Romans 3:20
"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."
The Law condemns. Remember I said already, it was a ministration of death and we’re going to be looking at it in probably chapter 8. But let’s jump ahead and turn to II Corinthians chapter 3 and look at it. I used it but, it bears repeating and I’m going to use it like I said, in the next chapter when we speak to the "tables of stone" that were in the Ark of the Covenant. I’ll make some statements on that that will shock people. But here, since I’ve already alluded to it, let’s read it.
II Corinthians 3:6
"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; (or the new covenant) not of the letter, (now whenever Paul uses the letter, he’s referring to the Mosaic Law) but of the spirit: for the letter (the levitical Law, the written law, and the Ten, if you want to call it that, they can do nothing but) killeth, but the spirit gives life."
Now maybe I should stop. I’ve probably made statements over the years that have shocked people because they probably don’t understand where I’m coming from. But when I say we’re not under Law, we’re under Grace, the first impression people get is, "Well he’s telling me I can do what ever I want to do." No, no! The Law, you see, "demanded," whereas Grace is total freedom, total liberty, but instead of the Law telling us what we can’t do and what we can do, we now have the indwelling Holy Spirit who changes our whole modus operandi so that we don’t want to break the law (God's divine and spiritual law, wherein God has said that He'll do in us what we could not do or accomplish through our own self efforts of the flesh). And what a difference! Jeremiah tells us that God writes on our heart look at Jeremiah chapter 31 drop down o verse 31:
“Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was an husband to them, says the LORD: But this the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, says the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
And then He says in verse 34:
“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. “
Then in chapter 32 and verse 40 we'll start at verse 38:
“And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them
good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.”
Then Ezekiel utters much the same statements, which we'll allow you to search out.
That’s where Israel [and the worlds church] fails so miserably all up through her Old Testament history. They were under those demands of the Law but with no power of the Spirit to help them keep it. And so, consequently, what were they doing most of the time? Breaking them. And it almost became despairing because they just couldn’t help it. They didn’t have the indwelling Spirit. So always remember that when I say we’re not under Law, we’re under Grace. I’m not saying we’ve got license - I’m saying now we’ve got something that empowers us to keep God’s law (the law of Kingdom-Life, which holds Eternal Life, Love, Truth and Grace above the Law of works because its through divine Righteousness, Holiness, Godliness by sanctification out of death to all self will and the spirit of the world) and being placed into the New Covenant. Now verse 7 and here it comes.
II Corinthians 3:7a
"But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones,…"
Now listen, what was engraven in stone? The Ten. And what are they? They are a ministration of death. They don’t give life because all they can do is condemn.
I Corinthians 3:7
"But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones was glorious, (and it was, it was perfect from God’s vantage point. Now if that was glorious) so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:"
Remember that the stone was a symbol of the heart condition and the glory on Moses' face faded away the same as the Law, was to do at the end of its assigned time. For its glory also faded just as that which was visible on Moses face faded with time. It would be done away when this whole new concept of Grace would be brought in. Well, we could just keep going, but I think we’d better make a little headway. Let’s go back to Hebrews chapter 7 and now we can go into verse 20.
Hebrews 7:20-21
"And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)"
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
The Epistle to the Hebrews part CLXX
He writes so pitifully, in II Timothy, "O, Timothy you know that all those in Asia have turned against me." Why? They didn’t like Paul’s message. They preferred something that demanded works. And I was just reminded of a quote from the president of Princeton University. I think I can quote it almost verbatim. I found it written in something on Princeton some time ago it was back in 1888 I think it was. That of course, gives rise to the truth of his statement. He hasn’t been polluted by the modernism or the secular humanism of the last hundred years. But in 1888-1890, this president of Princeton made this statement, "Either Christendom has to rehabilitate the doctrines of Paul or it is on and on and on to apostasy and despair."
And the gentleman who quoted it in the book I was reading went on to say, (and he was writing in about 1910 or 1915) "...isn’t it sad that Christendom chose the former." They chose to turn against the Apostle Paul and his doctrines and went instead contrary to it. But in this ministry, we’re not going to do that. We’re going to hang with Paul’s apostleship, with his teachings and with his Gospel of the Grace of God. We'll do our best to follow in the steps of Paul, Major W. Ian Thomas, William Law, Andrew Murray and a few others all while seeking the heart or face of God through His Holy Spirit. So again, verse 19:
Hebrews 7:19
"For the law (the Mosaic System) made nothing perfect, (it had so much lacking)but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh (close) unto God."
Now just to prove the point, let’s go back. Come back with me to Romans chapter 3 because we can never repeat some of these things often enough. I have to be constantly reminded, that there are those who are hearing these things for the first time. And, you just can’t grasp it in just one hearing. It has to be repeated and repeated, so just remember, that we have all kinds of people who are hearing it for the first time. Romans chapter 3 verse 19 and this is exactly what Hebrews 7:19 is referring to, that the Law was not perfect. Alright, here’s why.
Romans 3:19a
"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law:…"
Well now, what percentage of the human race even at that time was that applicable for? The tiny Nation of Israel, which was probably just a fraction of a percent of the total. They were the only ones that were under the Levitical Law. But on the other hand to settle the Sovereignty of God, the whole world came under the curse of the commandment which became a law, not just Israel, but the whole world. And that’s what it says next, see?
Romans 3:19a
"We know that what soever the law saith, it saith to them that are under the law: (that is to the Nation of Israel) that every mouth (going beyond the Nation of Israel to the whole human race) may be stopped,…"
What does that mean? Hey, when they come before God they can’t argue. Oh, they’re going to try, I think, but it’s not going to work. The Lord Himself gave us a good example. He said, "in that day" (and He was speaking of the Great White Throne, he said) "in that day they will say, but Lord" (what does that mean? They’re arguing) "but Lord didn’t we do this and didn’t we do that? Didn’t we cast out demons in your name and all that?" (And what’s His answer going to be?) "Depart from me ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you." Sad, isn’t it? So sad.
