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GOD’S BELOVED SON
SATURDAY, APRIL 19
Luke 3:21-23, John 1:15-18

Psalm 19

 

“For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth

came by Jesus Christ.”

 

GOD’S BELOVED SON
 
In the baptism of Jesus, we have a clear display of the Holy Trinity. We have God the Father in heaven, God the Son on earth, and God the Spirit coming down from heaven to earth. We find all three Persons of the Godhead in action in a single event. This surely argues against the heresy of Sabellianism or Modalism which teaches that God is not three Persons but just one, and that He sometimes appears as the Father, sometimes as the Son, and sometimes as the Spirit.
 
Jesus is God’s beloved Son who has existed since eternity past. He came to reveal the immeasurable grace of God. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” Does this mean that with the entrance of Christ, the Ten Commandments are no longer necessary? Surely not! The Law was on no account abrogated by Grace. For if there were no Law, there would be no need of Grace. It is because we stand condemned by the Law in our sin and guilt that we need the Grace of God. The Law drives us to Christ for the Grace He bestows. It is when we receive Grace that the Law becomes our light and our delight: “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me” (Ps 119:97-98).
 
Till today, the Law functions in three ways. As:
 
1. a sword to slay us in our sins (Rom 3:19),
2. a rod to lead us to Christ (Gal 3:24), and
3. a torch to light up our paths (Ps 119:105).
 
Augustine says, “The law was given that grace might be sought; grace was given that the law might be fulfilled.”
 
THOUGHT: “The Law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul…” (Ps 19:7)

PRAYER: “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.”

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