Reading the Bible Through Grace Lenses

By Oliver Day

God’s grace isn’t cheap. Actually, it’s completely free. The very thing that cost Jesus His life has been given to mankind without a price tag. But this wonderfully freeing message is easily lost in the pages of the Bible if we mix the Old and New Testaments without understanding the context of what we are reading.

Jump into the pages of this book as it takes you on a journey that will leave you on the edge of your seat with excitement! Chapter after chapter we rip the lid off confusing scriptures and follow the golden thread of God’s love through both the Old and New Testaments, while witnessing His unfolding, eternal plan to draw mankind into Himself through His amazing G.R.A.C.E: God’s Redemption at Christ’s Expense.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Oliver Day
• Release date: Feb 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310726859

Oliver Day

Oliver Day is a passionate propagator of the liberating, life changing Gospel of Grace: the message that declares Christ has already done it all on our behalf, and that we are completely righteous, blameless and forgiven in God's sight. Oliver lives in South Africa with his wife and three children.

Book preview

Learning how to stop trying to impress God with our own human efforts can be an incredibly difficult task, especially if we have been taught that God wants us to work, sacrifice, serve and give all the time. Too few Christians ever realize that God is actually already pleased with us, and all that’s left for us to do is rest in His accomplishments. Good works is something that will naturally manifest in the life of anyone whose heart is ablaze for God. This book will show you how to start living in that sweet spot of God’s acceptance and make human traditions plummet to the ground like old, rusted prison chains.

(Heather Simmons – Grace Upon Grace Ministries)

Without a proper understanding of the context, the Bible can be one of the most dangerous books anyone can read. Within its covers we find destruction, violence and more rules than anyone can ever hope to obey. But when we fathom the difference between the Old and New Covenants (which is exactly what this book will help you to do) and when we truly come to appreciate the finished work of the cross, the intended message becomes clear. God isn’t interested in our sacrifices… Jesus already took care of all that on our behalf. He is after our hearts.

(Mick Hemingway – Ignite Church)

Without a doubt, the Gospel of Grace is currently the single most prevailing message within Christianity. This book takes the reader through the Bible on a journey that follows the golden thread of God’s unmerited favor and shines a brilliant light on His plan of redemption that has been unfolding through the ages… a plan to draw mankind into Himself and demonstrate the true depth of His love. If you are serious about finally reading the Bible in context, this is one of the most important books you will ever read!

(Jason Womberg – Redeeming Love Ministries)

Have you ever come across scriptures that left you scratching your head? Are there certain verses in the Bible that you’ve had to put in the God will show me later box? This book will rip the lid off that box and from one chapter to the next fill you with breathtaking excitement as the author meticulously unpacks truth upon truth, making the Bible truly come alive and helping you to see God’s boundless love contained within its pages.

(Howard Schäfer – New Covenant Fellowship)

Reading the Bible Through Grace Lenses

by Oliver Day

Copyright 2016 Oliver Day

Distributed by Smashwords

(This book is available in print at most online retailers)

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Contents

Introduction

God’s Covenant with Abraham

God’s Covenant with Israel

God’s Covenant with Mankind, Through Christ

Seed of Christ and Abraham

Co-Heirs Included in God’s Testament

When Did the New Testament Start?

Did Jesus End the Law or Not?

The Prophets Testified of the New Covenant

The Law Can’t Curb Sin

Opposition from Legalists

Forgive To Be Forgiven?

What is Disobedience If There is No Law?

Your Spirit: 100% Righteous

Your Soul and Body: Playing Catch-Up

No Justification Through the Law

Jesus Occasionally Preached the Law

The Entire Law or No Law at All

First Adam and Last Adam (Christ)

From Adam to Moses: No Law

From Moses to Christ: Cursed by the Law (Pt1)

From Moses to Christ: Cursed by the Law (Pt2)

Christ: The End of the Law

Not Married to the Law Anymore

A Diluted Version of the Law

Grace More Powerful than the Law!

Connect with Oliver Day

Introduction

Most Christians believe the only laws God gave to Israel were the Ten Commandments found in Exodus Chapter 20. They are however unaware of the other 603 laws that appear from after this chapter right through to the end of Deuteronomy. Yes, the complete Old Testament Law consisted of a daunting 613 rules and stipulations in total.

But why do modern day preachers never mention any of them, or sometimes only glance over a few of them during their sermons? If we believe in the entire Bible, why are we so quick to discard the Old Testament?

Through the pages of this book we will embark on a journey that will take us to Abraham, a man who was praised for his faith and in Romans 4 also is referred to as the father of all who believe. Even though Abraham lived long before Jesus, he was counted as righteous because of his faith.

We will also travel over 400 years later to Mount Sinai where Israel received the Ten Commandments from God (and later the 603 other laws as well), and investigate why God would ever think of placing such a heavy burden on a single nation. We need to remember that there were severe consequences for disobeying these laws.

Our expedition will additionally take us to nearly 1400 years later where a Jewish Carpenter was nailed to a cross, and resulted in the triumphant culmination of God’s eternal plan to redeem mankind.

We will then start following the golden thread of God’s love through the Bible and visit a great many topics which might seem completely different when we read them with our grace lenses on. Our journey will help us to finally understand why so many Christians turn their entire lives into a sin management program, running the endless treadmill of trying to please God by doing more for Him or trying to sin less, when all along the only thing God ever wanted was our affection and our love.

To everybody who has ever felt like God wanted more than you could ever give

To those who can never approach God with boldness

To everyone who feels unworthy or underserving of God’s grace

May your eyes be opened to the depth of His love, acceptance and approval…

God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense

God’s Covenant with Abraham

God has dealt with mankind in many different ways and through many different channels through the ages, but the single most important method He has chosen to reveal His will and intent to us, is through covenants.

One of the characteristics of a covenant is that it cannot be withdrawn from by either of the parties who entered into it, since a covenant is a life-long contract or agreement. For a covenant to end, either one of the parties who entered into it literally has to die. There is a distinct difference between God’s promises and His covenants.

When God makes a promise, we have to put our faith in that promise for it to come to pass:

Heb 6:12 …but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (NKJV, emphasis added)

Heb 11:33 …who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. (NKJV, emphasis added)

However, when God makes a covenant it will come to pass, whether we believe it or not. God can not lie and when He takes an oath, He always does what He says.

There are many covenants in the Bible, but we will only focus on the three most important ones, the first two being covenants which God made with man and the third one which was made within the Trinity itself. If we comprehend these three covenants it will make the Bible much clearer and simpler to understand.

God’s Seals His Covenant with Abraham

God appears to Abraham and makes a covenant to be his God and to multiply and bless him.

Gen 17:3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. (NKJV)

There were no strings attached. Abraham also