Q&A: Law of Moses

Brief Overview Of Two Groups Of Believers

Don Gerrity Q&A: Bible Prophecy & End Times, Q&A: Law of Moses, Q&A: The Truth About...
Brief Overview Of Two Groups Of Believers

The Pre-Tribulation Harpazo (Rapture) Of Church Age Believers.

Jesus The Christ is coming back to Earth TWICE. (John 14:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Titus 2:13. ) First at the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, for His Bride; the saved in our current dispensation of grace, where believers are taken off Earth in a twinkling of an eye, to meet Him in the air, to be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Titus 2:13). Second at His Second Coming when He places His foot on Earth when those previously Raptured return with Him to Earth to setup His Earthly 1000 rule of Earth in the Kingdom Age to come. The Kingdom Age of Christ is predicted to be a 1000-year time of peace when Jesus himself will rule over all the nations in perfect righteousness. (Revelation 1:7, Isaiah 11:4-5, Psalm 46:9, Isaiah 2:4)

The Second Coming Of Jesus, The Christ, To Earth

Our Lord Jesus Christ will bodily return to rescue Israel at Armageddon and to establish His 1000 year Kingdom Age on Earth. This future time period we see Christ reigning over this earth from David’s throne in Jerusalem. Old Testament Saints and those martyred during the Tribulation Period for their belief on Christ and refusal of the Antichrist Mark of the Beast, will be bodily resurrected at the Second Coming event of Christ and will be Priests on Earth. Survivors of the Tribulation Period who refused the Mark in belief on Christ (The Sheep in Matthew 25) will repopulate the Earth during the Kingdom Age in mortal bodies.

Matthew 24 and 25 Is Not About Church Age Believers (The Bride Of Christ). It is about the Tribulation Period and After Until The Second Coming Event.

Matthew 24 and 25 is Jesus answering the disciples question about when the Kingdom Age and Christ’s Second Coming will be. The disciples only understood the 1000 year Kingdom Age on Earth after Messiah took control of the world. This is the prophecies they knew and what they looked forward to; The Kingdom Age on Earth with Christ ruling and reigning on the Earth in the future.

The disciples at that time in Matthew 24 and 25, knew nothing about an event called the Harpazo nor what we refer to as The Pre-Tribulation Rapture of Church Age believers. We know this because Paul was given this information from the risen Christ and he described the Harpazo Rapture as a mystery, not yet revealed to humankind. It was new information not known!

Paul describes the Pre-Tribulation Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Titus 2:13. So the disciples were not asking Jesus when the Rapture, the great snatching off Earth of believers, would be. They were asking about only what they knew which was The Kingdom Age to come on the Earth. In fact, Old Testament Saints have a destination at their resurrection at Second Coming of being on Earth as PRIESTS. Church Age believers will be returning to Earth with Christ at the Second Coming. Their destination and eternal home at their bodily resurrection at the Rapture Event is the HEAVENLY New Jerusalem, the place Jesus went to prepare for us (John 14) which will be in space hovering at a distance above the Earth (Scripture tells us it will be the light for the world as the sun was darkened.)

Old Testament Saints & those martyred during the Tribulation Period on Earth are bodily resurrected as The Second Coming of Christ to Earth occurs and will reside on the Earth as priests. The Bride Of Christ, Church Age Believers, will reside in the Heavenly New Jerusalem, not on Earth. These will go too and from Earth during the 1000 year Kingdom Age as Kings and Priests.) Old Testament saints are not mentioned as Kings during the time period of the Kingdom Age on Earth.

The survivors of the Great Tribulation (last 3 1/2 years of 7 year Tribulation Period) are the Sheep and Goats of Matthew 25. This is not about Church Age believers nor the Bride Of Christ. The sheep helped others in need because they refused the Mark Of the Beast and refused to worship him or his image. They visited those imprisoned. Help feed each other etc. The goats were the ones that took the Mark of the Beast and worshipped him. They turned in those who refuse the mark. They persecuted the sheep believers. They imprisoned them. They refused to sell the sheep goods and food etc.

At the Second coming we see the Sheep and Goats Judgment of the survivors of the Tribulation Period. The sheep will repopulate the Earth in mortal bodies. The goats will be killed by Christ and will one day be found at The Great White Throne Judgment of the unbelieving, wicked.

Matthew 24 and 25 is all about Israel and those living during the Tribulation Period and after (Matthew 24:29). Even the Parable of the Ten Virgins is NOT about the Bride of Christ, nor the Rapture. The very first word in Matthew 25 is the English word ‘THEN’. So when… is the then? We go backward into Matthew 24 to verse 29, ‘after the tribulation of those days’. It is about the Virgins (always referred too as Israel in the Bible) and Bridesmaids (not the Bride of Christ). The Five wise virgins remained in belief of Christ to come, refusing the Antichrist and his mark to buy and sell. They have to endure Antichrist persecution until the end and remain in belief or be lost. The other five virgins fell and worshipped the beast and took the Mark to buy and sell. They did not endure in belief and will end up taking the Mark of Antichrist and will be refused entry to the 1000 year Kingdom Age on Earth.

The Second Coming Of Jesus, The Christ, To Earth

Our Lord Jesus Christ will bodily return to rescue Israel at Armageddon and to establish His 1000 year Kingdom Age on Earth. This future time period we see Christ reigning over this earth from David’s throne in Jerusalem. Old Testament Saints and those martyred during the Tribulation Period for their belief on Christ and refusal of the Antichrist Mark of the Beast, will be bodily resurrected at the Second Coming event of Christ and will be Priests on Earth. Satan and his fallen angels will be locked up in chains of darkness in the Abyss (Rev. 20), no longer able to interfere with human civilization for 1000 years. Survivors of the Tribulation Period who refused the Mark of the beast  on their hand or forehead, in belief on Christ (The Sheep in Matthew 25) will repopulate the Earth during the Kingdom Age in mortal bodies. Christ will rule and reign on Earth and restore the Earth to the conditions before the fall of humankind. Peace will reign supreme under Christ’s rule.

The End Of The 1000 Year Kingdom Age To Come In The Future

At the end of the Kingdom Age in the future, there will be a final rebellion as Satan and his fallen angels are released from the Abyss for a short while (Rev. 20:7). All who oppose Christ will be killed and the Great White Throne Judgment of all unbelievers from all of time who rejected Christ will take place. Those found at this judgment seat will be found guilty because they never trusted in Christ by faith for salvation and are not found in the Lamb’s Book Of Life. During their life, they refused the free gift of salvation and choose to pay for their sins themselves and will be judged by their works (Rev. 20:12) and found guilty and thrown into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:15), prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). God will create a new heavens and new earth.

Two Groups Of Believers and Two Destinations Of Believers When Resurrected

Old Testament Saints looked forward to the time when Messiah would one day come and be the final payment for sins. This belief kept them saved and animal sacrifices in the Temple, year after year, covered their sins until the Messiah would come and be that final blood sacrifice for sins. The animal sacrifices never paid for their sins, but only covered them as a remembrance of how terrible sin is. It was a foreshadowing of what the Messiah, the Christ would one day accomplish on the cross (Hebrews 10). It was their belief in the foretold Messiah coming that kept them saved until their physical death. They had to remain in belief to remain saved. The Holy Spirit did not permanently indwell Old Testament Saints as we see David show in Psalm 51:11. After the Harpazo Rapture of Church Age believers, the dispensation of grace will end and a new dispensation time period will begin. God will turn back to Israel to save them. During the Tribulation Period the temple will be rebuilt and the animal sacrifices will start up again (all preparations for this are ready today in Israel!). The Holy Spirit will work as in Old Testament times and no one will be permanently saved and born again in the Spirit from the moment of their belief (Eph 1:13-14) as is the case in The Church Age dispensation of grace that we live in. That is why we see the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25, the 5 unwise are Tribulation believers who fail to remain in belief that Christ is coming again, who will instead take the Mark of the Beast.  They will become goats and be judged (Matthew 25).

