Heb.10: 1 - For the law having a shadow of good things to come,
and not the very image of the things…
Those would keep the law are keeping
a shadow. The Living Christ is now who we love and obey, not words of stone. That word shadow could be called a “foreshadow”. But let
us first establish what is meant by the ”law”. It is commonly used to refer to
the law of Moses given on My. Sinai. Condensed down many people use the Ten
Commandments as a substitute for the entire law, but it still refers to some of
the law given to Moses by God. The Scriptures sometimes use the phrase “the law
of the Lord” to mean God’s Word in general, however we are dealing specifically
with the law of Moses here.
A young boy is enlisted to call out “The King is coming!”
Although he is a peasant and not well groomed he performs his duty faithfully.
He stands in the middle of the town square and calls out continually “The King
is coming!” And then finally an entourage appears with much pomp and
circumstance and then behold…the King himself appears in regal robes. Look at
the crowd. Their eyes are fixated upon the King. Do they glance at the king and
at the young boy as well? No. Does the young boy continue to call out “The King
is coming”? No. The young boy has fulfilled his duty and he is no longer
needed.
Years ago there was a game called “Mouse Trap”. It
consisted of many components which were designed to help direct a steel ball
along a path that would eventually release a cage that would capture that
mouse. Along the way there was a trap door. And when the steel ball landed upon
that trap door it gave way and the ball fell down upon another feature that
would help move the ball along to its final destiny. And at the end the mouse
was captured.
But should we reset that trap door? No, the mouse has
been captured and that trap door has fulfilled its purpose. It is no longer
needed. And the strength of that trap door was that it accomplished its design
by showing its weakness and giving way to the steel ball. Yes, its weakness was
its designed strength.
Heb.7:
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the
similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the
power of an endless life.17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
The law has fulfilled its intended design and purpose. It
guided God’s people by types and shadows and symbols into the knowledge of sin
and also the knowledge of forgiveness through a blood offering. But when the
substance arrives; when the final revelation comes upon the scene; when the
complete offering is made; when the incarnate Word is born; when the King
arrives, then the law is no longer needed for now we have a Father and a
Brother and we are chastened through them and not a legal citation written in
stone.
I obeyed my earthly father because I respected and loved
him and not because of some penal code. And we obey the Lord Jesus because we
love Him and not because of the law of Moses. This New Covenant has nothing to
do with Mt. Sinai, but it has everything to do with Mt. Calvary. I am afraid
there is so much material to cover than I will not be able to put it all in one
post. It is amazing that after two thousand years of church history we are
still attempting to incorporate the law with grace. The law is poison to grace.
And Paul makes it clear that while we are not under any law it does not give us
license to sin. But please, let us not besmirch the unspeakable gift of grace
with some tortured amalgam of the law and grace.
But let us take a look more closely at the order of
Melchisedec. The writer of Hebrews informs us that Jesus was not after the
order of Aaron which would come under the law. He even calls that part of the
law a “carnal commandment”. He suggests that the law of Moses appealed to the
flesh but the New Covenant seeks the Spirit. You see, many people who parade
the law have a problem with self righteousness. But let us unclothe the emperor
here. No one can keep the law. No one. In the 15th chapter of Acts
even James must admit that. And when the apostles gathered in Jerusalem to
discuss whether the Gentiles should obey the law Peter stood up and spoke.
Acts 15: 7- And when there had been
much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know
how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my
mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Here it is. It is by grace we are saved, and it is by
grace we are sanctified as well. We do not commit adultery because we love
Jesus and walk in the Spirit but not because of the Ten Commandments. There are
many more of the commandments of Jesus than just ten. And even if some of the
New Testament moral teachings replicate those of the law of Moses they still
are in the Spirit and not in tablets of stone. But why did the Spirit make it
clear that Jesus was made a priest after the order of Melchesidec? Because the
New Covenant ushered in a brand new way that was completely different than the
Old Testament law. This New Covenant in which we live and move and have our
being is not just some updated and improved version of the law. No, this is a
better covenant with better promises and with God Himself as the Author,
Finisher, and our High Priest.
Rom.8: There is therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from
the law of sin and death.3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Carnally minded? What did the writer of Hebrews call the
law? The carnal commandment. It has fulfilled its purpose and it is now to be “done
away with”. The law was the ministry of death while grace is life. Go ahead and
meditate on these verses for the next post.
