| Author | Message | ||
| Gatororeo7 (Gatororeo7) |
We concluded the previous part with the question, "Are you willing to set aside the law in your life and totally depend on the grace of God?" We asked this question based on the fact that the law is powerless to do anything in your life except to point out your sinfulness. It cannot make you righteous or give you eternal life. There is another reason, however, to set aside the law: Every requirement of the law has been fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Matthew 5:17, 18 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 1. Did Christ come to abolish the law and the prophets? No. 2. What did Christ come to do concerning the Law or the Prophets? To fulfill them. 3. Who did Jesus say would fulfill the law? Himself. John 5:39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me... 4. What Scriptures testify about Jesus? All of them. 5. In light of this, how much sense would it make for Jesus to abolish something that is about Him? Not a whole lot. Luke 24:44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." 1. What did Jesus tell the disciples while He was still with them? Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. 2. How much written about Jesus did He say must be fulfilled? Everything. 3. Do you think Jesus has the ability to fulfill the law? Yes. 4. What about us? Do we have the ability to fulfill the law? No. Jesus Lived a Sinless Life Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. 1. How is Christ referred to in this verse? As our high priest. 2. As our high priest, is Christ able to sympathize with our weaknesses? Yes. 3. What is the reason He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses? He was tempted in every way. 4. Even though He was tempted as we are, did Jesus ever sin? No. 5. Therefore did Jesus ever break one of the commandments God gave to Moses? No. Jesus Walked in Perfect Love John 15:9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." 1. How did Jesus say that He loved you and me? As the Father loved Him. 2. How do you think the Father loved Jesus? As He loves us. 3. How would you conclude that Jesus loved you and me? As the Father loves us. Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 1. According to this verse, does love do any harm to its neighbor? No. 2. What is the fulfillment of the law? Love. 3. Did Jesus fulfill the law in loving you and me as the Father loved Him? Yes. John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 1. What is the greatest love a person could have for another? To lay down his life for his friends. 2. What was Christ's ultimate act of love toward you and me? His death on the Cross. 3. If love is the fulfillment of the law, then, ultimately, how did Christ fulfill the law? By laying down His life for us. Christ Paid the Penalty for Our Sins Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1. Under the law, was is the wages of sin? Death. 2. In contrast, what is the gift of God? Eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 3. What had to be paid before God could give us eternal life. The wages of our sin. 4. Who paid the wages for our sin? Christ. 1John 2:2 He is the one who turns aside God's wrath, taking away our sins, and not only ours but also the sins of the whole world. 1. Who turned aside God's wrath on our behalf? Christ. 2. What did He do with our sins? Took them away. 3. What about the sins of the whole world? Took them away too. 4. Did Christ's death on the cross fulfill the law which said, "The wages of sin is death"? Yes. 5. For whom did He fulfill the law? For the whole world. Colossians 2:13, 14 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 1. How many of our sins did Christ forgive? All of them. 2. Since Christ forgave all our sins, what can we conclude about His death on the cross paying for the wages of sin? It was sufficient. 3. What did Christ do with the written code? Canceled it. 4. Once he canceled the law, what did Jesus do with it? Took it away, nailing it to the cross. 5. Therefore, where should the law remain? Nailed to the cross. Romans 8:3, 4 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 1. What was the law powerless to do? Give life, make us righteous. 2. What was the law weakened by? The sinful nature. 3. Jesus came to earth in the likeness of sinful man to be what? A sin offering. 4. As a sin offering, what did He condemn? Sin in sinful man. 5. Why did Jeuss condemn sin in sinful man? In order that the righteous requirement sof the law mught be fully met in us. 6. So, have the righteous requirements of the law been fully met in us? Yes. 7. Who fulfilled them? Christ. 8. If Christ has fulfilled the entire law, does it make sense for us to try to fulfill the law through our self-efforts? No! Jesus did not come to abolish the law. He came to fulfill it. Every requirement the law demanded, Jesus fulfilled. He lived a sinless life; He walked in perfect love; and His death on the cross paid in full the wages of sin for the entire world. Christ did it all. God knew that you and I could never fulfill the law. In fact, He never expected us to. However, when we trust the only One who could fulfill the law, the righteous requirements of the law are met in us. We can set aside the law because it has been fulfilled, canceled, and taken away. god nailed it to the cross, and that is where it is to stay. | ||
| Colleentinker (Colleentinker) |
