But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law….We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 3:21–22 (NLT)
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they separated mankind from being able to have a relationship with God. God responded by promising to send a Saviour to set things right, and He chose to bring about this Saviour from a chosen group of people, the Israelites.
God struck a deal with the Israelites that we refer to as the Old Covenant. In this deal, God promised a relationship with Him and access to His blessings IF they obeyed Him, but it was a temporary solution. People were trapped in endless cycles of failure and attempts to make up for those failures…that is, until God cut a new deal.
This new deal, which we call the New Covenant, occurred between Jesus and God. Basically, God said: I promise to bless and restore my relationship with people through you, Jesus. If people trust in you, Jesus, and your finished work on the cross, I’ll count it as though they have your perfect record.
Some people are living as though they are bound to the old agreement. They think that they need to behave a certain way to get God to love and bless them. Meanwhile, we’re living under the new agreement! Jesus already fulfilled His part of the deal perfectly!
You don’t need to focus on trying to make anything up to God. Nothing is standing between you and a close, loving relationship with your Father God. You can ask Him for what you need knowing that your deservedness is irrelevant. Jesus deserves whatever you’re asking God for, so you’re entitled to it through Him!