All through Leviticus, we have the law of meat offerings, law of the sin offerings, law of the trespass offerings, law of the sacrifice of the peace offerings, law of burnt offerings, law of the beasts- what can be eaten and what can't be eaten, law of bearing a male or female which is to do with uncleanness. law of the plague of leprosy, law of the leper in the day of his cleansing...
Going through Numbers, we have the law of jealousies, the law of the Nazarite, the law of when a man dieth in a tent: the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses;(regarding those who go into war)...
Then Deuteronomy, there is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:(to build three cities for a person to flee who accidently kills another)...
After Moses dies Joshua reinforces the need to obey all the law of Moses. I and II Kings rehashes the same truth...
OVER and OVER it is repeated to keep ALL the law of Moses and he gave plenty of commandments. We are not in the dispensation of the law, we are under grace, that seems like a bad word to many self-righteous Christians today...
Matt. 5:17-20
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
The religious leaders were self-righteous...
We all have "self-righteousness" at times and it has to be crucified...BUT...
In Jesus we are made the righteousness of God...
II Cor. 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
I'm in him and he is in me and God makes me righteous, it is a free gift that is inherit in Jesus Christ...We will be covering this deeper when I deal with some other verses in II Cor. 5 in a little while..
The law doesn't save nor was it given to save... It can't save... but it did have a purpose and that was to keep mankind in line untill the Lord Jesus Christ should come.
Gal. 3:24-26
"24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
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."
Is the law your schoolmaster now??? I hope not if you believe the word of God.
Rom. 3:20
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
How many does it say will be justified by the deeds of the law? No flesh, none! Not anybody, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
James 2:10
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
The law is a collective whole, if you have ever broken any part of it, you have broken the law and you are condemned if you are seeking to please God by your obedience to the law.
Eph.2:8,9,10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Cf. Phil. 2:13 which says,
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
God works in us to do whatever he calls us to do. As we look to him, walk in his Spirit, he gives us the right desires and then as we submit to him, he gives us the ability to carry out those desires.
I just quoted Phil. 2:13 to you NOW let's go to Phil. 2:12 since I heard it quoted recently after I brought up Phil. 2:13 to this person.
Phil. 2:12
"12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
It DOESN'T say, "work FOR your salvation..." It DOES say, "work OUT your salvation..." You work out by faith what was been worked in you by the Spirit of God through faith... Cf. Col. 2:6
Rom. 11:6
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Grace or works, NOT both...You make your choice...
Anyone who is trying to bring the works of the law into play with the grace of God for salvation is kinda like the Mormons... We read in their BOOK OF MORMON "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled. For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments."
(II Nephi 25:23-25)
(Brown color emphasis mine)
That is a contradiction, a fallacy, a lie. We are either saved by grace or by works, not both. By the way, if you are seeking to make it by the "works" way then you must keep the law completely and never break even one commandment.
John 6:28,29
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
AND
John 6:40
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
What is the work and the will of God? It is to believe on Jesus Christ and he comes into our lives and makes us righteous and holy and empowers us to live for him, so that we can be overcomers.
Rom. 4:5,6
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
(Blue color emphasis mine)
Without what? Without works!
Gal. 2:20,21
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
IF righteousness come by the LAW, THEN Christ is dead in VAIN.
Matt. 7:12
12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
From this scripture I see that all the law and prophets is summed up in this one scripture and that is summed up in moving in God's love, we fulfil the law without even knowing the law.
Gal. 3:1
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?
What truth??? The truth that Jesus finished it all for you... He was made sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
II Cor. 5:17-21says
"17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
What we couldn't do for ourselves, God becomming a man and dying for our sins did it for us. The Lord Jesus Christ was perfect in every way. He was called the last Adam and he corrected what the first Adam blew in the garden of Eden. He brought us back into a relationship with the Almighty God and then he gave us a job to do. We are to let the lost world know that God is seeking them out, he desires to save them from sin and give them a purpose worth living for. We are ambassadors for Christ, this world is not our home, we are just passing through. Our number one focus should be to glorify the Lord with our life, our words. We are ministers in this dark, sin-sick world. We have the answer to life that they so badly need.
