Law and then Grace
In the beginning Adam walked with God, but was later seduced into exchanging his relationship with God for the knowledge of ‘good and evil’. When the Lord God called out to him saying; “where are you?” It was proclaimed throughout the universe that Adam had set out on his own. Adam began to have to rely on his own judgments, and was then expelled from the Garden of his intimacy with God, not by his Creator, but by his specific choice. And although it was the faith of Abraham that was counted unto righteousness, not so many centuries later was the law given by Moses to keep a contrary people in line from their own perversions.
This scenario was not the first choice in God’s plan, and since nothing can defeat our Lord, He had another plan: Mercy and Grace. The man Adam that scriptures speak of is mankind; us. We too can eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge, or choose an intimate walk with God; but not both.
Galatians 3; “He who supplies the Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, is it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Just as Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness, therefore know that those that are of faith are the sons of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing, that God would justify us by faith. So then those, who of faith, are blessed with the belief of Abraham; believing him.” Verse 10; “For as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse; for it is written ‘cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them. But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident… Yet the law is not of faith, but the man that does them shall live by them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.”
Why do we, God’s chosen, that call our self by His name, continue to think that works will bring a greater appreciation from our Father? Is Christ, being born under the law, and later baptized into the Spirit, therefore out from beneath the law, is His life thus in vain because we think that our works will show us honor? Think not that God is looking for men and women to honor Him with the works of their hands; but instead by His indwelling Spirit, by faith. Our degrees, our beautiful voice, our ability to capture an audience, our choir robes, our craftily done pews, or anything else the mind and hands can think of and do, will not impress our Father of all Creation; it comes only by faith. Our belief in His Son Jesus brings us to Him, but our faith is what sustains our relationship with Him. For our faith, also, is what accounts us into His righteousness. “The law made nothing perfect,” but the man of Christ that hung on that tree, two thousand years ago did, and our acceptance of His full action, sets us free from the bondage of the law, and now only Grace abounds.
Now, when I speak of the law, I speak concerning the actions that man involves himself into. I’m trying to articulate the stuff we do in hopes of pleasing God, such as the committees that are put together for certain projects, or if our choir robes are of the finest quality, or if the bulletins issued each week are witty enough and all the information is addressed, but, for the most part, I speak of the religious things we do in hopes of pleasing God. How many folks did we ‘witness’ too? Or did we make sure that in each conversation, that there was enough halleluiah’s, and are we representing our ‘church’ correctly?
I am not saying that we shouldn’t present ourselves in a Godly way, or that we shouldn’t use His name in our conversations, but, are they coming from the heart of Christ that lives in us? Is this a planned practice, or a rehearsed platform; or are the words of our speech coming from the genuine rock within, in which Christ lives, or the carnal nature of man? The law is using dead works in lieu of a genuine relationship with the indwelling Christ, or, is it our abilities, our best foot forward, or our intelligent knowledge; is the main presentation of our eloquence foremost, rather than being Spirit led?
Grace is the Gift that God gives, whether we deserve it or not, whether our abilities warrant it or not, for the Grace from God is given, with no other substitute available to all; but those, that won’t accept it, try to earn it; and that can’t happen. For grace is unmerited, free, and is built on the tolerance and love of God, which is never ending. Thinking otherwise will bring each into the bondage of the law, which Christ set us entirely free from. We are no longer under the laws of oppression and burdens; for His yoke is easy, and His labor is light.
Let’s go back a chapter, still in Galatians. 2:16: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ… that we might be justified by faith and not by the works of the law, (nor by the flesh). For by the works of the law, no flesh shall be justified… For I, through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the Grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
Oh foolish people that we are, us that have been bewitched, that we would not obey the Truth, even though we were clearly portrayed amid the eyes of Jesus, as crucified. This matter of the law, and the works of our carnal flesh, is no small matter, it has been handed down by the early misled forefathers, to our forefathers, and now to us, and has yielded Grace to no effect. But that’s what God does best, even in our misled antics, His Grace prevails; for of a truth, Gods’ mercy and grace maintains us, even in spite of ourselves. At least to me, this is not comprehended, but still it is believed. Oh what manner of Love the Father has given unto us.
Again, when speaking of the law, I approach anything done by the hands and mind of man that is done without the consent of God. Not only are we no longer under the laws of Moses, but also are we not under the many, many laws that man has invented since then, including those of recent times. Let us read in Romans: 4: While Abraham was still uncircumcised, God spoke to him, and Abraham’s faith increased. For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, then faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath…therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace… 6: For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law, but under Grace.
