Category: Law

Alive and Well

4/20/2015

Luke 20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. (KJV)

When a person is born again or born a new into the realm of the Spirit you realize that in order to maintain this life you need to hear how to continue in it so that you can grow strong in the Lord and maintain an intimate relationship with Him. Our Father is a God of the now and not the past. It is of utmost importance that one realizes that when you become a new creation in Christ old things are passed away, dead, and all things should now become new. You should now be viewing your life from a spiritual viewpoint, and able to rightly divide the difference between what is right and wrong, not according to mans’ standards, but God’s. You should now be experiencing a new life of peace and joy based on your inward vision, and not on what the outward would try to dictate.

Hebrews 10:18-22 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. (19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (KJV)

There is a new and living way to serve a living God, and it has been available for roughly the last 2000 years because of the offering of Jesus Christ. Instead of waiting for a priest to enter into the holy realm for us once a year according to the old law, we now have access anytime, at anyplace we choose to call upon the name of the Lord. With this opportunity afforded to us by a living mediator who is able to cleanse our hearts with pure living waters, why would anyone settle for less and keep operating in old dead rituals, carnal washings (water baptisms), which look good to the outward but do nothing for our inward? If you desire to serve the living God, His word says the just shall live by faith; and Church it is just that simple, because without faith it is impossible to please God. Jesus Christ is the only way, the only truth, and the only life that will lead you to your heavenly inheritance.

Hebrews 8:10-13 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (11) And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. (12) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (13) In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (KJV)

Why do God’s people, or those that claim to be serving Him, still hang onto old laws and rituals that are dead and decaying? If you had an old car that was falling apart and not worth fixing again, you wouldn’t waste your time and money with it. If you had access to a brand new vehicle free of charge, would you not take the deal in a heartbeat? So why do so many people go around with a bunch of broken down rusted out jalopies rather than jump into a brand new vehicle every day and take a ride that leads us to our Father?

Matthew 9:16-17 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. (17) Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. (KJV)

You ever hear the term ‘trying to drive a square peg into a round hole’? It doesn’t fit, nor was it meant to fit. And the more you try the more you will end up throwing a fit and be discouraged. The same holds true with God; when you try to put the new back into the old it doesn’t work. In fact as verse 16 says it actually ends up worse, to the point that it will end up perishing as verse 17 makes reference to. So remember Church, our God is a God of the living, not anything dead or perishing. The more one is surrounded by dead things the less attractive it is; in fact it becomes quite unhealthy if not buried. The same holds true in the spiritual realm; and the more one hangs onto dead things, eventually they end up dead too.

2 Corinthians 3:7-12 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: (8) How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? (9) For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. (10) For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. (11) For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. (12) Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: (KJV)

Having access to a law of faith that excels above and beyond the old law which is done away, why would someone keep going back to the graveyard to find something living? Using as simple and plainness of speech as possible, if you wish to remain in good standing with our Father, it can only be done by the new and living way, not in some has- been worn out dead, died and forgotten works of the law which will not bring new life.

Williams reference for Romans 7:1-6
1. Do you not know, brothers -- for I speak to those who are acquainted with the law -- that the law can press its claim over a man only so long as he lives?
2. For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies, she is freed from the marriage bond.
3. So if she marries another man while her husband is living, she is called an adulteress, but if he dies, she is free from that marriage bond, so that she will not be an adulteress though later married to another man.
4. So, my brothers, you too in the body of Christ have ended your relation to the law, so that you may be married to another husband, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.
5. For when we were living in accordance with our lower nature, the sinful passions that were aroused by the law were operating in the parts of our bodies to make us bear fruit that leads to death.
6. But now we have been freed from our relation to the law; we have ended our relation to that by which we once were held in bonds, so that we may serve in a new spiritual way and not in the old literalistic way.

Romans 7:1-6 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? (2) For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. (3) So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. (4) Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. (5) For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. (6) But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (KJV)

Under the old covenant the law was in play for that time, and so in order to have a relationship with God it was done according to the works of it. You need to realize that once this was done away, dead died and buried by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, you are now free to engage in a new life of liberty and freedom apart from the law so that you can now partake of living waters which will bring forth the fruit of the Spirit within you. Now being delivered from death, it is time to go to the well of life so that you can continue to be alive and well in the newness of the Spirit and not the oldness of the letter of the law which is a killer.