But nevertheless, the Law could do nothing more than what we see in the rest of the verse now that:
Romans 3:19b
"…all the world may become guilty before God."
Notice it doesn’t say, that they may become saved as a lot of people today think yet. That if they just keep the commandments and do the best they can, then God will say "Well, come on in." No! All the commandment which became law by way of unbelief or rebellion of Adam and then the Levitical Law could do was condemn.
Now that shocks people that have never heard it before, but the Law has never saved anybody! All the Law can do is show man their sin and the fact that we’ve all broken it. Keeping the Law is not a vehicle of salvation. It is a ministration of death because, as James says, "if you’re guilty of one, you’re guilty of breaking all of them." Boy, where does that leave all of us? We’re all Law-breakers supreme. Now this Law is what the Ten Commandments as it is a moral law or code of conduct for all. Now verse 20.
And the gentleman who quoted it in the book I was reading went on to say, (and he was writing in about 1910 or 1915) "...isn’t it sad that Christendom chose the former." They chose to turn against the Apostle Paul and his doctrines and went instead contrary to it. But in this ministry, we’re not going to do that. We’re going to hang with Paul’s apostleship, with his teachings and with his Gospel of the Grace of God. We'll do our best to follow in the steps of Paul, Major W. Ian Thomas, William Law, Andrew Murray and a few others all while seeking the heart or face of God through His Holy Spirit. So again, verse 19:
Hebrews 7:19
"For the law (the Mosaic System) made nothing perfect, (it had so much lacking)but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh (close) unto God."
Now just to prove the point, let’s go back. Come back with me to Romans chapter 3 because we can never repeat some of these things often enough. I have to be constantly reminded, that there are those who are hearing these things for the first time. And, you just can’t grasp it in just one hearing. It has to be repeated and repeated, so just remember, that we have all kinds of people who are hearing it for the first time. Romans chapter 3 verse 19 and this is exactly what Hebrews 7:19 is referring to, that the Law was not perfect. Alright, here’s why.
Romans 3:19a
"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law:…"
Well now, what percentage of the human race even at that time was that applicable for? The tiny Nation of Israel, which was probably just a fraction of a percent of the total. They were the only ones that were under the Levitical Law. But on the other hand to settle the Sovereignty of God, the whole world came under the curse of the commandment which became a law, not just Israel, but the whole world. And that’s what it says next, see?
Romans 3:19a
"We know that what soever the law saith, it saith to them that are under the law: (that is to the Nation of Israel) that every mouth (going beyond the Nation of Israel to the whole human race) may be stopped,…"
What does that mean? Hey, when they come before God they can’t argue. Oh, they’re going to try, I think, but it’s not going to work. The Lord Himself gave us a good example. He said, "in that day" (and He was speaking of the Great White Throne, he said) "in that day they will say, but Lord" (what does that mean? They’re arguing) "but Lord didn’t we do this and didn’t we do that? Didn’t we cast out demons in your name and all that?" (And what’s His answer going to be?) "Depart from me ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you." Sad, isn’t it? So sad.
But nevertheless, the Law could do nothing more than what we see in the rest of the verse now that:
Romans 3:19b
"…all the world may become guilty before God."
Notice it doesn’t say, that they may become saved as a lot of people today think yet. That if they just keep the commandments and do the best they can, then God will say "Well, come on in." No! All the commandment which became law by way of unbelief or rebellion of Adam and then the Levitical Law could do was condemn.
Now that shocks people that have never heard it before, but the Law has never saved anybody! All the Law can do is show man their sin and the fact that we’ve all broken it. Keeping the Law is not a vehicle of salvation. It is a ministration of death because, as James says, "if you’re guilty of one, you’re guilty of breaking all of them." Boy, where does that leave all of us? We’re all Law-breakers supreme. Now this Law is what the Ten Commandments as it is a moral law or code of conduct for all. Now verse 20.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
The Epistle to the Hebrews part CLXIX
Acts 22:12
"And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there."
You see, none of those believers in Jesus as the Messiah, had yet severed themselves from that part of Judaism, which was Law-keeping.
And so, what the whole Epistle of Hebrews is really all about is to convince those Jewish believers to now, move away from the dead works religion. To cut the apron strings to Judaism, not to just throw it away as trash, no way. It’s the very foundation of everything that has come on up through even into Paul’s apostleship, but nevertheless, they were to cut the strings to the legalism and religion of Judaism and step into this Gospel of Grace. After all its still the first estate where God places us all after we've received redemption or are saved, its where or when we receive of His Holy Spirit. But we're not, no NOT, to remain within its corral. Its there that we're to learn Christ and His obedience and its through it we must come to our crisis in the power of the Holy Spirit. Its there that God begins His working on our new heart by the Holy Spirit but its only after we've learned Christ that we're prepared for the crisis which demands our freewill surrender to the Holy Spirit and say NOT my will but YOUR Will oh LORD be done and then see our selves on the cross in Him, in His death, burial, resurrection and ascension, then seated in Christ hid in God in the heavenliest.
Now back to our study. Consequently then, we’ve been looking at the priesthood of Melchizedek, who was not a priest of Israel. He was not after the order of Aaron and the tribe of Levi but rather he was a high priest of the Most High God, you remember, which we stressed was the term for God of the whole human race and not just Israel. And so now we come to this whole idea that the Law has to be put behind them - and then step out into Grace. Alright, let’s look in verse 19.
Hebrews 7:19a
"For the law (the law of Judaism - the Mosaic law) made nothing perfect,…"
In other words, the Law of Moses, as holy and as pure as it was from God’s vantage-point, so far as men were concerned it was weak and it was beggarly, because no man could keep it. And so it was not perfect. It was not the final answer to man’s dilemma. There was no wiggle room in it. There was no redemption offered nor salvation available within its framework. Only judgment and death of sin, unbelief and disobedience to it.
