The Law

A Covenant With God

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

A Better Covenant

Book of Hebrews Chapter 8

By understanding the Old Covenant compared to the New Covenant we can better understand the work that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for our salvation, so we have no work to do, but to believe in the work that Jesus has done for us.

Our faith must be based upon the Lord Jesus Christ!

We should understand that the Old Testament speaks of a Covenant of Works where humans had to do all the work, whereas the New Testament speaks of the Covenant of Grace where the Lord Jesus Christ has already completed all the work necessary for our salvation.

God did make a covenant of works with Adam.

Adam was told to obey God and he was promised eternal life for obedience, and eternal death for disobedience.

Adam failed because of disobedience and death entered the human race! Race meaning all humanity lumped into one group.

The Bible does not speak of any differences in the color of the skin as having any benefit or loss of benefits in the Word of God.

A works doctrine has no chance of pleasing God!

We cannot ever be good enough to enter into Heaven’s Gates!
We cannot ever do enough “good” work to please God!

There is no such thing as “our good” having to outweigh “our bad” before God will allow us in Heaven!

We have no goodness within us to begin with!

Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; “there is none that doeth good, no, not one”.

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) “dwelleth no good thing”: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

There is no amount of goodness that can reconcile us our Heavenly Father!

God solved this problem with His Covenant of Grace through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

The entire world has been under the Covenant of Works which is actually a Covenant of Death since the time of Adam!

Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof “thou shalt surely die”.
As a result of Adam’s failure, God entered into a Covenant of Grace through which the problem of sin and death would be overcome forever!

God knew there would never be a perfect human!

Only God could provide the solution to this problem because it was God who made that covenant with Adam.

God made this solution because of His promises such as the one He made with Abraham.

Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, “the law”, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, “that it should make the promise of none effect”.
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, “it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise”.

Abraham came before the Law that was given to Moses which was a works covenant.

There is no life at all that can come by a works covenant because a works covenant becomes a covenant of death!

It is only by the “Gospel of Jesus Christ”, that the substance of God’s “Grace” is revealed!

The “Covenant of Works” could only be a “Covenant of Life,” “when obedience is perfect” which is impossible for the human being!

You See, God entered into a covenant with Adam as the head of the human race and it was up to Adam to fulfill his side of the covenant, but Adam failed.

Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

The Apostle Paul once a devout Jew realized the truth of this covenant with Adam.

Rom 7:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Rom 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Rom 7:10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
Rom 7:11 “For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me”.

You see, without that law being given to Adam, then there would be no death!

Gal 3:10 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”.
Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, “The just shall live by faith”.
Gal 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Gal 3:13 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:
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; “that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith”.

The penalty for disobedience to that covenant of works is stated in the term “die”!

Does God still demand perfect obedience of humans just as He did Adam?

Lev 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: “which if a man do, he shall live in them”: I am the LORD.

Repeated in the New Testament.

Rom 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, “That the man which doeth those things shall live by them”.

The thing that so many get confused about, is the fact that this obligation of mankind has been fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ!

God made this covenant with His Son before the human race existed!

2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, “because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth”:
2Th 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, “to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, “which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began”,
2Ti 1:10 “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ”, “who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel”:

1Pe 1:2 Elect “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father”, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Our all-knowing God the Father planned our “redemption” before He created the human race.

God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ would provide this “redemption” through His own “atoning” death, through the regenerating and the sealing of each believer which makes salvation according to our own faith and not by works!

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world”, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 1:7 In whom “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”;
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9 “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will”, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, “being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will”:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth”, “the gospel of your salvation”: in whom also “after that ye believed”, “ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise”,

These things are not so hard to understand if we would just read the Word of God that He has given to us!

God says we must diligently study the Word of God!

Our lesson states:

*Heb 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken “this is the sum”: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
Heb 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Heb 8:3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
Heb 8:4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

We should clearly understand that there are qualifications for any priest, pastor, bishop, Pope or anyone else who stands before God for humanity!

God had certain conditions that had to be met if there were to be the Perfect High Priest!

1) Heb 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Heb 3:2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

2) Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

3) Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

4) Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

5) Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

6) Heb 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
Heb 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

7) Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Heb 5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

8) Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

9) Heb 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

10) Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

11) Heb 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken “this is the sum”: “We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
Heb 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man”.

No one, but the Lord Jesus Christ was able to meet all these qualifications!

You see this is the sum of the Book of Hebrews and the sum of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

This is the chief point of the Book of Hebrews and in fact of all the Word of God!

Jesus Christ is the Sovereign Majesty of this universe!

Jesus Christ is the High Priest of the only proper place to worship in this universe!

Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Heaven!

Jesus Christ is the One in Heaven who can also reach each saint of God here upon this earth!

Jesus Christ is not in Heaven selfishly enjoying the great wonders of His creation.
Jesus Christ is not in Heaven soaking up all His glory.

Jesus Christ is in Heaven listening to and hearing the cries of His people and ministering to their needs, just as He always has!

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is putting to end the murder of innocent babies answering prayers of the many who have prayed for this end.

It is a shame and disgrace that our own government insist on the continuation of the murder of the unborn child.

The EU is even worst in every category of sin and proud of it!

Jesus Christ is actively looking after the true sanctuary in Heaven!

This is the same place where God sits upon His throne!

Isa 41:9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isa 41:11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who offered the ultimate sacrifice, Himself, for our sins!

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Jesus Christ was not born to be the High Priest of this world!

He will be King of kings when He returns!

Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Heaven!

Our job is to lead people to Heaven to the true High Priest for only He can save!

