Not By Works
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Okay Dcon, here I am.. I'm feeling brave..
lolTo all the people who believe that we need daily salvation, let me pose this question. Does Jesus have to get upon His cross daily to give us salvation daily? Must He get on that cross everyday and die for our sins over and over? The answer is: NOPE.
Jesus died ONCE to save us from our sins and to bring us salvation. The same applies to keeping our salvation. It is a one-time gift, bestowed freely upon us. It is NOT a gift that we have given to us EVERY DAY, so we don't need to HOPE for it daily. Now here's a question for those who believe you MUST do good works to receive and maintain your salvation. Good works consist of helping others, right? YES.
But even if you do 100 good works each day all your life, they will NOT gain you salvation. Nor will they allow you to KEEP your salvation. Why, you ask? Because only two things are required to get salvation: faith and belief. Those are gifts given to us by GOD, they are not OUR works. When we strive to know Jesus, He gives us the 2 things we need to accept His salvation. Those 2 things are ALL that is needed. Another thing that does not gain you salvation, is taking communion. Grape juice and a little piece of bread have no power to give us salvation. The power comes from the One whom we remember when we do partake of communion.
But it is not essential for gaining and keeping salvation. The ONLY way that you CAN lose your salvation, is if you deny God and the Trinity. That would be the straw that broke the camel's back..lol.. So my point is, don't ever deny God's existence and you won't ever have your salvation taken away..
L
Okay Dcon, here I am.. I'm feeling brave..
lolTo all the people who believe that we need daily salvation, let me pose this question. Does Jesus have to get upon His cross daily to give us salvation daily? Must He get on that cross everyday and die for our sins over and over? The answer is: NOPE.
Jesus died ONCE to save us from our sins and to bring us salvation. The same applies to keeping our salvation. It is a one-time gift, bestowed freely upon us. It is NOT a gift that we have given to us EVERY DAY, so we don't need to HOPE for it daily. Now here's a question for those who believe you MUST do good works to receive and maintain your salvation. Good works consist of helping others, right? YES.
But even if you do 100 good works each day all your life, they will NOT gain you salvation. Nor will they allow you to KEEP your salvation. Why, you ask? Because only two things are required to get salvation: faith and belief. Those are gifts given to us by GOD, they are not OUR works. When we strive to know Jesus, He gives us the 2 things we need to accept His salvation. Those 2 things are ALL that is needed. Another thing that does not gain you salvation, is taking communion. Grape juice and a little piece of bread have no power to give us salvation. The power comes from the One whom we remember when we do partake of communion.
But it is not essential for gaining and keeping salvation. The ONLY way that you CAN lose your salvation, is if you deny God and the Trinity. That would be the straw that broke the camel's back..lol.. So my point is, don't ever deny God's existence and you won't ever have your salvation taken away..
p4t - I have to say there appears to be a dispute of rights going on here.
The real trick is to get people to say, you cannot say that.
I bow the knee to my Lord and judge. It is His will I desire to serve.
Making things personal and then saying I am depending on something which
I am not is just abuse and lying.
How is it a believer can justify such behaviour? I have no fear for myself
but for you and your faith. It seems like you are riding on a hypocritical
position while trying to claim you hold the high ground.
Talking about belief systems and encouraging people to follow and trust
Christ is our calling. What you are doing is judgementalism and delusion.
I do not know your true position in your faith, but it is not looking good
from here. God bless you, and may the peace that comes in Christ Jesus
bring His love to your heart, Amen
The real trick is to get people to say, you cannot say that.
I bow the knee to my Lord and judge. It is His will I desire to serve.
Making things personal and then saying I am depending on something which
I am not is just abuse and lying.
How is it a believer can justify such behaviour? I have no fear for myself
but for you and your faith. It seems like you are riding on a hypocritical
position while trying to claim you hold the high ground.
Talking about belief systems and encouraging people to follow and trust
Christ is our calling. What you are doing is judgementalism and delusion.
I do not know your true position in your faith, but it is not looking good
from here. God bless you, and may the peace that comes in Christ Jesus
bring His love to your heart, Amen
I agree with everything except the losing salvation part.....verb tense, context etc. prove eternal security....once a person acknowledges Jesus by faith they are forever sealed and born into the family of God....incorruptable seed, sealed by the spirit, justified by the blood, in the heavenly Father's hand, In the Hands of Christ and he will finish what he started and raise it up at the last day....if we believe not after belief he abides faithful because he cannot deny himself......the bible teaches eternal security
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The works of the Law, part 1
The book of Galatians is a book containing 6 very short chapters. In these 6 chapters circumcision is mentioned 16 times. Many people that wish to do away with the Lord’s commandments use scriptures from Galatians to try and do so. The Ceremonial laws are but fleshly temporal ordinances or celebrations.
