Nr. 374:
The "true" and the nominal Christians have always and will always persecute those who are God's legitimate children. The change of this happened after the apostles died? The Catholic Church and the Lutheran church together have killed, persecuted and excluded millions of people. Muslims today are like "little boys" to calculate what they stand for by undoing!
Joh 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whoever beats you to death, will think that he doeth God service.
Acts 8:29 p.m. I know that after my departure shall grievous wolves come in among you, not sparing the flock.
There are many illusions and reality perceptions that the so-called Christians. One is that it is Islam or the homosexual believers who are our "enemies." But our real enemy is our own self-righteousness, self-indulgence and a distorted image of reality.
The apostle Paul said that after his death they should ravenous wolves and false Christians come into the believer. This also happened and culminated in the Catholic church at the 300's when it was the fake and not the real ones who was in the "driver's seat".
But it is also currently in Norway so, which one sees himself self-aggrandizement glance. Here is an excerpt from a debate in the so-called Christian newspaper day how one looks at themselves and look at the others:
As a Christian, one must ask themselves from the Bible - which road leads to Heaven. The answer is: only through Jesus that the Gospel and the Bible explains - all other roads lead to hell. Or are there other paths to God?
The big difference with going to a Christian church and a mosque is huge.
Mon bearer of an inner unrest / war into a church - should be able to go out with an inner peace after a worship service where compassion, tolerance and peace is the Gospel message.
If you go to Friday prayers at a mosque will come out as a bloodthirsty monsters after you have been encouraged to hate and intolerance.
There is a chasm of difference ..... (End of quote).
Here we see that a "believer" to rise above others, but he has reason to do so?
Looking at the history of Christianity is the cruel, wicked and nasty! But today, many of the faithful, especially Katolikere and Lutherans become very much changed from murder, plunder and persecution and boycott of others. But have they really changed? And become like Jesus and seized him? And what is true Christianity?
True Christianity is Christ, nothing else hallelujah!
It is to the extent that Christ is formed in us that we are true believers, and that is what is the central message of God's word, Christ!
This is from my commentaries Galatians 4 16 But I now become your enemy because I have told you the truth?
Paul was a follower of Jesus. In Greek, Paul says, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ" (1 Kor.11: 1). Paul was a man who wanted to "speak truth with his neighbor (Eph.4: 25). Unfortunately, not everyone appreciated this wonderful property. "Have I become your enemy just because I tell you the truth?" - Ask Paul galatermenigheten in chapter 4:16. Sometimes we have to ask ourselves this question: "Treats we Jesus and His Word as an enemy just because it tells us what is true and right?". Do we love our enemies? If we proclaim the Kingdom? If we go out and make disciples? Has Jesus become an enemy just because he has told us what is true and right to do? He challenges our ego and our western comfortable lifestyle or His Word the truth to us. A truth that produce real action in our lives?
17 The zeal of these other shows for you, is not a good thing. They just want to separate you out to win you as followers.
These would mislead these glorious salvation of the Jews were the Jews who had come to faith but who also held the Moselov. They were before, and they can today also. Adventists, Christ believing Jews mm is sadly in this way that Paul and God's word warns us against.
Acts 10-11 Peter got a wonderful vision in which God no longer makes any difference in Christ. But many Jews have not yet believed and lived as New Covenant Christians we see on several occasions.
Ap. 15th Ave 1. There were some people down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "If you do not follow the tradition we have of Moses, and cause you to be circumcised, ye can not be saved." 2 Paul and Barnabas came in angry strife and talk with them . It was then decided that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were going up to Jerusalem to discuss the matter with the apostles and elders. 3 The church sent them on their way, and they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, where they recounted the Gentiles repentance to the delight of all the brothers. 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had used them. 5 But some believers fariseerpartiet stood up and said, 'You must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses. "
18 It may be good enough that there is someone who shows zeal for you, even in my absence, when only a zeal for the good.
The fervor known to Paul himself. But not all the ardor is from God. This is very difficult for religious people to organize their lives by the word of God when the Lord will tell a somewhat new. Jesus himself said it on several occasions that it would stay and be a conflict in his preaching and "new" doctrine.