Wow, Joel, you've been doing some great studying! Thanks again! Colleen | ||
| Freeatlast (Freeatlast) |
I've been wrestling for some time with the theory that perhaps all sins of every man have been forgiven them, and the only sin a lost man is now ultimately guilty of and thus deserving condemnation is to reject Jesus Christ. If you accept Christ, you have no sin because all your sins have been forgiven you and that's it. If you reject Him, you're right there with the devil and his angels so you go with them. These are really good studies, thank you! | ||
| Jerry (Jerry) |
You know what, Freeatlast? I think I know why this has bothered you. Try this out: It is JUST NOT POSSIBLE for things to be THAT GOOD between God and us, can it? How could He be SO GOOD? It just DOESN'T MAKE SENSE!!! How could He LOVE US ENOUGH to forgive us, KNOWING we are hopelessly sinful and disobedient? Surely, we need to beat our heads against some wall or run until we drop dead so that we are punished enough, right? Nope. It is true. God loves us despite who and what we are. (but, is that really true?) (Yes, indeed.) We are so blessed. Praise God! | ||
| Doug222 (Doug222) |
Freeatlast, you have come to the same conclusion that I have. Sin is defined as "unbelief." I may engage in behaviors that are detrimental to my well being, but the root of these behaviors is the fact that I don't trust that God is enough. The law was designed to point out the false gods in my life. Allow me to illustrate. Let's say that I have a problem with overeating. It has become a significant problem in my life, causing me all kinds of social, physical, and mental problems. When I go to my doctor, he says, "Doug,you need to lose weight." Now conventional wisdom says that I should go on any number of faddish diets that are out there. If I can just get down to my ideal weight, everything will be fine. Right? Wrong! To focus on my weight is to ignore the real problem. I may succeed in losing weight, but I will still have the same unmet needs. The real problem is that I have an emptiness inside that I have been choosing to fill with food (sex, alcohol, relationships, materialism, education, isolation, control, self-reliance, etc). It is only as I abandon the false gods that I have been pursuing that I can truly experience the freedom that is only found in Christ. That's why Jesus said that when he cast a demon out of a man, that if it was not replaced with something else, that the demon would return, but be seven times worse than before. Using my illustration, if I overcome my addiction to food, I will soon find myself with a different addictin, unless I have learned the source of true peace. This is the problem with trying to keep the law after we have been saved. It keeps the focus on us. It corrects behavior, but it doesn't address the heart--it was never intended to. When I begin to find my comfort in Jesus, how can I possibly go back to finding it in food (sex, alchohol, etc., etc.) My definition flies in the face of the traditional definition of sin that you hear throughout most of Christiandom. The traditionaldefinition consists of a laundry list of behaviors. As humans, we tend to pick out the most egregious (or the ones I don't have a problem with--like homosexuality), but I do not see how you can reconcile verses like 1 John 3:4-6 any other way:
I have heard ministers attempt to explain this verse by saying it means habitual sinning, but that is not what it says. However, if you insert the word "unbelief" for sinning, then it fits perfectly. The Greek word here is harmataio (sp), which means to "miss the mark." If Jesus is the mark, then putting our trust in anything other than him falls short, and therefore would be considered sin. Finally, if the Holy Spirit's job is to testify of Jesus (or direct me to the mark), what possible purpose does the law serve? In His Grace Doug | ||
| Colleentinker (Colleentinker) |
I agree, Doug and Freeatlast. "Sins" are not our problem; "sin" is. Sin is unbelief, or taking my eyes off Jesus. Sin is picking up my burden and trying again to carry it myself. For me, pride and guilt get all mixed together when I try to fix my sins. It's the relinquishing, the surrender, that requires me to let go of my sins and look to Jesus again. As you said so well, Doug, the empitness inside is what compels me to continue my sins. Losing my "sins" doesn't fill the emptiness, and my problem is no nearer solution than before I quite my sinful behavior. It's only when I surrender to Jesus my desires and even my longing for the emptiness to be filled that I begin to be full. It's a great paradox, but truth, I believe, always is. Jesus IS everything! Praising Him, Colleen | ||
| Janice (Janice) |