The law of circumcision along with the ceremonial and civil laws is one of the carnal ordinances of the law that were nailed to the cross. Those that wish to do away with God’s 10 commandments will also try and tell you that the ordinances and the 10 commandments are simply parts of the law and are not separate from one another. In saying that, they will point to a scripture that’s speaking of circumcision and then apply that scripture to God’s 10 commandments. This is done to extreme in the book of Galatians. The scripture below separates the Mosaic Law, the ordinances, and the commandments.
Note: Before the Babylonian captivity the Jews were worshiping all of the Gentile pagan gods which waxed great God’s anger and jealousy. After the 70 year exile and the return to Jerusalem they eventually over several centuries shifted to the far extreme opposite of apostasy by worshiping the law and their genetics. In either case sin had abounded to epidemic proportions both before and after Babylon. Judaism had become completely apostate and very dark.
1 COR. 7 -19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Although the law of circumcision and the ordinances were nailed to the cross, Gods law (the 10 commandments the moral imperative of the law) are still in effect. Why? He is the Lord God and His principles NEVER change.
“Works of the law” is 5 times in the book of Galatians and one time in the book of Romans. Which law is Paul speaking of when He uses the term “works of the law”? Paul contrasts the "works of the law" and "works of faith" in his epistles. The ‘works of faith” is obedience to the Lord’s commandments by way of heart purity. God only gives the gift of grace to those that would obey Him. Their obedience does not earn the gift, but rather it’s simply the only group of peculiar people He chooses to give it to. The faith of Christ is not alone. It is impossible to separate faith (belief, obedience to the truth) from a work. If we do not look at faith as a work the gospel loses its ability (becomes of none effect) to work in us to both will and do His good pleasure. A good work is a necessity in hopes of gaining eternal life, it is just not of fleshly means (carnal ordinances) lest any man boast in pride.
Let’s now examine the book of Galatians and understand what Paul meant when he said “the works of the law” found 6 times in the text. Galatians 2-16a, 2-16b, 3-2, 3-5, 3-10, AND Romans 9-32.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, (working out the law of Moses) but by the faith of Jesus Christ, (obedience to the truth) even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: (obtaining by the works of the Torah) for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (No man is justified by following the Torah). Remember, it was Moses who wrote the Torah, but it was by the finger of God that the 10 commandments were written. Note: Keep in mind also that God never intended to implement the Mosaic Law in the wilderness. He did that because of their disobedience said Paul.Notwithstanding, the Law of Moses having been ordained by angels was added on after the Hebrew children rebelled against God when Moses was on Mt. Sanai, and it became their schoolmaster to bring them to the time that the Messiah should come. . Paul confirms this in Galatians 3-19.
Paul speaks here to Peter and tells Peter why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? (the Torah “works of the law”) . Why teach them they have to follow the laws of Moses (ceremonial, civil, and dietary/clothing) laws. Specifically, Paul speaks of the dietary laws in this context, and Peter eating with the Gentile converts then drawing back from the gospel to the old traditional ways because of fear of the Jews. On this matter Paul confronted him. 11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
Because of the faith of Christ is the grace of God unto salvation given as He became the mercy seat of God (our propitiation), to those that faithfully follow after His example. We see the “works of the law” (the law of Moses) is a major theme and contrasted against faith/obedience to God “the works of faith” throughout the book of Galatians..
Galatians 3-1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Oh Galatians why do ye not “obey the truth” (faithfulness, a steadfast obedience to God’s truth) …Why are you not following after the teachings of Christ who nailed the ordinances of the Law of Moses by establishing the New Covenant at Calvary.
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Was it by the works of the Torah, or by the hearing of faith.. Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Hearkening to the word of God activates the engrafted word that is put into all men when being cut to the heart by the conviction of the Spirit. You know it is the truth because God put the truth in you for the purpose and time that you hear it and respond to it. It is engrafted in all men, however man must prepare and make the ground suitable for proper growth lest the engrafting of the word be of none effect. (the parable of the sower)
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Having begun you sojourn walking after the Spirit, you are now going to return to the weak and beggarly elements of carnal rituals and circumcision that you be made perfect?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He (Christ) therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, (sent the Comforter) and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
We see Paul contrasting the laws of Moses against obedience to the truth by faith, using Abraham as an example confirmed by (James 2-21-23). So, are ye made partakers of the Holy Spirit by the ministration of the works of law/ceremonies/ordinances of Moses, or on account of the works of faith done through obedience to the truth?
