God. Another exchange.
God’s will is grace and mercy, the foundation of perfect love. There is no exchange. God gives, and gives, and gives, the end.
This doesn’t make sense and contradicted traditional Judaic family and community practice. If you wanted to be Holy, then you must follow strict rules. Man’s obedience was tangible, and definitive. The early Jewish Christians struggled to turn loose of their material means of coming to God. It didn’t please God at all. He wants our faith in the blood of His Son, the final sacrifice.
It is easy to put hope in determination and hard work and it is difficult to rest in faith. The tangible verses the spiritual. BUT! God’s grace is sufficient, no need to sacrifice anything other than your free will.
Happy Thursday
Gretchen