No one upon this earth has the power to pronounce you saved, it is a God thing that only Christ Jesus can accomplish!

Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

If we are just looking for a sanctuary upon this earth, then we are not committed to the High Priest of Heaven!

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Minister of the New Covenant which is a Superior Covenant!

*Heb 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. (The theme of our lesson today)

We see that this is a covenant God was made with His Son and humanity’s one part is to believe! (faith)

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who stands between humanity and the Almighty God, with the Lord Jesus Christ “the express image of God”, our Mediator.

This is why it is called “Grace”!

Jesus the Messiah has negotiated this covenant with His Father without the interference of mankind and it will remain this way!

It is the Almighty God who chose His Son for this role, and it was the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ who fulfilled His role, and is continuing to fulfill His role, as our Mediator and our High Priest.

It is easy to see that this covenant is founded upon better promises!

The Old Covenant (The Law) was a covenant of death because no one could keep all those old laws!

Those old laws could not bring about reconciliation!

The Law cannot make us holy!
The Law cannot make us acceptable to God!
The Law cannot provide a personal experience with the Almighty God!
The Law cannot teach us the love and the mercy of God!

Heb 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.

Only Jesus Christ can make us perfect in the eyes of a Loving God!

The first covenant, the covenant of Law, was full of faults because it was a covenant of works!

*Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

The New Covenant eliminates the weaknesses of the Old Covenant!

If we look closely, we can see where God the Holy Spirit begins speaking. (Look for the word “I”).

It is God Himself who points out the weakness of that Old Covenant!

If we cannot believe God, then how can we expect His “Mercy” or His “Grace”!

Note: If the Old Covenant can reveal sin, but does not offer a way remove sin, then that covenant is useless!

Any Covenant that fails to meet the needs of the sinner is a Covenant of Death!

If the Old Covenant could provide a way for forgiveness, then there would have been no need for the Lord Jesus to die!

It is God who decided all these things!

These things make the Word of God gathered together in what we call the Bible the greatest book that could exist!

The New Covenant now becomes the “Good News” to the sinner because the Gospel makes a way for forgiveness because we have a “merciful” and “loving” God who wants each sinner to know this truth!

This is God’s plan of salvation not man’s plan!

The New Covenant is vastly different from the Old Covenant because our death is now just the doorway to eternal life!

Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

We should know that God does not regard anyone who rejects His Covenants!

God’s New Covenant is in effect for the Church but not for Israel at this time though it will be after they see the wrath of God.

Remember Israel is right now blind to the Gospel!

Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

That “unto this day” would mean the day the Apostle Paul had authored the Book of Romans, and it is still in the future, when they too will believe the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ.

*Heb 8:10 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:
Heb 8:11 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.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

After those days would be after the Church Age and the seven years of Tribulation which Israel will go through, but not the Church.

We must understand that the New Covenant of God is an inward power that did not exist until the Holy Spirit moved into our heart!

The heart that belongs to the Lord will then, sow righteousness into the mind of the believer!

When the blinders have been removed from Israel, they too can be “Born Again” into the family of God!

This of course is speaking of Israel as a nation and not the individual.

Every individual that hears the Gospel and the Holy Spirit cause conviction can be saved.

Salvation is a work brought about by the work of the Holy Spirit on earth!

Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

That New Covenant of course is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

None can be acceptable to God without a new heart and a new mind and again we see the importance of repentance!

Repentance may not be preached in the Church anymore, but it is still a requirement even in this time of “Grace”!

With a new heart and mind comes a desire to follow and obey God!

We will be stirred to show God the same love He has shown to us!

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

God Himself says He will God to each believer!

We that believe are God’s children which means:

1) We can have fellowship with God.
2) We can pray and know our prayer will be heard.
3) We can call on God because we know of His “Mercy” and His “Grace”.
4) We will have God’s provision and protection.
5) We can have the power of the Holy Spirit to battle temptation and trials and have victory over them.

There is so much more that comes from a personal relationship with our Savior!

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

There is power in having a personal relationship with God!

There is no need for a human priest to make contact with Heaven!

As the Scripture says: We can boldly go into the throne room of God, we simply better be humble when we get there!

When we get to Heaven, we can know God face to face and live forever!

We can now approach God through His Son Jesus!

We can know, it is not just the nation of Israel, who still wear the blinders, that God will accept us, as He accepts all nations, all races, and all peoples, rich or poor.

As believers we can know the power of “forgiveness”!

The forgiveness of sins is the basis for all the promises of God!

God also directs each of us to be just as forgiving as He is forgiving!

The forgiveness of God is based upon the “mercy” of God!

We are not forgiven because of some law, but we are forgiven by the “Grace” of God, through the Lord Jesus Christ!

We can be saved if we believe the Lord Jesus Christ died in payment for our sins!

Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, 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, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

When God says He will remember our sins no more He means it!

God has removed our sin as far as the distance from the east to the west which is infinite!

Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

When God says forgiveness, then it is a perfect forgiveness, because He is perfect in all His ways!

When God replaces one covenant with another covenant, then that Old Covenant is ready to vanish away!

*Heb 8:13 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.

God would not have made a New Covenant if He intended to keep the Old Covenant!

Does this mean we can tear out the Old Testament from the Bible?

No, all Scripture is for our learning!

2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

It is Scripture of the Old Covenant that teaches us what is sin and that we are all guilty of sin.

It is Scripture that teaches us about faith!

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

The Lord Jesus Christ did not come to destroy the Old Covenant, but He did come to fulfill all of the Old Covenant therefore making it useless.

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

In fact all the Word of God will be fulfilled just as it is written!

Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Praise God for making a way for us to be near to Him throughout eternity!

Amen

The Gospel and National Israel

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Gospel of Grace and National Israel

Book of Romans Chapter 10 verse 1 through 13

Who are the Israelites?

Rom 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
Rom 9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Israel was the nation chosen and adopted as God’s people and those to whom Jehovah God first revealed Himself.

Their job was to tell the world about Jehovah God, but they chose to try to keep Him to themselves.

Gen 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Exo 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
Exo 4:23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

They were privileged with the great patriarchal covenants and were given laws that were to teach them the truth and this truth was that no one could keep all those laws. (613 laws not just 10)

We know those Laws were given to teach them about the Messiah.

Gal_3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal_3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

The Israelites never came to know true “faith” and so never attained to God’s “Grace”.

When we mention the Jewish Law, most people think of the Ten Commandments but in reality, there were 613 commandments given to the Jewish people and God knew that no one could keep all those commandments all their lives and it only took one failure to be condemned.

They rejoiced in their Levitical Service and had great expectation of the Messiah which they are still looking for now because they rejected the Lord Jesus Christ.

The worship services in the Tabernacle and the Temple were to remind them what was due unto God on one hand and how much was graciously provided by Him on the other hand.

All the Old Testament promises will be filled with promises of the Messiah and the Millennial Kingdom (the one-thousand-year rule of Christ).

The Atonement, the kingdom of Heaven, the reign of Israel upon this earth, but they thought all these things were just for Israel and did not include the Gentiles and they rejected “faith” and decided that righteousness could only come by the keeping of the Law.

Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Rom 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
Rom 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

Their entire system of worship was calculated to reveal the Divine greatness and holiness of Jehovah God and human insignificance and sinfulness.

Instead of becoming a humble nation of servants, they became a nation full of pride and self-righteousness!

When God wanted holiness Israel showed rebellion!

They were looking forward to the important things that are still in their future, because when the time came to move forward, they became legalist and rejected God’s Messiah.

All the promises God has made to Israel are to be fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ who was rejected!

The Lord Jesus Christ who is God in the flesh!

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Israel made some tragic mistakes!

The Apostle Paul understanding all the Old Testament scriptures having been trained under Gamaliel the great Jewish teacher of that day and now a “Born Again” child of God, full of the Holy Spirit clearly saw the failures of Israel and the truth of Jesus Christ.

What was the main problem for the Israelites? They had a zeal for God, but not according to the Scriptures given to them by those Prophets they murdered because they rejected their message.

*Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

Paul had a burning desire for the salvation of the Israelites. Paul absolutely loved this people!

We have no reason to hate the Jews, the Israelites!

We read earlier of those that God had turned over to reprobate minds, who God knew would never accept the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul knew that the Israelites would never be placed in this group of reprobates.

In fact, we know that God has blinded the eyes of this people and will one day remove those blinders and they will clearly see their mistakes they made concerning the Word of God.

Rom_11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

This blindness in fact will be removed when the fulness of the heathen (Gentiles) come in.

This will happen at the “Rapture” of the Church. God does not consider those who have this zeal to be reprobates.

We know that the first Christians were in fact Jews and many Jews are still saved today.

Keep in mind that not all Israel are Israelites. Many are called Israelis today.

God is speaking to those actual descendants of Abraham through his wife Sarah!

What is the truth of these Israelites? They have a zeal but not according to the knowledge of Jesus Christ!

What is the truth of the Gentile (Heathen) the Church of the last days? We have the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, but we do not have the zeal to serve Him as we should!

Over and over we see the evidence of the Laodicean Church Age, yet the Church denies it.

What did the Lord Jesus say?

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

We see the modern Church has pushed God away with the modern pastor believing that He knows better than the Word of God that we have been given.

There is no such thing as a new understanding of the Scriptures! God does not change His Word nor His ways!

Mal_3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not;

The modern Church is now trying to establish its own righteousness which has been the same problem for the Israelites all along!

*Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

These Jews knew many things about the Messiah, but it was not based on a complete knowledge!

The Church has the complete knowledge, but many today think they know better than God who gave us His complete Word.

There will never be some new “Gospel”!

Israel was ignorant of God’s righteousness!

Israel was ignorant of God’s method of “Justification”!

Israel was ignorant as to how to be acceptable to God!

This acceptance can only come by the acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done for our salvation!

Everyone is born with a sin nature and this sin nature can only be done away with by the Work of Christ that allows us to be “Born Again” a Spiritual Rebirth!

You cannot reject Jesus Christ and then receive this new life!

Jesus Christ is the source of all “Spiritual” gifts, the Holy Spirit is the Administrator of those gifts!

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and “gave gifts unto men”.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, “that he might fill all things”.)
Eph 4:11 And “he gave” some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

You see the true Church is made up of those who have come in the unity of the “Faith”!

Not the many denominations, and certainly not of those who take the authority of Jesus Christ out of the Church!

If you believe, then you had better believe that when God removes the blindness and restores sight to these Jews, they will all be in unity of “faith”.

For Jesus Christ is the end of those old Laws and the key to “Righteousness” to everyone who believes in Him and the work He has done for our salvation!

*Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law of righteousness to every one that believeth.

We had better understand that once false teaching has taken place it is hard to get people straightened back out!

The Church has been struggling with this for years and the Jews have never overcome this at this time.

Without the Lord Jesus Christ you cannot receive the Holy Spirit!
Without the Holy Spirit you can never have the mind of Christ!
Without the mind of Christ you will still depend on your own self-righteousness which is worth exactly nothing in the eyes of God the Father!

