That Through His Name Whosoever Believes In Him Shall Receive Remission of Sins - Part 1226

Jesus said, -- "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me." (Acts 26:18)

Among the accusations made by false witnesses against Stephen (before he was to be stoned) was that he told the people -- "this Jesus of Nazareth ... shall change the customs which Moses delivered us."  (Acts 6:14)

Sadly, there are certain of the synagogue today who might have the same response to Stephen's message, particularly those who are determined to keep new believers under the old covenant, and the ten commandments. But thankfully, Jesus the Christ did change the customs which Moses delivered us, and replaced the law of the old with His new testament of love and grace.

You see the law was only to serve as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 4:24-25)

Read that again. We are no longer under the schoolmaster but rather, we are to look to "God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." (Galatians 1:1-5)

But what is happening within the modern day religious culture is that believers do not understand the significance between the old covenant (under the law) and the current new testament (of grace). As a consequence, these end up mixing the old and the new wine -- using the law to justify one's salvation. In other words, it becomes man's idea of salvation. Accepting enough grace to believe in Jesus but not enough grace to be set free, and understand the importance of completely clothing oneself in His righteousness. And thus, these focus on obeying the ten commandments (and expecting everyone around them to do the same) in everything that they do.

But what does Saul/Paul say to the churches of Galatia?

"I marvel that you so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another, but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ, but though we, or an angel from heaven preach another gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-8)

Not just once, but Paul repeats this message a second time. Why? Because Paul was certifying that the gospel he preached was not after man, "for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:11-12)

This is why Paul could say that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by the faith of Jesus Christ ... "even we [who] have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law -- for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified ..." (Galatians 2:16)

In other words, our salvation cannot be justified by the works of the law. We -- being ignorant of God's righteousness -- cannot go about establishing our own righteousness. Even when certain men come preaching, saying, "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." (Acts 15:1) Or, when certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed say, "That it was [is] needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." (Acts 15:10)

Why? Because when Jesus came to fulfill the law once and for all. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes. For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law -- that the man which doeth those things shall live by them." But the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise, "Say not in thine heart -- "who shall ascend into heaven (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or. who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring Christ again from the dead). But what saith it? The Word is night thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart, that is, the Word of faith which we preach -- that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved .... for with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:4-13)

And Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes. (Romans 10:4)

This is why Paul asked, "Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministers to you in the Spirit and works miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham, 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." So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written, "Cursed is everyone that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident for "the just shall live by faith." And the law is not of faith; but the man that doeth them shall live in them."

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law ..." (Galatians 3:2-15)

"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 ... for if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise but God gave it to Abraham by promise." (Galatians 3:17-18)

"Wherefore then serve 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. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid; for it there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed ... but after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3:19-28)

"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise ... but when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Galatians 4:1-6)

So why, asks Paul, "howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods, but now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, where unto ye desire again to be in bondage?" (Galatians 4:8-9)

Why return to the bondwoman that was born after the flesh -- the law -- when we have been set free as the children of promise?

Indeed, "stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing, For I testify again to every man that is circumcised that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law. Ye are fallen from grace." (Galatians 5:1-4)

But we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith, for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything, nor un-circumcision, but faith which works by love." (Galatians 5:5-6)

"I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives 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. I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:21)

But Christ did not come in vain. Neither should we let Jesus pass by without responding wholeheartedly to His call to repentance, and to be baptized in His name -- the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:36-39) Then can we become "the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:26-27)

Stand in the offering plate.