Abraham heard the gospel and believed/obeyed God by faith, and his works of faith were reckoned to him as being righteous before God. This was long before the Law of Moses was ever given to the Hebrew children.Now, those of the NT are Abraham’s children by faithfulness to God, (Abraham’s seed by faith), and not by the “works of the law”. Not by keeping times, seasons, rituals, Sabbath days, etc. according to the Law of Moses.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
The Law of Moses became a curse to the Jews because they placed those ordinances first and foremost above obedience to the truth from the heart by faith. The ritualistic laws became more important to them than the 10 commandments…. for it is written: Here Paul draws from Deut. 27:15-26, in that all who attempt to secure salvation by the Law of Moses are cursed because they continued not in the fashion of loving their neighbor. Thus, they must be exposed to its penalty, in that if ye are to keep part of the law then the curse is you must keep all of the law. They were keeping the rituals and ignoring the moral.
Note: Peter confirmed in Acts 15 that the Jews themselves were unable to keep these laws, and then asked James; why place them as a yoke of bondage upon the necks of the Gentiles that the Jews themselves could not bear? It denounces a curse on all who do not yield entire obedience. But by the grace of God were we set free from sin, and the bondage of the Old Covenant rituals and ordinances. Which explains the logic of Paul when he asked the Galatians why they would return to such OT ordinances.
As many as are of the “works of the law” - All that seek salvation by the performance of the works of the law are under a curse, because it is impossible for them to come up to the spiritual meaning working by faith and intent of the moral law; Therefore the law pronounces them cursed that continue not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them….. In other words; the rituals do nothing to subdue the indulgences of the flesh, because it represents a condition of alienation from God, caused by the transgression of His moral law, hence forth carrying all the penalty which accrues from it, either in this world or the hereafter. Tithing is a good example of the curses.
The Jews maintained that their knowledge of the Law and the flesh genetics from Abraham entitled them to the blessings attached to his sons. However, Jesus told them different in John chapter 8. By telling them they were the servants of whom they obeyed. A servant of sin abides not in the house forever….. The wrath of God is upon the children of disobedience, Eph. 5-6 & Col. 3-6.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Keeping the law/ordnances of Moses will not justify anyone before God, but rather it is by faith/obedience to the truth that justifies. …………To be continued
Willie
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The “works of the Law” Part 2…
Here in Ephesians it’s called “the law of commandments” contained in the ordinances. These are the “works of the law” that Paul spoke of in Galatians 3. In no wise is it speaking of abolishing the 10 commandments, but rather they are amplified in the law of Christ.
Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;
It speaks of the same here as it says
Hebrews 9:10 [Which stood] only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed [on them] until the time of reformation.
Whereas here again, when it says,
,
Col. 2:16-18 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
And is also followed up showing what Hebrews 9:10 shows in the above
Col. 2:17-18 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
In the one it shows abolishing the same in his flesh, whereas the other says taking it out of the way nailing it to his cross. Therefore the requirements of the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 9:1,6-10) sometimes called the law, which were part of the penalty of sin, were blotted out.
"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins...
By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
once for all" (Hebrews 10:4,10).
In the OT the blood of animal sacrifices was a covering for sin, but in the NT the blood of Christ takes away sin. There is no such thing as being coved by the blood in the NT that was invented by men during the Reformation.
Jesus' one sacrifice, was, and is sufficient--we do not have to sacrifice animals anymore! Nor follow any other Ordinances of Moses such as the requirement (which is related) would be the death penalty of sin, as "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23), or other specific ceremonial penalties associated with the Old Testament statutes (such as making a sin offering, being put outside the camp, or priestly washings, etc).
Galatians 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Those who boasted in having the law of GOD misrepresented GOD were accursed themselves as well blocking others from entering the kingdom (Mat. 23). Therefore, those who needed the mercy of those who did boast in the law were lost because of the lack of love and mercy. The same MO has operated in Institutionalized Christendom over the past 1600 years, and is still operating within the established churches today. (the house of the Nicolaitanes).
When Paul talks about "works of the law" and ordinances he is placing a strong emphasis on the observance of Moses, while having minimized or neglected the inner condition of the heart. Jesus remained critical of those who rested in their observance of Moses rather than the mercy of God. HE also made the distinction between "works of the law" and "the works of faith."