The Body Of Christ membership is anyone who, during the Church Age, from Pentecost to the Pre-Tribulation Rapture event, that believes on Christ for salvation apart from our works but by trusting in the finished work of Christ on the cross . This is by grace through faith and not of ourselves nor our good works (Ephesians 2:8-9). A person who believes the Gospel of Grace Salvation is from that very moment of belief, indwelt by the Holy Spirit and SEALED in salvation until the Pre-Tribulation Rapture (the day of our bodily resurrection), and that means forever (Eph. 1:13-14). God MADE such a person a NEW CREATED BEING in the Spirit that was MADE by God the righteousness of God, in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-21). A truth that even many believers do not understand! The most amazing truth!

God Has Something Special In Mind For Each Group Of Believers

Old Testament Saints were promised by God and were looking forward to what God promised them; an Earthly Kingdom with Messiah ruling and reigning in Earth. This is the destination when they are bodily resurrected at the Second Coming of Christ. This is what we refer to today as the future 1000 year Millennium Kingdom on Earth. The Temple animal sacrifices will take place during the 1000 year Kingdom Age on Earth (Ezekiel 45:13 – 46:15). The Law of Moses never ended but was only paused for the Church Age we now live in. This Church Age was a mystery not known until Jesus sent Paul on that road to Damascus. That is why the Disciples were shocked when Jesus said He was going to leave so the Holy Spirit would come and be the comforter (John 16:1-7) as they thought He would setup the Kingdom Age right then. The truth by Scripture is that The Law of Moses will continue in the Kingdom Age on Earth. Remember that the people will be mortal on Earth except for the Old Testament Saints and Martyred Tribulation Saints who are to be priests on Earth (Rev. 20:6) when they are resurrected at the Second Coming Of Christ, as He places His feet on the Earth on the Mount of Olives in Israel (Zechariah 14:4). Life in the Kingdom Age is described with animal sacrifices in place in the rebuilt cleansed Temple, as a remembrance and acknowledgement of their sin, which they will still have in mortal bodies. The purpose of the Law remains  even today, as a mirror showing us our sins (1 Timothy 1:8-10) and how we cannot perfectly keep all the Law (James 2:10). Those born during this time period will have Christ ruling on Earth and an amazing peaceful environment, untouched by Satan and his angels who will be locked in the Abyss. They will be taught what Christ did on the cross. What many believers today fail to understand is that The Law of Moses will be in place in the Kingdom Age and Jesus will rule with a “rod of iron” (Rev. 19:15).

The Bride Of Christ, The Body Of Christ, is promised by God and are looking forward to a different destination called The Heavenly New Jerusalem (Rev. 21). This is a real physical place in our universe as it has physical dimensions of 1500 miles cubed. This place is the place Jesus promised us believers in Christ,

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2-3 KJV)

This amazing physical and Spiritual place is the permanent home of the Bride Of Christ which will be hovering above the Earth in the Heavens (space) somewhere above the Earth as it gives light to the Earth at that time (Rev. 21:23-24). It is described in Revelation 21. There will be no TEMPLE IN IT (Rev. 21:22). No temple means no animal sacrifices because those residing in this place are the redeemed. We will be going back and forth to the camp on Earth, the Earthly Jerusalem and will be Kings and Priests. Old Testament Saints resurrected will be priests but the Body of Christ will be Kings and Priests. Two separate groups.

Why Will There Be Animal Sacrifices In The Kingdom Age On Earth?

Those on Earth will still have a sinful nature and will be mortal beings that can sin and can die. In the Old Testament times, God had showed the perfection of His character and Law. A Law no one could keep perfectly and kept them looking forward to the Messiah to save them from this. In the Church Age we now live in, God is showing us the ultimate goodness of His Grace, not under the Law but under eternal salvation by belief on Christ and His finished work on the cross and his rising again (1 Cor. 15:1-4). Scripture shows that in the 1000 Year Kingdom Age, the people on Earth at that time will have both simultaneously. Both the Law and animal sacrifices showing those born in the Millennium Kingdom how terrible sin is and their need to believe on Christ’s payment for sin and will receive God’s amazing grace.

 

Do Not Mix Law Following With Grace For Justification With God

Don Gerrity Q&A: False Salvation Invitations, Q&A: Law of Moses, Q&A: Salvation, Q&A: The Truth About...
Do Not Mix Law Following With Grace For Justification With God

Apostle Paul wrote,

“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 (Romans 12). It is an inward change in the MIND 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. We believe right by God’s Word and that expresses in our outward living because as we believe in the mind – is how we live.

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 believers?

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? It is Law for justification with God or it is by God’s Grace through faith. It is NEVER mixing them together for righteousness.

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)


What is this ‘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; The Law. 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)


Paul is clearly stating that the very STRENGTH of sinning is following the Law of Moses for justification. I ask you, does that somehow change after being saved by God’s grace? NO.

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. Yet, Paul tells us that following them will NOT make you Holy nor give you favor or justification with God. And after Salvation, following the Law will not make you any more Holy than God has already made a believer – the very righteousness of God, in Christ by faith, complete in Him (see 1 Corinthians 5:17-21, Colossians 2).

Only by belief in the Son of God, who is 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; through this belief is a person justified with God. (John 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

Salvation is a gift to be received or rejected. After accepting it – we are NOT KEPT SAVED by our performance or Law keeping to RETAIN righteousness. Should we not murder steal etc. Of course, we should not do these things. But our new source is the indwelling Holy Spirit who also guides us to not do such things. Our old self is DEAD and we are now a NEW SELF – a NEW Spirit if God at the very core of our being.

In Galatians, we see false teachers who crept into the church teaching that Law following was also a REQUIREMENT of justification with God. Does Paul agree? In fact, he strongly opposed this teach as false. Paul’s response to this is calling the Galatians ‘foolish’ and that such teachers are to be ‘accursed’ and that,

“Christ is become of NO EFFECT UNTO YOU, whosoever of you are justified BY THE LAW; ye are FALLEN FROM GRACE.” (Galatians 5: 4 KJV)

No effect unto you is not somewhere we should be as believers !

Do Not Mix Law and the Gospel of God’s Grace Through Jesus Christ. Doing so, is not Gospel and no salvation at all. Instead, it is the sin of pride, being boastful. We need to be humble.

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 7:8, “without the law sin was dead”

Don Gerrity Q&A: Christian Living, Q&A: Law of Moses
Romans 7:8, “without the law sin was dead”

“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)

There is something very special in this verse. Something much too overlooked by believers in Christ. The word CONCUPISCENCE is our tendency to sin, our inclination to sin when tempted. It is the very essence of our Sin Nature which the Bible calls ‘The Flesh’. Too many believe the Ten Commandments (and even the full 613 commandments in the Law of Moses) is to be followed to somehow make us right with God. To appease God into allowing us to please God and be saved by God.

Some of you reading this as believers in Christ may be shocked with what I am about to state but it is very Biblical. It is in fact, the main thrust of the writings of Apostle Paul, who was an expert in the Law of Moses. Paul was once known as Saul, a persecutor and killer of Christians, until one day he had a supernatural meeting with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus that changed his life forever. Saul became known as Paul, who gave us The Gospel of Grace Through Jesus Christ in the New Testament. In fact, two thirds of the New Testament exists because of the writings of Apostle Paul.

Romans 7 is a really pivotal chapter in the Gospel of Grace that is so under taught, yet is central to the truth of the good news of the Gospel of God’s Grace. Verse 8 above may not be what some have considered as the real truth of the freedom and liberty we have been given by belief in Christ for our Salvation. They instead may be pushing the Ten Commandments and preaching condemnation to believers instead of preaching the freedom and liberty that Jesus Christ has provided for us.

Paul just spent Romans 5 and 6 explaining what happens when we believe on Christ for righteousness. Salvation is all about God’s grace free gift to us. In Romans 7, Paul pauses teaching about life as a saved person and switches to explaining what it was like living under the Law for righteousness before he got saved. The word IMPOSSIBLE comes to mind! Paul is stating that following the Law of Moses causes people to sin more! Oh yes, this is very true indeed. Apostle Paul also stated this,

“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)

That is really not what most pulpits are teaching these days now is it? I mean all I hear is to ‘live by the Ten Commandments’ as if by doing so we will please God. Yet, the Bible teaches us that by trying to keep all the commandments as a means of having a good standing with God will result in our FAILING MISERABLY. In fact, the Bible tells us that it will cause us to SIN MORE.