Rom.7: Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to
them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as
he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so
long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of
her husband.3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
5 For when e were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Posts
28 comments:
The law brings death and Jesus brings life. I'd rather live in Christ (grace) than die trying to keep the law to please men. It doesn't please God at all.
Great article Rick! Former best friend got caught up in this movement. That's all he talks is Torah and following the law. It is sad because I said we could get together if he won't talk about the law. He responded he couldn't promise not to do that. It consumes his life, that's all he can talk about. Every email conversation he turns around to talk about the law and the Jewish festivals, etc. It seems to be taking over the established church as well especially the evangelicals. Part of the end time deception I think. Israel's enemies are being destroyed and weakened by the U.S. as they will never submit so they have to be done away with. Is this preparing the way for the Zionists to rule the world as they believe they are the chosen ones to rule over mankind? As the woman (the church) rides the beast?? Am I off here in left field? Just my thoughts.
Randy
I must say I enjoyed reading this post very much for it's very well researched.
Randy, I do know that no good and faithful servant of Lord Jesus will be riding any beast! Praise God for that!!
As soon as the New Covenant is mentioned we enter the arena of miracles. An unsaved person needs God's miraculous intervention in their life, in order out of gratitude and love to heed His living Word.
We need to teach that the Law of Christ can't be fulfilled by an unsaved person. Because an unsaved person is still under the law of sin and death they can't love God in a manner that pleases Him.
Let's desire sincerely to shepherd the unsaved worldwide to the cross, for their sins haven't been forgiven.
To add to what I had written above, I meant to say the established backslid church that is the one riding the beast and God said he would send strong delusion to those who do not love the truth. I wanted to clear that up, did not mean the remnant would be part of that false movement. Also that friend is a Christian, attended baptist seminary many years ago but has gotten off track and you can't convince him otherwise.
Randy
Totally agree and was taught this in the church I was saved in. Yet, even then, the well-intentioned church needed to feel they had to reach back into the law. The women could never cut their hair, not even to cut off the dry ends. They were convinced they had to continue the Nazirite vow, and took Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians on hair to a bizarre level. We were taught that putting scissors to the hair would remove the anointing off of our head, because the hair was a covering that the angels beheld, and that a woman's authority was the covering (hair) on her head. There were nazirites in the OT that had to abide by certain restrictions. Aren't we free now? There are arguments on wearing veils and arguments on women not permitted to worship with men, as they had to stay in the outer court; as well, men in our church could not wear any kind of shorts or pants that didn't cover the back of their knees, and the reasoning had to do with a law of Moses.
There are so many other OT legalities that each church clings to. I think some people feel like they don't deserve to be free from the Son of God's sacrifice yet, and they cling to an oppressive rule, much like some Catholics, who would go to a shrine, like Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre in Quebec, where we had to climb the cement steps on our knees and say a prayer with each step. And if we think that evangelical or other moderate fundamentalist churches are clean of the OT, they're not either.
I've mentioned this before and it's been revealed to me through trial and error. Some of us, as christians, want to go back there. It isn't enough to accept grace. We feel wretched and force ourselves to make some 'sacrificial' act to make ourselves feel justified.
I've seen legalism turn christians into bitter people; legalism does become a snare and turns people into holiness police. They're absorbed with themselves and are so afraid to risk breaking one tittle of the law. I knew a woman who wouldn't give her sick kids cough syrup because it had alcohol in it. She waited until the next day to try to find a med that had no alcohol. Meanwhile, her kids were up all night. She wouldn't eat little "rumballs" at Christmas-time. I know many people have so many personal convictions and they commit certain things to the Lord, but it's been my unfortunate experience that these same people do turn into legal OT pharisees. They have absolutely no mercy for others. We have a hard time believing that Jesus did it all for us, and some take a long time to figure it out.
J.
Philippians 3:8
What is more, I continue to consider all these things to be a loss for the sake of what is far more valuable, knowing the Messiah Jesus, my Lord. It is because of him that I have experienced the loss of all those things. Indeed, I consider them rubbish in order to gain the Messiah.
Randy, I would remind your friend of the witness of Paul. Our praise must be for Christ Jesus not Jewish festivities. If our praise is to be for Christ then we must give Him our full focus.
It seems to me that your friend isn't esteeming the perfect finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross highly. His witness isn't lining up with Paul's witness, so it is falling short of glorifying God.
Jackie, that isn't something the carnalmind can figure out. Only someone who has been born from above can witness that God's grace is sufficient, in all circumstances, for them.
