Romans

What Does ‘Free From Sin. Free From The Law.’ Mean?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Grace Of God, Q&A: Law of Moses, Q&A: Salvation, Romans
What Does ‘Free From Sin. Free From The Law.’ Mean?

FREE!! FREE AT LAST!

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14 KJV)

The English word ‘dominion’ here in the Greek is ‘kyrieuō‘ and is defined as ‘to rule over’. In essence, in today’s English would be the words ‘your master’.

Does that mean we will never sin as believers? No. But sinning will not be master over us. We have the Holy Spirit living within us to guide us into all truth and to change us by the renewing of our mind by the Word of God. It is an inward change that happens over time and changes us on the inside, in our inner man. This change slowly works it’s way outward into our lives and affects others.

What is it, according to Apostle Paul, that causes  sin to not be master over us as believers anyway?

Is it because we work so hard to not sin? NO , it does not say that. Is it because we obey the Law of Moses? No, it does not say that either.

Why will sin not be master over us then?

Because we are not under the law but under grace. Reading this verse backwards helps clarify what Paul is actually stating to us.

‘UNDER GRACE, we are NOT UNDER THE LAW, and so sin is not our master.’

Do you see how clear this verse is?

Paul goes on to say even more about Law following verses Salvation by the Grace of God through Christ Jesus in Romans 7:

“But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.” (Romans 7:8 KJV)

First off what is ‘concupiscence’? It is defined in the Greek as ‘lusts and desires’. So let’s replace the word so we can see exactly what Paul is meaning in this verse.

“But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of lustful desires. For without the law sin was dead.”

Paul is telling us that following the Law of Moses actually causes us to sin more! You see, that is the very purpose of the Ten Commandments. Here are other verses by Apostle Paul explaining this:

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall NO FLESH BE JUSTIFIED in his sight: for by the law is the KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.” (Romans 3:20 KJV)

 

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence MIGHT ABOUND. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” (Romans 5:20)

 

“The sting of death is sin; and the STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW.” (1 Corinthians 15:56 KJV)

The very STRENGTH of sinning is following the Law of Moses for justification. The Law and Ten Commandments as many know it by were given by God to bring the Jews to their knees in understanding that we CANNOT EVER justify ourselves nor make ourselves Holy in our own self righteous efforts. The Law is a mirror so we can see ourselves as God sees us; wretched sinners needing a Savior. The Law is meant to bring us to our knees and to cry out to God for mercy because only God can MAKE us Holy.

YES! The Ten Commandments are true and they are still valid as God’s Holy standard. However, following them will NOT make you Holy nor give you favor or justification with God. Only by belief in the Son of God, God in the flesh, Jesus The Christ, who never sinned in thought nor deed, who willingly died on the cross and shed His blood to pay for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD (1 John 2:2) and then rose again; it is through this belief a person is justified with God. (John 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

“For the law having A SHADOW OF GOOD THINGS TO COME, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” (Hebrews 10:1 KJV)

The Law of Moses was just a shadow of the real deal folks! Under the Law of Moses, innocent animals were killed because without sin there is no remission of sin. Yet, these sacrifices are not what forgave their sins under the Law (Hebrews 10:4) . It was a remembrance of the one who is to come – the Messiah, and the sacrifice He would make. Jesus is that Messiah who came 2000 years ago. The perfect sacrifice without blemish and without sin. The real deal is Jesus Christ crucified, atoning for our sins on the cross.

The NEW COVENANT began when Jesus died on that cross, paying for the sins of the whole world. When this happened the Old Covenant  was REPLACED by the NEW COVENANT of Salvation through the Gospel of Grace through Christ crucified.

“For Christ is the END OF THE LAW for righteousness to every one that BELIEVETH.” (Romans 10:4 KJV)

 

“Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can NEVER take away sins:” (Hebrews 10:9-11 KJV)

Jesus is the ONCE FOR ALL offering who paid for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2) And if you believe this you are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14), have become a new creature, a new creation of God, called The Spirit. All your sins have been forgiven and God remembers them against you  no more! Jesus paid for all the sins for all of time. We do not have to sacrifice anymore for our sins – they are all paid IN FULL already. Christ perfected all who believe on Him.