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

Set Free

4/17/2015

Romans 7:9-10 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. (10) And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. (KJV)

Paul like many of the other disciples found a new life in Christ through belief in Him and the completed work He accomplished. But as we will see in his writings, and if you notice especially with the early Church, something had been choking the life back out of them; the freedom they found in a simple belief in Christ was getting complicated by the old law and rituals that many were still hanging onto at the time.

2 Corinthians 3:3-6 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (4) And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: (5) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; (6) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (KJV)

We should no longer be relying in ourselves, in any works of the law, or in carnal ordinances that we think will draw us closer to God; rather our attention needs to be in the spiritual realm if we want to experience this new life in Christ. God is a Spirit; so now the only way to worship Him, is in this realm of spirit and truth; only the Spirit which gave you life and brought you back from the dead is able to sustain this life, and bring you to a mature perfect understanding of God through Christ. Your ability to be an effective minister can only be accomplished by teaching others to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh.

Galatians 4:9-11 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? (10) Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. (11) I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. (KJV)

Once you have been set free and delivered from the bondage of death, it is vital that in order to maintain a quality life in Christ it can only be done in the Spirit, and not by turning back and trying to rebuild a foundation off dead vain works. Having watched the world spend the last few months caught up in worldly holidays where people claim certain days are holy or special to the Lord, we can see that there is nothing new under the sun; same devil and his cheap distractions, just different disguises over the years. If you try to return to these weak and beggarly things you will find yourself becoming weak also.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (KJV)

You have been set free and are now partakers of the divine nature in Christ. Having spent many years in the past partaking of the forbidden fruit of this world, once you are able to experience this new life in Christ, and the abundance of love, joy, as well as the peace of God that goes beyond our understanding, don’t let it be stolen from you again by falling from grace into a bunch of dead end vain doctrines and works of man. There is no law, no boundaries anymore to those in Christ. What once kept us bound and limited in the realm of the flesh is done away, and now we have access into this unlimited realm of peace and joy, which is unattainable by the works of the law. So stay away from these dead end doctrines which claim that we still need to do rituals in order to maintain our walk with the Lord, or you will find this love you were once experiencing growing cold.

Hebrews 9:8-12 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: (9) Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; (10) Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. (11) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (KJV)

If you take the time to read the book of Hebrews you will see the writer gives us a good illustration of the difference between the old law and the new. What we see here in verses 8-12 is quite similar to what I still see going on today. Mankind keeps seeking perfection through the works of the law, continually doing things over and over again thinking it will draw them closer to God. As you notice in verse 10, these ordinances were in place until the time of reformation, which was accomplished for us when Christ Himself entered into the Holy place to deliver the sacrifice for mankind which was accepted by our Father. So no matter what disguise you put on these carnal ordinances and washings (water baptism being a prime example), as long as you keep turning back to these dead end works you will not be able to grow and mature in the Lord. Rather than being set free you bring yourself back into the bondage of the weak and beggarly elements again.

So people, Church, either Jesus Christ did a complete job on our behalf or He didn’t. And every time you try to walk a spiritual path and incorporate the works of the law in it, you end up with a little spiritual leaven in the bread of life which is unacceptable to Father.

Hebrews 10:1-2 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (2) For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. (KJV)

When you walk with the Lord and continue in the liberty in Christ you find that there are no gray areas with Him, no shadows of darkness; your path and the light within you gets brighter and brighter, illuminating this path of life and any obstacles in its way. We see again that the true worshippers were once purged, cleansed from sin, because of their faith in Jesus Christ and what He accomplished on our behalf and not by some unfinished works that they think they still need to do.

Romans 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (KJV)

You want freedom? Do you desire righteousness? Do you wish to continue to be justified in the sight of our Lord? Then you need to continue in the liberty in Christ and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage; and this will only be accomplished in the realm of the Spirit. Now that you have been set free, stay set free indeed.