19 My children, I again travail in birth until Christ be formed in you!
If it is true that we can not change our hearts through the outer works, what should that case change it? And is it so that there is only God who changes our hearts and only God can seem sanctification in us then so can not do anything with us than crushed our hearts over our own miserable condition and our own helplessness to change it!? It should create in us a heartfelt cry to God to change our hearts! A call to rummage us and show us Christ in our lives so that he can win likeness in us. Psalm 139:23,24: "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. 24 See if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. "
So when God has heard our prayers, seemed holiness in us and Christ again lit in our hearts: Do we have achieved to be more perfect in ourselves and more according to God's standard? NO! We have however seen that we can win holiness through our external changes but only through Christ by faith are formed in us, increasing dependence on God. Thats. that we are left with less of ourselves and more of Christ Jesus! We realize more and more that the source of life is in him. We are left as much freer and happier people than when we tried to correct life itself. The farmer knows that the reason for missing the apples on the apple tree is the lack of soil and nutrients. So it is with us too, when we live a life close to God in faith and repentance and realize our dependence upon him - then bear fruit tree by itself.
If we see all kinds of misery in ourselves and our expectation is that God will change this in ourselves then we become disappointed. God changes not man that way. Man gets changed when it sees that its life is Christ - the focus on the self and the ego disappears and Christ is formed. Sanctification always end up with more Christ and not with more of ourselves! The result of God's work in us is that we dig us less down in our own misery and realize that our life is in Christ and His holiness! Gal 5:16 ": Live a life in the Spirit! When you do not follow the desires of human flesh and blood. ". So the conclusion is that it did not work, so you then have the Bible in the
The gospel is brilliant, there is hope for ALL whether they are weak or strong as the person gets only God hold of such a set is more than equal.
20 I wish I was with you now and could find the right tone to you. I really do not know what to do with you.
Paul had seen the wonderful developments both with himself and his loaf of flesh Jews. But now, many of them both keep the law of Moses, circumcised second yet believe in Jesus. When Paul wrote Hebrews 7-8 years later, we see something similar, but much deeper. Then they would leave Jesus completely and go back also to the sacrifice and ceremonial law of the Old Testament.
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of the law?
It was very clear that they fell through. No one has any opportunity to do so. The task is too great. Should one keep the law, then you must keep all buda at all times and never fail, then the one saved and preserved by law.
James 2 10 For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
Paul makes Isaac and Ishmael, Abraham's two sons to a picture of the old and the new covenant. He shows that Hagar's son Ishmael, symbolizing the old covenant, while Sarah's son, Isaac, is a picture of the new one. "Now we are brothers, children of promise as Isaac was. .. Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free. "(Gal.28-31)
This is interesting. In what way can the sons of the two women represent the two covenants? In fact, they are a perfect illustration of everything we've learned so far. God had promised that Abraham would have a son with his wife Sarah, but because she was almost 90 years old, thought neither of the two that such things could happen. Sara knew that her womb was dead and that she had long since passed the age where they could have children. She therefore suggested that her husband could take Hagar, her maidservant, and a child with her instead. It seemed like the only way to rescue God from an impossible promise. Finally he gave and got a child with Hagar. This is a typical illustration of the old covenant principle - "we'll do ..." Abraham tried to get it to the flesh by human effort and planning. The event failed like the old covenant promises, as there was no dependence on divine power.
God never accepted Ismael as the promised offspring. When Isaac was born, there was a miracle. God made a new life in a biological dead womb. The physical impossibility submitted to the supernatural, creative power of God. Isaac represents the principles of the new covenant in a perfect way, a degenerate body, a new birth - experience that recreates the Son of God lives in all who believe. The natural, physical womb of Sarah was certainly not able to produce fruit. Likewise, not the natural, fleshly body and mind of a sinner produce fruit of obedience. When God used His power to create a new life within Sarah, the impossible happened, and she bore a son. When God uses His power to create a new life in the soul, the impossible happens again - a man is spiritual and obedient.
Isaac was not born "after the flesh" but "after the Spirit." (Gal.4, 29) As man is carnal and "weak in the flesh", it has no power to achieve legal justice. It must also be born after the Spirit. Any attempt to obey the covenant of human endeavor (as in the old covenant) will produce children in bondage. (Because they end up breaking the law) The law must be written into the hearts by the Holy Spirit and be met by having "Christ Himself".
23 slave woman's son was born in the ordinary way, the free woman's son was born by God's promise.
It's almost shocking how Paul compares Jerusalem with Hagar and her slave children, and the Gentile Galatian Christians as children of the promise. This criticism surely the modern Jerusalem today as much as the apostles. The present Jerusalem is legalism with their children caught in the minority religious parties. We can not believe those who today live in Jerusalem without faith in Jesus as the Christ, the chosen of God to salvation. It can not think?