The Jews had gone from the abominable extreme of openly worshiping pagan Idols and their god’s in Jeremiahs day, to the other extreme of worshiping the Torah in Jesus day, yet both fostered a life of sin. In this like manner, Christianity has adopted their own "works of the law", teaching that God's grace is best achieved by means of the sacraments such as (cracker wine ceremony, baptism, church attendance, etc.) all the while claiming to be in the age of grace. Seeking to be justified by adhering to some set of dead ordinances will only result in vanity and folly. This is why Paul said they frustrate grace.
God, through His long suffering, has graced the entire world, but God is not going to grace anyone into repenting, therefore the Lord leads men to repent. Repentance itself isn't a gift. It's a command. Opportunity to repent and be reconciled by God is the free gift, in that man should see the evil of his ways and turn from such doings. Repentance is not the free gift but the call to righteousness.. "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:" Acts 17:30
Jesus taught to obey the moral law of God:
"these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." Matt.23:23
"The other" being the Spirit of the law.
Continuing on in Galatians chapter 3.
3-13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
At first glance one might think that verse 13 is lending support to the Penal-Substitution-Transfer doctrine, but if closely examined we can see otherwise. The works of Christ at Calvary redeemed all believers that should live by faith, inclusive of the Gentiles who were also brought into the one fold, that they too might be Abraham’s seed by faith and heirs to the promise…
redeemed us from the curse of the law: The curse of the law is the condemnation of the law to all those in rebellion to God….The blood of Christ undoes the curse pronounced upon all who failed to keep its precepts, via deliverance from the curse by way of ransom through the conditional established tenants of the New Covenant which sets the captives free, (Christ purchased our souls from the bondage of sin/curse at Calvary)…. , being made a curse for us: This was done at the hands of evil doers, therefore being treated as if He himself were accursed, which is contrary to the virtuous exchange program taught in the Penal Substation heresy. The important concept to understand here is that the laying down of His life was done on our behalf, not in our place. Therefore knowing that first: the curse identifies itself with its object: which seizes, as it were, upon the person of its condemnation, in other words (the wages of sin is death, and the wrath of God is upon the children of disobedience).Therefore these were not victims of the curse like the Penal Model teaches, but rather criminals against the law. For it is written, dawn by Paul from Deuteronomy 21:23, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree….The reference point that Paul emphasis is that of the exposure of the cursed body upon a gibbet after death was to be an example to others. Notwithstanding, an accursed person, a person ignominiously (discredited & humiliated) punished as a malefactor should be taken down at sunset: however, not because Jesus was really a malefactor and the object of God’s wrath, but because he was punished by evil doers in the same manner in which accursed persons or malefactors were punished according to the civil law of Moses. Hence, in the same day in which a criminal was executed it was ordered that his body should be buried, that the land might not be polluted. NOTE: Christ, who died on our behalf, was not a transgressor, but he was unjustly numbered among the transgressors, Isaiah 53:12. In doing so the Lord Jesus bore the burden of the penalty of the Law on our behalf. His sufferings, through a great act of love, were for the purpose of justifying the longsuffering and mercy of the Father. Note: the Father was always looking for a reason of justification that His mercy might be dispensed upon mankind because by nature His mercy is greater than His anger. His mercy (the free gift) triumphs over His wrath upon all those that should repent, Exodus 34-7, "but that in no wise will redeem/reconcile/atone for the unrepeated".
3-15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
Jesus said “it is finished”. Meaning the NT (covenant) had been established and confirmed of God. Paul says no man can either extinguish or build upon this living Testimony of Christ.
3-16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed (past tense) before of God in Christ, (past tense)the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Side note: “And he (Christ) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week” Daniel 9-27a , seen in Mathew 26-28 For this is my blood of the new testament (covenant) which is shed for many for the remission of sins. The 70[SUP]th[/SUP] week of Daniel was confirmed 2000 years ago. It’s not a future event to come. The 70[SUP]th[/SUP] week was a total of 7 years in which this prophecy given to the Jews by Daniel was to be fulfilled. The first 3 ½ years began with Christs baptism and ended with His death, then at Pentecost the disciples were given power from on High by the Holy Ghost and became a witness to Jerusalem for another 3 ½ years until the death of Stephan. After that the gospel went out of Judea unto Samaria and the utter parts of the earth. A fulfillment of Acts 1-8..
The promise to Abraham was to his “seed” (singular, Christ) not as to his many descendants by the flesh, but through one in the person of Jesus Christ by faith.
The old Mosaic covenant given to the Hebrew children in the Sanai wilderness was 430 years after God called Abraham out of the Or of Chaldees in Gen 12. Even though they did not keep that covenant with God HE still has a promise to keep with faithful Abraham. So the breaking of the covenant cannot disannul God’s promise. That promise was fulfilled in the Messiah, the seed of Abraham.