Now many admit that we are not under the law, even believing it to be transformed; but with their attitudes and service, they continue to live under the law: I guess to persuade themselves and others of being an honorable candidate to God. By looking closely; when with their mouth they say that we live under the unmerited favor, Grace, but still want our money thru the tithes of Moses. God said not with the sacrifices do you please me, but through obedience. So as long as man’s greed sticks around, so will tithes. The only thing Jesus taught that we were to give unto God, was our life, our whole life, and nothing but our life, and if I’m counting right, that’s not 10% but a 100%; ain’t it nice that the Grace of God prevails in every matter. For if it weren’t for Grace, not only would I be doomed, but the whole world.
Do we therefore sin, or live contrary to the Lord, because Grace abounds? God forbid. But when our lives are given unto Him, even with our many defects, faults, and deficits, in a relationship, then the very desire of relating with Him will transform our lives. We don’t need to earn His Love, He’s already given it to us, but the years and years of persuasive preaching from these pulpits have manipulated most into believing their self-indulgent, money-making schemes to keep us in their bondage.
After saying that, I want to say this: The purpose of this author is not to humiliate anyone, but to bring many into the Truth of His Knowledge and Word. We are all His children, even those that humiliate, and those who manipulate; we were all made in the similitude of God. We have virtually all left our first Love, the Love that was given to us from the foundations of the world; and gone astray, pimping our own agendas for our self-centered motives.
In case someone is asking; what is this author’s agenda, and what does he want out of this? The books that are offered come with no charge, and I don’t take gifts, but I want your heavenly Father, which is my Heavenly Father, honored and sought. While sitting quietly many years ago, the Lord spoke to me, and His voice was clear and distinct: Ross, you can make your living elsewhere, but there’ll be no monetary profit in me. I require your life, and if you lay down your life for me, all your other needs will be met. This was simple, and sufficient for me to understand.
Not all the laws that we live by are from the mouth of Moses, and neither was it this way at the times prior to Christ’s Truth, for then, as it is now, many of the religious leaders made their own standards that were not Spirit led. Customs, such as what day of the week we meet, the dress guidelines, the times that we can worship, how much of our payroll is required, and in some cases, how many ‘Hail Mary’s’ are assigned, the list goes on-and-on, and then, just like now, it is times to overturn the tables of the money-changers.
This fad that began a couple of decades ago called for a ‘seed of faith’, and at the expense of many of the poor, the already rich well- heeled preachers, got richer. The rich, in many cases are feeding the poor, and I’m thinking it ought to be the other way around. In Malachi it says; will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me! But you say, in what way have we robbed you Lord? In your tithes and the offerings. This passage was speaking directly to the priest. The people below them weren’t the culprits, but those that called themselves priest, and taking the money from those that they were supposed to feed, and then feeding themselves. This small set of scriptures has been used for centuries to beguile many-a parishioner into handing over their money to those that called themselves a leader from God. Shame on us for such antics, and them that are using a scripture that was directed at priesthood, and turning it around on those that were just there to seek God. These Words of God was not to make folks pay tithes, but to rebuke the priest for taking from those that they were supposed to be feeding. Read the whole short book of Malachi, with the understanding that it was written to the priest.
What else could Jesus do, but to overturn the tables at the Temple of those that exchanged material things for that coveted money? In the same way, we pay our preachers to sell their words, their sermons, to those that will pay the price, and that is exactly what we do; pay the price. “If my people that are call by my name, will humble themselves… then I will heal…” These folks, back in Jesus’ time, were selling sacrifices, or just about anything else that they could make a living off of. How ridiculous! Now as we take a look at the modern-day temple; are we doing any different?
As much effort and time as the scriptures, including Christ Himself, have given to teaching us of the free Gift of Grace, then why are we so dead-set on living by our efforts for God’s approval? Is it, maybe, that the truth of grace has not been revealed?
Roman 5:18 “Therefore as through one man’s offense judgment came to all, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act, the free Gift came to all, resulting in justification of Life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, Grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so Grace might reign through righteous…” So it was asked; do we continue in sin that Grace may abound?
Absolutely not. Can we? I think maybe we can for nothing will separate us from the Love, Grace, and Mercy of our Lord, but when Grace is understood and accepted, then our hearts are poured into His bosom, and then sin can’t abound. The clearer the face of Jesus becomes, the more incapable we become of going against Him. Remember He told us to seek His face to be healed, but no matter, at this point, we can separate our self from a relationship with God, but not the Love that is so freely given.
I will speak of this again in an impending chapter, but as of now, we can clearly see that we are no longer under the law, whether it be the law of Moses, and especially not under the man-made laws of religion, or even call them regulations; but the laws established by governments will are truly to abide by. For by them we are stayed from anarchy.
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