Remember our motto:
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY, that’s the issue.
And to put our beliefs
ahead of the Scriptures is to really call into question the Word of God
and
make God out to be a liar.
Let’s see what more
the Bible has to say we’ll start in Galatians 4:21-31.
Gal 4:21 "Tell
me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the
law? 4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a SLAVE
woman and the other by a FREE woman. 4:23 One, the child of the SLAVE,
was born according to the FLESH; the other, the child of the FREE woman,
was born through the PROMISE".
God couldn’t have
the promise of the seed Child (Christ) through a slave, HE had to come
through the lineage of Faith (The free woman). The promise must be based
on Faith not through the works of the slave. So it is with us the promise
of eternal life is based on faith not on works you will see how this fits
with the scripture below.
Gal 4:24–31, 4:24
"Now this is an analogy: these women representing the two
Covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing
children for slavery. 4:25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia
and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her
children. 4:26 But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above;
she is free, and she is our mother. 4:27 For it is written, "Rejoice,
you childless one, you who bear no children, burst into song and shout,
you who endure no birth pangs; for the children of the desolate woman
are more numerous than the children of the one who is married." 4:28 Now
you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac. 4:29 But just
as at that time the child who was born according to the FLESH PERSECUTED
the child who was born according to the SPIRIT, so it is NOW ALSO. 4:30
But what does the scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her child;
for the child of the bondwoman WILL NOT SHARE the INHERITANCE with the
child of the FREE woman." 4:31 So then, friends, we are children, NOT
of the bondwoman, BUT OF THE FREE woman".
SUMMARY:
Then see V: 24 The Sinai COVENANT which Hagar represents here is the 10
Commandments.
What Covenant
is from Mt Sinai that bears children of bondage/slavery?
Specifically the Ten
Commandments.
What does the Scripture say in v: 30 "CAST OUT" get rid of the
bondwoman woman. Thus the reason to get rid of Hagar. Representing the
10 Commandments.
Totally scriptural
though I well believe this will make some very agitated, questioning how
can this be?
At this point its
important to see ALL the messages through and let Scripture answer itself
as to this predicament on the Covenants and the 10 Commandments being
"Cast out" and "Set aside" in Christ. (Gal 4:30 &
2 Corinthians 3:11,13,& 14)
However remember the
motto?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE
SAY, that’s the issue. And to put our beliefs ahead of the Scriptures
is to really call into question the Word of God, and make God a liar.
Continuing on in this
Galatians text:
The FLESH represented
the Covenant from Sinai (the Ten Commandments)
Now look at 4:29..
"the FLESH PERSECUTED the child who was born according to the SPIRIT,
so it is NOW ALSO".
Those holding to the
10 Commandments (flesh) persecuted those of the New Covenant (Spirit)
so it is now also.
Why? Because there
is a veil over their eyes, they can't accept the New Covenant without
holding onto the Old (The 10 Commandments).
Does that scenario
ring any bells?
Those holding onto
the 10 Commandments are persecuting those of the New Covenant (free)?
Seems prophetic doesn't
it.
Some have "special
messages" confronting others to keep all the 10 Commandments specifically
the "Saturday Sabbath" and call people deceived and worshipping
satan if they don’t accept this "special message".
Today, it Seems bizarre
that those persecuting, condemning others of not adhering to the 10 Commandments
(Sabbath Day) are in fact condemning themselves. Shocking actually.
Yet here is a clear
Scripture explaining exactly that situation.
I wonder if Sabbatarians
had a clear text like this one whether it would be used as a rock solid
proof text yet I haven’t heard one non- Sabbatarian use this view on this
text before.
Before one throws
ones arms up in disgust or thinks of a counter arguments or reasoning.
I ask that you follow
all these messages through and see what the Scripture has to reveal about
the 10 Commandments the Mosaic Covenant being "cast out", "fading",
a ministry of death etc.
Lets see in the next
few messages what Scripture replaces the cast out – Old Covenant with.
Back to the Galatians
message for now:
Galatians 4:30
This is a command of scripture "Cast out the bondwoman woman"!
Which is: the Covenant given at Mt Sinai. Moral and if you want to call
it that, Ceremonial even, though Scripture gives no clear distinction.
The Ceremonial laws are the outworking of the 10 Commandments example:
how to keep the Sabbath Day it is described in the Ceremonial law, the
two go hand in hand.
NOTE: This is not some other church telling you to "cast out"
the 10 Commandments it is the Scripture itself! Cast it out! You are not
under that Covenant "that Law" anymore!
Now on to another
passage of Scripture that also deals with the 10 Commandments
Romans 7:1-7.7:1
Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law),
that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? 7:2 For the
woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as
he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her
husband. 7:3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another
man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is
free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married
another man. 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to
the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another-
to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused
by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 7:6 But
now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held
by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the
oldness of the letter. 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly
not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law.
For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You
shall not covet."
Let’s go through this
passage of Scripture but firstly what Law is Paul talking about?
The answer we find
in verse 7 "For I would not have known covetousness unless the Law
had said, "You shall not covet."