Gal. 3 cont.
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
If we team up with the Judaizers in working for our salvation, we are going the wrong way, It puts the focus on us and what we can do, not on what Jesus Christ has done!
Gal. 1:6-9 says,
"6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
As we go through Gal. 3, we will see that "the works of the law" gospel is another gospel...
Rom. 1:16,17 says,
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH. (All caps emphasis mine)
It doesn't say, "the just shall live by the law." The law doesn't save, never saved and can't save... As we continue on in Galatians we will see what the law was and is for.
Gal. 3 cont.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
He surely didn't do it by the works of the law, Jesus Christ is the only one who kept the whole law perfectly and completely...
Gal. 3 cont.
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.
Not those who are of the law but those who are of faith.
Rom. 4:5,6
Let's go back to
"5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,"
The Psalmist David said by the Spirit of God that the ones who are truly blessed are the ones whom God freely imputes righteousness without works (of any sort).
"1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt."
Works didn't play any part in Abraham's salvation and it won't ours. Works keep a man or woman from seeing their need and coming to the Lord Jesus Christ. They are self satisfied with what they are doing. The more a man or woman does in the flesh to please God, the more self-righteous they become and hence, it is harder to hear the voice of God, his convicting Spirit.
Now let's go to...
Now
But James said in
James 2:14-18
"14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."
From this, we see that just words don't help anyone when they have physical needs. They are words but works mixed with those words show the ones watching that you have faith. You are doing something, hence helping where you can. You or I cannot see their faith without their works. Faith without works in reference to what man sees is dead or stagnant, unproductive. It is not helping anyone.
"5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness."
God made a promise to Abraham long before the law. His promise stands sure. All those who are children of Abraham or children of the faith are blessed in the same way that Abraham was, that being through faith.
"21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
Do you see??? You as a person only sees a man's faith by his works SINCE you CANNOT see his heart and mind ONLY God can BUT we can see a lot within a person by what he does because it will come out of him.
Now if you read Genesis 16 which is the next chapter after God told Abraham that he was justified by faith because he believed God, we see that Isaac wasn't even born yet. Ishmael wasn't even born yet... and he came before Isaac. Abraham was 86 when Ishmael was born and he was 99 right at 100 years old when God came to him repeating the promise of giving him a child... and God tells him that he will have him next year... Read all of Gen. 16 and 17...
Gal. 3 cont.
8 And the scripture, FORESEEING THAT GOD WOULD JUSTIFY THE HEATHEN THROUGH FAITH, PREACHED BEFORE THE GOSPEL UNTO ABRAHAM, SAYING, IN THEE SHALL ALL THE NATIONS BE BLESSED.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
(Blue color and ALL CAPS EMPHASIS MINE)
Abraham was before the law. The law wasn't before Abraham so the law plays second fiddle, so to speak... We will see this even clearer as we go on in this teaching.
God already made his promise to Abraham that it was FAITH that pleases him and his promise CANNOT be disannuled...
The word says that God could swear by none greater so he swore by himself... He can not lie... Now we will see the two immutable things...
Heb. 6:10-20
"10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but FOLLOWERS OF THEM WHO THROUGH FAITH AND PATIENCE INHERIT THE PROMISES.
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, CONFIRMED IT BY AN OATH:
18 That by TWO IMMUTABLE THINGS, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
(Blue color and ALL CAPS EMPHASIS MINE)
He said it and confirmed it by an oath...
Gal. 3 cont.
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.
Also James 2:10 says,
"10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."
IF you are going to accomplish your salvation by the works of the law then KEEP ALL of IT... Don't pick and choose...The law is hardcore, you must keep all of it to be saved and that is impossible.
Gal. 3 cont.
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.
Either God is a liar or man is, the law is not meant to save and can't help in the salvation wrought by Jesus Christ when he said it is finished on the cross... We are NOT going to ADD anything to his finished work or take anything from it...
Gal. 3 cont.
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:
What is being under the law? A curse, it is bondage... Self-righteous people THINK they are obeying ALL of it...but they are not. IF we could keep the law, Jesus never would have came...
Gal. 3 cont.
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.
