To Wit, That God Was In Christ, Reconciling The World (You and I) Unto Himself - Part 1844

"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is He the God of the Jews only? is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: seeing [it is] one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." (Romans 3:21-31)

The law of faith. That we believe that after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared so that we might have salvation. This discussion is important because of the thousands of Jews which do believe, and yet remain zealous of the law. The apostles had to deal with this desire for believing Jews to incorporate the law in their day to day. In one place the scripture refers to this mixture of law and grace as mixing the new wine with the old. As we know from this latter analogy, the wineskins will break, and thus, the wine lost. But I digress.

And when they heard [it], they glorified the Lord and said unto him, "Thou sees, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe, and they are all zealous of the law. And they are informed of thee, that thou teaches all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs." (Acts 21:20-21)

"I say then, "Have they stumbled that they should fall?" God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: if by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, "The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in."

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee. Behold therefore, the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. 

For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?" (Romans 11:11-24)

But some did not believe that the grace and mercy of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ was sufficient. And, consequently, there were those who would not accept that the holy precious blood shed on the cross paid the price for our sins. That Jesus death and resurrection was more than sufficient for us to receive His gift of salvation. He paid the price so that we could be set free. He justifies us with the shedding of His blood, having become the perfect sacrifice -- the Lamb of God for those who believe.

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)

But sadly, not everyone receives the good news gospel message, wherein they desire to understand and accept that our Lord God loved us so much that He would come forth as a mighty man. The Word made flesh and dwelt among us, so that we could behold His glory. (John 1:1-18; I Timothy 3:16; Revelation 1:8) Instead, these wanted to justify themselves, suggesting that these have done good works, and helped people, and obeyed the Ten Commandments. Nevertheless, what does apostle Paul say about mixing grace and the law?

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, "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 the Spirit, and works miracles among you, does 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 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 every one 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, being made a curse for us: for it is written, "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, "And to seeds, as of many; but as of one." And to thy seed, which is Christ.

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.

Wherefore then serveth 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 if 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.

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. 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.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 5:-26)

Note that water baptism is included herein, because water baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God, wherein we enter into His death by going into the water, and similarly His resurrection when we come forth from the water in the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:36-41; Romans 6:3-4; I Peter 3:21-22; Acts 10:44-48)

It is then, after we take that step into the water in the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we are clothed in His righteousness, and He fills us with the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38) This is a promise to us and to our children and likewise to those who are afar off. Therefore, when we do everything that we do in the Name of the Lord Jesus, we begin a faith journey wherein we press forward, flowing through the love of Jesus in our heart to those who are all around us. And we do so because of His love for us, not because of anything that we can do in and of ourselves. In other words, as Jesus so clearly points out, "I have chosen and ordained you ..." 

The giver of life, the Creator of this universe and all that is within has reached down from the heavens so that you might have salvation in Him. The dayspring from on high hath visited His people. We have a choice to love our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, or to look back and try to justify our acts of kindness as being sufficient. 

But as the scripture states, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!" 

Stand in the offering plate.