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

What does the Holy Spirit teach us?

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, “whatsoever I have said unto you”.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the end of the Law.

Mat_5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

These are most important things, yet these things are left out of the teaching of many denominations causing disharmony in the Church.

We had better cling to the basic truths of the Lord Jesus Christ and remember the Holy Trinity of God!

Not three Gods but One God in three persons, all bound up in the truth of Jehovah God, our Maker!

Moses tried to explain these things to the Jews, but they rejected them.

As much as they claimed Moses, they still rejected the things He taught them of the Messiah!

*Rom 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Most everyone who claim the Lord Jesus Christ think that the “Gospel” is some cafeteria plan given to us from God, where we can pick and choose the things to place our faith.

God has no cafeteria plan!

God has one plan, and it is all bound up in the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Law is simply our teacher to get us “justified” by “faith”!

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

As humans, we have no righteousness of our selves. You can like this or dislike this, but it is still the truth because God said it!

Just as you cannot pick and choose the parts of the Bible you accept and the parts you reject, those Jews could not pick and choose which of those old Laws they would keep, or they would reject.

The difference being there is no “Grace” built into those old Laws.

When we try to reach God by law and works, simply by doing the absolute best we can, we should be able to see there is a terrible flaw in this way of thinking.

No one, but Jesus Christ has ever been able to keep those laws perfectly!

Lev 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.

It is a losing effort every time!

Gal 3:10 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.
Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

There are only two ways to become righteous before God:

1) Keeping the Law and being perfect in the keeping of the Law, which no one but Christ was able to do.
2) Trusting in the righteousness in that person, Jesus Christ, who was able to keep all those 613 laws!

We can see that there is only one choice!

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

When this makes sense to you, you will begin to understand the truth of Jesus Christ!

You see everyone is seeking the forgiveness of sin, but this forgiveness comes only by the “Grace” of God, because there is no law that can bring “Grace” except for the law of Christ Jesus the true and only Messiah!

Php_3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Though Paul has been criticized, we must understand that “ALL” Scripture comes to us by the Holy Spirit if that Scripture comes to us from the “Received Text”!

2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The name of the writer is unimportant for all those writers were guided by the Holy Spirit of God!

When we doubt the Word of God, we are not doubting the writers, we are doubting a Holy and Righteous God who cannot deceive and who cannot lie!

We must know that there is nothing unholy in the glory of Heaven!

That being true and it is, then it must take a perfect righteousness to be accepted into God’s home in Heaven!

Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

This righteousness can come only by faith in the work the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us to receive this acceptable righteousness!

*Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

“Saving faith” is that “faith” that concerns itself only about the Lord Jesus Christ!

Unbelief says, “Who shall ascend into Heaven”? Unbelief says, “Who shall descend into the deep”?

Unbelief always has questions!

Faith takes her stand wherever Jesus Christ is located!

Salvation can come only by the Lord Jesus Christ!

It takes a real imagination to believe the lies of this world!

It takes a truly lively imagination to believe in evolution!

Faith is done with imaginations and faith is done with dreamers!

Faith deals in reality!

The Lord Jesus came to this world to pay the sin debt of all peoples and He died to do so!

Faith is the truth!

The Lord Jesus Christ arose from that death proving He is God!

1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The Gospel is the truth, so for these reasons, all questions are answered about salvation!

If we look within ourselves, we can know these things are the real truth.

If we look at the world all we see is lies, deception, and wickedness!

The truth of God will satisfy the soul and the Word was indeed made flesh and dwelt among us!

Joh 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

In our search for a place called Heaven, we soon realize that we do not have it in our own power to get there, so we need a Deliverer, in fact a Messiah!

Psa_102:19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

In order for this to be true, then this Deliverer must be able to conquer sin, death, and Hell to remove these things from us.

Psa 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Psa 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Psa 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

It is only our Heavenly Father who has this knowledge so only He could be this Deliverer, this Messiah!

As long as we depend on our own righteousness we will be lost forever!

Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Jesus Christ is that Deliverer who brought the wonderful things of Heaven within reach of those who trust Him!

God has made these promises available to us if we just believe Him!

*Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

What is true faith?

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

God has placed His Word within our reach!

It is easy to understand.
It is to be remembered.
It is to be practiced.
It is the Word of Faith!

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

We are not required to find some way to Heaven!
We do not have to find a way to avoid Hell!

The Lord Jesus Christ has solved this problem that we have all had since our birth!

The Gospel of Jesus Christ only requires “faith” in this reality!

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is applied to us, when we confess with our mouths that we believe this truth!

Why? Because of the great love that God loves us!

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We may never understand this, but it does not make it any less true!

The means to get to God’s New Heaven is located on the tip of our tongue if in our heart we will believe Him!

We must confess the truth of the Gospel with our mouth, believing He is that Great Deliverer sent down from Heaven to make a way for us to join Him in His home!

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Jesus says, do not worry about this I got it all under control. (My words)

God’s “justice” was perfectly satisfied with death of His Son!

God was perfectly satisfied with His Son dying for us!

So God raise His Son up from the dead to live forever and those who confess this to live with Him!

Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

How could such a plan be conceived and then followed exactly as it was written not be true?

Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

God has done these things so we will repent and return to Him, our Creator!

This cannot be done on a whim; it must come from the heart!

*Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Salvation is available and that shame comes when we do not give consideration of what a loving God has done for us.

God did not give these precious gifts to just one nation. God’s offer is to all the world!

God’s message is to all peoples!