What Law says: "You
shall not covet"? The Mosaic Covenant of the 10 Commandments,
every time the words "You shall not covet" are found in Scripture
it is specifically the Old Covenant Moral Law that is being
spoken of. The Ceremonial Law doesn’t say "You shall not covet".
So we can at least
establish that Paul is talking about the 10 Commandments the Old Covenant
now back to the passage of Scripture.
Firstly however Paul
is using an analogy like he did in Galatians 4 the analogy of the Bondwoman
and the free woman, but this time he is using the analogy of marriage
and that it is Adultery to be alive to two wife’s (Covenants) at the same
time.
Romans 7:1 The law
has a hold or dominion while a man lives.
Romans 7:2 If one
dies one is released from the Law.
Romans 7:3 It is adultery
if one joins with another wife (New Covenant) while alive to the
other
wife (Old
Covenant).
Romans 7:4 We are
dead to the law (Old Covenant) IN Christ so that we can belong to another.
(Being the New
Covenant).
Romans 7:5 The Law
(Old Covenant) aroused sinful passions and brought death.
Romans 7:6 We have
been delivered from the Law (Old Covenant).
Are now dead
to what held us.(Old Covenant)
So that we can
serve in the Newness of the Spirit. (New Covenant)
We serve not
in the old way of the letter. (Old Covenant)
Notice that the Law
here brings the fruit of death (7:5) above) there is no distinction between
the Covenant and the word Law they mean the same thing (used interchangeably)
as evidenced by the fact that they bring the same consequences to man,
death, kills, condemnation etc 2 Cor 3:7....
There are a lot of
similarities in descriptions in this text with some of the other passages
that we have seen.
Please note in this
passage in 7:4 and 7:5 Common comparison relating to FRUIT.
Romans 7:4
Therefore, my brethren, you also have (past tense) become dead to the
law through the body of Christ, …….., that we should bear fruit
to God. (Present tense)
Romans 7:5
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused
by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
We died to the law
|
To bear fruit for God
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When we were alive to the Law
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It brought fruit of Death
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Again what Law is
being talked about? Romans 7:7 The Mosaic Covenant, the 10 Commandments,
the Moral Law.
Note also some similarities
that Paul gives in this passage of Scripture verses other text relating
to the Old Covenant.
Example:
Romans 7:5 The law (Old Covenant) brings
fruit of death
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2 Corinthians 3:7 Old Covenant that’s
on 2 tablets of stone is "A ministry of Death"
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Romans 7:5 For when we were in the
flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law (Old Covenant)
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Romans 8:2 Through Christ the Law
of the Spirit (New Covenant) of life set me free from the Law
of sin and death.(Old Covenant)
|
Romans 7:6 …so that we should serve
in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter
|
Romans 8:2 Through Christ the Law
of the Spirit (New Covenant) of life set me free from the Law
of sin and death.(Old Covenant)
|
Romans 7:6 But now we have been delivered
from the law,(Old Covenant) In Christ.
|
2 Corinthians 3:11 & 14 "That
which is passing away" / "set aside, In Christ.
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Romans 7:6 …delivered from the law,
having died to what we were held by.
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2 Corinthians 3:17 " Where the
Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.
Romans 8:2 Through Christ the Law
of the Spirit (New Covenant) of life set me free.
|
Look at these two
verses and see what type of picture they paint:
Romans 7:6
But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what
we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the
Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Romans 7:4 Therefore,
my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of
Christ, ……. [so], that we should bear fruit to God.
The deeds of the Law
are what?
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication,
impurity, licentiousness, 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy,
anger, quarrels, dissentions, factions, 5:21 envy, drunkenness, carousing,
and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those
who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
As to compared the
deeds of the Spirit.
Romans 7:4-7 Died
to the law, Released from the Law, Unbound from the Law, so we can serve
in the newness of the Spirit :
And the deeds of the
Spirit are:
Galations5: 22-26
Gal 5:22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 5:23 gentleness, and self-control.
There is no law against such things. 5:24 And those who belong to Christ
Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 5:25 If
we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 5:26 Let us
not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
So then looking into
the face of Jesus the Author and perfecter of our "FAITH" (New
covenant) is much more glorious than the face of Moses [Old Covenant]
that was fading away.
Romans 6:13 No longer
present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present
yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and
present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. 6:14 For
sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under
grace.
Notice in this verse
above the constant comparisons eg:
LAW
|
GRACE
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Instruments of wickedness
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Instruments of righteousness
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Death
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Life
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Sin & dominion
|
no dominion (freedom)
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WHAT IS the strength of sin? THE LAW! We are under Grace so sin has lost
its strength against us!
SO truly we can say:
1Cor 15:55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is
your sting?"
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are "IN"
Christ Jesus. 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life "IN" Christ
Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
Galatians 5:18
If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the Law! What Law was Paul
talking about in Galatians? The bondwoman the Old Covenant = The 10 Commandments
= The Moral Law.
The Law (Old Covenant
Moral Law) cannot make you love, it cannot change the inner man,
it condemns us I would not have known sin but by the law, it just leaves
us guilty, in need of a saviour!