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

Not Going Anywhere For A While?

4/16/2015

Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. (KJV)

Do you want to draw close to God and grow in Him? Then you need to withdraw yourself from the law and the works of it to succeed. Many begin in the Spirit and still try to perfect or become mature in the Lord by the flesh and its carnal ordinances. Ever wonder why so many Christians are weak and sickly? Those that should be a beacon of spiritual light are a flickering candle getting dimmer and dimmer.

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)

The promise that mankind has been waiting for, the promise of the Messiah that the Old Testament prophets wrote of has arrived and brought us a perfect plan of salvation that would release us from the curse of the old law. If you read back to the beginning of this Chapter 3, you will find that many begin in the Spirit with a simple belief in Christ and then go and spoil the plan by reverting back to laws and rituals that are done away in Christ. Rather than having faith in the work Jesus Christ did on our behalf, and the sacrifice that was paid and accepted of the Father as complete, we in essence by these dead works are telling the Lord that He didn’t do a complete work. God the Father accepted the blood sacrifice of His Son, then released the debt of sin and separation from Him, and has given us a ministry of reconciliation through Jesus Christ. If you plan on continuing your walk in the Spirit, and would like to grow closer to the Lord, then from this point on it can only be accomplished by faith.

Acts 13:38-39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (39) And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (KJV)

No matter how you slice it, no matter how much you twist and turn things to try to make them fit, the only justification with our Lord is apart from works. The man being referred to in the above verses is none other than Jesus Christ; and in order to be justified, which means to render free, innocent and righteous, it can only be accomplished by faith in Him. Anytime one steps outside the realm of faith they are walking away from the Lord and trying to find another way into the kingdom, which the Bible refers to them as a thief and a robber; letting the devil steal the life and cut off the line of communication of the believer. It’s the simplicity of the gospel that many miss. Rather than keeping it simple, they complicate a simple plan of salvation by faith with a bunch of man-made additional works that cause more confusion than peace.

Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (2) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this will we do, if God permit. (KJV)

Our indoctrination into God’s plan of salvation came in the form of Jesus Christ, who came and fulfilled the law, which culminated in the perfect sacrifice through His laying down His life for all mankind. Having resurrected and now seated at the right hand of the Father, this simple plan of salvation is manifest through a law of faith. Many today still seek forgiveness and repentance through dead works thinking something else needs to be done in order to be justified. Many believe in God and have a faith toward Him but are unable to tap into the measure of faith they were given; so rather than look inward they are still seeking the answer in the outward. It goes without saying that many still keep the doctrine of the external baptism in play, which is nothing more than a watered down dead doctrine. Verse 3 uses the word permit, which means to give liberty or be set free. The only way a believer can be set free and draw nigh or close to God and go on to perfection (maturity) in Christ, is by leaving the works of the law dead and buried.

Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (KJV)

Without faith it is impossible to please God and they that are in the flesh cannot please God. The reason many believers fall away and get duped by the devil is because they miss the simple fact that it was faith that got them into the kingdom, and only faith in the completed sacrifice of Jesus Christ can keep them in it. Many crucify the simple doctrine of Christ by basically telling Him that He didn’t do a complete job, and that there is still work that needs to be done.

John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? (29) Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (KJV)

Christ in you is the only hope of glory. This is the hope that was brought to all mankind, the gift of life given to bring healing and restoration to a fallen world. Anytime you look outside the realm of faith to find your answer you are stepping away from the Lord instead of being drawn closer to Him. Anytime you put yourself back under the old law and its dead works which were nailed to the cross you are telling the Lord that He is a liar and did not do a complete job.

Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (KJV)

The word idle means, inactive or useless; which sounds like dead works, those things that keep a person from moving forward. Words of faith will build up the believer and bring them closer to the Lord. Your words which come from the heart will either bring you justification or condemnation. And those that speak in line with the Lord and operate according to the law of faith will find themselves innocent and just before the Lord. Anything less will just keep one stagnant and idle, and they will not be going anywhere for a while.

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

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Alive and Well

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Not Going Anywhere For A While?

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