There may be some who do not believe will one day come to believe. But we can not believe they are God's chosen before they have confessed their faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Slavery will continue until they turn to faith in Jesus. To believe otherwise would be to deny Jesus' atonement and give people false hopes. Chris Wright summarizes the discussion of the Jews good.
"Hebrews affirmation of what" we "are surprisingly extensive. We have the land, describing the rest we have entered through Christ, the rest as not once did Joshua take (3.12 - 4 11) We have a High Priest (4.14 8.1 10.21) We have a salts (13.10) and we have a hope that has its reality and realization of the covenant with Abraham. (6.13 to 20). We go into the holiest. It means that we have the temple and tabernacle realities. We have come to Mount Zion. (12.22) and we have a kingdom in accordance with Haggai 2:6 (12:28) Indeed according to Hebrews (13:14) - the only thing we have is an earthly, territorial city .. "For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come." Heb. 13.14
24 In this lies a deeper meaning. The two women represent two covenants. One, covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to bondage.
It appears deep spiritual truths of this old story, says Paul. Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. These are born of two mothers, Hagar and Sarah. These two represent two different covenants in their respective Jerusalem. Hagar represents the old covenant, and her son symbolizes the church in the earthly Jerusalem. The free woman, Sarah, represents the new covenant, and her son represents the new Jerusalem. The congregation of the heavenly city. Although these two are superficially similar, since both were sons of Abraham, the two boys fundamentally different. In the same way, Paul says, it is not enough to say that Abraham is my father. The big question is who is your mother! If Hagar, we are like Ishmael, but if it's Sara, we are like Isaac.
25 The name Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia, and Hagar corresponds to the present Jerusalem, which is in slavery with her children.
Elsewhere, Paul warns against Gentile Christians to boast or be proud to have been grafted onto his body. They should never disparage the work of God among the Jews. On the other hand the absolute blasphemy to rebuild the walls that cross has broken down. Jesus tore down every wall between all people:
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female.: For ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:28-29)
No descendants of Abraham because he was born a Jew. No - we are heirs to the promise because of our faith in Jesus. All nationalities are made one in Him. We are truly the New Jerusalem from up there.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written:
Revelation 9:10 p.m. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great, high mountain. And he showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
The new covenant nature is completely different from the old covenant. The old covenant required and not given. The new pact keeps on giving. Then it is also possible to serve God when we get all the help we need to do it.
27 Rejoice, you barren, not born,
breaking into song, you who did not travail.
For one who lives alone, has several children
than she who has a husband.
The law will always feed people spiritually dead. Israel promised to serve God again and again but they failed. The law could not help them. The church can do and ability to serve God even when "heaven" live by faith in our hearts.
Joh. AD 14 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. 22 Judas - not Iscariot - said to him, Lord, what is it that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
28 Now you, brothers, are children of promise like Isaac.
There were many promises made in the Old Testament of a coming savior and salvation. The first came as early as the fall of the woman would crush the serpent's head, which is Satan.
29 But he who was born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit, even so it is today.
We read several places in the word of God, both Old and New Testament that God's men and women were persecuted. Who was the strongest in the persecutions of very often? Those who "believed" in God but did not know him.
30 But what does the Scripture say? Get rid of the slave woman and her son! For the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son.
After God chose us in Christ and gave us His Son who suffered and died for us, to atone for our sins and give us eternal life back, so there is no thing to God, either in heaven or on earth, without his only begotten Son Blood and obedience. To burn his zeal for the glory of the Son as a fire that fills the whole world, that devours everything that rises against it, whether it was man's holiness.
Never before God, if you do not get in his beloved Son cladding! For otherwise he meets you as a consuming fire. Never before God in your own name! Never attempt to gain his favor in any way other than in the "Beloved"!
You live maybe even a serious godly life. You pray diligently and burning. You bitterly regret your sins. You watch and fight against them. You make many good deeds. All this is good and right. But go ahead, and do even more good, and you will still be damned - it does not help! As long as not all just been like "rubbish" for you. And Christ, Christ alone has become all thy righteousness, and comfort. So it is with the selection.
Oh, now listen to all of them:
There is no mercy at Sinai,
Only the Lamb of God, Saviour
There is forgiveness.
This is the most important to know about the election, and this is the main message in Romans 9 As we have seen, spoken quite right about how Israel was chosen to be God's own people (v.6-13), and how the Gentiles are included in God's covenant of grace (v.24-33).
But as we have seen by the apostle's own statement, was it not his real intent is to talk about how special and persons were selected. He has only used it as an image of God's free election.
The main thing Paul would preach, that God has chosen the path of faith, and not works', Christ and us, Christ's merit and not ours. There is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, but only Christ all and in all. In Him alone we are pardoned, because God has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.