3-18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Beings that they kept not the covenant, and if the promise was dependent upon the old covenant it would have been disannulled. However it was not, because God made the promise to Abraham by faith. Hence all those in Christ are Abraham’s seed by faith.
3-19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Paul asked the Judaizes amongst the people; why do you serve the Mosaic law ? The Mosaic law was added after Moses brought down the 10 commandments from Sanai whereas the children of Israel rebelled against God. Because of that disobedience the Mosaic Law was added until Christ the seed of Abraham should come. It was only added after Moses brought down the 10 commandments and found them worshiping the golden calf, Exodus 32. God had already planned ahead on making a new covenant with His people. The Mosaic Covenant was not meant to be everlasting, but only temporary for the purpose of a school master until the Messiah should come. Moses did not appear in behalf of the Gentile nations as they had no representative there. However, now the grace of God, in the person of Christ, via the Holy Spirit, that brings salvation hath appeared to ALL men, Titus 2-11.
3-20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one.—The very idea of a mediator involves a covenant in biblical terms between at least two parties. In the biblical sense it’s speaking of two parties (God and man). The Law of the Old Covenant had a mediator in the person of Moses, therefore the Law involves two parties. Thus there can be no mediator of one. Example, (God and Noah), (God and Abraham)… The promise was made to Abraham with reference to the Messiah, the great Mediator, and the promise was that the Gentiles would also be brought into the fold, (many nations).
For this to happen a new covenant needed to be established in the person of Jesus Christ. But the Lord God is one in UNITY - He is the one God, comprised of 3 persons who is the Creator of the souls of all flesh; the God of both the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Therefore; Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: Is it possible that the intervention of the law, in reference to one part of the Abrahamic seed by flesh, should disannul the promise made to the other? Askes Paul…for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.- If any law or rule of life could have been found out that would have given eternal life and forgiveness of past sins – “ie” saved sinners from death and made them whole again, then righteousness- justification, should have been by that Law of Moses. The blood of animals could only cover sin. The blood of Christ DOES NOT COVER SIN, but rather it TAKES AWAY SIN. One of the six things listed in Daniel 9-24, observed in person by John the baptizer in John 1-29b..
3-22 But the scripture hath concluded all (both Jew & Gentile) under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus might be given to them that believe.
I don't think Paul is speaking of all men as being sinners engaged in willful rebellion to God as the fullness of scripture testifies otherwise, however he is speaking of the Jewish and Gentile nations as a whole. As we know there were some righteous men and women that followed the Lord according to their measure.
3-23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Here Paul is speaking of the Israel as a nation, because we know Hebrews 11 speaks of the many that lived by faith. Albeit they had not the testimony of Jesus, henceforth they lived by faith in the Messiah to come. The Law of Moses was a schoolmaster, in that its ordinances were shadows that pointed to the Messiah being the true substance and the eventual release from those ordinances through His grace and truth. That which was once glorious,(2 Cor. 3) had waxed away as the veil was rent twain and made way for that which is much more glorious in the person of Jesus the Anointed One and the New Covenant.
If we examine one named Nathanael in the NT, we can see he was faithful and obedient sitting under the fig tree (figurative of the OT law), and in doing so he easily recognized the Messiah when Jesus approached him, therefore ready to receive and increase of the Spirit.. The law had truly been a schoolmaster pointing to Christ in the case of Nathaniel’s life. Small note: I also believe it was a literal fig tree that Nathaniel sat under as well.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
The Torah that had waxed away became of little to no use to those who had become believers of the New Covenant through faith in Jesus Christ by reason of the glory that excelled in Him, 2 Cor. 3-10,11.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
All that have been baptized in the Holy Ghost through repentance have put on the ways of Christ having picked up their cross to follow Him.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
All are one in the house of God, Jew and Gentile alike, for God is no respecter of persons, both male or female, rich or poor. In following Christ, to whom the promise was made, we become children of Abraham by faith and are heirs according to the promise God made to him..
Willie
Here in Ephesians it’s called “the law of commandments” contained in the ordinances. These are the “works of the law” that Paul spoke of in Galatians 3. In no wise is it speaking of abolishing the 10 commandments, but rather they are amplified in the law of Christ.
Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;
It speaks of the same here as it says
Hebrews 9:10 [Which stood] only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed [on them] until the time of reformation.
Whereas here again, when it says,
,
Col. 2:16-18 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
And is also followed up showing what Hebrews 9:10 shows in the above
Col. 2:17-18 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
In the one it shows abolishing the same in his flesh, whereas the other says taking it out of the way nailing it to his cross. Therefore the requirements of the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 9:1,6-10) sometimes called the law, which were part of the penalty of sin, were blotted out.
