| Is this legalism or what? LAW VS. GRACE FREEDOM VS BONDAGE? LIBERTY VS COMPROMISE SCRIPTURE READING: GAL 1:, 2:3:4: Holiness is still important! still required! still applicable! no this is not a rebuttal of holiness for without holiness no man shall see God” holiness may not be a matter of salvation but a matter of sanctification and protection ? we live holy to please God not to be saved? ‘ For when the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard..” that standard is holiness! and its protection against the enemy? think about that! liberal compromisers. We must realize that we are no longer under the law nor its curse! Jesus came to fulfill and bring completion to the law thus fulfilling his divine plan for not only the Jew but all who would call on him. “ for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved..” The law was simply meant to point the way to Jesus! to show mans inability to measure up, no matter how hard he tried, “.. for what the law could not do in that it was weak thru the flesh.. “ “for he who breaks one part of the law is guilty of the whole law” (man cannot even go one day without sinning thus if we were still subject to the law we would be cursed with its consequences! )“ for the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life” thanks to what Jesus did on the cross we have hope! the Greek word used for the word law in the N.T. is pedi-gogle which means a schoolmaster.( whose job was to see that children made it to school safely) thus the law was meant to lead people to Jesus safely.. Lets look at a couple of the outstanding features or requirements of the law? 1. For one the law was meant to separate and distinguish the Jew from the heathen nations around them? hence it was broken up into 3 divisions: ( civil) (ceremonial) and ( religious ) it thus dealt with all areas of their existence from clothing to hygiene, from social activities, to worship and sacrifices. 2. Again it was meant to point out mans weakness and sinfulness? and consequently his need for help! his need for a savior! VS. 6, ..SO SOON REMOVED FROM..” WE MUST LEARN TO REMAIN IN THE VINE, STEADFAST AND UNMOVABLE.. It is imperative that we that we learn to stay in communion and communication with our Savior, to continual in fellowship and study of his word, to remain loyal and committed to his service, to have no regrets, no doubts, “ for he that cometh to God must believe that he is..” “ except you abide in me and I abide in you..” God is not pleased with wishy washy Christians? with in and out , up and down, kind of relationships there comes a time when we must grow up and learn to fight like a man! and not look back to the world, “ any man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is not fit for the kingdom of God” the source of our strength is in communion with him in his presence “ in his presence is fullness of joy and at his right hand pleasures forever more” for “the joy of the lord is our strength! VS. 7, “BUT THOUGH WE OR AN ANGEL.. PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL.. WATCH OUT FOR THE FALSE TEACHERS IN OUR MIST? WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING? We must be on guard against false doctrine, don’t let the clothes fool you? or the phony show of piety? just because their may be miracles or money ? in ones ministry doesn’t mean Gods stamp of approval on that person per se? remember the gifts and ministry reflect the giver not the receiver? we must ..“contend for the faith once delivered to the saints..” The bible says to watch and pray! make sure everything you are told regarding doctrine lines up with the bible, its your responsibility to check what you here and make sure it squares with the word, in other words know your bible! CHAPTER 2: vs. 4-5, BECAUSE OF FALSE BRETHREN... WHY ? BECAUSE THE DEVIL HIMSELF COMES AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT? BUT HIS MOTIVE AND PURPOSE IS NOT PURE “FOR THE DEVIL COMETH NOT BUT FOR TO STEAL KILL, AND DESTROY..” the bible said’s ..“we are not ignorant of his devices..” You have to know how he operates and thru who he operates? watch a persons fruit, “ for you shall know them by their fruit” don’t allow false teachers in your home, heart or Church.. VS.16. “ KNOWING THAT A MAN IS NOT JUSTIFIED BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW..” “FOR WE ARE SAVED NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US.” TITUS 3:5-7 Realize that you are justified in Jesus Christ, blood bought! blood washed! you are not saved on your own merits, your own goodness, nor your financial worth? but by his blood, not ur traditions, routines or vain chatter? “ for you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, nor from your vain conversations received by traditions from your parents, but by the precious blood of Christ..” Remember it was his mercy! not justice? Mercy is when we don’t get what we deserve. justice is when we get what we deserve.. and GRACE is when we get what we don’t deserve! SOME SCRIPTURES TO REFLECT AND REVIEW UPON : for summarization Chapter 3 vs. 19-22, the law ..IT WAS ADDED BECAUSE OF TRANSGRESSIONS..” SIN NEEDED EXPOSURE FOR WHAT IT WAS? REBELLION AGAINST GOD! VS.24 “ WHEREFORE THE LAW WAS OUR SCHOOLMASTER TO BRING US UNTO CHRIST..” IT WAS SIMPLY MEANT TO POINT OUT OUR NEED FOR A SAVIOR. Chapter 4 vs. 3-5-7 when “WE WERE IN BONDAGE.. BUT WHEN THE FULLNESS OF THE TIME WAS COME , GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON..” when souls would get tired of their sin and cry out for a savior! repentance brings salvation! VS. 9-10, ‘”YE OBSERVE DAYS, MONTHS AND TIMES, ..AND TURN AGAIN TO THE WEAK AND BEGGARLY ELEMENTS.. LEAST I BESTOWED LABOR IN VAIN ON YOU” man made traditions and observances are vain and futile! Chapter 5 vs. 1 ” STANDFAST THEREFORE IN THE LIBERTY WHEREWITH CHRIST HATH MADE YOU FREE..” and he who the Son has set free is free indeed! holiness is a matter of the heart? there is no room for compromise! “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” VS. 7. “ YE DID RUN WELL WHO DID HINDER YOU.. THAT YOU SHOULD OBEY THE TRUTH” In other words you started out good what happened? the bible says to finish your course, stand! to fight the good fight of faith! don’t throw in the towel now when the going gets tough! lift up your heads for your salvation draweth nigh.. Prepared by : George R. Nava 2170 e. Market st. Stk, Ca phone -46-59731 |