31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Here's Paul with an allegory of Sarah and Hagar. Hagar's children are born into bondage, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem and the Jews. Sarah's children are born to freedom and this is the right Christians. Freedom is to be in Christ and he in us!
The solution is and remains Christ, nothing else!
Christianity and Islam we come together in a super-church!
We know the word of God, especially the Book of Revelation that all false religions, even the "Christian" will be united in a super church (read my commentaries on Revelation 17-18). The only way out of this is the Christ, he is the solution!
Christ is the one and all! It is Christ Jesus that saves us, but that's as far as he is formed in us that we are sanctified. Sanctification is that Jesus Christ is formed in us.
From my commentaries Galatians 2 18 If I rebuild what I have broken down, then it can rightly be said that I am a lawbreaker.
Here Paul puts an end to the law that it should be transferred into the new life. Act's function is to show us that we are sinners. Then there is a solution for us, both to salvation and sanctification. It is Jesus Christ, not someone else.
1. Cor. 1. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who has become us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
19 Just Act has meant that I am dead to the law and live for God. I have been crucified with Christ;
People's first reaction to the message that we are freed from the law, is often: "Can you just lie and steal and whore then?" It betrays a fundamental lack of education and understanding of the matter. A life of freedom from the law is not a life according to the flesh.
Rom.6.15: "What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not!"
Gal.5.1: For freedom Christ has set us free.
Stand fast therefore, and do not be forced into the slaveåket again.
v. 13: Ye, brethren, are called to freedom.
But do not use your freedom to justify it as flesh and blood will, rather, serve one another in love
v.14: For all the law is fulfilled in one commandment: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
v.16: I say to you Live a life in the Spirit! When you do not follow the desires of our sinful nature.
v. 18: But ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
There is no law that will save us from the desire of the sinful nature, but a life in the Spirit! A life in the Spirit is so filled with love for God and fellow man that is driven by a desire to do God's will! The way to get into this life is not to be enjoined by rules and regulations, but to be enthusiastic about love!
The first I've heard of that went out with this message, Watchman Nee in his book "The normal Christian life" which was written about in 1970. There, he writes in a section containing comments Rom.7
(P.124) "The problem here is that we do not have any understanding of having been delivered from the law"
(P.128) "The law does not depart at death. I'm dying, and the death, I am free from the law."
Read the book and see how he explains this doctrine as early as 1970, and he cites that he learned this in 1923! Romans 7 describes not a "normal" Christian life, he says - it describes a Jew who struggles to keep the law. Although we recognize us, the solution is to be found in chapter 8, not the law!
(S.132): "The day I was released from the law, I experienced almost heaven on earth."
So this is not something new or something I have found - this is a learning very many stand for, and which has long been known. This article is too short to elaborate on the subject entirely. Get these books and read them!
The decision on the Apostle meeting in Jerusalem
The question of whether Gentiles (non-Jews) were keeping the law was debated early, we read:
Ap.gj.15.5: But some believers fariseerpartiet stood up and said:
"They must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses."
Paul and Barnabas then went to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and elders. They agreed to send out a letter containing the following:
Ap.gj.15.28-29: "The Holy Spirit and we have decided not to put any other burden on you than the most essential thing, that you keep away from pagan sacrificial meat, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality . If ye take heed of such things, it will do well. Farewell! "
Now we know that the decision whether blood was related to idolatry, and has no relevance today. In 1 Kor.8 we see that Paul for his part is not afraid to eat meat from animals that have been sacrificed to idols, but that he would abstain from it for the sake of others.
The old covenant built on laws and commandments which limited the works to avoid sin and depravity.
Gal.3.23: Before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to be revealed
The new covenant, however, is based on love and a heart to serve God. Even if it means freedom from the letter, held it all together with a desire to be close to Jesus, the source of love.
Gal.5.1: For freedom Christ has set us free.
Stand fast therefore, and be not again force under the yoke of bondage.
Act's purpose.
But the law still has a purpose in two ways:
It should show us (and the unsaved) that we can forget about trying to live up to it. That no one is "good enough" for God in themselves. It shows us that without Jesus we are sinners. Watchman Nee liken it to present a bag of salt that weighs 250 pounds, and ask someone to carry it (s.132)
Rom.5.20: Act came to make bigger fall. But where sin was great grace was even greater.
Rom.10.3: There is no one who is righteous, not even one.
Gal.2.19a: Just Act has meant that I am dead to the law and live for God.