You see, we all are born into this fallen world with a Flesh Sin Nature. A bent toward sinning. Try to tell a dog to act like a cat. GOOD LUCK! Why? Because the dog’s nature is to be a dog! It is the same with us since the fall of mankind in Eden. We all have this diseased sin nature. All The Flesh wants to do, is sin. The Law of Moses is all about “THOU SHALT NOT…”. And all that does is make our sin nature want to sin more. Paul explains the more we want to do good by keeping the Law, the more we end up falling into sin. Verse 17 needs to be looked at closely to see what Paul is talking about.

“Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” (Romans 7:17 KJV

The word SIN in Romans is mostly used as a NOUN. It is not an action word. It is not sins we commit but Paul is showing us that humans are born with this THING, a noun called SIN. It is a SIN NATURE you see? We sin because it just comes naturally from our birth.

Now when we are saved, we become a NEW CREATURE called The Spirit. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit from the very moment of belief that Jesus is the Christ who died for our sins on that cross, paying the penalty for ALL our sins (1 John 2:2), and rose from the dead. Apostle Paul tells us this in Ephesians:

“In whom ye also trusted, AFTER THAT YE HEARD the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the EARNEST of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV)

So after our Salvation what is different? Some teach a believer has TWO NATURES. One sinful bent and the other perfected and righteous as God. However, do we still have a Flesh sin nature? According to Paul in Romans 8 the answer is actually no. We do not. Paul also had just explained in Romans 6 that our old nature DIED WITH CHRIST (in Colossians 2 as well). So that cannot be correct.

But our mind still has left over sinful thoughts and beliefs (from when we were living in the Flesh) which needs to be renewed. Our bodies will not be glorified until our bodily resurrection in the future. So we still have old sin nature THINKING in the mind wanting to sin at times. Yet, a believer in Christ is now a NEW SPIRIT. This new spirit never sins as it is the seed of God within us (1 John 3:9). We may still choose to live in a fleshly way and fall to temptation and sin, but our Spirit remains intact as born again believers. We are IN CHRIST forever. Because of this, we will feel guilt, remorse and call out to God to help us overcome such temptations next time because that is not us anymore. In fact, the devil and his angels cannot even touch our new perfected Spirit (Hebrews 10:14) so they entice the Flesh thoughts in our mind to tempt us to sin. There has been an eternal change in our Spirit. A believer will turn back to who they were made in Christ.

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:9 KJV)

This verse is describing the NEW US that believers became when they believed on Christ for Salvation. This new us is called THE SPIRIT. It is at war with our old, left over, Flesh nature thoughts and beliefs IN OUR MIND.

In Romans 8, it is clear that a believer is no longer IN THE FLESH. That old sin bent nature was put to death on the cross with Christ (Romans 6 and Colossians 2). However, the mind has not yet been renewed. Only our Spirit was renewed. In 1 Corinthians 15:50 Paul states clearly that our bodies are still corrupt and cannot inherit the Kingdom. That is why we need a bodily resurrection to come. Our Spirit is heaven ready as born again believers, but our body and mind, still has a sinful corruptness it deals with.

Apostle Paul tells us to renew our mind in Romans 12 and to walk in the spirit to avoid the lust of the Flesh in Galatians 5:16. To walk in the spirit, a believer needs to understand what the spirit is because THE SPIRIT is now the NEW US as believers. We have that small voice telling us, do not sin. Yet, our fleshly left over thoughts (from when our Adam spirit nature died) strongly wants you to sin. We strive to not sin but as believers we do fail and sin as well. Paul described this situation as it was before his salvation in Romans 7. He is explaining that living under the law was impossible like this,

“For I delight in the law of God after the INWARD MAN: But I see ANOTHER LAW in my members, WARRING AGAINST the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the BODY OF this death?” (Romans 7:22-24 KJV)

The ‘inward man’ Paul is talking about here is his Adam spirit nature before he got born again by belief on Christ. Now why would Paul explain salvation in Romans 5 and 6 and in chapter 8, and then switch back to before he was saved in the middle, in Romans 7? He is explaining what it is like living under the Law for righteousness. We need to understand that, as believers. And then Paul says,

“25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

In Romans 7, Paul is showing us the complete impossibility to keep The Law in our own strength before Christ came.  He explains this between chapter 6 and 8 because it is intended to make the point to born again BELIEVERS, who think that The Law must be kept to remain righteous and is showing us that it is totally wrong. It is only through Jesus Christ our Lord that we can start to win battles between the wrong fleshly thoughts and beliefs in our mind and our new Spirit. It is so that we realize how to increase our faithful walk in life as believers. Born again or not, we live outwardly as we believe in the mind you see?

If we could not keep the Law to remain or be holy before we were saved, we most certainly cannot follow the Ten Commandments to keep ourselves holy and saved as believers either. Law following does not make our Spirit saved! The Law just shows us we have a SIN problem. Christ freed us from that bondage to the Law. He fulfilled all the Law and took our sins in exchange for His righteousness on that cross.

We do not have TWO natures at war. We have one new nature and left over wrong beliefs and thought processes from when our Spirit of Adam died on the cross with Christ. The REAL US as believers is The Spirit and The Spirit always wants to do good and what is right because it is Holy and without a sin nature. It is Holy, and the Holy Spirit indwells our new Spirit. In fact is is now the very righteousness of God, in Christ!

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might BE MADE the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV)

If we were only in The Spirit, and not body, then we would be freed from this internal war between our sinful fleshly thoughts and the real us in the Spirit. That is why upon physical death a believer goes directly to Heaven where there is no sin. Why? Because our Spirit has NO SIN. All our sins were paid for by Christ on that cross. As believers on Christ, our Spirit was perfected (Hebrews 10:14) and made righteous (2 Cor. 5:21) by God. One day we will become whole as Jesus resurrects our physical body into a glorified body without this disease of bodily sinful corruption. Until then, we strive to walk in The Spirit because The Spirit is the new us now. And to be honest, that takes a while for a person to realize after their moment of Salvation. A process starts at our Salvation called our sanctification (John 17:17) and it lasts until our physical death, or Rapture.

Now we have our part in this sanctification after salvation. A person is saved and born again only by belief on Christ and His blood atonement and rising from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4). The person becomes eternally saved. However, if believe is all they do and they do not read the word of God and they just live worldly, they have not renewed their mind much. Because of this they are easily deceived by the devil and his angels. They end up remaining as babes in the faith just as is described in Hebrews 6. Eternally saved but as James wrote, having a dead, useless faith. Again, we live outwardly as we believe in the mind.

As believers if we read God’s word and we pray to God to help us increase our faith and knowledge in the truth of the Gospel of grace, we start to see the world differently. We renew our old Adam beliefs with the truth. In this case, also, as we believe in the mind, we live outwardly. See how this works?

“O wretched man that I am!”, Paul exclaims about using Law following to be justified. It is hopeless because we need the new Spirit to even be able to change! He is so right isn’t he? But there is a difference now that we are born again! It is so frustrating when we fail and sin. We know it is wrong and after we sin we just feel awful about it. It can really affect our fellowship with God because we are so ashamed to have sinned and so we shy away from God. My friends, do not do that! Instead, understand about this war going on inside you as a believer is between THE MIND and our NEW SPIRIT. It is not two Spirit natures within us at war. It feels like what it was like before our salvation just as Paul describes in Romans 7 but it is different now as a born again creation of God.WE HAVE A NEW CREATED SPIRIT OF GOD. It is who we now are!

We have fleshly Adam sin bent beliefs left in the mind, yet the Adam nature is DEAD. It died on the cross with Christ! But these left over thought processes and wrong beliefs  can be RENEWED by the truth of God’s word and with help from the indwelling Holy Spirit. That should be the focus of every believer! Paul goes on to explain this in Romans 12. Our struggle now, as born again believers, is with RENEWING OUR MIND to match up to who God MADE US at the moment of our conversion. It is not about Law following to the letter to remain holy. NO! It is just renewing our mind to match the truth of who God MADE US in the Spirit. That is where we get freed more and more, day by day, until our physical death and eventually bodily resurrection.

This tabernacle we live within called the physical body, is corrupted. Only our Spirit has been renewed. The body has a disease called sin (NOUN) and unbelievers sin because they have a sin nature. Believers sin because of left over sin bent thoughts and processes called ‘The Flesh’ in the mind.  And once a person is redeemed by belief on Christ (John 3:14-18, 36) we become a new creation called The Spirit that dwells within this sinful body. So important to understand this.