Thank You Brother Rick!
I hope your heart leads you to post more concerning this subject...
It is "embedded" deep into believers (Law), myself being one of them...legalism in my life destroyed relationships, friends, family and almost my marriage...
Legalism, law, rules, regulations, standards, codes just eat away at our liberty in Christ...
Why we just don't stay with the "revelation" God gave to Apostle Paul (the Gentile Apostle) is a mystery...he said "follow me as I follow Christ"...
That revelation is the mystery that gives life, power and purpose to the Church...the road to a successful walk in the Lord...
Thank You for posting!
Pastor Rick,
You misunderstood my post regarding Law and Grace. I agree with this post. What I meant was that without the law, we have no grace. We are convicted of our sins looking at the law, not following it. And the Gospel, Grace, is our salvation from the law. Never said to follow the law. How do we know we are sinners without knowing the law?
When you look at the commandments, mainly the first 10, you come to realize just how badly one needs a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. The one who fulfilled the law. The NT says that if we follow the law, we fall from Grace.
We know that the Law of Moses is but a shadow, but it also is the mirror to our sinfull nature that must be looked at in order to Repent. Un-regenerated man does not know he/she is a sinner without looking at the law. If we read Leviticus we can see many acts of sin described that we see today. There is spiritual knowledge in the law to help us understand just how precious Grace really is. The OT is also the word of God. It tells us about our Father. It wasn't written for Christians to live by, but for spiritual food, for conviction, and knowlwdge of the Truth of God. We must live by the Gospel, for to live anyother way is in vain. Sorry if I wasn't clear. I pray for forgiveness if I caused anyone to stumble.
your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.
AMAZING GRACE
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
Praise Jesus, Praise Jesus, Praise Jesus, Praise Jesus.
Joel
Are we following the law written on stone or the law of Christ written on our heart?
How do we know we are sinners without knowing the law?
That doesn't change after you become a Christian, in fact the more we love God the more we desire, in His love, to honor our father and mother. Our witness becomes that to do this is His perfect will.
When you look at the commandments, mainly the first 10, you come to realize, through God's gracious intervention, just how badly one needs a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. The one who fulfilled the law. I totally agree.
Anon. 1:42 - Agree, amen.
Cherie: Agree too, amen. It's so revelatory to see how the OT is a blueprint for the NT. The Psalms and Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon all give us great teaching and God is yesterday, today and forever, he never changes. And we see how Israel's sin was a constant impediment to getting closer to the Father. It is good that we see this, so we don't follow the same path, I guess.
But, I wonder: So many gentiles who were in isolated places did accept the Lord Jesus when missionaries or disciples arrived to preach the gospel. Many of these didn't read and were saved despite studying the OT with scholars; no doubt many people came to Christ without knowing about the types and shadows that the OT provides. It does provide proof that the OT prophecies came to pass and it's wonderful to see how God had it all neatly fit so perfectly for us to see now. But so many did come to Christ with just hearing about Him and it wasn't until later that most societies started to read and think for themselves.
It's like Noah's Ark; I was so thrilled to read that there's evidence that the Ark's been found on Mount Ararat; but I only found out later, after I was born-again, and I expect we could all say that when we met Jesus for the first time, we were so in awe and broken, that we never would have asked for proof.
J.
In Exodus 20 we read: And God spoke all these words, saying:
Now my question is: Is God still speaking these words and writing them on the tablet of our heart in the New Covenant?
Has God's speech changed or is He writing what He says on the tablet of our heart so that we can become more obedient at following Him?
Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Yes and no. God said commandments in the law that are no longer in effect. And those that are in effect are in the Spirit. Under the law disrespecting your parents demanded death. Is that still in effect?
God shows sinners grace long before He saves them yet in a sense the hymnist is right for those saved become aware of His grace when they are born again from their perspective in a unique way.
I love these words.
But God, who called me here below, Will be forever mine. I love the adverb forever. What a wonderful experience that will be that has already started in miniature for those who truly believe.
Praise Lord Jesus forevermore!
That's right God no longer requires death because of disobedience because of Christ's victory on the cross, for there is no longer condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8
1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
In my opinion it is God's perfect will to honor our father and mother. It delights God when we do this.
Your post once again has brought to light the issues of the heart pertaining to Law and Grace, and this study has actually been very liberting for many reading the responses.
You asked a couple of questions in one of your earlier posts regarding "picking up sticks on the Sabbath", "wearing garments made of mixed fibers (impure fabric)", and "brothers marrying another brother's wife."