There is only one Gospel and there can be only one Gospel!

Whoever believes in the truth of Jesus Christ will be saved!

God has made it just that simple!

The Gospel has made its way around this world, and this could only have happened by the power of God!

There may still be a very few places where Jehovah God is not known, but it can only be a very few and even those places will soon hear the “Gospel” of our Savior and our Deliverer.

The “Gospel of Jesus Christ” is universal!

Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

We do not have to be ashamed of our Savior!

When we are covered in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we should have no fear of this world!

We must never be ashamed to confess the Lord Jesus Christ before any man, any woman, or any child!

God’s love is never limited to any people!

*Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

The Lord our God treats all humanity the same!

There is no distinction between humans in the eyes of God!

There is only one race, and it is the human race!

Every human being is related to God in the same way because He is our Creator!

God does not show partiality!

We are all His creations.
We all have the sin nature of Adam.
We are all loved by Him.
None of us can be saved, but through the Lord Jesus Christ by the righteousness that is in Him.

God does not save one person one way and another person a separate way.

We must all come to Christ!

No person is favored over another person in being saved or being condemned!

Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Act 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

God will respond to all that call upon His name!

Every good thing that comes to this world comes by the hands of our Loving God!

Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

This means that terrible things do not come by the hands of God!

The truth being that we must call upon God to receive the riches of His “mercy” and His “grace”!

*Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

This statement is not in the Bible to be a deception, it is in the Bible because it is the truth!

This same promise goes out to every man, woman, and child upon this earth!

This is a prophecy that is fulfilled from the Old Testament!

Joe 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

It means when we call upon the name of the Lord, then we believe in the righteousness of His Son Jesus!

It means every person with such a belief.

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

You cannot get around Jesus Christ to make your own way to Heaven!

Jesus Christ is the answer to spending eternity with God our Father!

We must follow in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luk 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Amen

A Contrast Of The Law And Grace

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Contrast Of The Law And Grace

Galatians 4:15-31

That word contrast means to show the difference between two separate things of a like kind and like claims.

The Word of God teaches us that Laws bring bondage but that “Grace” brings freedom!

What we will see is the difference between God’s Grace and God’s curse.

Legalism mixed with Grace, teaches us that it is by the Grace of God that we can obey the Laws of God and by keeping the law we will be saved.

Legalism alone teaches that if we cannot keep all the Law and obey all the rules, then we will lose our salvation and be in need of salvation again.

These are only attempts to mix the Grace of God with man made laws, but keeping rules and regulations will never solve the problem of “SIN”!

Laws offer no forgiveness of sin!

It is only by the “Grace of God” that we can be saved!

Legalist see all people as only law keepers or law breakers!

Jesus Christ only sees every person as a sinner in need of a Savior!

Let’s pick up where we left off last week.

*****Gal 4:15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

When these Galatians had first heard the “Gospel” and believed and were saved, they had had great joy in their salvation and this is the way it should be.

God says this:

Psa 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

The most important witnessing tool we have is living a life free from the bondage of sin and that new life should be a life filled with joy in our salvation.

That lost person has no interest in preaching.

That lost person has no interest in “Gospel music”.

That lost person can see a changed life that is now full of the joy of salvation!

Jesus also says this:

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, “that they may see your good works”, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

SO, what had legalism brought to these churches in Galatia? It was not joy!

This loss of joy was so noticeable to the Apostle Paul that he asked them, “where is the blessedness ye spake of when you first got saved”?

**Legalism destroys joy because it makes people feel guilty rather than feel loved!

How had Jesus Christ fulfilled all the Law?

Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And Jesus added these words:

Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

James the half-brother of Jesus Christ has these words for us all:

Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

The “royal law”, which are the Words of Jesus Christ, are fulfilled when we truly love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves!

When the love of Jesus rules in our heart then we are free from the bondage of legalism and of all man-made laws because they become unnecessary!

**Legalism produces hatred rather than humility!

Humility is the act of submission. Salvation means we have submitted ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Submitting means much more than just dedication.

Submitting means much more that a soul revival.

Submitting is a total yielding to the truth of the “Gospel of Grace”!

BUT, Hatred is an aversion to do evil and discounts the love of God!

God says this:

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

**Legalism stresses performing to please God rather than a personal relationship with God!

God is not impressed with our works!

God is impressed with our effort but that effort can only begin when we have that close and personal relationship with our Savior and that begins with “Faith” and then “Love”!

1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; “but the greatest of these is charity”.

Charity(kind, tender, affectionate love) is the greatest of the three Christian Graces!

**Legalism can only show us how far short we have fallen in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ rather than how far we have grown in the Lord.

2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

When we feel inadequate and guilty then we are not living by “Faith”!

These Galatians were feeling inadequate and guilty and had not received the Apostle Paul as they had first received him!

It is this scripture that says that Paul may have had a problem with his eyes. I can attest myself to the fact that as I have grown older my eyesight has to be enhanced with strong glasses. Paul had no such access to such things as reading glasses.

When they first received the Apostle Paul they truly cared for God’s missionary and they would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to him but they had changed and their love for Paul had dwindled as also their love for the truth of God!

**Legalism will cause a hatred for the truth!

*****Gal 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

The God sent, minister of God must proclaim all the Word of God and most all of us have a subject we would rather not hear our Pastor preach on, but we must not become enemies of the truth!

What does God say?

1Ti 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

Those legalistic Jews from Jerusalem had made Paul out to be their enemy and Paul asked these Galatians if he was also their enemy now.