Hebrews 7:19b
"But, (flipside) the bringing in of a better hope did;…"
Did what? Make something perfect! Isn’t it amazing what language can do? The Law as pure and holy as it was didn’t finish it for the human race. Nobody was saved by keeping the Law, and we’re going to see that in a moment. But, the flipside is now God has introduced something that is perfect and it can’t be improved upon. Now you remember what I said, and I’ve been sharing it over and over wherever I open the Word. Twice in Scripture, God did something so perfect that He couldn’t add to it, He couldn’t embellish it, He couldn’t correct it and so what did He do? He rested.
What’s the whole idea? Well, if something is perfect, what more can you do? And so you just leave it there. The first one remember, was at the end of Creation, the last verse of Genesis 1 says:
Genesis 1:31a
"And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, it was very good…."
There wasn’t a thing that He could improve on those days of creation. You jump into chapter 2 and what did he do? He rested! Nothing more He could done.
Genesis 2:2
"And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested…"
And then we have the second one when Hebrews tells us that after Christ had purged us from our sin by virtue of His and our death, burial and resurrection. When He had purged us from our penalty of sin, He did again what? He sat down, denoting a finished work. He could rest. The penalty of sin was the separation from the Living God the God with whom noting is impossible who calls those things that be not as though they are. It is He who by His Faith and the faith of Jesus Christ in His faithfulness to do as He had promised Him as revealed in scripture. One to have a body made for Him this in Genesis 3:15, then in the Psalms it reveals more of Christ's work as the son of man placed among wicked men to proclaim the message of our salvation through His faith.
Alright so this is what we’re coming back too, see? The Law wasn’t perfect. But, the flipside is that now the bringing in of a Better hope, that is our Gospel of Salvation through faith and Grace based on His death, burial and resurrection. It did what? Made it perfect! So that there was nothing more that could be added. And isn’t it sad, oh, mankind has walked it underfoot ever since Paul the Apostle began to introduce it to the Gentile world. Mankind has made light of it ever since.
"And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there."
You see, none of those believers in Jesus as the Messiah, had yet severed themselves from that part of Judaism, which was Law-keeping.
And so, what the whole Epistle of Hebrews is really all about is to convince those Jewish believers to now, move away from the dead works religion. To cut the apron strings to Judaism, not to just throw it away as trash, no way. It’s the very foundation of everything that has come on up through even into Paul’s apostleship, but nevertheless, they were to cut the strings to the legalism and religion of Judaism and step into this Gospel of Grace. After all its still the first estate where God places us all after we've received redemption or are saved, its where or when we receive of His Holy Spirit. But we're not, no NOT, to remain within its corral. Its there that we're to learn Christ and His obedience and its through it we must come to our crisis in the power of the Holy Spirit. Its there that God begins His working on our new heart by the Holy Spirit but its only after we've learned Christ that we're prepared for the crisis which demands our freewill surrender to the Holy Spirit and say NOT my will but YOUR Will oh LORD be done and then see our selves on the cross in Him, in His death, burial, resurrection and ascension, then seated in Christ hid in God in the heavenliest.
Now back to our study. Consequently then, we’ve been looking at the priesthood of Melchizedek, who was not a priest of Israel. He was not after the order of Aaron and the tribe of Levi but rather he was a high priest of the Most High God, you remember, which we stressed was the term for God of the whole human race and not just Israel. And so now we come to this whole idea that the Law has to be put behind them - and then step out into Grace. Alright, let’s look in verse 19.
Hebrews 7:19a
"For the law (the law of Judaism - the Mosaic law) made nothing perfect,…"
In other words, the Law of Moses, as holy and as pure as it was from God’s vantage-point, so far as men were concerned it was weak and it was beggarly, because no man could keep it. And so it was not perfect. It was not the final answer to man’s dilemma. There was no wiggle room in it. There was no redemption offered nor salvation available within its framework. Only judgment and death of sin, unbelief and disobedience to it.
Hebrews 7:19b
"But, (flipside) the bringing in of a better hope did;…"
Did what? Make something perfect! Isn’t it amazing what language can do? The Law as pure and holy as it was didn’t finish it for the human race. Nobody was saved by keeping the Law, and we’re going to see that in a moment. But, the flipside is now God has introduced something that is perfect and it can’t be improved upon. Now you remember what I said, and I’ve been sharing it over and over wherever I open the Word. Twice in Scripture, God did something so perfect that He couldn’t add to it, He couldn’t embellish it, He couldn’t correct it and so what did He do? He rested.
What’s the whole idea? Well, if something is perfect, what more can you do? And so you just leave it there. The first one remember, was at the end of Creation, the last verse of Genesis 1 says:
Genesis 1:31a
"And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, it was very good…."
There wasn’t a thing that He could improve on those days of creation. You jump into chapter 2 and what did he do? He rested! Nothing more He could done.
Genesis 2:2
"And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested…"
And then we have the second one when Hebrews tells us that after Christ had purged us from our sin by virtue of His and our death, burial and resurrection. When He had purged us from our penalty of sin, He did again what? He sat down, denoting a finished work. He could rest. The penalty of sin was the separation from the Living God the God with whom noting is impossible who calls those things that be not as though they are. It is He who by His Faith and the faith of Jesus Christ in His faithfulness to do as He had promised Him as revealed in scripture. One to have a body made for Him this in Genesis 3:15, then in the Psalms it reveals more of Christ's work as the son of man placed among wicked men to proclaim the message of our salvation through His faith.
