Next, I
am repeating these scriptures on purpose.
Romans 3:9 – 4:8 says [9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have
any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and
Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who
understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned
away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not
even one.” 13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15
“Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and
the way of peace they do not know.” 18 “There is no fear of God before
their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who
are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced
and the whole world held accountable to God. 20
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by
the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been
made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This
righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There
is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely
by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the
shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his
righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed
beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the
present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith
in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what
law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.
28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of
the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles
too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will
justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we
uphold the law.
Abraham Justified by Faith
4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according
to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified
by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does
Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as
righteousness.”
4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as
a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does
not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is
credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of
the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from
works:
7 “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose
sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never
count against them.”]
And God’s law says that if you break one of His
commands, you have broken them all. James 2:10 says [For
whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of
breaking all of it.]
Ephesians 2:8 says [For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of
God-]
Hebrews 4:1-11 says [Therefore, since the promise of entering
his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be
found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good
news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no
value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who
obeyed.
3 Now we who have believed enter
that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my
anger, they shall never enter my rest.’” And yet his works have been finished
since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the
seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”
5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my
rest.”
6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter
that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news
proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience,
7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time
later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today,
if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken
later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for
the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also
rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make
every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by
following their example of disobedience.]
So my friend, rest in God. Receive His
free gift of salvation. Then, read the Holy Bible and obey it
in the strength of the Lord. For we are saved freely by His grace as our
Savior that we may obey Him by faith as our Lord. If you believe you will
obey because you have been changed by the power of the Spirit of God.
Will power will not move your cart. No matter how much you
try, you can never be good enough for God to qualify for heaven. God
requires perfection! And nobody but God is perfect. So, let God
live His life perfectly through you by faith.
Concerning heaven, Revelation 21:27 says [And there shall in no
wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh
abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are
written in the Lamb’s book of life.]
Psalm 5:12 says [For you LORD will bless the
righteous. You will surround him with favor as with a shield.]
Psalm 37: 23 says [The steps of a good man are ordered by the
LORD: and he delights in his way.]
Romans 10:10-13 says [For it is with your heart that you believe
and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and
are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be
put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the
same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call
on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will
be saved.”
I repeat. Be aware of the apostle Peter’s warning about the
letters of the apostle Paul who wrote over half of the New Covenant scriptures.
2 Peter 3:16 says [speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his
comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and
unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as
they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their
destruction.]
The apostle Paul wrote this:
Galations 2:15-Galatians 3:7 says [“We who are Jews by birth and
not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the
law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ
Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the
law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in
Christ and then we are found guilty because we have
abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely
not! Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already
tore down. For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died
to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might
live for God.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,
but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I
live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for
me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be
gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” You foolish Galatians!
Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed
as crucified.
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive
the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? How
foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit,
why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human
effort? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in
vain?
Note here: You cannot keep the law by your own human
effort. You must enter into God’s rest, yoke up with Jesus who
alone is perfect and let His Spirit live perfectly
through you by faith! Paul goes on to say:
I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work
miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because
you believe the message you heard about Christ. In the same way, “Abraham
believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” The
real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.]
Note here: Whether you are a jew or non jewish, the above
scriptures say: The real children of Abraham, then, are those who
put their faith in God.
So, be careful with trying to understand Paul’s writings. They
tend to sound contradictory, but He did not intend to make it so. This is
just one way God hides Himself. So, that only those who seek God
diligently find Him. Do understand that, in spite of what Paul seems to
be saying above, God will not perform miracles through you if He cannot hear
you because you are sinning.
Isaiah 59:,2 says [Indeed, the LORD’s arm is not too weak to
save, and his ear is not too deaf to hear. But your iniquities have separated
you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not
hear.]
Be aware that one statement of truth may not be complete without
another, as in the following verses in 1 John.
1 John 5:14,15 [This is the confidence we have in approaching
God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if
we know God listens when we pray, we are sure our prayers have already been
answered.]
1 John 3:21,22 [Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because
we keep his commands and do what pleases him.]
Do you see how you need to connect or combine both of the above
scriptures to get the complete message of what John is saying? And do you
see how the second verse sounds contradictory to what Paul said before that?
For example, Paul said in Galations 3:5-7 “I ask you again, does
God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the
law? Of course not!”
But in Acts 5:32 it says [We are witnesses of these things, and
so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
And the Bible seems to be replete with
contradictions. Just know that when you come to what seems a
contradiction, it just means you need to keep putting the pieces of the puzzle
together. Some pieces look alike but when they don’t quite fit, that
means you are trying to take the meaning out of the context for which it was
intended. Ask the Lord and He will show you.
Jeremiah 33:3 says [Call to me and I will answer you and will
tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.] Daniel 2:22
[He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light
dwells with him.] Psalm 25:14 [The LORD confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.]
1 Corinthians 2:9,10 [However, as it is written: “What no eye
has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the
things God has prepared for those who love him–these are the things God has
revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep
things of God.]