The Spirit of Life
sets us free, it is by this Spirit that we can love, for the SPIRIT CHANGES
the inner man and it changes us from glory to glory.
In 1 Cor 6 talking
about drunkards, swindlers, greedy thieves etc…
1 Cor 6:11 "That’s
what some of us were". But NOW we are SANCTIFIED
Sanctified: means
to be set apart for exclusive use .In the Old Testament in the tabernacle
certain ornaments were sanctified for a SPECIAL USE for the WORSHIP of
God they were not to be used for any other purpose.
We are now also set
apart for the worship of God we are not our own, destined for God exclusively.
Instruments of righteousness, presenting ourselves as living sacrifices,
(sanctified, set apart for worship)
Taking captive every
idol thought and bringing it into the obedience of Christ. Letting not
sin reign in our body, running the race in such a way as to win the prize,
focusing on the eternal rather than the temporal.
FOR IF WE DIE TO
SELF (which is our seasonable service) we present ourselves as living
sacrifices to God. Our only mission is to please our commanding officer.
We have no self righteousness of our own, we can not take offence in anything,
we defend not our dignity or our rights....For its no longer I who
Live but Christ IN ME but in everything we give glory to God that
we might gain the more (converts to Jesus) .For our heart is transformed
we feel the heart beat of God .....for he desires none to perish but for
all to come into repentance.
We can now preach
the Gospel in power we wage in the battle for the great commission is
our mission. We focus not disproportionate large portions of time
on genealogy’s or speculative futuristic events [Revelations] for we can
change none of them!!!
Our commission
is to seek and save the lost, to preach anything other than repentance
to God and LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ (total consecration) (decisions rather
than Disciples) is to preach another gospel.
We now live by Faith
IN Christ through the Spirit. The Spirit changes our heart to desire to
the things of the Spirit (fruit) and leads us into all truth rather than
the deeds of the law.
Gal 5:13 For
you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into
an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
1 Cor 6:20
For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
And we are justified
by the Spirit of God we are now declared innocent of all charges before
God. We are Sanctified.
Everything is permissible
in Love and in giving the glory to God, we are set apart to serve God,
we are living sacrifices, not crawling off the altar. We are set apart
for his use.
The law was to bring
us to Christ.
If you have not yet
come to Christ the Law will judge you.
If the Spirit leads
you all things are lawful but we are now guided by a higher standard,
the law of Christ - the law of the Spirit. Run in such a way as to win
the prize. Partake in nothing that would hinder you or discount you from
the prize.
All things are permissible
but Paul would not put himself under the power of any.
Romans 8:1 There is
therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 8:2 For
the law of the Spirit of life "IN Christ" Jesus HAS set
you free from the law of sin and of death.
What Law brings Death
again? The Old Covenant law (10 commandments)
We HAVE (past tense)
been set free from that LAW. The Old Covenant law (10 Commandments) Moral
Law.
Why try to adhere
in ones flesh to a law that, you are free from and not subject to?
In fact Paul suggests
that we become enslaved again if we turn back to these things, this is
addressed later in this study.
Recap: The Old Covenant
is specifically:
That which is on 2
Tablets of stone, The Tablets of the Covenant, The Tablets of the 10 Commandments.
Duet 4:13, Duet 9:9, Duet 9:11, Exodus 34:28, Duet 9:15. & Duet 10:4
In Corinthians the
tablets of stone (2 Cor 3:3) of the "Old Covenant"(2 Cor 3:14)
is described as:
2 Corinthians 3:6 "A Ministry
that kills"
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2 Corinthians 3:7 "A ministry
of Death"
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2 Corinthians 3:7 "Its fading"/"passing
away"
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2 Corinthians 3:9
"A ministry of condemnation"
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2 Corinthians 3:9 A
ministry that (once) had Glory
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2 Corinthians 3:10 "It has No
glory"!(now)
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2 Corinthians 3:11 & 14 "That
which is passing away" / "set aside"
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2 Corinthians 3:15&16 "A veil
that keeps you from seeing Christ"!
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In Galatians speaking of the Old Covenant:
The Old is of the
FLESH [Gal 4:23] (Works)
The New is of the
SPIRIT [Gal 4:29] (Faith).
We are Biblically commanded to "cast out the Old Covenant"
[Gal 4:30], it is put
aside "IN" Christ. [2 Corinthians 3:vs11,13,&14].
Those holding onto the Old Covenant -10 Commandments- will persecute those
of the New Covenant. [Gal 4:29]
There is a New Covenant
coming that is NOT like the Old Covenant of Moses.[Jeremiah 31:31]
In Romans Paul speaks of the Old Covenant / Moral Law in this manner:
We die to the Old
Covenant so to bear fruit for God [Romans7:4]
It is adultery if
one joins with another wife (New Covenant) while alive to the other
wife (Old
Covenant). [Romans 7:3]
But now we have been
delivered from the law (Old Covenant) In Christ. [Romans 7:6]
We are delivered from
the law, having died to what we were held by. [Romans 7:6]
If you hear God's voice today, do not harden you heart.
Heb 4:7
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