Alright so this is what we’re coming back too, see? The Law wasn’t perfect. But, the flipside is that now the bringing in of a Better hope, that is our Gospel of Salvation through faith and Grace based on His death, burial and resurrection. It did what? Made it perfect! So that there was nothing more that could be added. And isn’t it sad, oh, mankind has walked it underfoot ever since Paul the Apostle began to introduce it to the Gentile world. Mankind has made light of it ever since.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The Epistle to the Hebrews part CLXVIII
Hebrews 7:19
"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better (there’s that word better) hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."
What in the world is he talking about? This whole system now of this Grace of God which goes out to the whole human race. This Gospel by which the Age of Grace believers are saved, "that Christ died for our sins, and that He was buried and that He rose again from the dead the third day," and that we were seen as being IN Him by our trusting GOD, as we see in I Corinthians 15:1-4 and Romans 10:9-11. That isn’t limited to any one group of people. And that is the Better system that has now been introduced, not just to the Hebrew, but to the whole world under that order of our High Priesthood who is in the likeness of Melchizedek the priest of "the Most High God." Especially for those who have passed from death into His Eternal Life and Light. And remember that all mankind starts out in the state of death as we all begin life separated from God and His Divine Kingdom by our sin nature.
We have got the greatest message the world has ever known. That no one is left out. Anyone who can simply recognize their need first in redemption and then salvation and first become receptive unto being a believer of it, can enter in to Life Eternal and enjoy all the blessings of this Priest, Melchizedek, because He is now the Priest of "the Most High God" interceding for us, in the Covenant of Grace, the man Christ Jesus.
Remember, we’re talking about the priesthood of Melchizedek. And always remember, too, that the Epistle of Hebrews is written primarily to Hebrews, to Jewish people. Not that we can’t learn from it. There’s a lot in here that is so apropos, even for us in the Age of Grace. When Jesus came into this world, He both spoke and walked in a way that revealed God’s truth. He was the “living Word” or the Word made manifest. And He came to lead all of God’s called-out children into the same Kingdom-life– the life that Adam lost at the Fall.
The Scripture says that everyone “of the world” is now in darkness and under the sway of the devil. (1 John 5:19) The reason is quite simple: They are still following the self-seeking and self-exalting ways of the devil. We can therefore say that everyone who is still living by the maxim, “Save yourself” {where self – “self-will or “self-determination,” “self-seeking,” and “self-sufficiency” – is still at the center of your thoughts and actions} is still under the sway of the devil.(1)
If, as a Christian, you are still living for your own desires, and even trying to correct your selfish desires by human effort, you will find that you are still under a bondage to your self-centered nature. The end result, as it was for the Jews, will be “a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” (Rom. 10:2)(1)
These religious people of old wanted to save themselves and produce their own righteousness for God. But they were unwilling to die to their self life. They therefore rejected the Kingdom-life they could have received from Jesus Christ by taking His way of the cross.(1)
The Jews were deceived by Satan. Not realizing that godliness is the result of God’s activity in man, and “being ignorant of God’s righteousness,” they attempted “to establish their own righteousness.” (Rom. 10:3) Their desire for independence and self-sufficiency prevented them from being able to see the light of the true Gospel. In effect, they rejected our Lord’s message because they did not want to die to their flesh-life and become vessels of “the righteousness of God.” (v. 3) And, unfortunately, there are many people in the church today who are still rejecting Christ {His way of the cross} for the same reason.(1)
These Hebrew people (like the Jerusalem church - and I don’t think this was written to the Jerusalem church but another one like it) and these other Jewish congregations that were scattered throughout the Roman Empire who had embraced Jesus as their Messiah. They had grasped that much, but they were still keeping the Law. They were still hanging on to so many of the tenets of Judaism and that’s so obvious as you saw in the study examples of Acts. How that Peter had said:
Acts 10:14
"But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean."
Why not? Because he was a good law-keeping Hebrew. And when he got to the house of Cornelius he hedged and he said:
Acts 10:28a
"And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation;…"
Well, why? That was all part of Judaism. And then when you get on over to Acts chapter 22 and Paul is rehearsing his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul makes the statement:
Acts 22:12
"And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there."
(1) Are quotes taken from Major W. Ian Thomas' book "The Mystery of Godliness".
"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better (there’s that word better) hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."
What in the world is he talking about? This whole system now of this Grace of God which goes out to the whole human race. This Gospel by which the Age of Grace believers are saved, "that Christ died for our sins, and that He was buried and that He rose again from the dead the third day," and that we were seen as being IN Him by our trusting GOD, as we see in I Corinthians 15:1-4 and Romans 10:9-11. That isn’t limited to any one group of people. And that is the Better system that has now been introduced, not just to the Hebrew, but to the whole world under that order of our High Priesthood who is in the likeness of Melchizedek the priest of "the Most High God." Especially for those who have passed from death into His Eternal Life and Light. And remember that all mankind starts out in the state of death as we all begin life separated from God and His Divine Kingdom by our sin nature.
We have got the greatest message the world has ever known. That no one is left out. Anyone who can simply recognize their need first in redemption and then salvation and first become receptive unto being a believer of it, can enter in to Life Eternal and enjoy all the blessings of this Priest, Melchizedek, because He is now the Priest of "the Most High God" interceding for us, in the Covenant of Grace, the man Christ Jesus.
Remember, we’re talking about the priesthood of Melchizedek. And always remember, too, that the Epistle of Hebrews is written primarily to Hebrews, to Jewish people. Not that we can’t learn from it. There’s a lot in here that is so apropos, even for us in the Age of Grace. When Jesus came into this world, He both spoke and walked in a way that revealed God’s truth. He was the “living Word” or the Word made manifest. And He came to lead all of God’s called-out children into the same Kingdom-life– the life that Adam lost at the Fall.