"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins...
By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
once for all" (Hebrews 10:4,10).
In the OT the blood of animal sacrifices was a covering for sin, but in the NT the blood of Christ takes away sin. There is no such thing as being coved by the blood in the NT that was invented by men during the Reformation.
Jesus' one sacrifice, was, and is sufficient--we do not have to sacrifice animals anymore! Nor follow any other Ordinances of Moses such as the requirement (which is related) would be the death penalty of sin, as "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23), or other specific ceremonial penalties associated with the Old Testament statutes (such as making a sin offering, being put outside the camp, or priestly washings, etc).
Galatians 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Those who boasted in having the law of GOD misrepresented GOD were accursed themselves as well blocking others from entering the kingdom (Mat. 23). Therefore, those who needed the mercy of those who did boast in the law were lost because of the lack of love and mercy. The same MO has operated in Institutionalized Christendom over the past 1600 years, and is still operating within the established churches today. (the house of the Nicolaitanes).
When Paul talks about "works of the law" and ordinances he is placing a strong emphasis on the observance of Moses, while having minimized or neglected the inner condition of the heart. Jesus remained critical of those who rested in their observance of Moses rather than the mercy of God. HE also made the distinction between "works of the law" and "the works of faith."
The Jews had gone from the abominable extreme of openly worshiping pagan Idols and their god’s in Jeremiahs day, to the other extreme of worshiping the Torah in Jesus day, yet both fostered a life of sin. In this like manner, Christianity has adopted their own "works of the law", teaching that God's grace is best achieved by means of the sacraments such as (cracker wine ceremony, baptism, church attendance, etc.) all the while claiming to be in the age of grace. Seeking to be justified by adhering to some set of dead ordinances will only result in vanity and folly. This is why Paul said they frustrate grace.
God, through His long suffering, has graced the entire world, but God is not going to grace anyone into repenting, therefore the Lord leads men to repent. Repentance itself isn't a gift. It's a command. Opportunity to repent and be reconciled by God is the free gift, in that man should see the evil of his ways and turn from such doings. Repentance is not the free gift but the call to righteousness.. "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:" Acts 17:30
Jesus taught to obey the moral law of God:
"these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." Matt.23:23
"The other" being the Spirit of the law.
Continuing on in Galatians chapter 3.
3-13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
At first glance one might think that verse 13 is lending support to the Penal-Substitution-Transfer doctrine, but if closely examined we can see otherwise. The works of Christ at Calvary redeemed all believers that should live by faith, inclusive of the Gentiles who were also brought into the one fold, that they too might be Abraham’s seed by faith and heirs to the promise…
redeemed us from the curse of the law: The curse of the law is the condemnation of the law to all those in rebellion to God….The blood of Christ undoes the curse pronounced upon all who failed to keep its precepts, via deliverance from the curse by way of ransom through the conditional established tenants of the New Covenant which sets the captives free, (Christ purchased our souls from the bondage of sin/curse at Calvary)…. , being made a curse for us: This was done at the hands of evil doers, therefore being treated as if He himself were accursed, which is contrary to the virtuous exchange program taught in the Penal Substation heresy. The important concept to understand here is that the laying down of His life was done on our behalf, not in our place. Therefore knowing that first: the curse identifies itself with its object: which seizes, as it were, upon the person of its condemnation, in other words (the wages of sin is death, and the wrath of God is upon the children of disobedience).Therefore these were not victims of the curse like the Penal Model teaches, but rather criminals against the law. For it is written, dawn by Paul from Deuteronomy 21:23, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree….The reference point that Paul emphasis is that of the exposure of the cursed body upon a gibbet after death was to be an example to others. Notwithstanding, an accursed person, a person ignominiously (discredited & humiliated) punished as a malefactor should be taken down at sunset: however, not because Jesus was really a malefactor and the object of God’s wrath, but because he was punished by evil doers in the same manner in which accursed persons or malefactors were punished according to the civil law of Moses. Hence, in the same day in which a criminal was executed it was ordered that his body should be buried, that the land might not be polluted. NOTE: Christ, who died on our behalf, was not a transgressor, but he was unjustly numbered among the transgressors, Isaiah 53:12. In doing so the Lord Jesus bore the burden of the penalty of the Law on our behalf. His sufferings, through a great act of love, were for the purpose of justifying the longsuffering and mercy of the Father. Note: the Father was always looking for a reason of justification that His mercy might be dispensed upon mankind because by nature His mercy is greater than His anger. His mercy (the free gift) triumphs over His wrath upon all those that should repent, Exodus 34-7, "but that in no wise will redeem/reconcile/atone for the unrepeated".