The second purpose is that it contains lots of good advice and guidelines for a good life.
1. Tim. 1.8-9a: But we know that the law is good as long as it is used pursuant purpose. We must remember that the law is not given for the righteous but for lawbreakers and obstinate, for the ungodly and sinners
2. Tim. 3:16: All Scripture is breathed by God and useful for teaching, reproof, guidance and education in justice.
I guess no one doubts that the 10 commandments are worth taking seriously. But he who loves his neighbor would not do against the Ten Commandments?
Rom.13.8: Let no debt remain outstanding, except to love one another.
He who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
When the Spirit speaks to us with reproof and admonition, he often uses scripture, also from GT.
But when it is directly addressing the heart, not an external bid with requirements and condemnation.
Back to Abraham conditions:
We can say that the transition from the Old to the New Covenant was this:
In the Old Covenant, the natural laws motivated by punishment or reward.
In the New Covenant we have a new heart that is internally motivated, driven by love and gratitude!
We can also say this, that the old covenant is about what I need to do for God.
While the new covenant is about what God has done for me!
Before the Fall, humans had only two commandments: Manage the earth, and living in married couples.
After the fall, until Moses, there were no more laws, but much evil and sin anyway. They needed no laws to understand that these actions were evil and sinful. This time, it was Abraham, the Bible calls Abraham the faithful father.
Rooms 4, 16 Therefore he lifted because he believed, then everything would be by grace. Then you promise to stand firm for his entire family, not just those who have the law, but also for those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all,
Already here we see that we are not counted among "those who have the law," because we have the same faith as Abraham. Abraham was counted as righteous because he believed God, not because he was a law.
When God gave the law at Sinai, it was to avoid sin and corruption. But no one was saved by keeping it.
When Jesus came, he would lead the people back to Abraham's plight, where faith is the foundation of salvation and grace and love should be our guidelines for life. He took the punishment for our sin, in that we accept Him in faith. An inner urge to live in love for God and fellow man would again be our driving force - not for fear of punishment or desire for reward. Motivated by rewards and punishments called "legal spirit."
And even if someone gets their "laws" from the New Testament: "You shall - you shall not," it is still legal spirit, and as far from God as a life in the Spirit motivated by love in the heart.
Col. 2, 16: Then when no one judge you for what you eat or drink, or with regard to holidays, New Moon or the Sabbath.
Nevertheless, there are communities that have made the Sabbath a big issue in their faith!
Gal 2, 21: I do not nullify the grace of God. For if one can win justice through the law, then Christ died to no avail.
Gal.4.24-26: This has a deeper meaning. The women are in fact two covenants. One, covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are born into slavery. Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, living in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
Paul fought a desperate battle to explain Colossians and Galatians that they should not live by the rules and regulations. He talks about that they were bewitched! How Bewitched still exist people who claim that we are still subject to the law or legal thinking.
Gal.4.30: But what does the Scripture say? Get rid of the slave woman and her son!
For the slave woman's son will not share the inheritance with the free woman's son.
What does it mean that we should drive out the slave woman and her son? Read the connection yourself, and see that it means that the law and spirit of the Act must be chased out of the preaching!
A covenant, a testament, concluded by the person in question dies. Jesus' death fulfilled the old covenant, and led to its being replaced with a new one.
Heb.9.16-17: This is the covenant that with a will: it must be demonstrated that the person who created it, is dead. Once he is dead, it is valid, it will not take effect so long as he lives.
Not only salvation:
Most people agree that we are freed from the law in the sense that it is not a requirement for salvation. But some argue that it still counts as God's standard for our lives as a means of sanctification. Thus dismiss the whole debate that all passages that speak of freedom from the law applies only to salvation, but that life as a Christian still be governed by the law. Read the following Bible verse:
Room 7, 6: But now we are released from the law, because we have died to the law that bound us.
We serve God in a new life in the Spirit, and not until after the letter.
This is not just a matter of salvation, but to serve God in the new life, the life in the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3, 6-8: He who made us ministers of a new covenant, which is not based on the letter, but in spirit. For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. The service was prescribed with letters carved in stone, the ministry of death. Yet it was surrounded by such glory that the Israelites could not look at the face of Moses, so strong was the glory of it, even though it ended. How much greater glory then has not the Spirit's ministry?
Gal 2, 19: Just Act has meant that I am dead to the law and live for God. I have been crucified with Christ;
It is not the law that is dead, but we are dead to the law. We are talking about life with God, not just salvation.
Gal 3, 23: Before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, locked up until the faith should be revealed.