The Scripture says that everyone “of the world” is now in darkness and under the sway of the devil. (1 John 5:19) The reason is quite simple: They are still following the self-seeking and self-exalting ways of the devil. We can therefore say that everyone who is still living by the maxim, “Save yourself” {where self – “self-will or “self-determination,” “self-seeking,” and “self-sufficiency” – is still at the center of your thoughts and actions} is still under the sway of the devil.(1)
If, as a Christian, you are still living for your own desires, and even trying to correct your selfish desires by human effort, you will find that you are still under a bondage to your self-centered nature. The end result, as it was for the Jews, will be “a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” (Rom. 10:2)(1)
These religious people of old wanted to save themselves and produce their own righteousness for God. But they were unwilling to die to their self life. They therefore rejected the Kingdom-life they could have received from Jesus Christ by taking His way of the cross.(1)
The Jews were deceived by Satan. Not realizing that godliness is the result of God’s activity in man, and “being ignorant of God’s righteousness,” they attempted “to establish their own righteousness.” (Rom. 10:3) Their desire for independence and self-sufficiency prevented them from being able to see the light of the true Gospel. In effect, they rejected our Lord’s message because they did not want to die to their flesh-life and become vessels of “the righteousness of God.” (v. 3) And, unfortunately, there are many people in the church today who are still rejecting Christ {His way of the cross} for the same reason.(1)
These Hebrew people (like the Jerusalem church - and I don’t think this was written to the Jerusalem church but another one like it) and these other Jewish congregations that were scattered throughout the Roman Empire who had embraced Jesus as their Messiah. They had grasped that much, but they were still keeping the Law. They were still hanging on to so many of the tenets of Judaism and that’s so obvious as you saw in the study examples of Acts. How that Peter had said:
Acts 10:14
"But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean."
Why not? Because he was a good law-keeping Hebrew. And when he got to the house of Cornelius he hedged and he said:
Acts 10:28a
"And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation;…"
Well, why? That was all part of Judaism. And then when you get on over to Acts chapter 22 and Paul is rehearsing his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul makes the statement:
Acts 22:12
"And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there."
(1) Are quotes taken from Major W. Ian Thomas' book "The Mystery of Godliness".
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
The Epistle to the Hebrews part CLXVII
Hebrews 7:15-16
"And it is far more evident; for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal (an external, materialism or a fleshly) commandment, but after the power of (what kind?) an endless life."
He’s eternal. He comes out of eternity past and He’ll go on into eternity future. Without end, and without beginning. He's Eternal an every one who follows Him through the cross, He imparts this Eternal Life too. For they gain knowledge of being led by the Spirit and every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Hebrews 7:17a
"For he testifieth, (God spoke it, coming out of Psalms now 110) Thou art a priest for ever…"
That’s never going to end. Now goodness sakes, I don’t have to tell you. How long did the priesthood last of the priests of Israel? Until they died! That ended it. Death ends everything, and it’s the same way with the priesthood. When the priest died, his priesthood went with him. It ended. But you see, with this priest it will never end. He ever lives and intercedes for us. And those who become the willing ones acquire His Priesthood in the same power as they become as He is, even while in the world or on this earth. Alright, verse 18.
Hebrews 7:18
"For there is verily a disannulling (or a canceling out) of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof."
Are we getting the point? Oh, the commandment which became a law and the the Levitical Law had its purpose. It was perfect from God’s vantage point, but it was weak and fleshly so far as men were concerned and so it fades off. It failed miserably. My, if you doubt that, have you read your Old Testament lately? Just go back and read Judges. Go back and read the prophets. How much effect did the Levitical Law have on the behavior of the Israelites? Well it didn’t have much. Because most of them were the pits. Now that may fly in the face of some of my Jewish friends and I know I’ve got quite a few. But all you have to do is read the account and the most visible one or the most understandable one is when Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal up there on Mt. Carmel. And after he had run from the threats of Jezebel, you remember, he goes all the way down to the Negev and sits down under a juniper tree and Elijah said, "Lord take my life. Because I’m the only one left, they’ve all followed Baal."
Now listen, who was the promoter of Baal worship at that time in Israel? What woman? Jezebel. So what does that tell you? They were living in rank immorality, and Elijah thought he was the only one that wasn’t. That tells us enough, but God, was merciful enough to say, "Now Elijah, you’re not quite the only one left that is true to me. I’ve still got seven thousand."
Now seven thousand out of an average population of seven million over Israel’s history, I’ve said this over and over. What percentage is that? One tenth of one percent, that had remained true to Yhovah. The rest had all followed in the worship of Baal. I know Jewish people will probably try to tell me, well, they’re still all going to be saved because they were under the covenant promises, but I don’t think so. Lawlessness is what? Sin.
But that just goes to show you that the Law, the Mosaic system, didn’t work. But now come up to Christ’s earthly ministry. How many of the Hebrews at Christ’s time were true exemplary believers? Very few. Oh they were religious. They kept Temple worship. They kept the feast days. But very few were true believers. So the Law of Moses just didn’t affect the nation that much. Well, then of course, we come into our own day and time, it hasn’t changed has it? Even the Gospel of Grace has not made that much difference in the world’s behavior. Why? Because the devil corrupted it and changed it through deception in to what we see and hear now in our time, just more lawlessness, which is unbelief. Verse 19.
Hebrews 7:19
"(just like we read in Romans a moment ago) For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better (there’s that word better) hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."
"And it is far more evident; for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal (an external, materialism or a fleshly) commandment, but after the power of (what kind?) an endless life."
He’s eternal. He comes out of eternity past and He’ll go on into eternity future. Without end, and without beginning. He's Eternal an every one who follows Him through the cross, He imparts this Eternal Life too. For they gain knowledge of being led by the Spirit and every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Hebrews 7:17a
"For he testifieth, (God spoke it, coming out of Psalms now 110) Thou art a priest for ever…"
That’s never going to end. Now goodness sakes, I don’t have to tell you. How long did the priesthood last of the priests of Israel? Until they died! That ended it. Death ends everything, and it’s the same way with the priesthood. When the priest died, his priesthood went with him. It ended. But you see, with this priest it will never end. He ever lives and intercedes for us. And those who become the willing ones acquire His Priesthood in the same power as they become as He is, even while in the world or on this earth. Alright, verse 18.
