A Changing Of The Guard

Romans 6:8-14 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: (9) Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. (10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. (13) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (14) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (KJV)

Now as verse 8 says, that if you are dead with Christ, dead to your own lusts and desires but alive with Him spiritually, then you are able to believe as well as live with Him in the realm of the Spirit. Once our Lord died it was done, not like under the old law where it would have to be done over and over again, but as we talked about yesterday it was a permanent change. Have you changed with the times, no I am not talking about being politically correct with the way of the world, but changing or transforming daily by the renewing of your mind in the things of God? Did you ever stop and think that when you yield yourself to the things of the old law and its rituals you are actually trying to establish your own righteousness, one our Lord doesn’t acknowledge? Another way to put it is when you are under the law then you have separated from grace, a grace that is needed in order to truly be saved.

Galatians 3:10-14 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (11) But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. (12) And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. (13) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (KJV)

Wasn’t this the whole intent and purpose that our Lord came to redeem us from the curse of the old law? Yet with this in mind, why do so many still hold to the law and its dead rituals, especially when it comes to the true spiritual meaning of baptism? There is no justification in the law, no righteousness, and yet with this in mind so many still hold to the dead rituals of it, thinking they will find justification. Again, did it ever occur to you that when you hold to these traditions and doctrines of man that in essence you are yielding yourself to something unrighteous, a law of death, and not of life that you think you are finding? Instead of reaching out for the spiritual lifeline our Lord provides for us in Christ, many are still grabbing and hanging onto an anchor rope, one tied from their neck to a millstone.

Romans 9:31-33 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. (32) Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; (33) As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (KJV)

Has much changed over the years, whether it be referred to as Israel or what man calls a church today? Rather than seek the Lord by faith to understand the true spiritual meaning of His word many are blindly rumbling, bumbling, and stumbling along seeking their answer in an old law and the works of it. There is a stone, a rock solid foundation for one to build their faith and trust in, that being Jesus Christ and the completed work He did for His people, not the completed work people think they still need to do. While many are running to and fro seeking the answer in the carnal realm they end up falling short by holding to a law that our Lord came to eliminate not duplicate, people. The only way you can and ever will be justified is by Christ, while anything else will have you falling short of the glory of God, basically falling flat on your face.

Galatians 3:1-5 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (2) This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (3) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (4) Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. (5) He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (KJV)

Did you know that witchcraft is considered a sin, something our Lord doesn’t look too kindly on? Years ago there was a TV program called ‘Bewitched’ where someone wiggled their nose and made things magically happen. Sound silly and ridiculous? Well, every time someone reverts back to the works of the law, which does include water baptism folks, it’s like watching a rerun of Bewitched, something foolish and farfetched from reality. Your entrance into the realm of the Spiritual had nothing to do with your own works, and you remaining in that realm has nothing to do with man’s works, but rather a faith in the work Jesus Christ has done on your behalf.

Strong’s definition for ‘vain’:
1500  eike (i-kay'); probably from 1502 (through the idea of failure); idly, i.e. without reason (or effect):  KJV-- without a cause, (in) vain (-ly).

Interesting word there concerning vain, something that has no reason, idle fits also. You know, a hundred years ago money was printed and put into circulation for trading and getting provisions needed. Since that time however a new system has been put into place in order to buy and sell. If one tries to use the old system today it would not be accepted because it has been replaced by a new system. The same pattern holds true with our Lord, the old served its purpose and has been done away, replaced by something new and in operation today. So when you see things in the Bible, say for instance the word baptism, do you just limit it to the old outward realm, or are you able to see the deeper spiritual implication of it, something that is of use and has substance today? Take some time and pray about the things you do and why you do them; ‘is it because someone else said it was so, or is it something I know came from the Lord and keeps me in good standing with Him?’ There has been a changing of the guard people; are you changing into one of God’s people, or are you idly hung up on the old law and its rituals that our Lord said He came to do away with? Just because it is a crowd favorite with many of man’s so called people doesn’t mean it works with our Lord. In fact that which man holds in high esteem is an abomination with God. In other words, when you see the many doing something they think impresses or pleases God that would be the first red flag to go back and see what the Lord’s true take and intention is. As long as you hold God to be true and man the liar then you will not fall or stumble in your walk.

God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.