“But this man (JESUS), after he had offered ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOR EVER, SAT DOWN on the right hand of God;…” (Hebrews 10:12 KJV)

Jesus sat down because IT IS FINISHED! Sins have ALL been paid for!

” From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.  For by ONE OFFERING he HATH PERFECTED FOR EVER them that are sanctified.

 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

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 where remission of these is, there is NO MORE OFFERING FOR SIN.” (Hebrews 10:13-18 KJV)

What does that mean? Glory to God! It means our freedom! At last! Freedom from the chains of our sin debt. Free at at last through belief and trust in the FINISHED work of Jesus on the cross.

Romans 11:16-23: ‘otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. ‘

Don Gerrity Romans
Romans 11:16-23: ‘otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. ‘

“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.” (Romans 11:16-23 KJV)

Some are teaching Romans 11:22 is stating that a believer can lose salvation. Others teach that Romans 11 is proving that the Church and Israel is the same and that Israel is more prominent to God and others that Gentile believers are more prominent. But is that the truth when we look at the context? Not at all. Romans 11 is not addressed to anyone saved and born again by the Gospel of Grace that Paul taught except that we all need to be humble. His point is that he believes a majority of Jews and Gentiles will one day be saved and become part of The Body Of Christ through faith and belief on Christ alone, apart from works. That God had a plan knowing Israel would reject Christ and that that plan was to save the Gentiles. That said, God also plans to turn back to save Israel in the future as well. Of course, I am commenting in a corporate sense as both  Gentiles and Jewish individuals come to salvation everyday.

The whole point of Romans 11:16-23 (written Apostle by Paul) is the same as Jesus said in John 3:14-18 ; Salvation is only by belief by faith on Christ’s atonement on the cross as the foretold Messiah. God in the flesh. Paul is not flip flopping in his belief and teachings from his other writings to say salvation can be lost in Romans 11. Not at all. 

“For BY ONE SPIRIT are we all baptized into ONE BODY, WHETHER WE BE JEWS OR GENTILES, whether we be BOND OR FREE; and have been all made to drink into ONE SPIRIT.” (1 Cor. 12:13 KJV)

The whole point of Romans 11:16-23 (written Apostle by Paul) is the same as Jesus said in John 3:14-18 and Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9; Salvation is only by belief by faith on Christ’s atonement on the cross as the foretold Messiah. God in the flesh. The Jews relied on their works and Law following to have the favor of God. This is not acceptable to God and our best works are as filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6). The Jews who rejected Christ (corporately as a people) were as dead branches that broke off from the tree/root which is Christ (See John 15). Gentiles are grafted in by faith; not works in self righteousness.

Paul’s marching orders from the risen Christ were to take the Gospel of Grace to the Gentiles. That stated, if a Gentile tries to be grafted in to eternal life in Christ by any manner other than by faith and belief on Christ crucified and thinks he has replaced the Jews, or because of his good works is justified, that person will be cut off. Why? Because Salvation is a free gift to be received, not of works but by belief on Christ alone. Paul is not contradicting his own teaching in other letters:

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And BY HIM ALL THAT BELIEVE ARE JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts13:38-39)

“For the law of THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS hath MADE ME FREE
from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2 KJV)

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” (Philippians 3:9 KJV)

It is the faith is what Jesus DID on the cross. Salvation can only be achieved through faith in the Lord’s redemptive work on the cross. And that goes for both Jews and Gentiles.

“Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.” (Romans 11:5-6 KJV)

We see the context more clearly looking at verse 5 and 6. Paul in Romans 11, by context, is speaking about a  a remnant of the UNSAVED Jewish people that believed, and became saved by the Gospel of Grace Jesus.  Just as Jesus foretold, the unbelieving of Israel killed the prophets of old and will not accept the truth that He is the foretold Messiah and because of this will be condemned. Yet a remnant of Israel did believe.

