Jesus is the Rock - PART 51

As we continue on the topic, separating the wheat from the tares, we find that the apostle Paul starts asking pointed questions to confirm his initial suspicions. Think about this. In his endeavour to separate the wheat from the tares, Paul asks dubious questions of the believers. In the beginning, these questions may sound harsh. They were definitely not simple questions, but they were questions that were asked with the intention of shaking the tree. Questions regarding the very Biblical foundations and truths were asked of these supposedly professing believers. Let's see what falls out the tree. 


Paul never withheld the punches when it came to staying steadfast in the truth. And in his mind, it had become abundantly evident that a fox had entered the chicken pen.


O foolish believers! Who has fascinated you? Have you been bewitched? 


In today's terms, it could be a television evangelist (with glitz and glamour) who entices you to depart from the truth -- the Biblical truth that you had earlier embraced. But as the Bible reveals, truth does not bow the knee to error. There is only one gospel message and it is the same gospel message yesterday, today and forever. 


Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law? Or, as the Bible states, because you heard the gospel of Jesus and believed? Man does not begin his spiritual life in the Spirit and then complete it by reverting to outward materialistic observances? Are the gifts of Him (spiritual gifts) who furnishes you with the fullness of the Spirit, and works within you the power of miracles now of no effect? It is in the context of these opposing perspectives that the theme separating the wheat from the tares continues.    


Abraham had faith in God, and the resulting effect was God imputing toward him righteousness. Know this -- that only those who have faith to believe God, as Abraham expressed, became clothed in God’s imputed righteousness. Surely, you must see, that the true descendants of Abraham are men who have faith.


You must also see that throughout, the scriptures anticipated God’s justification of the Gentiles. God said to Abraham, "Because you have believed, then in blessing, I will bless you. Similarly, as a consequence of faith, you too are able to enjoy all of God's blessings, just as Abraham of the Old Testament did as a result of believing God.


But for all those who prefer observance of the law over God's plan of salvation, the scriptures say to let those people remain under the curse. That is, "Cursed be everyone who does not persist in carrying out all that this book of the law prescribes." The law teaches that he who preaches living under the rules and dictates of the law had better live and obey all the laws prescribed therein. 


But even though the law was given through Moses, God had a better plan. He said that  grace and truth and justification comes from believing. This is why the law is not a matter of faith, nor does the good works expected under the law result in salvation. Rather, as the scriptures point out, the justified shall live because of their faith in God.

Further, there are reasons why the law has nothing to do with faith. That ability to stand before God would be an impossibility if it wasn't for God's plan of salvation. Christ (God veiling Himself in flesh as an only begotten Son) has ransomed us from the curse pronounced in the law, by taking on the pronounced curse on Himself. For us. For the scripture states, "There is a curse on every man who is crucified on a tree."

God’s purpose is therefore made plain. The promised blessing given to Abraham was also to be imparted to the non Jews from all nations in the days to follow. The promised blessing was so that all men and women could receive the promised gift of God’s Spirit.


Yes, the law may have been given through Moses but grace and truth and justification comes by believing the word of God (Jesus.). Salvation then is not of works. Salvation is obtained by putting your hand in the hand of the man who stills the water -- the same man that even the wind and the sea obey. 


And yet, in spite of God's willingness to die on the cross for us, we harden our hearts. What we should be doing instead is accepting that God is love. And that His love demonstrated and conveyed toward all men when He laid down His life as a Son for you and me. Let the preaching of His word and the praising of His name begin so that we all may flourish. 


May showers of blessings fall on you today in Jesus name. Stand in the offering plate.