Gal.3.25: Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian
Ef.2.15a: He has abolished the law with its commandments and regulations.
If the law with its commandments and regulations are revoked - how can anyone then claim that they are still valid? That we are still "under guard" - when Paul saw clearly says that we are no longer under the guard?
Chaos on the definition
One question I have never gotten any good answers is: "If all bids and regulations of law still applies - what is it that comes to whom it is that sets criteria for the bids and regulations we should stick to, what that is the law for us and what does not apply to us? "
So instead of trying to define "law" as a summary of the law in my own mind and discretion, I'd rather say that we are freed from the law, but that the Spirit uses Scripture to admonition and guidance. Perhaps this is what many others think as well, without having thought about it?
Until Christ came
Some argue that we should preach the law to drive people to Christ, and then quotes the Gal.3.24
(1930): So the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith;
(NT2005): This was our law guardian to Christ came, that we might be justified by faith
(B.GO *): To the law was a guardian to (up to) Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
For the claim that the law will "punish" people for Christ! First, there was a "schoolmaster" what we today would call "baby sitter" or "nanny". The translation from 2005 says "guardian". One that would fit your child until it was big enough to take care of themselves. So it has nothing to "punish" or "create guilt" to do. Second, is there a chapter that:
Gal.4.4-7 (NT05) So it is with us. When we were young, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the world. 4 But in the fullness of time God sent his Son, born of woman, born under the law. 5 He would ransom them who were under the law, so we could get the right to be children of God. 6 Because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit cry, "Abba, Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son. And if a son, you are also an heir of God.
NT05 is clear: "to Christ came." So the transition from enslaving the adoption took place 2000 years ago! The idea of preaching the law to drive people to Christ is therefore a mistaken theology that made people shun churches and chapels, and the condemnation it has spread sits deep in the national character and prevents revival! Those who know a little psychology knows that a power psychopath uses guilt to control people. The idea to declare the law so that guilt drives people to Christ, only maktpsykopatiske instruments! It is the Holy Spirit to convince men of sin (Joh.16.8).
Some believe that the law still applies because Jesus says in:
Matt. 5.17 to 18: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a pass from the law - until everything is accomplished.
But when Jesus cried, "It is finished" (Joh.19.30) shouted: "Everything happened" - he fulfilled the law, fulfill the requirements of God. When "took place" the law with its commandments and regulations. The word Jesus said on the cross was "teleo," which means to pay off a debt, ending a case, perform the final act that ends the matter.
Ef.2.14-16: For he is our peace, who made both one and broke down the wall that separated, hostility. On his body he has abolished the law with its commandments and regulations. So he established peace when he made the two one new man in him. In one body he reconciled them both to God when He died on the cross and thus killing the hostility.
Here it is quite clear that Jesus fulfilled the law with its commandments and regulations when he died on the cross. More clearly it can not be said? When the Act was fulfilled in Christ, it is no longer a requirement for us. Thus, there is peace between us and God, the charge is gone, animosity is gone.
Spiritual adultery!
Paul explains in
Rom. 7.2 to 4: "A married woman is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law that bound her to the man. Therefore comes as she adulteress if she marries another while man lives. But if her husband dies, she is free from the law is no adulteress, though she be married to another. Such it is with you, my brothers and sisters. Throughout the body of Christ, you are dead to the law. You belong to another, he which has risen from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
"So it is with you." It still uses the law, having accepted Jesus, driver spiritual adultery! We are free from the law, dead from the law, and we live for Jesus! To use the rules and regulations are therefore infidelity, adultery, spiritual adultery.
Empty talk
In his letters to Timothy, Paul says that the law is useful if used right or "legal", but we also read:
1. Tim.1.6-9a: Some have strayed from this and have ended up in empty talk. They will be lovlærere but understand neither what they say or what they speak so confidently about. But we know that the law is good if we use it right, and understand that the law is not specific for the righteous
And in Titus he repeats it in a slightly different way:
Tit.3.9-10: Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the Law turn away, because these are useless and purposeless. A false teacher, rebuking once and twice and then show him from you. (See also 2.Tim.2.23)
So maybe I should delete the whole article? For I have had people write so provocative and unserious that I have had to refuse further discussion. But I let the article remain for those who need it for teaching.
A new time
Paul tells us that there is a way to serve God is much better than living under the law. There is new life in the Spirit. It has an inner passion of love that brings - without thought of reward, and who refrain from the evil of our own conscience - not because of the fear of God will be angry or disappointed - but because we have a desire to do God's will !
