John 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing, and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
John 6:29 (Amplified) tells us, "Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God requires (asks of you); that you believe in the One Whom He has sent (that you cleave to,trust in, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger)."
Grace and Truth have now come through Jesus Christ, and we're no longer required to do what the Law required, in order to receive God's Blessing and favor. The only thing required, is that we believe Jesus met all the requirements ever needed for us to receive. We don't need to continually make sacrifice and burn offerings for our sins and trespasses. We must only believe that Jesus was the Last Sacrifice for all time. This doesn't mean we can sin without consequence, but that all our sin has been dealt with at the cross. 1John 1:9 (Amplified) says, "If we freely admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just, True to His Own nature and Promises, and will forgive our sins (dismiss our lawlessness), and continually cleanse us from all unrighteousness, everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought and action."
We haven't been given a license or permission to sin, but if (and when we do) sin, we approach God in faith of His Word and "trust in, rely on, and have faith in Jesus for our cleansing. In order to receive our cleansing, we must believe in the One Whom God has sent. This is the requirement that God asks of us today. This is the rest that the Holy Spirit speaks about in Hebrews 4:10 (Amplified) which says, "For he who has once entered God's rest also has ceased from the weariness and pain of human labors, just as God rested from those labors, peculiarly His Own."
Many have fallen under oppression and condemnation from past sin, believing God cannot use them. This has led to their believing God will not hear them or that they can approach Him in faith. We have a difficult time entering into worship and praise, because we believe satan's lies and feel unworthy and unrighteous. Grace isn't a license or endorsement to sin, but is God's favor and mercy to deliver us, in the event that we do sin.
The misunderstanding of God's Grace, has led many into disobedience and lack of Truth. Grace doesn't cover rebellion and disregard for Truth. Our rest comes by not condemning and dismissing ourselves from God's Presence, but trusting in His Cleansing in Jesus by faith. Our rest comes from not having to make sacrifice under the Law any longer, because Jesus is the Last Sacrifice.
In Mark 4:23-24 (Amplified) Jesus said, "If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening, and let him perceive and comprehend. And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing, The measure of thought and study you give to the truth you hear, will be the measure of virtue and knowledge that comes back to you, and more besides will be given to you who hear."
Notice how Jesus first said, "Be careful what you are hearing" and then He said, "To the truth you hear." In John 8:31-32 (Amplified) Jesus said, "If you abide in My Word (hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them), yo are truly My disciples And you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." He also said in Mark 4:24 (Amplified), "Be careful what you are hearing, the measure of thought and study to the Truth you hear." We hear so many things that are not "Truth" or "rest," according to Grace.
We've heard so many things taught, that hold us int bondage, instead of freeing us from it. Grace has come to reveal the Truth. We keep "feeling like we need to do something," in order to relieve the guilt of wrongdoing. This puts rest, into a place of our own labors and sacrifice, instead of receiving by Grace, the Truth that sets us free. Jesus said, "Be careful what you hear." He wasn't only referring to the conversations of the world, but about the religious order of our time, too.
We find the perfect example of "Being careful what we hear" and how the "Truth is measured out, by what we hear," in Numbers 13-14. God instructed the Israelites to go into the Land He had given them, but when they saw the Land God had Promised, the people doubted God could take them into that Land. Twelve men went into the "Land flowing with milk and honey." Ten men came out with what the Lord called, "Evil reports." They didn't abide in the Word and their ears heard something different from Truth.
Two million Israelites weren't "careful what they heard" and never entered into God's Rest. We must become very selective about what we hear. Some around us will say, "well meaning things," but if those things aren't Truth, then they will not receive the "30, 60 hundred fold Harvest," Jesus spoke about in Mark 4:24 (Amplified). The Truth is what sets us free. The good or bad things we hear, bring forth a harvest, but only Truth will bring forth God's Promised Harvest. The Israelites received a harvest, that wasn't what God intended, but was according to what they heard and accepted as "truth."
We read about this in Hebrews 4:6-11 (Amplified) which says, "Seeing then that the Promise remains over from past times for some to enter that rest, and that those who formerly were given the Good News about it and the opportunity, failed to operate in it and did not enter in because of disobedience." Verses 7-11 continue, "Again He sets a definite day, a new today, and gives another opportunity of securing that rest, saying through David after so long a time in the Words already quoted, TODAY, if you would hear His Voice and when you hear it do not harden your hearts This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan, For if Joshua had given them rest, He, God would not speak afterward about another day. So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath rest reserved for the true people of God. For he who has once entered God's rest also has ceased from the weariness and pain of human labors, just as God rested from those labors, peculiarly His Own. Let us there be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest of God (to know and experience it for ourselves), that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience into which those in the Wilderness fell."
The simplicity of God's Promised Truth and Grace have already been done in Jesus. Jesus did everything required for us to be righteous, cleansed, holy, blessed, sanctified, heirs, healed, exalted, consecrated and accepted by God. By faith, we must stop striving to make things happen and rest in what Jesus has done for us.
We must take the Truth and receive it into our hearts, allowing it to abide in us. We must then, allow ourselves to abide in Jesus. We will then "Know the Truth (the Word) and it will make us free." 2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "Every scripture is God-breathed (given by His Inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error, and discipline in obedience and for training in righteousness, in holy living in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action. So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
When we give thought and study to the Truth of God's Word, then it will be measured back to us 100 fold. We must be careful in what we hear. The only we're required to do, is believe what the Father sent Jesus to do for us and allow that Word to make us free. We no longer offer sacrifices, perform rituals and traditions, do our own works, because Grace is sufficient for every need. If we sin, then we must confess it before Jesus and leave it there, rest in God's Grace and continue running the Good race.
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