Hebrews 7:18
"For there is verily a disannulling (or a canceling out) of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof."
Are we getting the point? Oh, the commandment which became a law and the the Levitical Law had its purpose. It was perfect from God’s vantage point, but it was weak and fleshly so far as men were concerned and so it fades off. It failed miserably. My, if you doubt that, have you read your Old Testament lately? Just go back and read Judges. Go back and read the prophets. How much effect did the Levitical Law have on the behavior of the Israelites? Well it didn’t have much. Because most of them were the pits. Now that may fly in the face of some of my Jewish friends and I know I’ve got quite a few. But all you have to do is read the account and the most visible one or the most understandable one is when Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal up there on Mt. Carmel. And after he had run from the threats of Jezebel, you remember, he goes all the way down to the Negev and sits down under a juniper tree and Elijah said, "Lord take my life. Because I’m the only one left, they’ve all followed Baal."
Now listen, who was the promoter of Baal worship at that time in Israel? What woman? Jezebel. So what does that tell you? They were living in rank immorality, and Elijah thought he was the only one that wasn’t. That tells us enough, but God, was merciful enough to say, "Now Elijah, you’re not quite the only one left that is true to me. I’ve still got seven thousand."
Now seven thousand out of an average population of seven million over Israel’s history, I’ve said this over and over. What percentage is that? One tenth of one percent, that had remained true to Yhovah. The rest had all followed in the worship of Baal. I know Jewish people will probably try to tell me, well, they’re still all going to be saved because they were under the covenant promises, but I don’t think so. Lawlessness is what? Sin.
But that just goes to show you that the Law, the Mosaic system, didn’t work. But now come up to Christ’s earthly ministry. How many of the Hebrews at Christ’s time were true exemplary believers? Very few. Oh they were religious. They kept Temple worship. They kept the feast days. But very few were true believers. So the Law of Moses just didn’t affect the nation that much. Well, then of course, we come into our own day and time, it hasn’t changed has it? Even the Gospel of Grace has not made that much difference in the world’s behavior. Why? Because the devil corrupted it and changed it through deception in to what we see and hear now in our time, just more lawlessness, which is unbelief. Verse 19.
Hebrews 7:19
"(just like we read in Romans a moment ago) For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better (there’s that word better) hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."
Sunday, September 2, 2012
The Epistle to the Hebrews part CLXVI
II Corinthians 3:6-7a
"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter (The Commandments) but of the spirit (now here it comes) for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones,…"
Here's a paradox for how can that which was spiritual be considered to kill and as the letter of law only condemns one to death have NO life in it? The other thing is that within this statement is the fact of our current ministry one of Spirit (New Covenant Life) as opposed to that of the letter of law and its accompanying death, before Life. For all who would be in ministry have to be in or led by the Spirit of God because this is what is said here. Those who are not well versed in spirit by the Holy Spirit are not then fit to minister. And then, well goodness, what’s that talking about? The Ten Commandments. They were a ministration of death. People can’t understand that, but I hope you do. It was because all the Law could do was condemn. It couldn’t give anybody Life. And I have to use a capital letter on the word life as its Eternal Life or the power of resurrection into that Life spoken of as the New Covenant, Everlasting Life, Endless Life and Eternal Life by Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel and others in the Old Testament. That we're referring to. Now many get hooked on the ministration of, "it was a ministration of death", because you see, Paul says so clearly then in Romans 6:23:
Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is (what?) death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Now coming back to II Corinthians 3:7, let’s finish verse 7.
II Corinthians 3:7
"But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones was glorious, (it was from God’s point. It was perfect) so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory has to be done away:"
What does that mean? The Law has to go. There comes a point in human history where the Law is going to have to be set aside. For Moses covered his face with a veil until the glory it revealed had faded away and he removed the veil. This was all done to foretell of that which was still to come. And when was that? When Christ finished the work of the Cross. Now let me show you another verse that says the same thing. Turn to Colossians chapter 2. This is a verse that we’ve used often.
Colossians 2:14a
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was (what? For us or against us?) against us,"
Because it was impossible in the flesh to keep them all. Now I’m not going to say this dogmatically but I think I’ve mentioned often enough, that by the time of our New Testament, and the time of Christ, the Law had been degenerated, watered down - from Ten commandments to how many? Six hundred and thirteen. Six hundred thirteen rules and regulations made up the Mosaic Law at the time of Christ. These were the works of man not of God and therefore God hated them. Because man refused to hear God's voice and listen to Him. Does that sound at all familiar? Well, could any man keep them? No!
And this is my own view. I’m not saying that this is what the Scripture says. But I think that this handwriting of ordinances that was against the Jewish people were those 613 rules and regulations. They with those given by God Himself were more than they could bear.
Colossians 2:14b
"…which were contrary to us, and (look what Christ did) he took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."
What does the Cross do? Puts it to death. And so when you look at the Law, whether you want to look at the Ten Commandments or whether you want to look at all 613 that the Rabbis had put together, I don’t care. It was all nailed to His Cross. Why? Because when He finished the death, burial and resurrection, He satisfied all the demands of those commandments on the human race. He removed the curse of the law, the curse first spoken of in Genesis because the commandment through which the curse came was fulfilled in Christ's flesh as the son of man and the seed of promise also in Genesis. And now we’ve been set free and we’re under Grace.