“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” (John 8:24 KJV)

At the cross, God then turned away from Israel (as a whole corporately as a people, those unbelieving Jews) who had fallen away from the truth and in fact blinded them to the truth!

“What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:  Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.” (Romans 11:7-10 KJV)

Who is the election? It is all who believed on Christ. There was and is today a remnant of Israel who believes and have obtained salvation. They are members of the Body Of Christ in the Spirit. To the unbelieving of Israel, God basically gave them what they wanted in their unbelief but God is not done with Israel as a people yet. That said, in verse 18, Paul reminds the Gentiles and us saved believers that we should not think of ourselves as superior to the Jews either.  We need to be humble too having been given such a great salvation. Paul also reminds them, and us today, that the root supports the branches – not the other way around. Here it is God’s plan what happened to Israel and God’s plan that He sent Paul to the Gentiles because of what happened with Israel. In this sense, Israel is a root from which the Church began as Paul preached. The root is Christ who was a Jew and there were many Jewish believers in the early church who died for their faith in great suffering.  Christ was born physically as a Jew.  And God had, and still has, a plan for Christ and the Jews. God wants all to become in union with Christ even though some will continue to reject them until it is too late. Paul’s office toward the Gentiles will also cause some unbelieving Jews to come to salvation too.

“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.” (Romans 11:10 KJV)

Israel has STUMBLED but not fallen completely away from God. They are still God’s people and there is, and always will be, a remnant of believing Jewish people.  We see here that God foreknew that Israel would crucify Christ. Jesus even foreshadowed the cross event as the event required for salvation of anyone when answering Nicodemus in John 3:14-16.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:14-16 KJV)

Salvation by the death, burial and rising of Christ was God’s plan for the salvation of ‘whosoever believeth on Christ’ right (John 3:14-18)? So God was and still working in His grace, even toward Israel today. Remember that on the cross, as the Jews were killing Him, Jesus prayed to the Father to not hold it against them because they know not what they are doing. Even while suffering in death He called for grace upon them! How great is our Lord?!

At the same time, when Christ was rejected as Messiah and murdered, God then turned toward the saving of the Gentiles and that is what Paul’s office and his marching orders from Jesus were; bring the message of grace and salvation to the Gentiles. Paul goes on to state that,

“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.” (Romans 11: 13-14 KJV)

Now we see the truth of Romans 11 and what Paul is conveying. Paul wants to also bring any Jews of the Jewish faith, to hear the good news of Gospel and how God worked in sovereignty to save all who will believe, whether Jew or Gentile.  Paul knew that it was God’s plan to use the preaching of the Gospel Paul taught to bring a jealousy to some Jews who would then also be saved. Paul is just saying that, he was given this office of preaching the Gospel of Grace to the Gentiles but he also will in the process provoke ‘those of his flesh’  (Unbelieving JEWISH PEOPLE as Paul is a Jew by physical birth) to see the truth that they may also get saved and become members of The Body Of Christ! God’s grace is still for Israel and the Jewish people. Members of the Body Of Christ are in union with Christ, IN THE SPIRIT, and as such are all one IN CHRIST.

In fact, God’s grace is so amazing that He will still keep His promises for the Jewish peoples, yet unbelieving. There is a remnant of them that will one day become saved by belief on Christ and His finished work on the cross! And God is working to save whosoever will believeth on Christ in faith for salvation.