We must not forget why God chose certain men by the Holy Spirit, to preach the “Gospel of Grace”.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 “For the perfecting of the saints”, “for the work of the ministry”, “for the edifying of the body of Christ”:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive”;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

It is only God’s truth that can make us free from the bondage of sin and sometimes the truth hurts our feelings!

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Legalism cannot bring freedom!

*****Gal 4:17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

What do false preachers do to congregations?

**They are extremely zealous of their teaching at the expense of the truth!

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

**They seek as great a following as possible! It’s all about the numbers but it is all for the wrong reasons.

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

**They were seeking support where the Apostle Paul worked to support himself.

1Th 2:9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

**They sought to tear down and destroy the God called ministers of the truth. (Many attempts were made on Paul’s life but even more attempts to destroy his ministry)

The Apostles of Jesus Christ were always seeking to benefit God’s children.

**False Preachers only seek to benefit themselves!

What is the difference between a God called Preacher and a preacher of false doctrine?

False preachers seek to focus people on laws, works, efforts, rituals, ceremonies, observances, sacrifices, rules, and regulations, while insisting on all people to do good and to be good in order to become acceptable to God.

The true God called Preacher of the Gospel will focus on God, God’s love, God’s honor, and God’s praise because God Himself provided the only means to become acceptable to Him, by Jesus Christ!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

To know Jesus Christ is to know the Living God!

It is not hard to distinguish the true God called Preacher from the false ones.

All we need do is compare what they says to God’s Written Word!

*****Gal 4:18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

Paul said that the church should always welcome those who seek to minister for the welfare of the church and reject all those that seek their own welfare and those that reject the everlasting “Gospel” of Jesus Christ!

Every church is to grow in Christ!

Every church is to make disciples for Christ!

Every child of God is to have the appearance of Jesus Christ!

*****Gal 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Gal 4:20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

Paul had personally led many of these Galatians to the Lord.

Paul had helped them all mature spiritually.

Paul had a deep concern for his spiritual children.

This was a special trait of the Apostle Paul because this was a trait of the Lord Jesus Christ and an example for every man of God.

1Th 2:7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
1Th 2:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

Paul travailed for his spiritual children as a mother about to give birth in his effort to return them to Christ Jesus.

**A false minister has no true concern for the child of God!

A true shepherd loves his flock dearly!

A true shepherd agonizes over the growth of his flock!

A true shepherd is more like a mother hen than a strutting rooster!

And again the Lord Christ Jesus is our example!

Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

The true minister will guard the church against the error of leaving the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ, as did the Apostle Paul and will warn the church rather than become a part of that error!

Php 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Php 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

The true minister will explain the difference between the Law and Grace in as easy terms as possible!

Paul chose a historical moment in time that was verified in the Word of God.

*****Gal 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

Paul says listen to what the Law really says.

Paul said open up your clogged up ears and listen to what these false preachers are saying.

Paul said get out of the fog and get in the Light of Jesus Christ!

Paul said let’s just look at the Word of God and get our example of the truth!

The Gospel says we are “Justified by Grace” and that we enter into God’s New Heaven not by law, not by works, not by goodness “but by promise”!

So the Apostle Paul goes back to the beginning of the promise to Abraham.

It is only in the Word of God where we can find the truth of God!

We know that Abraham had only two sons while his wife Sarah was still alive.

One son Isaac had been promised by God to Abraham through his wife Sarah but many years had passed and Sarah had gotten very old and Sarah decided that God might need a little help to fulfill His promise to Abraham.

Sarah was wrong, God does not need our help for Him to fulfill His own promises!

Sarah trusted God but she became discouraged with her aged body and she sent her slave girl, Hagar into Abraham and Hagar had a son named Ishmael.

Some 13 years after Ishmael was born, God kept His promise to Abraham and Sarah bore Isaac.

Sarah had laughed at the promise God had made in her old age but God had proven to her that nothing is to hard for God and that He would always keep His promises!

Gen 18:13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
Gen 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

And the truth is:

Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

So what can we see about Ishmael?

Ishmael was born through the natural process.

Ishmael was born into slavery being born of a slave girl.

Ishmael was born because of the work, the effort, and the will of Sarah.

Ishmael was born because of the fleshly impulses of Abraham.

We men must beware of our fleshly impulses when we are up in our years!

So what do we know about Isaac?

Isaac was born a free man by a free woman.

Isaac was born because of the promise of God alone.

What are the facts?

Abraham and Sarah were both well beyond the years of childbearing.

Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 years old.

Isaac was then a miracle child who was born because God had done all the works to perform that miracle and because God always keeps His promises!

Isaac was a promised child!

So what is the point?

Ishmael was born by human ingenuity, human energy, human effort and was born into slavery.

Isaac was born a miracle child, by the promise of God.

Isaac was born because of God’s love and because of God’s power and because of God’s promise.

Isaac was born by the “Grace of God” into freedom!

Paul says now we can see the allegory.

An allegory in the Old Testament is the same as a parable in the New Testament.

In this case an allegory is an actual historical event that has a much deeper spiritual meaning.

And let’s allow Paul to explain this allegory.

*****Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

We will see an illustration of the truth between the Grace of God and the Law if we just listen to the teaching of the Apostle Paul.

First it is best to understand that unless God indicates other wise, the safe and proper way to interpret the Bible is to not interpret it at all.

We must always remember that God means what He says and God says what He means!

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

This goes for the individual and also for any Elder and includes the Pope and any other so-called spiritual leader of any and all denominations.

Now saying that, many times the Bible will indicate when God’s Word is meant to be interpreted allegorically.

But we will also see that even these allegories are built upon the historical truth that is written in the Word of God!

