THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD - PART 16

Paul, an apostle to the Gentiles, asks this question of believers, "O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth? Received you the Spirit by doing the works of the law? Or, by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, you are now made perfect by fleshly works." (Galatians, 3)

Jesus, while conversing with a woman at a well in Samaria said that he who drinks of the water that He shall give shall never thirst. Indeed, the water that Jesus shall give him will be like a well of living water springing up from within. Here, Jesus was talking concerning the near future when those who believed on Him would become partakers of His holy Spirit. However, the Holy Ghost was not as yet given, because Jesus was not yet crucified, buried, resurrected, ascended. Until all of these events transpired, Jesus would not yet be glorified. At that point, the point of His glorification would the outpouring of His own Spirit be poured out onto and into all who exercise faith in His redemptive work of salvation. It is no wonder that Paul said, "are you so foolish, having begun in the Spirit you are now made perfect by the works of the law?"

Salvation is not of works. Jesus, who is God manifest in the flesh purchased our complete salvation. As of that moment in time, believers were offered a free gift. That gift is eternal life. It is a new covenant written on the fleshy tables of our heart. This new covenant, being the now revealed mind of God when He covenanted with Himself as a man. The perfect law of liberty. There is no other explanation.

Therefore, if you are preaching salvation by law, you would be declaring that the sacrifice of God Himself as a son to be inadequate. Who has bewitched you? This new covenant is not an addendum to the old covenant which had been written on stone tablets. This new covenant is allowing Jesus to breathe on you - His breath of life emanating from His Spirit.  

Note that this new covenant was before the old covenant. In fact, it was contained in a promise delivered to Abraham, promising him that in his seed would all the nations of the earth be blessed. The promise specifically said seed. Seed in the singular. Not seeds.  And that promised Seed referred to Christ, the law never having as yet been delivered. The law was delivered 430 years after the promise was made. It is for this reason that the the law cannot be tagged on to a promise. (A promise being a promise or else what good would a promise be?)

The law was added because of people's transgressions. It had a limited time frame, one that only lasted until the Seed should come to whom the promise was made. And that Seed, the Seed to which we refer, appeared clothed in earthly fashion as a son conceived of the Holy Ghost in the womb of Mary. The Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary. Hence, the beginning of dispensations and the BC and AD timeline. The law of sin and death is exactly what it is. It makes one totally aware of their sin. Being now condemned by the introduction of law I died. If one was not feeling bad enough, this law of sin and death puts the icing on top. The Law is law without spirit. The law in reality is like a school master revealing that man needs a Saviour.

In this context, the law accomplished its purpose. The Lord our God became our Saviour redeeming us from those curses enshrined in the law. He Himself becoming cursed and enshrouding Himself willingly with all our sins and transgressions. When one is redeemed there is no longer a need for law. 

Why? Because we have in Jesus a pure lamb offered, one that was offered without blemish. The God who cannot lie fulfilled His promise in Jesus. His body given so that we could be sanctified. Sanctify them through the truth. Thy Word is truth. 

Jesus said, "And for their sakes I sanctify Myself that they also might be sanctified through the truth." (John 17:17-19) "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ -- once for all ... for by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10:10-14)

Peace to all in Jesus name! Stand in the offering plate.