At first, after Salvation it may seem like not much has changed. We do not ‘feel’ much different actually because we are still here in this body. And it still wants to sin with wrong beliefs. But slowly you start to realize that you start to care about NOT sinning. The Holy Spirit begins to renew your mind by the Word of God and you start to see things by God’s worldview and not the world’s view. You start changing on the inside and it moves outward into your life in good works. This is The Spirit growing and the inward man becoming stronger while The Flesh becomes weaker. It does not happen over night and that is okay! You are completely redeemed and saved by the blood of Christ. You are Heaven bound because ALL your life of sins have been penalty paid by Jesus and placed on your account.

Keep on striving to not sin? Yes. But realize we are not to follow the Ten Commandments to keep us Holy, acceptable, nor saved. They just show us God’s moral high standard. They are the absolute truth. They show the Holy standard of God for us. Absolutely. Yet, they can never make you Holy! But we no longer use the Ten Commandments as our source. Our source now is the Holy Spirit indwelling us as believers. He will teach you and guide you in life into all the truth. This process cannot be rushed and the Holy Spirit works within believers individually and at different paces as well.

Since we are now, as believers, The Spirit, then we should strive to Walk in The Spirit which is the real us now. Study the Word of God. Pray for the Holy Spirit to teach you. Be patient. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God who is God in the human body. He did not start His Earthly ministry until the age of 30. It will take time for us as well! Take courage in this. God is not against you, He is for you!

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13 KJV)

What Is The Source Of A Believer?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Christian Living, Q&A: Law of Moses
What Is The Source Of A Believer?

I see many believers today and pulpits teaching that we are still to be under the Ten Commandments. That we should be obeying them and that God did not ‘do away with them’ when Christ came. From the perspective that the Ten Commandments are God’s absolute truth and are Holy, they are correct but they are missing the point. The Law is dead to the Christian because it is all about how  the source has changed. The source for what? For our justification and Salvation and for our righteousness. What do I mean by that? Let’s look at a few Scriptures and then you will see it more clearly:

“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. 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:” (Galatians 3:10-13 KJV)

In this passage of Scripture we see that there has been a change when the New Covenant came into effect. The just (believers) are to now live by faith with the Holy Spirit indwelling as our source. Jesus Christ is now become our source and God lives within us now as the comforter and Holy Spirit.  The Law and Ten Commandments are not to be our source anymore. Our source is God within us! Faith and trust in Him that is indwelling us.

In Romans 7 we are told by Apostle Paul that,

“…ye also are become DEAD TO THE LAW BY THE BODY OF CHRIST; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, WHICH WERE BY THE LAW, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. BUT NOW WE ARE DELIVERED FROM THE LAW, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in NEWNESS OF SPIRIT, and not in the oldness of the letter.”

We are dead to the Law of Moses which had 613 man made laws plus the Ten Commandments given directly by God. We were DELIVERED FROM THE LAW. There has been a change! After receiving Christ as our Savior in belief of the atonement for sins He provided on the cross, we now have the spirit of God dwelling within us. The Holy Spirit within has now become our source and replaced the Law of Moses.

It is all about the source; a person is either following the Ten Commandments or He is following the spirit.

But does that mean it is okay to lie, murder, covet? Does that mean we do not have to follow the morals of the Ten Commandments? Not at all. So what does this mean? Let’s think about this logically a moment. Let’s compare what life is like using these two different, yet connected sources.

⇒ Life Under The Law As Our Source

Living under the Ten Commandments and all the Law of Moses as our source is like us trying our best in our own ability to keep every commandment without fail. So if we are coveting, in self righteous efforts, we keep saying to our self, “Stop coveting. Stop coveting. Stop coveting. Stop coveting!” Yet when we do that, we find ourselves in the same situation as Paul in Romans 7… we keep coveting!  It is like a kid who sees a sign on a lawn that reads.. “Do not step on the grass or else!” What does the kid do huh? Stomps around on the grass. (Okay maybe not all kids but you get my point.)

Following the Law as our source will not make you stop disobeying. It also will not forgive the sin you have committed. Romans 5:20 shows us that “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound.” Because the Ten Commandments were given, humankind now sees just how sinful we are. And not only that, it increases our sin. Why? Because we have a sinful nature within us and it is bent toward sinning.

We see in Galatians that some crept in with false teaching that once saved by Grace through Christ, we still have to be following the Law and Ten Commandments. And what did Paul say about believing and living this way? He said it is a VERY SEVERE OFFENSE!

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, LET HIM BE ACCURSED.” (Galatians 2:6-8 KJV)

⇒ Life With The Holy Spirit Within As Our Source

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE.” (Romans 6:14 KJV)

If we walk in the spirit we avoid the sins of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16). God resides within the believer and so if we find ourselves having trouble with the sin of coveting for example, we need to go to our new source, the Holy Spirit within us. We acknowledge (confess) and thank God for forgiving all my sinful ways and we pray to God knowing that without Christ as our source, we cannot bear good fruit (John 15) in self righteous efforts. We pray to God that we are having a problem with coveting. You want to stop but you cannot do this on your own. “God, please renew my mind on this and help me to stop coveting.” Do you think that is a prayer that God will not honor? Yes it is!

The more we renew our mind by the Word of God and with the help of the Holy Spirit within us to guide us and help us we will eventually come to the place where coveting ends in your life. This is following our new source within, our comforter, the Holy Spirit of God. And His guiding and help will follow the Ten Commandments because they are absolute truth and are Holy and right. Plus, Christ fulfilled them!

You see, Christ fulfilled the Law and now God resides within you as the Holy Spirit. Will the Holy Spirit as the source want you to murder, or lie, or covet? No. The Holy Spirit is Christ in you. Christ follows the Ten Commandments perfectly. Apostle Paul puts it this way,  “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:10 KJV). This righteousness is not our self righteousness. It is the righteousness we now have because Christ is indwelling us as the Holy Spirit. Having accepted the Free gift of eternal life and forgiveness of our sins through belief on Christ crucified as our sacrificial substitute without our own efforts (John 3:18, Ephesians 2:8-9), we are set free from the punishment of our sins.  We now have a newly created spirit within us.

So when you hear that believers are ‘Dead To The Law’, it does not mean the Ten Commandments are not Holy and just and good. It means we are no longer using  the Law as our source. Instead believers are to follow the Holy Spirit as our source.

Stop trying to follow the Old Covenant Law of Moses as the source in your life. Start using the Holy Spirit and Christ within you as the source. Abide by Christ and His words (John 15). By doing so, your mind inwardly will be lsowly renwed to the truth and your outward life will start to change as you are slowly but surely transformed into the very image of Christ. And you will find that your life is more in line with the Holy and moral aspects of the Ten Commandments in an increasing basis.

Is Adding The Law Of Moses To How We Are Saved Wrong?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Law of Moses
Is Adding The Law Of Moses To How We Are Saved Wrong?

If you look through all the Epistles of Paul it is very evident that he taught that Salvation is by faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ, without works nor rituals of any kind. Obeying The Law Of Moses (Including the Ten Commandments) will not save a person because it is impossible for us to do that with the sin nature we all have. That all of us are sinners headed for the judgement of God, God’s wrath, and are desperately wicked. That Salvation is something that happens in a moment of time and at that moment of Repentance (changing mind/view about sin) by accepting through faith the forgiveness of all your life’s sins by the act of atonement Jesus provided to us all for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28). This is what Paul taught. Let’s look at some of the many Scriptures and teachings of Paul on this subject and you can see for yourself.