The promise of Spirit is through faith that we might experience the blessing of Abraham in the same way that he did.
Gal. 3 cont.
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.
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 before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
The promise of the seed coming through the loins of Abraham would be Christ and he was promised before the law was given... Being justified by faith was pleasing to God...
Gal. 3 cont.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
I am a heir of God through the promise not through the law... I am a child of Abraham, a child of the faith...
Gal. 3 cont.
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.
So what purpose was the law??? It was added because of transgressions till the seed should come, that being Christ...
Gal. 3 cont.
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.
AS I said earlier, the law can't save, that was not the purpose of the law, it was to keep people in line...
Gal. 3 cont.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
The law was given to keep the people in line untill faith was revealed. That was completed in Jesus Christ...
Gal. 3 cont.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
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.
This was mentioned earlier but let's deal with it somemore...
The law was to keep us under control until faith in Jesus Christ became the focal point... When we become new creatures by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ into our lives as Lord and Saviour, he empowers us to live for him... There is something much higher than being under the law, being under the grace of God and his mercy, walking with him.
Gal. 3 cont.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
And that is not water baptism people...
Gal. 3 cont.
A few cross references...
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.
I am a heir to the promise that is of faith as it was for faithful Abraham...
"20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"
God freely imparts his righteousness in us when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ through faith in his finished work.
Romans 10:1-15
"1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6 BUT the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"
(Blue color emphasis mine)
The feet of those who preach law, works are not beautiful, there are plenty of them too.
II Corinth. 3:4-17
"4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
13 And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
(Blue emphasis up above is mine)
I don't want you to miss it. God is saying over and over in the new testament (covenant) is far better than the old covenant.
All I can say, "Choose the Lord or choose the law, you can't have both... Only one saves and the bible makes it clear which one...
The law repels, grace draws you...
Remember Moses on Mt. Sinai, the people stayed away from him and he had to put a veil over his face after he came down from receiving the law being in the presence of God.
Exo. 34:29,30
29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.
The people didn't want to be around Moses (law) but look at Jesus Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter, James and John were happy to be there... Law and grace met, so to speak...
Matt. 17:1-9
"1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
I just told you that the law repels, now we see that law (Moses) comes in contact with someone greater than he is, Jesus Christ, the grace of God, so to speak... Grace brings us to God, the law either sends us away in fear or we justify our acts and pretend that we are fulfilling the law and the law was never given to save yet we try so hard to fulfill it and yet Jesus already did for us ... as we saw in Gal. 3:24-26, James 2:10, Rom. 3:20 and others...
Gal. 4:22-5:4
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Abraham had two sons, one a type of the law and the other of promise. One was born based on man's strength, ability, etc. or of works, and the other by the promise of God which was fulfilled when Abraham got in line with God's word and just waited on the Lord and watched God fulfill his promise. Even though in the natural, he couldn't have any more kids... he did because God was going to fulfill his promise.
Gal. 4 cont.
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
We choose by being led of the Spirit, walking in his freedom or by walking in legalism and seeking to fulfil the law that Christ Jesus already fulfilled. We can't do it and deep down we know it.
Gal. 5
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Gal. 5:1 tells us not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. So from this we see that born-again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can be "entangled" with the yoke of bondage again and that is going back to the works of the law to "help" the Lord justify us.
Gal. 5 cont.
I want to close with an...
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
I want you to see also that law + grace does not work. It is law vs grace, they are at odds with one another. They do not work together, either he did it all, it is a finished work or he didn't do anything to save us. We can't help him, all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Verse 4 shows us that those who believed on Christ and turned to the works of the law to help God save them are fallen from the grace of God and only by his grace, his unmerited favor are we saved. Hallelujah! And when he saves us we become new creatures, old things are passed away and all things become new.
He is waiting for us to get in line and just believe him no matter what the circumstances tell us. He is God!
ILLUSTRATION using these 4 words.
Believe, repent
Lord, Saviour
I want to make a few comments based on these four words...
You can't truly believe without repenting and you can't truly repent without believing... They go hand in hand...
How can he be your Lord if he is not your Saviour? How can he be your Saviour if he is not your Lord?