By faith are ye saved through grace, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them ..." (Ephesians 2:8-10)
We live in a world which is determined to put us back into bondage, whereby we are under the l/Law in every respect. This is not only happening in the earthly wherein we have our being, but sadly, too many in the religious culture desire the same outcome. Nevertheless, the good news is that He has quickened us who were dead in trespasses and sins -- "wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience."(Ephesians 2:1)
"But God who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace are ye saved!) and hath raised [us] up together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His Kingdom toward us through Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-7)
After His kindness, and mercy, and love was God Himself robed in flesh so that we who respond to His invitation to "Come" might have life more abundantly.
"After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that be justified by His grace we should be made heirs according tot the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7)
"Now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ, [and] He is our peace, who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wail of partition between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace, and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby; and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh." (Ephesians 2:13-17)
And through Him we both have access by One Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:18)
But now there is a move to bring people back under the Law and ordinances of old -- as if we who are Gentiles are Jews, and in so doing, make our salvation about the "works" of righteousness (good works that we do), rather than the kindness and love of God our Saviour, and the precious blood He shed on the cross for you and I.
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross ... and having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:14)
This is why we are to let no man judge us in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath, which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. Jesus is the Head.
Apostle Paul takes this teaching even further asking the question, "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men?" (Colossians 2:14-23)
So what about the Law, you ask? Referring specifically to the Mosaic Law and ten commandments that was given specifically to the Israelites under the old covenant. Apostle Paul (in Galatians 4) makes the distinction between the old covenant and the new testament very clear.
"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, does he it by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith?"
Even Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. So, why then do we now believe that the work that our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ did on the cross, when He paid the price for our sins once and for all with His own precious blood, being beaten in a body prepared for Him, to be of no consequence? Insufficient? Is this the real reason why we desire to serve the Law? Or is there something else going on in our hearts, whereby we change the glory of the uncorruptible God and His truth into a lie. (Romans 1:21-25)
But we who have come into the knowledge of Jesus should know better. We can't earn our salvation because even our good works are as filthy rags in the sight of the Lord. We are saved because of His love for us.
"Therefore, it is of faith that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed: not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all ... as it is written, "I have made thee a father of many nations." before Him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickens the dead and calls those things which be not as though they were, who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations according to that which was spoken, "So shall thy seed be." And being not weak in faith ..." (Romans 4:16-25)
Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1)
Am I suggesting that there is no Law? Of course not. Jesus Himself confirmed two commandments -- the first being to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and by extension of His love flowing in us, the second -- to love one another. He established the Law of faith.
But these are not the ten commandments, the religious ceremonial laws, the health and civil laws -- all 612 laws which were intended to serve as a schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ ... that we might be "justified by faith. Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterward be revealed. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster, for ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus"
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ ... and if ye be Christ's then ye are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:24-29)
The Lord said that in this current dispensation of grace -- the new testament wherein for this cause He is the mediator -- the law would no longer be written on tablets of stone, but in our hearts. He -- the Holy Ghost -- the Spirit of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ in our hearts -- will lead and guide us into all truth.
Indeed, "this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days," saith the Lord, "I will put My laws into their hearts and in their minds will I write them, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." Now here remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin, having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say His flesh, and having an high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful that promised)." (Hebrews 10:16)
"For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14)
This is why we need to understand that when the fullness of 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, and because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:1-7)
Don't allow those who desire you to be under the law and "zealously affect you but not well" to sway you against the true gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Abraham had two sons. We who believe in Jesus by faith, and are water baptized in His precious Name -- the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ are of the free woman. We are the children of promise. (Acts 2:36-38; Acts 10:40-44; Romans 6:3-4; I Peter 3:23)
Thus, as apostle Paul summarized, "So then brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Galatians 4:21-31; Galatians 5:1)
This same Jesus whom ye have crucified who is both Lord and Christ -- from whence cometh our salvation. (Acts 2:36) Stand in the offering plate.
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