“For by GRACE are ye saved THOROUGH 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)

“For there is ONE God,and ONE mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself A RANSOM for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2: 5-6 KJV)

“Now to the one who WORKS, his wage is NOT RECKONED on the basis of GRACE, but as what is DUE. But to the one who DOES NOT WORK, but BELIEVES in Him (Jesus) WHO JUSTIFIES the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Romans 4:4-5 KJV)

“Knowing that a man is NOT JUSTIFIED BY THE WORKS OF The Law Of Moses, but BY THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST, even we have BELIEVED in Jesus Christ, that we might BE JUSTIFIED by the FAITH OF CHRIST, and NOT BY THE WORKS OF The Law Of Moses: FOR BY THE WORKS OF The Law Of Moses SHALL NO FLESH BE JUSTIFIED.. But if, while we seek to be justified BY CHRIST, we ourselves also are FOUND SINNERS, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make MYSELF a transgressor. For I through The Law Of Moses am dead to The Law Of Moses, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for IF RIGHTEOUSNESS COME BY The Law Of Moses, THEN CHRIST DIED IN VAIN.” (Galatians 2:16-21 KJV)

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, LET HIM BE ACCURSED.” (Galatians 2:6-8 KJV)

In Galatians, there were those who came and started telling the believers that in order to be saved, the practices of The Law Of Moses are also required and not faith alone in Christ. That is that works and rituals of The Law Of Moses are also still required. Paul called this a ‘perversion’ of the Gospel of Christ. He called it ‘another Gospel’, that is to say a fake gospel message. And he says that it is a very serious matter. So serious that those that add anything to the Gospel message of faith in Christ alone as the way to Salvation are to be ‘accursed’. If a person’s righteousness come by following The Law Of Moses , then Christ died for our sins, in vain. If a person believes they can work away their sin debt by following The Law Of Moses (by doing good works and being a good person) they do so in complete PRIDE. They are saying they have a self righteousness that will lead to Salvation because they are following The Law Of Moses. They are saying that Christ’s Sacrifice for our sins was not sufficient. God forbid! This will never work.

Is The Law Of Moses & Ten Commandments A Believer’s School Master?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Law of Moses
Is The Law Of Moses & Ten Commandments A Believer’s School Master?

Every hear someone say that we must obey the Law of Moses to be saved because the Law is our school master?

Well, the Law of Moses is our school master BEFORE we were saved. But is that still true AFTER we have been saved?

“The sting of death is sin; and the STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57 KJV)

If the strength of sin is the Law, then why would that be true after we are saved. The Ten Commandments show us our sinfulness and our need for a Savior because no one has ever kept the entire Law of Moses, except for God Himself in the person of Jesus, the Christ.

And NO, the Law is NOT our school master AFTER we are saved.

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christthat we may be justified by faith. , BUT AFTER that faith is come, we are NO LONGER under a schoolmaster.” (Galatians 3:24-25 KJV)

 

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

Do Believers Need To Keep The Ten Commandments / Law of Moses To Remain Righteous?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Christian Living, Q&A: Law of Moses
Do Believers Need To Keep The Ten Commandments / Law of Moses To Remain Righteous?

​If you accepted the free gift of Salvation then you are not under the Law of Moses. You are under grace.

The Law is a yoke no one can bear nor keep.

“Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?“
(Acts 15:10 KJV)

The Law shows us we have sin just like a mirror shows us we have grease on our face. But The Law cannot justify a person. It just shows a person that they have more sin against God’s standard of Holiness than they think.

“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)

For a believer to use the Law to be righteous with God makes their faith of no effect. Faith in Christ saves, not works. This is at the core of the Gospel. If we believe The Law can justify, that means believing that faith is not needed.

“For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:” (Romans 4:14 KJV)

Paul goes one extra leap to this in the very next verse. Before The Law of Moses, including the Ten Commandments came, there was no transgression. But once The Law came, everyone has no excuse because they see what God calls sin and that is breaking The Law of Moses. Following The Law is only going to bring wrath on a person because their sins remain.

“Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.” (Romans 4:15 KJV)

Paul continues in Romans 5 and shows the extreme truth of Law following for righteousness. God gave The Law to do something that would shock many believers, even today, who add Law following as a requirement of Salvation. Paul writes that the purpose of the law was to increase sin.

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

Thank God that God’s grace much more abounds over our sins as believers! Because of God’s great love and grace bestowed on all who believe on Christ alone for righteousness (John 3), a born again believer is no longer held under the Law. Why? Because Jesus paid for all the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). A born again believer has been delivered from wrath under The Law.

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

 

“For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” (Romans 7:5-6 KJV)

The Law, which only brings death through the fact that we all break it; no matter how hard we try. Trying to follow the Law to be, or remain in, righteous standing before our Holy God will only make us SIN MORE; not less.

“Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become EXCEEDING sinful.” (Romans 7:13 KJV)

In Paul’s writings he is abundantly clear on this. If we, as believers, try to make or keep ourselves righteous with God , in our own efforts of self righteousness, we will not only fail; it will make us to sin more! Apostle Paul put it this way,

“The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.”
(1 Corinthians 15:56 KJV)

How many times have you heard this in church pulpits? Most mainstream Christian church pulpits are actually condemning their own members and using fear that if they do not keep the Ten Commandments, that they will lose salvation even. It is very wrong. Following the Law to keep ourselves righteous with God will cause us to sin more! That is why Jesus came and paid for all sin; to break that yoke of bondage from the Jews living under the Law, which no one can keep perfectly. And God requires perfection to be righteous.

Paul continues in 2 Corinthians and states that The Law is a ministry of death (2 Corinthians 3:7) and a ministry of condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:7). And Paul was not only talking about the 613 Levitical ceremonial Laws, he mentions the Law ‘written on stones’ and that includes the Ten Commandments as well then! Paul even wrote that “For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.”  (2 Corinthians 3:11)

Paul wrote to the Galatians because there were Judiazers who were being found in the church, teaching falsely that believing on Christ alone for righteousness was not enough and that they needed to add work of The Law of Moses to remain saved. Paul had some very stern words for these fellas, these Judiazers, that they should be accursed, even repeating it (Galatians 1:8-9). In his rebuking of their false teachings Paul makes these statements about adding ANYTHING to the finished work of Christ on the cross, atoning for the sins of the world and rising from the dead.

  • Following The Law will justify no one. (Galatians 2:16)
  • Born again believers are DEAD to The Law. (Galatians 2:19)
  • The Law and Faith have nothing to do with each other. A stunning truth we need to grasp.  (Galatians 3:11-12)
  • The Law was a curse. A curse that Christ redeemed us from on that cross 2000 years ago. (Galatians 3:13)

Paul wrote to those Galatians who were bought with a high price by Christ on the cross were being completely FOOLISH! This false belief of adding The Law or good works as a requirement of salvation cuts to the very core of the Gospel. It is nothing more than BOASTING is self righteousness.

“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 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?  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Galatians 3: 1-6 KJV)

Jesus said that The Law would stand forever and it does. It is God’s absolute truth and what is required to be righteous with God; utter perfection. But it is also something that no one can keep without fault and James tells us that,

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10 KJV)

Writing to his beloved Timothy, who he looked at as a son (though not Paul’s son), Paul wrote,

“But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,” (1 Timothy 1:8-9 KJV)

Who is a righteous man if no one is able to keep all The Law? It is only the person who believes on Christ and HIS once for all blood atoning sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).  By Paul’s own writing n Ephesians 2, a person is not righteous by their works but by faith, belief on Christ’s atonement on the cross and His rising from the dead proving He is God.

“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)

The writer of Hebrews tells us straight up that The Law of Moses was only a foreshadowing of what the Messiah would do when He came (Hebrews 10:1). And Jesus is the Messiah that was foretold to Israel in the Old Testament times who would come and be the FINAL once for all blood atoning sacrifice. The Jews needed to shed the blood of innocent, blemish free animals, to cover the sins, each year after year as a temporary covering of the peoples sins, until the Messiah and Christ would come and pay the final price. They BELIEVED in this and that is what saved them. The blood sacrifices did not save anyone. It was their belief on Christ; it is just that for them He had not yet come and for us today, He came and fulfilled this 2000 years ago. The perspectives are different but the Gospel is the same in both dispensations of time.

“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. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.” (Hebrews 10:1-6 KJV)

So you see, belief in God’s grace through Christ crucified, died and risen is the only way to be perfected and righteous. It is not by Law following before or after our moment of belief on Christ, the moment of our eternal salvation, that makes a person righteous enough to go to Heaven. Heaven is a perfect place. There is NO SIN there. Jesus paid the full penalty for all sins of the whole world as a gift to be accepted or rejected, BUT NEVER EARNED. Stop believing our good works, no never sinning is required to be righteous with God. We are only righteous by imputation OF GOD through what Christ did on the cross for us.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 KJV)

Christ paid it all for us in great love. The greatest love in all of human history! That is why the Gospel is good news!