In answer to your questions I must confess in public that I stand guilty as charged on a couple of accounts.....I have picked up sticks on Saturday, Sunday, or any other day of the week. Weekends are a great time to enlist the help of my children when they are home for the weekend and it lightens a farm wife's work load tremendously as well as teaching our children respectable work ethics. Guilty as charged, Pastor Rick.
I also wear clothing of multiple fibers and as do most in our culture. Technology has opened doors to a myriad of fiber choices in the fashion industry and as consumers, it is basically impossible to purchase a garment constucted of one fiber. Our 100% cotton jeans have metal zippers and rivets attached to them, our 100% cotton t-shirts are sewn with cotton/polyester thread for greater durability in holding the garment together, and even when I sew my own clothing, my 100% wool suits have rayon lining and the garment whole is constructed with.....yes, cotton/polyester thread. Guilty as charged.
I cannot address the third question from a personal perspective, however in analyzing the cross section of our culture pertaining to marriage, I do not know of any brothers marrying their brother's wife.
Given the circumstances of our present day living conditions, it is impossible to keep the laws of the Old Testament and in all honesty, how many of the ten commandments can Christians keep? And if we break even one commandment, we are guilty of breaking all ten.
I once sat in a fellowship Bible study where one believer confessed that she sinned only once that particular week. As my eyes grew large, that still small voice within my own being said, "Then I must be the worst of sinners as I sin every day. I truly must be missing the mark."
There are many within the constructs of Christianity who are engaged in the religious parade. It is a colorful production complete with the pristine queens, the loud banging bands, and the funny foolish clowns. The parade production boasts of its own self righteousness in "not doing any work" on Sundays, and yet, after the religious service, drives to the restaurant and makes people wait on their needs and whims, and with most, the mention of the name and wonders of Jesus Christ, our Living Redeemer are never discussed let alone even pondered.
Would not those living under the Law, desire to go home and meditate and rest upon the very Word of God, instead of partaking in the rest of the world's affairs? This amazes me.....and should not the self righteous be sharing with all of those labeled "heathens", working hard in restaurants to support their families in addition to pleasing the needs of their religious customers, that they are "sinning" by working on a Sunday? Perhaps, the greatest shame lies within the organized religious system itself. This is just one example of an infinite number of contradictions in the religious parade of hypocrisy, and it is a colorful one indeed.
As I was fellowshipping with our LORD this morning, these verses caught my attention in Galations and are well worth pondering;
continued....
Great post Pastor Rick!
I love and respect these great verses found in Galations and have pondered them immensely, "For as many as are of the workes of the law are under the curse, for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." But that no one iw justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them." Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree," that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Galations 3:10-14
From what I understand through thses Scriptures, we, as born again believers by the power of God, the Holy Spirit, are no longer under the "curse" of the law because of what Jesus Christ did for us on that tree at Calvary.
Indeed, you are correct, Rick, as we break the "law" all of the time and I have not met one Christian to date who has led the "perfect" life in this fallen culture. It is impossible to live every letter of the law and those who place us under such a yoke of bondage and burdens of the religious kind seek death of the spirit, not life.
In my fellowship with Jesus this morning, I found the verses in Galations to be particularly comforting as they coincide with my study of Matthew 23.
This study of the Law verses Grace has been a joy and for me personally as I have found even greater freedom through Christ Jesus....alone. Thank-You once again!
I'd like to look at this from another angle.
Remember Luke's account of the strongman being attacked? In this account Luke develops something here about the armor/law the strongman used and is still permitted to use against the "Righteous". He seeks our condemnation by our violations of the Law.
But Jesus has now disarmed him so his accusations fall flat before our God!
After reviewing Luke's account (11:14-23), consider what follows after Satan leaves Jesus in both Matthew's and Luke's account of the temptation of Jesus at chapter 4. It sure reads like Jesus plundering Satan's house!
Now read these verses too:
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (1 Timothy 1:8-11 ESV)
Paul says the Law is in place to come against unrighteousness.
Or here:
And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. (Romans 5:16-18 ESV)
Here in verse 16 it is the righteous deed of Christ that secures our place with Him in His Righteousness, verse 17 and we are declared acquitted in verse 18.
Continuing>>>
Remember Abraham and "why" he was reckoned as Righteous?
And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6 ESV)
Now I want you to see something about this "Righteousness".