Now let’s come back to Hebrews. So under this whole new economy, where we’re not under the commandment now a law or the Levitical Law, we’re under Grace. We also have a New High Priest. Not of the priesthood of Aaron and Levi, but one who was of the Priests of "the Most High God." You’re going to hear that in your sleep tonight? "The most high God" who was the God of everybody, not just the Hebrews. And so this High Priest is going to represent every tongue and tribe and nation. Now let’s move on into verse 15, or just reread it.
Hebrews 7:15-16
"And it is far more evident; for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal (an external, materialism or a fleshly) commandment, but after the power of (what kind of a life?) an endless life."
"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter (The Commandments) but of the spirit (now here it comes) for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones,…"
Here's a paradox for how can that which was spiritual be considered to kill and as the letter of law only condemns one to death have NO life in it? The other thing is that within this statement is the fact of our current ministry one of Spirit (New Covenant Life) as opposed to that of the letter of law and its accompanying death, before Life. For all who would be in ministry have to be in or led by the Spirit of God because this is what is said here. Those who are not well versed in spirit by the Holy Spirit are not then fit to minister. And then, well goodness, what’s that talking about? The Ten Commandments. They were a ministration of death. People can’t understand that, but I hope you do. It was because all the Law could do was condemn. It couldn’t give anybody Life. And I have to use a capital letter on the word life as its Eternal Life or the power of resurrection into that Life spoken of as the New Covenant, Everlasting Life, Endless Life and Eternal Life by Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel and others in the Old Testament. That we're referring to. Now many get hooked on the ministration of, "it was a ministration of death", because you see, Paul says so clearly then in Romans 6:23:
Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is (what?) death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Now coming back to II Corinthians 3:7, let’s finish verse 7.
II Corinthians 3:7
"But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones was glorious, (it was from God’s point. It was perfect) so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory has to be done away:"
What does that mean? The Law has to go. There comes a point in human history where the Law is going to have to be set aside. For Moses covered his face with a veil until the glory it revealed had faded away and he removed the veil. This was all done to foretell of that which was still to come. And when was that? When Christ finished the work of the Cross. Now let me show you another verse that says the same thing. Turn to Colossians chapter 2. This is a verse that we’ve used often.
Colossians 2:14a
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was (what? For us or against us?) against us,"
Because it was impossible in the flesh to keep them all. Now I’m not going to say this dogmatically but I think I’ve mentioned often enough, that by the time of our New Testament, and the time of Christ, the Law had been degenerated, watered down - from Ten commandments to how many? Six hundred and thirteen. Six hundred thirteen rules and regulations made up the Mosaic Law at the time of Christ. These were the works of man not of God and therefore God hated them. Because man refused to hear God's voice and listen to Him. Does that sound at all familiar? Well, could any man keep them? No!
And this is my own view. I’m not saying that this is what the Scripture says. But I think that this handwriting of ordinances that was against the Jewish people were those 613 rules and regulations. They with those given by God Himself were more than they could bear.
Colossians 2:14b
"…which were contrary to us, and (look what Christ did) he took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."
What does the Cross do? Puts it to death. And so when you look at the Law, whether you want to look at the Ten Commandments or whether you want to look at all 613 that the Rabbis had put together, I don’t care. It was all nailed to His Cross. Why? Because when He finished the death, burial and resurrection, He satisfied all the demands of those commandments on the human race. He removed the curse of the law, the curse first spoken of in Genesis because the commandment through which the curse came was fulfilled in Christ's flesh as the son of man and the seed of promise also in Genesis. And now we’ve been set free and we’re under Grace.
Now let’s come back to Hebrews. So under this whole new economy, where we’re not under the commandment now a law or the Levitical Law, we’re under Grace. We also have a New High Priest. Not of the priesthood of Aaron and Levi, but one who was of the Priests of "the Most High God." You’re going to hear that in your sleep tonight? "The most high God" who was the God of everybody, not just the Hebrews. And so this High Priest is going to represent every tongue and tribe and nation. Now let’s move on into verse 15, or just reread it.
Hebrews 7:15-16
"And it is far more evident; for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal (an external, materialism or a fleshly) commandment, but after the power of (what kind of a life?) an endless life."
Saturday, September 1, 2012
The Epistle to the Hebrews part CLXV
While coming to Romans chapter 3, has given me time enough to find the verse in Corinthians also. Now these are verses that most people do not understand. They don’t even know they’re in their Bible. And I’ve given an example before, I’ll never forget one time I was teaching it and had young pastor in the midst. When I read this verse, I could just about see his mouth drop open. He’d never seen it before, I know he hadn’t, but here it is.
Romans 3:19
"Now we know that what things soever the law (the commandment spoken to Adam) saith, it saith to them who are under the law: (that is the Hebrew and Gentile world) that every mouth (the whole world now not just the Hebrews) may be stopped and all the world (The law condemned the whole world. What does the rest of the verse say? They) become guilty before God."
People are not saved under the law. They don’t become righteous, but rather they’re guilty. Now you see, most people don’t believe that. I’m amazed when people will tell me, when they’ve had an enlightenment and they’ve seen these things and they go back and show it to their church people and their church people will read it and then you know what they say? "But I don’t believe it." Now isn’t that sad? They better believe it, because it’s the Word of God and they better believe it or they’re in trouble. Alright, so this they don’t like. "That the law just simply makes man guilty." Now look at the next verse.
Romans 3:20
"Therefore by the deeds (or the keeping of the Levitical Law) there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: (why?) for by the law is the knowledge of (not life but what?) sin."
That’s all the law can do is show man his sin. Not a word in Scripture ever gives the Levitical Law credit for bringing people to salvation. Never! All the law can do is convince and convict us that we’re sinners, which of course, we have to do before we can be saved. But see, that’s the law. And that’s why the Levitical Law is imperfect. It filled the gap between Moses and Christ, yes. It kept the Nation of Israel in a relationship with Yhovah, yes. But so far as really being the answer to mankind’s dilemma, No. It was weak, and it was beggarly. Now I told you I found the one in Corinthians over in chapter 3.