Hebrews 8, 10, No, This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds and write them in their hearts. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
John 13, 34: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another. As I have loved you, that ye love one another.
It is this way of thinking that is the rub. We're driven by external bids, or by an inner drive?
If the inner driving force is not in place - what do we do then?
We replace it with external bids? (Trying to solve it in the carnal plan)
Or we aim to strengthen the internal driving force? (Bet that Spirit can help us)
Some would say that Winnie the Pooh: "Yes, both!" And perhaps it is the case that as long as the internal driving force is not in place, as long as they live after the flesh, they need no external guidelines. But it must not be the permanent solution! It may only be a temporary solution, and then the main task will be to put in place the internal driving force, so that the outer bids are redundant!
The focus should not be to declare what is sin and what God requires of us. The focus must be on God loves us, and that we must live out this love in our lives. Listen to what Moses himself says about the law:
5 Mos 30, 11 14: These commandments that I give you today is not too difficult or remove for you. No, the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart so you can live by it.
Even Moses knew that the law true intention was that the works were motivated by an inner drive. Even Moses knew God's will was that men should live by the heart! Paul quotes this in Rom. 6.10-.
Act the way thinks so: We must focus on our sins and bring us together so we do not make mistakes!
A life in the Spirit thinks so: I am fair and flawless in Christ and want to live according to it!
The law will not do!
Rom.8.3-4: It was impossible for the law because it was weak because of man's sinful nature, God did. For sin, he sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful men and held judgment of sin in our nature. How should the legal requirements to be fulfilled in us who do not yield ourselves to the sinful nature but by the Spirit.
Hebrews 7, 19: The Law made nothing to completion.
But now it is replaced by something better, a hope which means that we can approach God.
The law did not change people's hearts. The law will not do! Its requirements do not work to change the hearts attitude! It focuses only on symptoms - not the cause! The only limited damage. Therefore it replaced by something better - a life in the Spirit!
A life in the Spirit assumes that our spirit is reborn and is a source of us who can not sin:
1.Joh.3.9: Whoever is born of God sinneth not. For the seed God has planted in him shall be in him he can not keep on sinning because he is born of God.
It is clear that our flesh can sin (1.Joh.1.10), but the new liver God has put in us when we were born again, it might not sin! That is why we must seek holiness by living a life in the Spirit!
For what the law is unable by pointing our mistakes, that the Spirit can succeed by pointing out that we are holy and faultless in Christ! Sanctification is not to focus on our mistakes. It is to focus on Jesus!
Ef.1.4: In Christ hath chosen us before the world was created;
so we should be holy and flawless in His sight.
Our holiness is not based on our own works, but on what Jesus has done! And this will affect us to be like him! THAT is sanctification!
My experience is that the debate on this issue begins with the fear of anarchy or misuse of freedom if we do not preach the law. But it often that you see how the law is unfit to transform hearts - the very source of sin's origin. The law is too weak! It points to the problem but have no solution to offer! It's like a fire alarm - he whines and says that it burns, but can not quench! And the solution is not to put up several smoke alarms, but to prevent the fire!
Jesus warning Matthew 9, 17 Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins, lest the skins burst, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. No one puts new wine into new wineskins then one both parts intact. "
The new wine is the new life in the Spirit. The old wineskins was law that was so tight and inflexible, that the new life would blast them and cause death - that new life would run out. Legalism destroy the Spirit works! The new skins however, the spirit of love, the new thrust - is flexible and conformable so that the new life can be dynamic. But the "hold water"!
Jesus' statement about the leaven (Mark.8.15) is an additional warning that just legalism will destroy all life, begin first resorting to the laws and commandments, it will only "add up". (Gal.5.9) The doctrine of tithing is in my opinion such a sourdough.
In Matt.9.16 Jesus talking about putting a new bot on an old garment. It is impossible to believe that grace can only "remedy" what was wrong with the legal way. The whole "old clothing" must be replaced with a new one! And the new garment are not rules and regulations - it's love and grace, a life in the Spirit!
Jesus fulfilled the law!
And remember! When the Pharisees came to Jesus with the woman of Joh.8 1 - he said that he who was without sin to cast the first stone - the law of Moses commanded that this woman should be stoned! Then they all went - the oldest first. The only one who was without sin and could have thrown stones - was Jesus Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses by stoning woman! He abolished the law of Moses to die in her place!
Joh.8.11b "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more from now on! "
Jesus abolished the law by fulfilling it for us (Ef.2.14-16).