This morning's devotional once again spoke to my heart with its opening words: Our relationship with others goes much deeper than either word or deed; it goes to the HIDDEN MOTIVES of our hearts and reveals what we truly are. This means that the thoughts of a Christian should always be the expression of ìWhat would Jesus do?î The attitude of fairness and consideration for others' well-being applies to a Christian's daily conduct. The self-centered "I" must give way to Christ and His control. It is possible to have bitter thoughts while doing kind deeds and to say loving words while having wrong attitudes and motives. But, our Adamic nature and its self-serving conduct can be overcome by the Christ-centered nature that He has bestowed within us. We [must] demolish arguments (mental warfare) and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (II Corinthians 10:4-5; see also Genesis 13:8-9). Christ Revealed: Through the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt and Pharaoh (Deuteronomy 26:8). Jesus left His home in heaven to deliver us from Satan and his control (John 6:38,51,58). Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father (Galatians 1:3-4). As I pondered on this devotional, I realize that it is definitely speaking to me. So often, I find myself wanting to get on my soapbox and preach it to everyone and then God once again shows me that it is all about having humility and patience but most of all LOVE. If we just speak out to try and prove our point, it just doesn't really matter that much, does it? Our conversation should be centered around Christ and our message should always be that there is room at the cross for all who will go there. We cannot change anyone, and I just have to remember who is in control. As long as I yield myself to his service, that is all that he requires of me. I really do want to help with every post I write, but I have to really pray to God to give me the tact to approach any subject that he has given me to speak on. So often, once I get started banging at these keys, I get off in my own little world and the devil loves it when I throw my pity parties. It shouldn't be about me other than to tell you all what God has done for me, instead of whining on my past, I have to give it to God and take him in faith that he will go out and get any of HIS lost sheep. As sad as it is to admit, many of our loved ones will never see heaven. It is a sad reality but since we don't know the future as God does, we just have to keep on praying and living our lives as God would have us to do, and hopefully we will see our loved ones in glory with us and then all of this fighting and disagreement will end because it is written in 1 John 3:2-Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. I am not feeling good this morning, I guess the activity of the weekend took its toll on this old body of mine. I have a bad back and all that bending over and picking up limbs and using a shovel really played on it. I can hardly move this morning and decided to stay at home. God is here with me though and will give me rest for my body, soul, and spirit. Amen. I will say goodbye for now. God bless all of you, Janice | ||
| Another_Carol (Another_Carol) |
Janice, You are so right about the fact we get on our agenda and just keep going on and on. I am quilty and think I have so much to say about the way God moves and works in my life and then sometimes I think I talk myself into beliving that I know all the anwers and every one else should just listen and then they will know too. I am not saying it is not good to tell others of what God has done for you but for myself I am going to try and stop with that and not let my feelings permeate to the point that it is me you should be listening to instead of God. We are doing a 50 day adventure study series from Mainstay www.teamsundays.org/adventure. These are some of the Sunday titles Let Goid heal your painful past Discover God's present involvement in you life. Establish godly goals for the future Empower everthing you do for God with prayer Confront your ungodly prejudices Identify with God's heart for the world Move with God beyound your comfort zones Believe that with God all things are possible Today our lesson was on 1 Samuel 24:1-15 This is how David was put into a position to be in the same place as Saul who was persecuting him. At one point David cut the end of his robe off with his sword and he could have killed him and his soldiers wandered why he did not. He did not because God had a better plan and it was being played out according to the way God wanted it. And as verse 15 says May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand." That would be my prayer also as I deal with the deceit of spiritual warfare. This has been a good study for me since it makes you look long and hard at what is really happening and has happened in your life and how those things effect the way you respond to others and the way you receive God's gift of salvation. May we learn to say as I learned at a prayer retreat yesterday Lord Jesus Christ(Son of God) have mercy on me/us. We were told to spend 10 minutes repeating this and to see how humble we felt afterward. This prayer retreat was very draining but also very uplifting. It was not as you would expect a prayer retreat to be praying and praying and praying but rather reflecting on Ps.103-104:1-2 and Ephesians 1:15-23 and the converstion in John 11:17-37 with Jesus, Martha and Mary at the death of their brother lazurus. It is hard to explain how this all evolved but it was certainly something that went deep into your soul. A retired couple who have just started coming to our church presented it as they have to several other groups before. It was well worth the loss of a Saturday of which I was not happy to loose. Again I say let's pray Lord Jesus Christ(Son of God) have mercy on me/us. Carol | ||
| Pheeki (Pheeki) |