The Biblical story of Sarah and Hagar are historical facts!

We are wrong when we do not accept the Word of God as historical fact!

We are also wrong when we fail to understand why God would use allegories.

We already know the Lord Jesus Christ used the parable in many instances to aid in teaching the disciples.

We haven’t mentioned the different “types” in the Bible for awhile but these two mothers, Hagar and Sarah, represent the two covenants in the Bible in typology.

1) Hagar was a “type” of the old covenant, (The Law) that was between God and man.

Hagar represents the Law which bears children into slavery.

The Law makes demands.

The Law insists on total obedience.

The Law enslaves people to do exactly what it says or suffer dire consequences.

When people try to approach God with their own goodness, by their own works, by their own righteousness, they are in bondage to the Law!

It takes total obedience to the Laws given to Moses and the ever changing laws of man to ever become righteous enough on your own which is impossible!

It is a fact that we are to try our very best to live righteously and morally but by God’s standards and not by man’s standards.

But God says we are not justified because of our goodness or by any self efforts!

We cannot save ourselves!

We are not to praise ourselves for our feeble attempts at good works!

All praise belongs to God!

Hagar is in fact a “type” of all religions that go about seeking their own righteousness while rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation!

Hagar stands for Mount Sinai, the Mount in Arabia where the Law was given to Moses.

Mount Sinai is also a “type” of the Law.

God has always intended for Jerusalem to be habited by His own children which are children of freedom!

*****Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Sarah was a “type” of the new covenant between God and man, which is the covenant of Grace.

The covenant of “Grace” is the covenant of “Promise”!

Sarah or “Grace” is seen in Jerusalem that is from above or we say the New Jerusalem.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

It is life in the New Jerusalem that is promised to all those of true “Faith”!

Sarah was free. Grace is free. The Promise of the New Jerusalem is built for those that are free!

It is only by our “Faith” that we can receive the “Grace of God” and be a part of the Promises of God!

Anyone who thinks these things can be bought at any price is living in a dream world!

So what are the facts?

According to the Word of God their will be many more children of Hagar than there are children of Sarah!

BUT, that will be because they chose the wrong path of works and the Law and rejected the “Grace of God”!

God says why in the world would anyone choose bondage over freedom!

Isa 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Isa 55:2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Isa 55:3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

The children of “Faith”, that receive God’s “Grace” are in fact just as Isaac the “children of Promise”!

*****Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

How does Paul describe the believer to these Galatians?

We, brothers and sisters, just as Isaac, are the children of “Promise” because of our “Faith”!

All those that accept the work of the Lord Jesus Christ are birthed into the family of God, which is a Spiritual Birth!

We receive the “Promise” of God because God takes our “Faith” and counts it to us for righteousness just as He did for Abraham!

Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Rom 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

So, what can we expect from all those that reject the Lord Jesus Christ and adhere to a works doctrine?

*****Gal 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

The child of “Faith” will be persecuted by all those that seek another way to be righteous in the eyes of God.

Just as Ishmael mocked and persecuted Isaac, so it will be for the Christian!

Gen 21:9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

Those that work so hard to try to find a way to please God, will always ridicule those that tell them they are wasting their time and just need to believe.

Understanding these things will also better prepare as we witness for Jesus Christ.

The world sees Christians as weak but God says for us to be bold!

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

A person sold out to works, or rituals, or ceremony will have to admit that they are also weak and most of them will refuse to admit any weakness!

They will refuse to admit weakness and accept the fact that by their own energy, their own effort, their own works, they will never be able to impress God!

And God says we all know this to be true!

1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Jesus says for us to be prepared for all these things.

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

All those that seek to please God by their own works will be cast out just as Hagar and Ishmael.

*****Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

What actually happened?

Gen 21:10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

The Law cannot co-exist with the Grace of God!

The son of Hagar(the Law) shall not be an heir with the son of Sarah(Grace)!

Ishmael was cast out so that he could not share in Abraham’s riches which was the sure inheritance of Isaac.

This causes grief many people and it even caused grief to Abraham.

Gen 21:11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
Gen 21:12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

God is building His Church and God will never allow anyone who approaches Him by law or works to be a part of His Church!

This is God’s plan and we should never question God’s plan!

Why is this so important?

Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

All those that stand before God using the word “my” will be rejected!

God is perfect and the only One who is, so when you stand before God with your own works, your own goodness, your own righteousness, and a list of all the laws you have kept all the days of your life, you are only presenting your own human effort.

None of these things are important to God because you have not trusted in the truth of what He has written down for us in His Word!

Even the very best of people are disobedient to the Word of God and therefore left to the wages of death!

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

What is the will of our Father in Heaven?

Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

And what has God said?

Hab 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Hab 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

When our own self-pride comes between us and God we will lose every time!

What is the only choice we have to make in this life?

We must decide if we are going to be the children of the bondwoman or the children of the free woman?

*****Gal 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

To be free from the “Wages of Death” we must be a child of “Faith”!

If we believe the Word of God then we must believe the Apostle Paul and Paul has explained all these things as simply as they can be explained.

True salvation brings peace of mind and there is no peace of mind in the Law!

Once we have been adopted into the family of God, God then removes the death grip of this world and the works of this world and places us in His hands for safe keeping!

Joh 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
Joh 10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

If God is strong enough to save us, He is surely strong enough to keep us saved!

We should just ask ourselves are we going to trust in our own strength or are we going to trust in the Almighty Strength of God?