II Corinthians 3:3
"Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, (in other words, their daily life was to be like the Word of God in print) written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God; (as the Spirit energizes you and I in our daily life as He did Jesus) not in tables of stone, (such as Moses brought down from the mountain, you know) but in fleshly tables of the heart."
In other words, the Word of God should just simply be seen in our daily lives. It is now written on our hearts as Jeremiah said. We're to walk in the Spirit hearing and doing as Jesus did by or through divine revelation each moment doing or saying as God directs us. Not hearing or seeing with natural eyes and ears but through the heart which has been wholly given to God in which He resides. Now verses 4 and 5.
II Corinthians 3:4-6
"And such trust we have through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; (here’s the verse that shook them up.) Who also (God) hath made us able ministers of the new testament; (this on this side of the Cross) not of the letter, (which is a reference in Scripture of the Law) but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."
Allow me to qualify. Israel understood right from wrong by virtue of what the Law said. They understood it was wrong to murder because the Law said "Thou shalt not murder." And all through the Ten Commandments you have really the whole sphere of human behavior. Everything you can imagine is covered in the Ten Commandments.
So there was no doubt as to what God called right and what He called wrong. When we say that we’re not under the Law it isn’t that we are now free to steal or murder. Remember we’ve got something better than the written Law. And what is it? The indwelling Holy Spirit. The Spirit will never tell a believer to go and steal or to murder someone. The Holy Spirit will never tell a believer to gossip. It’s against His personality. For He writes the new law of God where? In our heart and on our minds. God has promised to do within us what we were incapable of doing for ourselves. As Israel proved to be impossible as through self effort or works of the flesh.
And so, what we lay down when we say we’re not under the Law, we pick up through the energizing power of the indwelling Spirit. That’s why I say that when we’re under Grace, it’s not license. Under Grace, the Spirit comes in and becomes then the driving force and the keeping power for the receptive, the receptiveness of the true believer. The place that was lost through Adams rebellion now been restored and that is our receptivity to hear and to see what God is doing and saying or telling us. Now looking at verse 6 again:
II Corinthians 3:6-7a
"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter (The Commandments) but of the spirit (now here it comes) for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones,…"
Romans 3:19
"Now we know that what things soever the law (the commandment spoken to Adam) saith, it saith to them who are under the law: (that is the Hebrew and Gentile world) that every mouth (the whole world now not just the Hebrews) may be stopped and all the world (The law condemned the whole world. What does the rest of the verse say? They) become guilty before God."
People are not saved under the law. They don’t become righteous, but rather they’re guilty. Now you see, most people don’t believe that. I’m amazed when people will tell me, when they’ve had an enlightenment and they’ve seen these things and they go back and show it to their church people and their church people will read it and then you know what they say? "But I don’t believe it." Now isn’t that sad? They better believe it, because it’s the Word of God and they better believe it or they’re in trouble. Alright, so this they don’t like. "That the law just simply makes man guilty." Now look at the next verse.
Romans 3:20
"Therefore by the deeds (or the keeping of the Levitical Law) there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: (why?) for by the law is the knowledge of (not life but what?) sin."
That’s all the law can do is show man his sin. Not a word in Scripture ever gives the Levitical Law credit for bringing people to salvation. Never! All the law can do is convince and convict us that we’re sinners, which of course, we have to do before we can be saved. But see, that’s the law. And that’s why the Levitical Law is imperfect. It filled the gap between Moses and Christ, yes. It kept the Nation of Israel in a relationship with Yhovah, yes. But so far as really being the answer to mankind’s dilemma, No. It was weak, and it was beggarly. Now I told you I found the one in Corinthians over in chapter 3.
II Corinthians 3:3
"Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, (in other words, their daily life was to be like the Word of God in print) written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God; (as the Spirit energizes you and I in our daily life as He did Jesus) not in tables of stone, (such as Moses brought down from the mountain, you know) but in fleshly tables of the heart."
In other words, the Word of God should just simply be seen in our daily lives. It is now written on our hearts as Jeremiah said. We're to walk in the Spirit hearing and doing as Jesus did by or through divine revelation each moment doing or saying as God directs us. Not hearing or seeing with natural eyes and ears but through the heart which has been wholly given to God in which He resides. Now verses 4 and 5.
II Corinthians 3:4-6
"And such trust we have through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; (here’s the verse that shook them up.) Who also (God) hath made us able ministers of the new testament; (this on this side of the Cross) not of the letter, (which is a reference in Scripture of the Law) but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."
Allow me to qualify. Israel understood right from wrong by virtue of what the Law said. They understood it was wrong to murder because the Law said "Thou shalt not murder." And all through the Ten Commandments you have really the whole sphere of human behavior. Everything you can imagine is covered in the Ten Commandments.
So there was no doubt as to what God called right and what He called wrong. When we say that we’re not under the Law it isn’t that we are now free to steal or murder. Remember we’ve got something better than the written Law. And what is it? The indwelling Holy Spirit. The Spirit will never tell a believer to go and steal or to murder someone. The Holy Spirit will never tell a believer to gossip. It’s against His personality. For He writes the new law of God where? In our heart and on our minds. God has promised to do within us what we were incapable of doing for ourselves. As Israel proved to be impossible as through self effort or works of the flesh.
And so, what we lay down when we say we’re not under the Law, we pick up through the energizing power of the indwelling Spirit. That’s why I say that when we’re under Grace, it’s not license. Under Grace, the Spirit comes in and becomes then the driving force and the keeping power for the receptive, the receptiveness of the true believer. The place that was lost through Adams rebellion now been restored and that is our receptivity to hear and to see what God is doing and saying or telling us. Now looking at verse 6 again:
II Corinthians 3:6-7a
"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter (The Commandments) but of the spirit (now here it comes) for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones,…"
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