 

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Does Absolute Truth Exist In The Ten Commandments?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Law of Moses
Does Absolute Truth Exist In The Ten Commandments?

In this day and age there are  many who believe that they can believe whatever truth is for themselves and that their own personal truth, and the way they see the world, is truth for them. There is no good or bad truth. You have your truth and I have mine.

But living without any absolute truth; is that really the way to think and live? Living your life without absolute truth is like walking in a mine field in pitch blackness and not seeing the explosion in your life just ahead. I mean, let’s get real a moment here. If a person believes he can fly and that is his truth they are heading for disaster! No matter how much a person believes that to be their truth, the absolute truth is gravity will win if you jump off a building or bridge right?

No, there is such a thing as absolute truth and God provides us with 10 truths, that is ten standards/law of truth regarding our lives and spirit within. Without these Godly absolute truths we would be walking in complete darkness spiritually speaking. We would be doing whatever we want and thinking it was all okay and everything is acceptable to God. So the Ten Commandments are the real truth right from God Himself.

But does that mean God just gave the 10 commandments to us so we could use them to live by and avoid trouble? Is obeying them a way to make up for our sins and to look good to God? Or is there more to this?

Judging Ourselves Against Godly Standards – Not Human Standards

Logically, God is good so His laws must be good for us as well. These laws must reflect the perfect Holiness of God. And they most certainly do. And a fair way of looking at how good or bad we are must not be by comparing ourselves with others. That is not a fair comparison. We must compare ourselves with God’s perfect standard.

We humans have a big problem that God has already provided the solution for. That is the fact that we are all born into sin and have a ‘sin nature’ in us. And by knowing the LAW, we are exposed as sinners against God. We have a bent toward sinning, a drive toward sinning. We are all SINNERS – EVERY ONE OF US!

The Misconception Of the Ten Commandments

The Bible makes it clear that we have all sinned against our Holy and perfect God. Many pulpits teach condemnation as a means to stay saved. You must not break one of the Ten Commandments or you will no longer be saved. Other teach that obeying the Ten Commandments is the way to salvation. Both would be severely wrong and have not read their Bibles in context.

The Biblical truth is that the Ten Commandments were not given to us by God so that we would obey them to make up for our sins. No, it is just the opposite. We were given the Ten Commandments so that we would recognize our sin as sin.

Look at what Apostle Paul wrote in Romans:

“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become EXCEEDING SINFUL. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” (Romans 7:12-14 KJV)

“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)

 

Apostle Paul also wrote this,

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

Now do you see the misconception that most people have about the Ten Commandments? It does no good to try to match up to the Commandments in order to make up for our sins against God. If you break one … you break them all (James 2:10) . We could never have kept them all.

No person , except Jesus Christ, has ever kept the 10 Commandments. God gave the Commandments so that we would see that we could never regain fellowship with God through our own works. He wants us to know that this can only produce sin and death.

Only the blood atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross can save us and forgive us from our sins. That is what is meant by `God’s Grace’ in the preceding scripture.

Everyone Must Choose. Choose God!

“I call Heaven and Earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: Therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)

Christ took care of our “sin problem” at the cross. And all we have to do is believe and ask for forgiveness. Just as Adam made a conscious choice to sin we must also make a conscious choice to receive the free gift of eternal life. Christ will not force you to choose to accept His salvation.

In Mark 6:45-52 there is a verse that shows that we must use our free will and hand over control of our lives to Christ. Your right to the have the freedom to choose is very important to God.

“And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, AND WOULD HAVE PASSED THEM BY. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, AND CRIED OUT: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.” (Mark 6:45-52 KJV)

In these verses, Jesus told His disciples to go to the other side of the sea. Jesus then went to pray in seclusion. Once they were in the middle of the sea a strong headwind made it difficult for the disciples to row. Jesus saw that they were having great difficulty (probably shown to Him by God the Father while He was praying) and began to walk on the top of the water towards them. (Boat? Who needs a boat?)

To their astonishment, the distressed disciples saw Jesus walking on top of the water and coming towards their boat. At first, they thought it was a ghost and they were silent with fear. Just imagine if you thought you were seeing a ghost floating on the water and coming straight towards you! Only when Jesus came close enough so that they could see that it was Christ did their fear change to joyful amazement.

It is at this point, however, where something happens that seems in contradiction to what you might expect. One would expect that Jesus would immediately calm the storm and get in the boat and help the disciples but He does not!

In fact, Mark 6:48 says that Jesus paid NO attention to them and was proceeding to `pass them by’! Only when they cried out to Him did he acknowledge them and save them from their predicament! If the disciples had not submitted the problem to the authority of Jesus it seems like He would have walked right passed them. But once they turned over their situation to Christ He took over with full authority and stopped the headwind!

In Mark 4:35-41 we see a similar occurrence. Jesus and His disciples were in a boat when a great storm began to rock the boat hardly. The boat began to fill with water and they were fearful for their lives! And what was Jesus doing? Saving them as one might expect? NO! In fact, He was sleeping!

The disciples woke Him up and said,

“…Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38 KJV)

It is only when the disciples woke Him and asked for Him to save them that Jesus calmed the storm. Jesus knew what was going on. He may have been sleeping but no sleep can be deep enough to hide water pouring all over one’s self in a boat swaying harshly from side to side. Many other Scriptures prove this point. It seems that God is trying to get this point through our thick skulls!

God gave us Free Will and we should ask God, believing in the authority of Jesus Christ, for Him to intervene in our lives when we are in any kind of despair. Use our faith and trust in the power of Christ, who is now living in us. Yes, the Holy Spirit works to bring a person to repentance unto salvation but God gives you and me FREE WILL and it is important to Him that you have that CHOICE.

God wants ALL to be saved but will all be saved? The Bible is clear the answer is no. Christ did everything required for Salvation except one.. that a person believe He is the Son Of God who takes away the sin of the world through the atonement He provided on the cross.

He is always close by (Christ did walk out towards the boat didn’t He?) but it is you and me who must give up our free will and ASK for help and forgiveness . God wants you to have FREEDOM OF CHOICE! This is vitally important in order to have a loving relationship with God; that we be able to choose to do something ourselves with, or without, God. Otherwise, it would be called slavery.

God will not interfere with the decisions you make about Salvation until you ask Him in belief (John 3:14-18) to take over the situation for your forgiveness and justification. We are only human. We will mess up in life. No doubt about it – we still have the old sin nature thinking in the mind within us. But even when we do mess up, the Holy Spirit will make all things work for your good as a believer.

However, we should REST IN CHRIST,  by our free will, and admit that we are a sinner and believe that Jesus was the Son of God who was crucified so that our sins would be forgiven. Believing works and Law following will justify us is the sin of pride.

In John 6:28-29 Jesus makes this clear…

“So they asked Him, `What can we do in order to do what God wants us to do? Jesus answered, `What God wants you to do is to believe in the one He sent.” (John 6:28-29)

Who Is The One God Sent?

It is Jesus Christ who died on the cross and took the punishment for our sins and our disobedience to God’s Ten Laws (which no one can obey 100% in our own strength, or will power). The Ten Commandments are a mirror we can look into and see just how sinful we are against a Holy God and they convict us so that we will turn to God and accept Jesus’ act of atonement on the cross and be forgiven.

The purpose of the Ten Commandments is to show the unsaved how Holy God is and to show them how sinful we as humankind all are. When you realize that when you die you will face a Holy God.

When the moment comes and you think about and realize the truth that even if your good deeds outweigh your bad sinful deeds; you sins must still be judged by a Holy God.

What should you do at that moment of your life? Do not run away from God. Do not deceive yourselves. Accept God’s truth and turn to Him. Ask God for mercy and forgiveness through Christ. That is one of the most important reasons the Law was given to us. So that we might believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and because of this have eternal life with God forever and ever.

 

Are Christians Dead To The Law?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Grace Of God, Q&A: Law of Moses
Are Christians Dead To The Law?

