To: pastorbillrandles
Ignorance is no excuse for the law. It does not matter whether you knows that law and breaks it or doe not know that law an break it. It does not even matter if you really, really tried to keep the law and brake it. By the law no flesh will be justified. The true Jew is the one that believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. If you read all of Chapter Three you would find these words: None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.
We are saved by the work of Christ, not by our works. The law can only kill, but the Spirit makes alive. No one is going to be accounted righteous by trying to keep the law.
2 posted on
08/04/2010 3:13:51 PM PDT by
Nosterrex
To: pastorbillrandles
The law can not save one from God's judgment.
Also, as some would say " that saved by Grace does not give one license to sin "
I would say to those who live by the law and scorn those who live and are saved by Grace and say that Grace does not give us license to sin,,, how has set you up to be judge ?
Jesus saves period....
Those who judge others who live by Grace, do you sin ? you point out how others sin, but, do you sin ?
Of course you do, but, you don't want others to see your own unrighteiousness cloaked in your own self righteiousness.
Galatians 3
1O. 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? 2. This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3. Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4. Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8. 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.
9. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13. 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:
14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19. 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.
20. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
21 . 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.
22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28. 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.
29. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Being saved, and living a good and moral life is what God's will is in every Christian's life, but, the law still can not save you.
3 posted on
08/04/2010 11:00:08 PM PDT by
American Constitutionalist
(There the way the Communist/Marxist want to destroy the USAis no civility in)
To: pastorbillrandles
The real understanding of the Law, brings brokenness, self-doubt, utter filial fear of God, willingness to be humble, contrition( sorrow for sin), total love and devotion for forgiveness and redemption. I like what you wrote there. I would add the following. The law, as David says in the longest chapter in the Bible is a delight. David uses 176 verses to tell us how much he loves the Law. Clearly it is not a curse to David as it is to Paul. The law was never meant to be a "saving tool" in and of itself for us. It is a means of serving the G-d of the universe, out of love. It is the blueprint for humanity to engage with the Creator of the universe. It is a means of elevating everyday, even mundane phusical things, to the spiritual. Even the simple act of washing your hands is an opportunity to worship G-d and thank him. Is that a curse? I suppose if ones motivation-priorities are out of whack, perhaps.
The law gives gives us an opportunity to elevate our relationship with G-d in numerous ways. When we perform the mitzvot, we are fulfilling G-ds will. And in the process, actively engaging in Tikkun Olam, repair of the world. When you love your neighbor as yourself, (Leviticus 19:18) that is making the world a better place. We are to following G-ds example; Deut 10: 18"He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing."
Jeremiah 22:3 'Thus says the LORD, " Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood......"
And of course the 10 mitzvot.
The other thing the law makes provision for, which is often overlooked is Teshuvah. G-d wants to forgive us when we sin (miss the mark)and bring us back into a relationship with him. Teshuvah is more than just repentance. It is repentance and "turning away from the sin" redoubling our efforts to never repeat the sin again. When this is done with a broken and contrite heart, G-d forgives and restores us. Teshuvah is a very holy act which spiritually is counted as a mitzvot.
We are constantly in a battle with our yetzer hara, our evil inclination. When we fight back with love, humbleness, prayer, repentance, charity, random acts of kindness, we are winning against the yetzer hara. It is a process, a life long process.
So certainly when the Law is done in a hypocritical, by rote or shallow way, G-ds sees that for what it is but it doesnt indict the Law. Many Christians struggle with hypocrisy as well. As you aluded to, the Prophet Jeremiah, Isaiah, Hosea etc had much to say about people who intentionally flout the Law. And how we can do it properly.
4 posted on
08/05/2010 2:42:33 PM PDT by
blasater1960
( Dt 30, Ps 111, The Torah is perfect, attainable, now and forever)
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