“For God hath concluded THEM ALL in unbelief, that he might have mercy UPON ALL.” (Romans 11:32 KJV)

Earlier in Romans Paul wrote,

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 KJV)

Do you see how Paul explains that Israel is not done for in God’s eyes. Yes, God has put Israel aside after rejecting Christ but He will one day turn back and save them all. It was God’s plan all along to save all who will believe, first the Jew and then the Gentile. Today we should not look negatively upon Israel and the Jewish people. They are God’s chosen people. Jesus was born a Jew as well.  And just look how God protects them against all odds today! They are back as a nation and in Jerusalem as God had promised them.  So we as the Gentile  born again Members of the Body Of Christ need to remember where our salvation came from (Christ crucified) and how that came to happen (in Israel, by the Jews) and not look down upon then as if being saved we are somehow better. HA! No we are not! What we are is blessed in having receive the riches of the GRACE OF GOD! God allowed what happened in Israel for a purpose and that purpose was to save you and me today! To have you and me as MEMBERS of HIS FAMILY in Christ! In union with Christ and the Father (John 17, Colossians 2, Eph. 1:13-14), having been recreated as the righteousness of God IN CHRIST by faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross and his rising again (2 Cor. 5:17-21, 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Sealing us forever in eternal life (Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30)!

There is NO BOASTING in ourselves in salvation my fellow believers. NONE!!!!! (Eph. 2:8-9) and we need to walk HUMBLE and with great gratitude. And knowing the plan God has for Israel’s future, where God will save all of Israel, we give them their due as the first. God has a plan for Israel today and in the future.

“And so ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:” (Romans 11:26 KJV)

God declared this long long ago and He keeps His promises! Humans have free will and God is working all things to the good of them that believe! And that is WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH! Salvation is only by faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross, whether Jew or Gentile. There are Jewish unbelievers and Gentile unbelievers, then there are members of the Body of Christ which are both Jews and Gentiles.

And we know that ALL THINGS work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.” (Romans 8:28 KJV)

 

“For by GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

 

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And BY HIM ALL THAT BELIEVE ARE JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts13:38-39 KJV)

 

“For the law of THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS hath MADE ME FREE from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2 KJV)

 

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” (Philippians 3:9 KJV)

Salvation can only be achieved through faith in the Lord’s redemptive work on the cross. And that goes for Jews and Gentiles.

Romans 5: Isn’t There Too Much Talk And Teaching About God’s Grace?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Grace Of God, Q&A: Salvation, Romans
Romans 5: Isn’t There Too Much Talk And Teaching About God’s Grace?

ROMANS 5

Salvation is God’s Grace FREE GIFT to us. Unmerited.
A Gift not to be worked for but to be received.

“But not as the offence, so also is the FREE GIFT. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the GRACE OF GOD, and THE GIFT BY GRACE, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath ABOUNDED unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is THE GIFT: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the FREE GIFT is of many offences UNTO JUSTIFICATION.  For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive ABUNDANCE OF GRACE and of the GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the FREE GIFT came upon all men UNTO JUSTIFICATION of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be MADE RIGHTEOUS.” (Romans 5:15-19 KJV)

How are we made righteous then? Is it by us doing good works? By not sinning (even though we should not)? By religious rituals? By attending a church building? By helping the poor? These are all things we should do after Salvation but NOT as a requirement of our justification and righteousness. No, instead out of great gratitude and love for what God did for us. For GOD’S GREAT love for us is so higher than any love that we can bestow on others, that HE became flesh (Jesus The Christ) and died horribly on the cross so that we might be saved and with Him for all eternity. No greater love is there than what God has done for us, even when we were once His enemies.

Some believers are teaching and telling believers… ‘there is too much talk about grace, Salvation is not eternal, you must add to what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. Add good works. Add religious rituals. Add doing good. Add not sinning again.’ The list goes on and on.. Yet what we really need is to realize God’s GRACE is ABOUNDING TOWARD US CONSTANTLY.

Believe it. Accept it. Walk in it. Walk in the Law of Liberty we have in Christ! He shed His blood so that we could have this GREAT GRACE.

From this truth will flow out of us good works. Not forced good works to keep us saved! No! Good works with the right motive and that motive is showing grace to others and sharing what God has done for us.