If you believe on the atonement for sins by the only begotten Son Of God, Jesus Christ, who took our punishment for sin on the cross, died and rose again, then you are what is known as born again from above in The Spirit and eternally saved. Now some believe that from the time of salvation that we are supposed to sin no more and obey the Ten Commandments or we could lose our salvation. This is not a biblical teaching though and it is important to understand that once forgiven, you have come under God’s grace and you are no longer held accountable under The Law of Moses which has 613 laws including the Ten Commandments. In the book of Romans 5, the Apostle Paul made this very clear:

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:20-21 KJV)

Paul is saying that the Ten Commandments were given to man so that sins might increase! That is not what many are teaching today is it? I remember very well that high school religion taught me just the opposite of this. In fact, I would say that many in this age, even Christians, believe something very different. So what’s up? What is the truth about the Law and the Grace provided to us through Jesus Christ?

Do we first need to keep the 10 commandments and then God will forgive us ? Or did Jesus pay our sin debt in full? You cannot have it both ways. You cannot mix the Old Covenant of Law with the new covenant of Grace through Christ crucified. Jesus Himself spoke of doing such. Jesus paid it ALL for us. Since the time of Moses and up until the time of Jesus (and yes even until today) the Jewish people have added many other rules and regulations to the Ten Commandments. One such law was regarding fasting as we see in Matthew 9, when Jesus was asked, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”  Jesus’ reply shows clearly that Jesus has come to take away the sins of the world and that there is a NEW covenant that overrules the Old covenant and the results of the Law given to Moses:

“Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?  And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.  No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.” (Matthew 9:14-17 KJV)

“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17 KJV)

The law given to Moses is the Ten Commandments. No one has ever kept all of the Ten Commandments (except Jesus, the Christ). That is why the Jewish people sacrificed animals without blemish as a temporary covering of the sins of the people each year. It was a foreshadowing of when the Messiah would come and be the final sacrifice for all humankind. We see this truth in Hebrews 9 and 10. So power packed with truth.

“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. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 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: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:1-14 KJV)

When Christ who knew no sin, became sin for us and died in our place (2 Cor. 5:21) , taking the penalty of the sins of the whole world from all of time (past/present/future) upon Himself (1 John 2:2) by the shedding of His blood, Jesus ‘taketh away the first’ Covenant of Law and ‘established the second’ Covenant of the Grace of God Through Christ Crucified. This New Covenant that we current are living under from the cross until today (The Church Age) is what the Old Testament believers looked forward to happening. The Messiah had come as foretold, as foreshadowed in their annual, year after year, animal sacrifices as a temporary covering of their sins. For Old Testament saints, it was their belief in the Messiah and Christ who would one day come and be the final blood atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. In their BELIEF of this, they offered animal sacrifices without blemish as a remembrance of their sins and hope in the promise of Messiah one day coming in fulfilment.

Two thousand years ago Jesus came and took upon Himself the punishment for the sins of every person from all of time and until this very day. It is a gift from God; A free gift. As a gift, it can be accepted or rejected but it can never be earned. It is God’s grace upon those that receive Christ as personal savior and Lord. Jesus made this crystal clear in John 3 when a chief Pharisee leader asked Him directly how a person is righteous with God. Nicodemus seen the miracles Jesus performed. He heard how Jesus taught with an authority and knowledge of the Torah (what we refer to today as the Old Testament). He was perplexed because Jesus was teaching against works of the Law for righteousness, which the Pharisee rulers believed and lived by. Nicodemus was so perplexed and confused that he went to see Jesus personally, under cover of the night so that the other Pharisee leaders would not know.

“Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” (John 3:2 KJV)

Jesus knew of his anguish as the Holy Spirit was trying to reach Nicodemus with the knowledge of the truth and replied,

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3: 3-7 KJV)

Every person who is born of the Spirit is an eternally saved person. In the clearest passage of Jesus in basically answering, ‘What must I do to be saved?’, Jesus then goes on to tell Nicodemus how to be saved,

“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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:14-18 KJV)

Jesus was asked directly and He answered very directly and simply. Yet, do we see the words to follow the Law? No. How about having good works? No.  What do we see in Jesus’ words in answering the question? BELIEVE. BELIEVE. BELIEVE on Jesus as Messiah. And Nicodemus knew the Messiah is the foretold one who would come and be the final sacrifice for the sins of the world. Jesus was asked  directly, would He not have told Nicodemus if works of the Law were a requirement for salvation? Yet, Jesus did not. Later in John 6:37-40 Jesus was asked again and His answer was the same, BELIEVE ON Jesus as Messiah.

The Sin Mirror

The Ten Commandments are a mirror that when we look at it, we recognize our sin against a Holy God.

“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)

It is interesting to note that the first miracle performed by Moses was turning water into blood, thus causing death to people. But the first miracle mentioned in Scriptures by Jesus is at the wedding in Canaan when He turned water into wine, during a wedding celebration: a celebration of new life. It is no coincidence! Today, we are under the New Covenant whereby Jesus took our sin punishment and on the cross and cried out “It is finished!”. We are now under the NEW covenant of God’s grace, an undeserved and unmerited favor. It is nothing that we deserved or that we have because of our good works. It is 100% God’s free gift to us. It’s His loving grace.

The New Covenant Replaced The Old Covenant

I see many believers today and pulpits teaching that we are still to be under the Ten Commandments. That we should be obeying them and that God did not ‘do away with them’ when Christ came. From the perspective that the Ten Commandments are God’s absolute truth and are Holy, they are correct but they are missing the point. The Law is dead to the Christian because it is all about how  the source has changed. What do I mean by that? Let’s look at a few Scriptures and then you will see it more clearly:

“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. 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:” (Galatians 3:10-13 KJV)

In this passage of Scripture we see that there has been a change when the New Covenant came into effect. The just (believers) are to now live by faith with the Holy Spirit indwelling as our source. Jesus Christ is now become our source and God lives within us now as the comforter and Holy Spirit.  The Law and Ten Commandments are not to be our source. Our source is God within us! Faith and trust in Him that is indwelling us.

In Romans 7 we are told by Apostle Paul that,

“…ye also are become DEAD TO THE LAW BY THE BODY OF CHRIST; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, WHICH WERE BY THE LAW, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now WE ARE DELIVERED FROM THE LAW, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.“

We are dead to the Law of Moses which had 613 man made laws, including the Ten Commandments given directly by God. We were delivered from The Law from Christ crucified and belief in His finished work on the cross and His rising from the dead. There has been a change! After receiving Christ as our Savior in belief of the atonement for sins He provided on the cross, we now have the spirit of God dwelling within us. How much closer can a believer be to God? The Holy Spirit within has now become our source and replaced the Law of Moses. The foretold Messiah came in the person of Jesus, The Christ, and He fulfilled the promise and paid for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). It is a done deal. All our sins have been paid in full and already judged on the cross. The full payment for sin, that is sufficient to the Father, has been accredited to the account of each believer on Christ. And that includes our future sins because all of our sins today are future from the cross.

It is all about the source; a person is either following the Ten Commandments or he is following The Holy Spirit indwelling. But does that mean it is okay to lie, murder, covet? Not at all. So what does this mean? Let’s think about this logically a moment. Let’s compare what life is like using these two different, yet connected sources.

Life Under The Law As Our Source

Living under the Ten Commandments and all the Law of Moses as our source is like us trying our best in our own ability to keep every commandment without fail. So if we are coveting, in self righteous efforts, we keep saying to our self, “Stop coveting. Stop coveting. Stop coveting. Stop coveting!” Yet, when we do that, we find ourselves in the same situation as Paul in Romans 7, we keep coveting!  It is like a kid who sees a sign on a lawn that reads.. “Do not step on the grass or else!” What does the kid do huh? Stomps around on the grass. (Okay maybe not all kids but you get my point.)

Following the Law as our source will not make you stop disobeying. It also will not forgive the sin you have committed. Romans 5:20 shows us that “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound.” Paul also states that ‘…the strength of sin, is The Law’ (1 Corinthians 15:56). Because the Ten Commandments were given, humankind now sees just how sinful we are. And not only that, it increases our sin. Why? Because we have a sinful nature within us and it is bent toward sinning. Plus, doing good works of the Law will not erase any sins committed. That is why they needed to sacrifice animals as a temporary covering of their sins until Messiah would come.