We see the purpose of the Law is to bring us to Christ so that we too might believe and have imputed His Righteousness thereby we are forgiven and redeemed and saved.
Look at Jeremiah 23 and this verse in particular:
In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 23:6 ESV)
Here we come to realize The Lord is that branch of Righteousness! And The Lord is born our Savior.
Now consider Jeremiah 33 and this verse in particular:
In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 33:16 ESV)
The KJV translation renders it better than the ESV. They translate "it" with "SHE"!!!
You see the only thing the Law is good for is to open the eyes of the blind to see that Christ and His Church by virtue of His redemption paid with His Blood are one in His RIGHTEOUSNESS!
Continuing>>>
Conclusion
Do we set aside the Law? No! We uphold it.
Why?
Here, consider:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (Matthew 5:17, 18 ESV)
And
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (Romans 3:27-31 ESV)
Where does this leave us then?
I suggest here:
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. (Revelation 19:6-8 ESV)
See? We have been granted to clothe ourselves with fine linen, BRIGHT AND PURE because we are now the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus! We are now Christ's Righteousness in the world! He who knew no sin became sin on our behalf so that we might become in Him His Righteousness doing all things in His Name and for His Glory!
Now we can understand the meaning of these Words too:
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord : though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. (Isaiah 1:18 ESV)
WOW!
We honor parents, and don't steal, and all the rest, BECAUSE we have the righteous NATURE of GOD living in us as New testament believers. "He has made us partakers of the divine nature." Because it is the fruit of a righteous Holy Spirit living Himself out through vessels of clay.
However, we insult the grace of God if we attempt to gain good standing by "following" any laws. Yes, the law is a standard, and will be manifested, by the life of Christ in us, not by moralism. It is a matter of keeping the horse before the cart.
The law reflects the nature and holiness of God. We reflect that too when we yield to the resuurection life of Christ by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Thank you all for the good discussion on this critical concept.
Victoria
One of the biggist failures of the Church today is teaching the proper mechanics of the principles of becoming sanctified. With the measures of faith and holiness growing, the love of God should also be expanding in the believers walk... Worse yet is now we, His Church, are caught in the tangles of theology challenging one another on the precepts of election and "once saved always saved", namely the wretched skewed teachings of Calvinism and the like of other certain orthodoxies. Pressed to the wall of eternity and really all the idealic fantasies that Christians have in their walk these days you will find God hard pressed to find the few that understand. "I want to be more like Jesus", that's what God witnesses every Sunday and by Monday Christians here in the states busy themselves collecting and cashing in on "mammon"... They do equate financial gain with being right with God. How spiritually dark this is. Choice. You will have this. This is part of Gods image you have been instilled with among many other personal traits of character. Appetite. You will also pocess this throughout eternity. Emotion. Another part of your eternal character. You will be you in eternity. So tremble...let the Holy Spirit do as he must with you to prepare you now. Place daily all you are and have on God's altar. And let the Refiners fire burn up all that is not Him in you. Follow Jesus.
And it's not just in this fallen culture that we cannot fully obey God's Law. Even in the garden, where there was but one law, they failed miserably. Praise the Holy Name of Jesus for redeeming those who believe that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again according to Scripture! ~Brenda
The truth, which is hated by the Jews, is that the current church of today is fully and completely under the law otherwise they wouldn't go to temple's built with human hands to worship Christ. The truth is that the word teaches that everyone is under the law until Christ second coming. The truth is declared in Revelation 12:9 concerning Satan the deciever of the whole world. It doesn't say some of the world or most of the world, it says the whole world but this isn't believed because the testimony of the word isn't believed otherwise the church would teach it.
Romans 4:16
Therefore it is of "faith" that it might be (according to grace), so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, (NOT ONLY TO THOSE WHO ARE OF THE LAW), "but also" (to those who are of the faith of Abraham), who is the father of us all
Amplified Version -
Romans 4:16 -
16 Therefore, [inheriting] the promise is the outcome of faith and depends [entirely] on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants—not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is [thus] the father of us all.
If anyone can't see "two" classes of people above, you must be blinded by some form of teaching...the "Law" is separate from "Faith"...you can't mix the two...
One group (the Jew) was given the Law, the other group (the Gentile) who were not given law but believe by Faith...
And now, the window (Old Covenant) is closed...the New Covenant is for both Jew and Gentile...
Without "Faith" it is impossible to please God...
Law and Faith are two different dispensations...they won't mix, when you try, the outcome is always the same - LEGALISM...
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