I wrote this for my friends and family but thought you might like to read it. The Gospels (NT) added no conditions to R by F. You will display good works (Christ's commands) as a result but these works are concerning how to love God and how to treat your fellow man, not what Law/10 commandments you keep. The following text is a great one, Romans 10: the blue comments are mine. 4Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (Amen! Praise God.) 5Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them." (I equate this to the saying, ìHe who lives by the sword will die by the sword.î) 6But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down) 7"or 'Who will descend into the deep?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (That is the Good News! That is the Gospel, why donít we hear this in our churches?!?! This is what gives us assurance we are saved and this is why we can say with confidence that we are saved! This is not sayingÖyou are saved if you keep the Law or saved if you keep the Sabbath, it is saying you are saved period if you believe that Jesus is Lord and confess it with your mouth!)10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." That is why we can have confidence and that is the Gospel that we need to be spreading, not keep all the commandments and keep the Sabbath. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (which is the Old Testament). He is the high Priest of a new covenant, read Hebrews 8. Have you ever been taught this? I never was! The High Priest of a New Covenant 1The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. 3Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." 6But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises. 7For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8But God found fault with the people and said : "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 9It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, (the Law/10 Commandments) because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. 10This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."[3] 13By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear. (The old covenant is the one made at Sinai with the Israelites and its purpose was to point us to Christ by showing us our sin.) Anyway, once Christ came everything changed! If you look in Acts 15 and read about what happened after Christ left the earth you will find some interesting stuff. #1 the Holy Spirit was given to all those in Christ as a seal of God to guarantee redemption. You and I have this right now at this moment because we believe in Christ, have claimed him as our Savior and have confessed it with our mouths. Therefore God now seals us for redemption and our guarantee of this is the Holy Spirit indwelling in us. #2 The early church was struggling with how they should liveÖthere were many Gentiles who believed and were added to the body of Christ. There were also many Jews all over Asia and Europe (Rome, Jerusalem, Antioch, Galatia, etc.) the main concentration of Jewish Christians were at Jerusalem and the head of the church there was Jesusí brother James. As you know, Paul (formerly Saul the who calls himself the most zealous Jew of his time, who formerly persecuted the new Christians before he met Jesus on the road to DamascusÖJesus blinded him to show him how blind he had been when he had been so immersed in the Law that he couldnít see his the Messiah had comeÖas you might have read in the Bible that even now there is a veil over the eyes of those who follow Moses instead of ChristÖ) 2 Corinthians 3 1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 3You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (The Law of God is written on the hearts of those in Christ! They are part of the New Covenant). 4Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. 5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. The Glory of the New Covenant 7Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, (he is talking about the 10 Commandments/Law here) so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! (the Old covenant was fading away after Christ came.) 12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Anyway, Paul was sent to the Gentiles (Peter to the Jews) to proclaim the Gospel. He traveled all over the Mediterranean preaching and starting churches. One of the churches he founded was in Galatia. Paul was preaching straight Gospel, not Gospel + keeping the Law. Some of the Jewish Christians heard about what Paul was preaching and felt that they needed to go spy it out for themselves. Galatians 2: 3Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. Read down further in Galatians 2: Apparently Peter, once he got out of Jerusalem felt free to exercise his freedom in Christ by not keeping the Jewish Laws/10 Commandments, he was living as a GentileÖ 11When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? 15"We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. 17"If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Anyway, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem and meet with James and the other leaders in Jerusalem to tell them about what he was preaching and to see if they agreed with him. You see, Paul was not privileged to be a disciple when Jesus was alive. Everything he learned from Jesus was direct revelation (after Jesus' death). He wanted to see if the apostles would oppose what he was preaching to the Gentiles. They agreed with what he was teaching was accurate and did not oppose him. See Acts 15: 4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. 5Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses." 6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He made no distinction between them, and us for he purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? (the Jewish Law/10 Commandments) 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." 12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. 14Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: 16" 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things' 18that have been known for ages. 19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath." Read onÖ 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell. 30The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. The ìyokeî that Peter was talking about was the Law that God gave the Israelites. This Law served several purposes; #1 to preserve Israel as a holy and separate nation from the surrounding pagan nations, holding them together until the Messiah would come. #2 to point them to the Messiah so they would know him when he did come. #3 To convict them of sin so they would recognize the need for a Savior. (Instead it seemed to foster pride that they had the Law and they fooled themselves into thinking that they kept it just as God desired (think Pharisees) but we know the Bible states that all have fallen short when it comes to keeping the Law). In spite of having the Law and the Prophets, which all pointed to the Messiah, they still missed him. What I think is unique is that Gentile kings didnít miss it at all. They had studied the Scriptures and seen the star and found Christ. The Jews however, the foremost authority on the Law had totally missed it because of their pride and lack of faith. They looked at the Law but did not see Christ, they were blind. Christ came to open the eyes of the blind and set the captives free. He enabled us to become sons and daughters of the Most High God by restoring us to him through his death. We are no longer slaves. Read what Galatians has to say about slavesÖ Galatians 4: 1What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 4But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. 8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. 17Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. 18It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. 19My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you! Hagar and Sarah 21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 24These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband." 28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son." 31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. Ok, you are probably asking at this point, if we are not under the Law what rules do we have to follow? When you first realize you have your freedom it feels exhilarating yet scary. I think of stories I have heard about slaves who were set free in the civil war. They had been slaves so long that they were not comfortable not having someone tell them what to do so they went back to their former masters and lived as servants. (The difference was they no longer had the power to kill them if they disobeyed them, because they were really free men so they served them in a new way because they wanted to.) We are set free too. And once you realize that Christ took the regulations against us and nailed them to the cross, you are truly free. We can be servants of God doing his business spreading the Gospel, not living as slaves to sin. Read Colossians 2: 13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. I went through a period of deep confusion after I was liberated. What rules do I need to follow. I have already learned that the Law/10 Commandments were fulfilled and done away with, so what do I do now? By the way, let me just mention here that never in the Bible did God separate the 10 Commandments and the Law of Moses. They are all one Law. God spoke every one of the 613 Commandments to Moses and he meant them all equally. (Ask any Jew you know to explain this). Anyway, the Lord showed me something very interesting one day. I was reading the Gospels and her is what I found. John 17: 1After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" 6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." 8When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." John 9: 2After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 6(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) 7Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" 8Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant. Luke 9: 28About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.) 34While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." 36When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen. This is very significant. Moses in the OT represents the Law given at Sinai, which are the first 5 books of the Bible. Elijah represents the prophets, which are the remaining books of the Bible. Jesus fulfilled the entire Old Testament writings about him. Luke 24:44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Did anyone ever tell you that David (the Psalms) was more than just a poet? He also was a prophet. No one ever taught me that before. Here is an example, look at Psalm 22: comments in blue are mine. These are the last thoughts and words of Christ. 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (These are some of Christís last words.) Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. 3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. 4 In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. 