3-15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
Jesus said “it is finished”. Meaning the NT (covenant) had been established and confirmed of God. Paul says no man can either extinguish or build upon this living Testimony of Christ.
3-16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed (past tense) before of God in Christ, (past tense)the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Side note: “And he (Christ) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week” Daniel 9-27a , seen in Mathew 26-28 For this is my blood of the new testament (covenant) which is shed for many for the remission of sins. The 70[SUP]th[/SUP] week of Daniel was confirmed 2000 years ago. It’s not a future event to come. The 70[SUP]th[/SUP] week was a total of 7 years in which this prophecy given to the Jews by Daniel was to be fulfilled. The first 3 ½ years began with Christs baptism and ended with His death, then at Pentecost the disciples were given power from on High by the Holy Ghost and became a witness to Jerusalem for another 3 ½ years until the death of Stephan. After that the gospel went out of Judea unto Samaria and the utter parts of the earth. A fulfillment of Acts 1-8..
The promise to Abraham was to his “seed” (singular, Christ) not as to his many descendants by the flesh, but through one in the person of Jesus Christ by faith.
The old Mosaic covenant given to the Hebrew children in the Sanai wilderness was 430 years after God called Abraham out of the Or of Chaldees in Gen 12. Even though they did not keep that covenant with God HE still has a promise to keep with faithful Abraham. So the breaking of the covenant cannot disannul God’s promise. That promise was fulfilled in the Messiah, the seed of Abraham.
3-18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Beings that they kept not the covenant, and if the promise was dependent upon the old covenant it would have been disannulled. However it was not, because God made the promise to Abraham by faith. Hence all those in Christ are Abraham’s seed by faith.
3-19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Paul asked the Judaizes amongst the people; why do you serve the Mosaic law ? The Mosaic law was added after Moses brought down the 10 commandments from Sanai whereas the children of Israel rebelled against God. Because of that disobedience the Mosaic Law was added until Christ the seed of Abraham should come. It was only added after Moses brought down the 10 commandments and found them worshiping the golden calf, Exodus 32. God had already planned ahead on making a new covenant with His people. The Mosaic Covenant was not meant to be everlasting, but only temporary for the purpose of a school master until the Messiah should come. Moses did not appear in behalf of the Gentile nations as they had no representative there. However, now the grace of God, in the person of Christ, via the Holy Spirit, that brings salvation hath appeared to ALL men, Titus 2-11.
3-20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one.—The very idea of a mediator involves a covenant in biblical terms between at least two parties. In the biblical sense it’s speaking of two parties (God and man). The Law of the Old Covenant had a mediator in the person of Moses, therefore the Law involves two parties. Thus there can be no mediator of one. Example, (God and Noah), (God and Abraham)… The promise was made to Abraham with reference to the Messiah, the great Mediator, and the promise was that the Gentiles would also be brought into the fold, (many nations).
For this to happen a new covenant needed to be established in the person of Jesus Christ. But the Lord God is one in UNITY - He is the one God, comprised of 3 persons who is the Creator of the souls of all flesh; the God of both the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Therefore; Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: Is it possible that the intervention of the law, in reference to one part of the Abrahamic seed by flesh, should disannul the promise made to the other? Askes Paul…for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.- If any law or rule of life could have been found out that would have given eternal life and forgiveness of past sins – “ie” saved sinners from death and made them whole again, then righteousness- justification, should have been by that Law of Moses. The blood of animals could only cover sin. The blood of Christ DOES NOT COVER SIN, but rather it TAKES AWAY SIN. One of the six things listed in Daniel 9-24, observed in person by John the baptizer in John 1-29b..
3-22 But the scripture hath concluded all (both Jew & Gentile) under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus might be given to them that believe.
I don't think Paul is speaking of all men as being sinners engaged in willful rebellion to God as the fullness of scripture testifies otherwise, however he is speaking of the Jewish and Gentile nations as a whole. As we know there were some righteous men and women that followed the Lord according to their measure.
3-23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Here Paul is speaking of the Israel as a nation, because we know Hebrews 11 speaks of the many that lived by faith. Albeit they had not the testimony of Jesus, henceforth they lived by faith in the Messiah to come. The Law of Moses was a schoolmaster, in that its ordinances were shadows that pointed to the Messiah being the true substance and the eventual release from those ordinances through His grace and truth. That which was once glorious,(2 Cor. 3) had waxed away as the veil was rent twain and made way for that which is much more glorious in the person of Jesus the Anointed One and the New Covenant.