Life With The Holy Spirit Within As Our Source

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE.” (Romans 6:14 KJV)

If we walk in the spirit we avoid the sins of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). God resides within the believer and so if we find ourselves having trouble with the sin of coveting for example, we need to go to our new source, the Holy Spirit within us. With the same example of coveting, we acknowledge (confess) and thank God for forgiving all my sinful ways and we pray to God knowing that without Christ as our source, we cannot bear good fruit (John 15) in self righteous efforts. We pray to God that we are having a problem with coveting. You want to stop but you cannot do this on your own. “God, please renew my mind on this and help me to stop coveting.” Do you think that is a prayer that God will not honor? Yes, it is! When God looks at you, He is not remembering or holding your sins against you in condemnation. We have become sons and daughters of God by our belief on Christ. If your child fails and does something wrong, do you chastise them to teach them or do you kick them out of the family forever? Then why would our heavenly Father?

The more we renew our mind by the Word of God, with the help of the Holy Spirit within us to guide us and help us, we will eventually come to the place where coveting ends in your life. This is following our new source within, our comforter, the Holy Spirit of God. And His guiding and help will follow the Ten Commandments because they are absolute truth and are Holy and right. Plus, Christ fulfilled them!

You see, Christ fulfilled the Law and now God resides within you as the Holy Spirit. Will the Holy Spirit as the source want you to murder, or lie, or covet? No. The Holy Spirit is Christ in you. Christ follows the Ten Commandments perfectly. Apostle Paul puts it this way,  “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:10 KJV). This righteousness is not our self righteousness. It is the righteousness we now have because Christ is indwelling us as the Holy Spirit. Having accepted the Free gift of eternal life and forgiveness of our sins through belief on Christ crucified as our sacrificial substitute without our own efforts (John 3:18, Ephesians 2:8-9), we are set free from the punishment of our sins.  We now have a newly created spirit within us. Set free from sin and free to live in love for others without worrying about eternal condemnation ever again. The fear of that is gone. The love of God now permeates our very being.

When you hear that believers are dead to the Law, it means we are no longer using following the Law as our source. We follow the Holy Spirit as our source now and the Holy Spirit never guides us to do things against the morals of The Ten Commandments. Besides that, The Ten Commandments were given to Israel, not church age believers who are under a New Covenant that replaced the Old. The Ten Commandments are 100% truth and always will be. God is HOLY and never changes! Th Law is still good for our learning but not addressed directly to Church Age believers; we are under a different Covenant then Old Testament saints. The Law is actually for the UNRIGHTEOUS and not the RIGHTEOUS.

“But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient…” (1 Timothy 1:8-9 KJV)

Prison Break!

THE UNRIGHTEOUS are the group of people who are in the prison of unrighteousness. They cannot erase their sin by being a good person through good deeds and Law following. Trapped in the prison of unrighteousness with no way to escape in their self righteous deeds. No matter how many good deeds they do, they still have unpaid sins.

THE RIGHTEOUS are the group of people who trust in the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus paid for all their sins as a gift and they accepted the gift. They had a prison transfer to the prison of righteousness. In this prison, with all sins paid in full, no sins they commit will have them escape this prison.

For the believer today, there has been a change! Our new source is the eternal indwelling of the Holy Spirit; sealed in life eternal with God (Ephesians 1:13-14).We are the righteousness of God, in Christ. All things have become new in our Spirit which is born again (2 Cor. 5:17-21). We are no longer under The Law. We are under God’s grace and are eternally righteous by the imputation of God. Jesus took our unrighteous Spirit to the cross where we died with Christ (Colossians 2, Romans 6) and He gave us His righteousness in exchange. Now, read that again and again. Get that in your mind as truth. It is such an amazing truth!

Jesus’ commandment to believers under the New Covenant is to, “…love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40 KJV)

God’s Grace Declaration

Under this new covenant of Grace God declares:

“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.” (Hebrews 10:16-17 KJV)

Sins are every bad thought or deed we commit. Iniquities is a sin which is of a religious bent. In Matthew 7, Jesus used the word iniquity in describing a person who think they are saved by their ‘many wonderful works’ who instead are not even born again and are headed for condemnation. It is the same as Law following for righteousness which will save no one.

You see, for all that accept His free gift of salvation from our sin debt against God, God does not even remember our sins anymore! That is why Jesus cried out on the cross “It is FINISHED!”

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

We are no longer under Law! We are under grace!

In fact, the Bible states clearly that teaching people to obey the Ten Commandments as a way to gain God’s righteousness and forgiveness is called a “ministry of death”. And yet, it is preached so often in the pulpits theses days one starts to question if the presenter has read the Bible at all? We need to stop living under the Old Testament Covenant!

“But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:7-9 KJV)

Now don’t misunderstand me. The law is Holy and good and true 100%. It is not done away with but remains. It is Holy. However, the point is that it cannot MAKE you Holy!! Break just one and you broke them all (James 2:10). The law is a mirror causing a person to see the truth about how sinful we all are. After all, a look in a mirror can show that you have a grease stain on your shirt you otherwise may not have known about, right? We see as God sees; it is all filthy rags. A dog can go outside all clean. When he comes back with mud on the fur, is he allowed back into the clean home? Or does the owner have to clean him first?

So many Christians are preoccupied with our sin. But not being under the Law and eternally saved by grace, we should have no consciousness of sins (Hebrews 10). When we sin as a born again believer, we can easily think it stops God’s grace and we try to make up for the sins by doing good works.  This is simply not Biblical! God is not waiting to hit you with a stick when you sin! He foreknew all your sins and Christ placed them all on Christ on that cross and paid the penalty for all sins. If you received His free gift of salvation through Jesus, God does not remember your sins anymore because Jesus already paid the debt of sins for the entire world; past, present and future. If you accepted the pardon Christ provided on the cross, it is 100% finished! Look at 1 Corinthians 15:56-57,

“The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57 KJV)

Yeah, there it is, the Strength of sin is the law. That is pretty clear right?  Apostle Paul talks about the very same thing in Romans 7. It is so unfortunate that Satan is being allowed and using the pulpits of many churches/denominations to fool people and accuse people of their sins and wrong doing and he is teaching the ministry of death to already eternally saved believers.  The devil is using the Ten Commandments to condemn you and accuse you. This is NOT God’s way! And NOT what God is like at all. He has nothing but love for humankind; Look to Christ, He gave His only Son to die for us. God is love.  

DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY ANY MAN OR WOMEN,
ONE OF THE CLOTH OR NOT!
Hear and read the Bible for the truth!

God is teaching people the New Covenant Of Grace in these last days. It is time to for the redeemed born again to stand up and get the truth of the Bible out. Don’t just take every word from a pulpit or someone saying they are Christian telling you to use good works to cover your sins. It is the biggest lie of the devil himself. Who do they think they are? They think they are better than you? Better than Jesus Christ? We are all sinners and Christians should not be boasting as if they are clean while others are not because they do more good works. That is utter non sense! Stop boasting about your good works! They will not save you from your sin debt.

“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)

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Galatians 6:14 KJV)

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV)

Do not boast about how good you are as a Christian while the “other people” are evil. Boast about the truth; even as a Christian you too still sin!

The Bible is not telling us about a God waiting to bash you in the head every time you do something wrong. Nothing is further from the truth. The Bible is God’s word showing us how much He loves us. It is the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord unto salvation from the Wrath of God to come upon all sinners who have not accepted the pardon of God.

Salvation Does Not Come Through Condemnation Of Others

 “Salvation comes through condemnation.” Ever hear this taught?

They accuse you of your sins and try to convince you to repent. Yet, their own ministers are doing all kinds of evil. This is the times we live in; the last days! But God is moving today and the truth of the Bible is coming alive and the Gospel of grace is spreading like wild fire. Why? Because once people see the truth of Scripture regarding Law verse Grace, it sets people free.

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:17 KJV)

Just look at what Jesus did! Read everything He did and that is how God truly is. In every case you will see that the goodness of God comes before repentance. Jesus never condemned a person and said “go and sin no more”. Instead He said, “…Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. ” (John 8:11 KJV).  THAT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE!

Jesus showed people the truth about God. He showed God’s GRACE and then the people repented. Jesus healed people and they repented. He saved a women from stoning by her accusers, forgave all her sins and she repented. This is the Gospel! The Grace of God! Do not mix the Law with the Grace of God. We are living in the days of God’s loving grace being poured on all who believe. Receive it. It’s yours for the taking.

Jesus paid it all !