John 16:13 says [When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide
you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but
whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that
are to come.]
1 John 2:27 says [But the anointing that you received from him
abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as
his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as
it has taught you, abide in him.]
To continue with what Paul said, “It is because you believe the
message you heard about Christ. In the same way, “Abraham believed God,
and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” The real children
of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.”
But James adds to that in James 2:18-20 [Someone will say, “You
have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show
you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the
demons believe that–and shudder. How foolish! Can’t you see that
faith without good deeds is dead and useless?]
So, between those two verses, there seems to be another
contradiction. Just know that we are saved only by faith. Salvation
is a gift from God. Never lose sight of that fact.
But we are saved to do good works. We are justified by faith alone.
But, if you disobey, you can expect the wrath of God. If you believe you
will obey. Believe=obey. Obey=believe.
The apostle Paul talks a lot about grace. Grace can mean
unmerited favor or the enablement of the Holy Spirit.
But NEVER think that Paul is not about obeying the law of God and
keeping His commandments. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:19 [For it makes
no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing
is to keep God’s commandments.]
When the apostle Paul said: “It makes no difference whether or
not a man has been circumcised,” he is referring to Moses’ law, as circumcision
is one of Moses’ laws. So, in essence, the apostle Paul who wrote over
half of the New Covenant scriptures in the Holy Bible is saying: It makes
no difference whether or not a man obeys Moses’ law anymore. I will explain more later.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:27 [I discipline my body like an
athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after
preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.]
Very important! Here is one thing that brings much
confusion: Know that there is a law of God and a law of Moses!
Don’t get these two sets of laws confused!
In regard to the book of the law or Moses’ law (Deuteronomy
29:21; 30:10), the Lord commanded Moses saying, “Take this Book of the Law, and
put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD
your God, that it may be there as a witness against you”
(Deut. 31:26).
“There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses
put therein at Horeb” according to 2 Chron. 5:10 and also 1 Kings 8:9, clearly
affirms that Moses’ law was placed outside the Ark of the
Covenant. The Revised Standard version confirms this view in its translation
that says, “by the side of the ark” (Deut. 31:26).
The Bible shows the difference between Moses’ law
and God’s law:
Moses’ law was added “till the seed should come,” and that seed
was Christ (Galatians 3:16, 19). The rituals and sacrifices of Moses’ law
pointed forward to Christ’s sacrifice. When He died, this law (Not
God’s law) came to an end.
Moses’ law was the temporary, ceremonial law of the Old
Testament. It regulated the priesthood, sacrifices, rituals, feasts, meat and
drink offerings, etc., all of which foreshadowed and ended at
the cross.
Collossians 2:14 says [blotting out the handwriting of
ordinances “that was against us”, which was contrary to us. He took it
out of the way, nailing it to His cross;]
MOSES’ LAW
- Placed outside the ark (Deuteronomy 31:26).
- Written by Moses in a book (2 Chronicles 35:12).
- Called “the law of Moses” (Luke 2:22).
- Added because of sin (Galatians 3:19).
- Called “law … contained in ordinances” (Ephesians
2:15).
- Ended at the cross (Ephesians 2:15).
- Contrary to us, against us (Colossians 2:14).
- Judges no one (Colossians 2:14-16).
- Carnal (Hebrews 7:16).
Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 7:19 [For it makes no
difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The
important thing is to keep God’s commandments.]
God’s law has existed at least as long as sin has
existed. The Bible says, “Where no law is, there is no transgression
[or sin]” Romans 4:15. And according to the Bible, “sin is the
transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4).
GOD’S LAW
- Written by God on stone (Exodus 31:18; 32:16).
- Placed inside the ark (Exodus 40:20).
- Called “the law of the Lord” (Isaiah 5:24).
- Perfect (Psalms 19:7).
- Will stand forever (Luke 16:17).
- Not grievous (1 John 5:3).
- Points out sin (Romans 7:7; 3:20).
- Spiritual (Romans 7:14).
- Called Ten Commandments– “the royal law”
(James 2:8).
- Judges all people (James 2:10-12).
Thus, we can conclude that the Ten Commandments that
were written upon the two tables of stone were of such an important nature as
to place them in a separate and distinct class by themselves- inside the Ark
while Moses’ law was outside the Ark.
It is the simple message of the gospel preached that holds
within it the power to transform lives. For this is the method God chose
to save the world. 1 Corinthians 1:21 says [Since God in his wisdom saw
to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used
our foolish preaching to save those who believe.]
The apostle Paul wrote, as he was inspired by the Holy Spirit in
1 Timothy 2:1-4 [I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers,
intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all those
in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and
holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all
people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.]
God sees your effort in seeking Him! Congratulations for making it this far!
CAUTION: If you fail to read sufficiently now, you will
most likely NEVER see what you have been missing ALL your
life.
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