If we examine one named Nathanael in the NT, we can see he was faithful and obedient sitting under the fig tree (figurative of the OT law), and in doing so he easily recognized the Messiah when Jesus approached him, therefore ready to receive and increase of the Spirit.. The law had truly been a schoolmaster pointing to Christ in the case of Nathaniel’s life. Small note: I also believe it was a literal fig tree that Nathaniel sat under as well.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
The Torah that had waxed away became of little to no use to those who had become believers of the New Covenant through faith in Jesus Christ by reason of the glory that excelled in Him, 2 Cor. 3-10,11.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
All that have been baptized in the Holy Ghost through repentance have put on the ways of Christ having picked up their cross to follow Him.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
All are one in the house of God, Jew and Gentile alike, for God is no respecter of persons, both male or female, rich or poor. In following Christ, to whom the promise was made, we become children of Abraham by faith and are heirs according to the promise God made to him..
Willie
mj007bob and Peterbob are one in the same. Not sure concerning the other bobsy twins, but could be. 4 manifestations of the same person would make them quaditarian-modalistic herestics! LOL!!!!!!!!!!
and your sense of certainty. You believe we are the same member but I know I am just
this Id and nothing else.
When anyone ends up taking a good believing christian and mocks them, ridicules them,
sees evil where there is none, gets angry at them, becomes judgemental they are in
danger of loosing the spiritual war. Anyone can be turned, and they will be convinced
they are doing the right thing. It is the manner of such attacks which demonstrate the
spirit involved.
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
John 15:18-19
So the basis of all this is people who believe Christ brought righteousness to mankind.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matt 6:33
For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Matt 21:32
When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment
John 16:8
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
Rom 3:22
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
Rom 14:17
Paul is saying through Christ we are empowered to walk righteously, to be Children
of our Father, to be one with Christ, to be Holy, Pure and blameless.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Gal 5:13-15
Paul is saying the law gave us the form of Gods nature, His heart but external to ourselves
so that by reading it we gained an insight into who God is and what He desires.
In Christ the reality has come, the light in the world, that has now come into our hearts so
that we desire to do righteous things from ourselves, not because we read it.
And truly it is not ourselves but Christ within us, but we cannot distinguish the two.
This is the mystery, being born from on High, to have God the Almighty in our hearts working
through to transform us, in thought, word and deed.
So when you talk as you do, you should beware you are not declaring yourself outside, when
the door was open to walk in, yet you have now refused.
Another day of toil and labor for the "cake takers" and "workers for"..........only to stand before JESUS and denied entrance because WORKS will not earn, keep, embellish, facilitate salvation......PLENTEOUS in number will boast of their works as their means of entrance....not happening....what a sad day for the workers for....
ME....I rest in Christ and his faith...........It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe<-----How dense does one have to be to reject this simple statement of truth.....
GOD SAVES those that BELIEVE<----NO WORKS mentioned or added.............
TRUST JESUS and simply acknowledge him by FAITH.........works will not get you there or keep you there......period!
ME....I rest in Christ and his faith...........It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe<-----How dense does one have to be to reject this simple statement of truth.....
GOD SAVES those that BELIEVE<----NO WORKS mentioned or added.............
TRUST JESUS and simply acknowledge him by FAITH.........works will not get you there or keep you there......period!
J
dc to me you seem like someone who tries to justify sin and condem those who speak of repenting
if youre going to speak of salvation you should bring up the change of heart Jesus provides in those who do have faith
youre right
no amount of works will ever gain a sinner access to heaven
correct
but no one with faith is the same before and after they recieve the gift of Faith
if youre going to speak of salvation you should bring up the change of heart Jesus provides in those who do have faith
youre right
no amount of works will ever gain a sinner access to heaven
correct
but no one with faith is the same before and after they recieve the gift of Faith
You have been here what 9 days or so....go read every thread I have posted in and then come back bro....I have NEVER condemned one who preaches repentance pal.....nor do I EXCUSE SIN, but rather I ACKNOWLEDGE the bible's perspective on it....this thread is about salvation based upon faith void of works....NOT A THREAD ON SIN AND REPENTANCE....
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J
me you personally were sooooooo offended i mentioned repentance you didnt clearly read my words and claimed i had a belief i never had when i stated before hand those werent my beliefs.... if you did it to me i wouldnt be surprised if u did it to many...
i dont need to pull it up
maybe i was the ONLY one
but cmon man "cake taker?"
i dont need to pull it up
maybe i was the ONLY one
but cmon man "cake taker?"