20 I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
The law only shows God's standard and our helplessness and smallness. What is the solution? As always, Jesus Christ. He moves into the faith, and he, the new creation, will not and can not sin. When he gets to be Lord, we live like Christ in this world.
21 I do not nullify the grace of God. For if one can win justice through the law, then Christ died to no avail.
Although Life, Old Adam's life, and it is by law. When we realize that we ourselves are inadequate. Then the Spirit and the new life that allows the solution is in place!
At the same time we are born again by the gospel, the power of God to salvation.
The law is not valid and it requires at all times. Follow it and you will live, follow it and you will die. When I choose the latter, dying. So we rise again in Christ, when neither the law may require, be allowed to require or may require something of us. We are dead, but Jesus through His Spirit living by faith in our hearts, and he lives his life as well with us, lovely! It is a change that law is to "help" to the next to show us our shortcomings and inadequacies. But the solution is Jesus, the gospel, and the new life of the Spirit working in and through the believer! It is when the law and the gospel are kept separate, that we can use and make us use of the law. It is only the gospel that saves and sets free.
From my commentaries Hebrews 10 1. The law having a shadow of good things to come, not the things themselves as they really are. Year after year it carried an offering that is still the same, but with these there is no law able to make those sacrifices, perfect.
The law was good, but temporary. We should never look down on the law for the express will of God. But it requires obedience and tell only the truth, that we humans are not in ourselves are capable of doing.
Rom. 7. 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, just and good.
Because that God the Father was never 100% satisfied, you needed tirelessly with victims when the law says that anyone who sins shall die.
2 Otherwise, the well ceased to sacrifice? For if those who participate in the service, had been cleansed once for all, they would no longer have any consciousness of sin.
But it was not only God the Father was not satisfied, but those who lived under the law likewise. Even the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies once a year could not be 100% sure if he came out alive, therefore tied a string around Mon foot to pull him out, in case he died under God's judgment.
3 But the victims are an annual reminder of sins.
Yet this has its positive aspects. It says that human beings are sinners in need of salvation. That we are aware of our needs is the first step in the right direction.
4 For the blood of bulls and goats could not possibly take away sins.
Then this is obvious: the blood of bulls and goats could not possibly take away sins. Had they been able to so sin had been removed when the law was in operation for approx. 1400 years and it was sacrificed million and totaling billions of animals, especially during the holidays in Israel.
5 Thus says Christ at his coming into the world:
Slaughter Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not,
but a body made you able to me;
We read that he had become like one of us to save and redeem us.
Joh. AD 1 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
6 burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not you.
It was not the Father's perfect will that animals were dying for some people to go free. But he could have mercy and show mercy to Israel so it seemed a temporary and partial remission of sins. But it was only when the Son Jesus Christ that life and immortality were brought to light and we human child could fully take part in salvation and a complete remission of sins.
7 Then I said, Behold, here I come
to do your will, O God.
The volume of the book it is written of me.
Jesus did the will of God to the letter. But he also had the necessary qualifications to do so completely. It was all for him.
Joh. e 4 34 But Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will which hath sent me, and to complete his work.
8 First he said, "Sacrifices and gifts, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not want and did not you," even though it is such sacrifices as carried forward by the law.
Had the law brought fulfillment, eternal happiness and salvation Act had been good enough and sacrifices, gifts, burnt offerings and sin offerings you have been able to save. Had there been no sense that the Lord Jesus came.
9 Then he said: "Here I come to do your will." He abolishes the first words mentioned, to have the other effect.
By Jesus' entry into the world on a switch. All that the law represents is replaced with grace and life in Christ Jesus. In the fourth chapter of Galatians, Paul says so strongly when he writes. That he compares the law by the slave woman and what one would do with her? Gal. 4. 30 But what does the Scripture say? Get rid of the slave woman and her son! For the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son. 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
10 By virtue of that will we have been sanctified through the body of Jesus Christ was sacrificed once for all.
This scripture here is very powerful. The law remains in force for the self-righteous and the wicked man. But we die away from it all and Jesus both Savior and sanctify us through and through. When we experience what Paul writes in Gal. 2. 20 I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
Final Comment: This could be a lot, but it does not mind going to a church or church without Christ moves into the heart by faith. And his wines more and more figure in our lives with a daily walk where we deny our carnal desires and needs. For Christ to get more and more foothold. We as believers are no better than other people, any worse. But we do not have Jesus, we are "better" than others because he is perfect and good!
Related links:
http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2011/12/nr-168-churchs-development.html
http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2012/01/nr-229-pentecostals-and-charismatics.html
http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2011/09/nr-53-disobedient-lutherans.html