5 They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: 8 "He trusts in the LORD ; (they said, ìIf you are the Son of God let him save youÖrememberî.) let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." 9 Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast. 10 From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God. 11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. 12 Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. 13 Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. 14 I am poured out like water, (He was poured out like a drink offering). and all my bones are out of joint. (Remember in prophesy, none of his bones will be broken. Also your bones become out of joint hanging on a cross.) My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. (They nailed him to the cross.) 17 I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. (The soldiers did this.) 19 But you, O LORD , be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me. 20 Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. 21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. 22 I will declare your name to my brothers; (We are now his brothers) in the congregation I will praise you. 23 You who fear the LORD , praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. 25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows. 26 The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him- may your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD , and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, 28 for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations. 29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him- those who cannot keep themselves alive. (Every knee shall bow when Jesus returns.) 30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. 31 They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn- for he has done it. (Praise God he is victorious and the whole world knows him! Even 2000 years later!) There are other examples but I am digressing. What was so amazing to me is that all 3 Gospels contained the same account of Moses and Elijah visiting Jesus. The disciples tried to place equal importance on all 3 by saying, ìthis is great, we will make 3 tents for them.î But God stopped them and put the record straight by saying, ìThis is my Son. Listen to Him!î and immediately the other two disappeared leaving only Jesus standing. God put this in the Bible 3 times so that all who have ears could hear that he wants us to listen to his Son. Ok, I was still wondering what God wanted from me so I kept searching. Then I found what Jesus said about yokes. He said in Matthew 11: 28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." I have to say; the thrill that shot through me is still very vivid to me! Christ is saying, take HIS yoke for it is not a burden that not even our forefathers could bear, as Peter said. No his burden is light. Then I scoured the NT to see what Jesus had commanded, what his yoke was. First of all, we are to rest in his finished work, he has completed our salvation, all we have to do is claim it. And then I found the following texts, which are the New Covenant that Christ is the High Priest of and we are competent ministers ofÖ Luke 22: 14When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." 17After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." 20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Matthew 22:36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." John 10 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 2 John 1:6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 1 John 3:24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And that my friend is the Gospel, the Good News, as I have come to know it! Praise God. | ||
| Janice (Janice) |
Hey, Those prayer retreats do drain you but it is certainly a good drain, isn't it? I went to my first one about a year ago and don't think that I ever cried so much in my entire life, both happy and sad tears all at once. Will all of you read this verse and pray for our loved ones to come to this web site and read our witness? Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Prayer is still a powerful tool and as long as we are quoting God's word, I just don't see how they could turn away from the truth, agree? God bless you, Janice | ||
| Another_Carol (Another_Carol) |
Pheeki, Praise God and yes, yes, yes and the greatest thing about it is you didn't have to go any place other than your Bible to find the answers you needed and you did it all on your own. God is so Good, So marvelous, So mysterious, So divine, So human, So freeing, So loving etc. ect. ect. As I have said I am a teacher at heart and one of the things that I as a teacher at heart love the most is to see people learn. I am seeing it and loving every post of it. May God use you in a most unique way. Love and prayers for you and your family, Carol | ||
| Another_Carol (Another_Carol) |
Janice, Yes I understand the tears, I had such a headache from crying yesterday I thought it would never end and I don't usually have headaches. The tears were certainly cleansing though. I just love sharing the joy of knowing a Saviour and Lord and knowing you all know him too makes for a most glorious feeling. May we all persevere to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in the path that we should go to bring our loved ones, and anyone else who comes in our paths, HOME. In Christ we are able, Carol |