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

Redeemed By Faith

/ Bobby Mayfield / 1 Comment

Redeemed By Faith

Galatians 4:1-14

The word “redeemed” means to be delivered from bondage, to be ransomed, to be delivered from the possession of another by making an equivalent payment.

The word “redemption” comes from the Greek word “agorazo” and means making a trip to the market place for the purpose of purchasing. In most cases this phrase referred to the purchase of slaves!

The word “redemption” is used to describe the believer being purchased out of the slave market of sin!

That purchase price was the death of Jesus Christ!

1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Since by our own “Faith” we believe that we are the purchased objects of God’s love and at such a terrible cost, we have become God’s slaves, to do God’s will!

That word “redeemed” comes from the Greek word “exagorazo” which means that Jesus Christ has purchased each believer, by “Faith”, from that slave market and removed them from the slave market altogether and never to return!

Gal 3:13 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:
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Whosoever by their “Faith” believe that Christ has done this wonderful thing, just because He wanted to, are released from the bondage of sin and slavery to sin!

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

And we now belong to God as a possession!

Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

This is the message that we must take to the world!

SO, Let’s begin where we left off last week:

Since the original text did not have chapter and verses let’s add the last verse of chapter 3 to get the full context.

*****Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Gal 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

We need to remember that false teachers and preachers had come into the churches of Galatia and taught a false doctrine.

They had taught that all Gentiles must first obey the Laws of Moses before they could accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. In other words it was the Law that saved and not Faith!

No doubt we should always try our best to be the best we can, by all standards.

Even God says this:

Tit 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
Tit 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

Still the pure fact is that no one can be saved by just being good or being the best we can!

As we go through chapter 4 we will see God’s salvation plan!

In the previous chapters Paul has established that once we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ “by Faith” in the work He has done, we are then sealed with the Holy Spirit and subject to the promises first given to Abraham.

We already know that it is Jesus Christ who was the “Promised Seed” and we are heirs according to the bloodline of Jesus Christ!

S0 Paul continues saying that, even though we are heirs, until we receive our inheritance, we are no more than a child waiting on that inheritance!

Every child is to be obedient to his parents just as any slave or servant is to be obedient to their masters.

What is the point of these things? Paul is saying that until the “appointed time” by that parent, that inheritance was out of reach for that child.

And in comparison, Paul says that while we were lost, there was absolutely nothing that we could do of ourselves to inherit the promises of God, “justification” was out of our reach !

*****Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

What are these elements that Paul is speaking to? The elements of this world refer to all things that men will try to use to get right with God!

What are some of these things?

1) Men have used “laws” and many religions continue to try this method.

2) Men have used “good works” and many religions still try this method.

3) Men have used “rituals and ceremonies”, along with “ceremonial worship” and many religions still try this method.

4) Men have used “church membership and keeping of ordinances” and many still try this method.

5) Men have used “astrology or science” and many still try this method.

6) Men have used “philosophy” or we say “Religion” and many still try to use this method.

What does God say about all of these things?

**God says we need to quit acting like children and understand what He is saying!

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

**God says we need pay attention to Jesus Christ!

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

**God says if you trust in science and astrology, you are trusting in temporary things!

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

**God says to not become subject to the teachings of men!

Col 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

**God says to not fall into the traps of legalism!

Act 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

**God says to quit being children being fooled by the things of this world and understand the truth of the Word of God!

1Co 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

**God says listen to the truth, God says “listen to My plan of salvation” and be a part of My plan!

God says listen to the only plan that can make you a part of the promises made to Abraham!

*****Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

We should realize that when Jesus Christ appeared on this world it was not by chance!

Christ’s coming was according to the Word of God.

Jesus Christ first came to this earth at the exact right time as prophesied by Daniel.

God and God alone had decided the fulness of time!

What do we know for sure?

1) Jesus Christ was born of a particular person, as prophesied.

2) Jesus Christ was born at a particular time, as prophesied.

3) Jesus Christ was born in a particular place, as prophesied.

4) Jesus Christ was born in a particular way, as prophesied. (The incarnate Son of God)

5) Jesus Christ was born under a particular system, as prophesied. (The Law)

6) Jesus Christ suffered from the curse of Adam’s sin and the curse of the Law, being subject to the same worldly system from which He had come to save all others, “but without sin”, as prophesied!

7) This world had been prepared for the first coming of Christ Jesus, as prophesied.

a) The Law had shown the Jewish people their transgressions and despite God’s blessings, they had refused to seek God! (Sounds a whole lot like America today)

b) The world was full of spiritually starved people! They worshipped themselves, they worshipped pleasure, they worshipped false gods, they worshipped philosophies, but the soul of men still hungered for the truth.

c) The world at the time of Jesus was more at peace than it had been for many years because of Roman domination, but people could still move around and it was possible for the “Gospel” to spread at this time.

d) Most of the world depended on one language, “Greek”, making communication possible around the known world at that time, again allowing the Gospel to spread.

e) The world had a system of roads in place which allowed for travel between all nations.

SO, What did Jesus preach just after He had been baptized by John the Baptist?

Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

The fulness of time had come and God had prepared the world to receive His Son!

The Almighty Living God had sent His own Son into this world to deliver all mankind!

God had sent His Son into this world to provide that means of adoption into the family of God and therefore be able to also receive the promises made to Abraham!

SO, What else did Jesus preach?

Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Jesus Came to fulfill the Father’s plan because it is only by the Father’s plan that we can be “Justified” and “Redeemed”!

Joh 7:28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
Joh 7:29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.

God just asks us all to be part of His plan because there is no other plan that will bring us such a salvation!

What is the truth of the Gospel?

God sent His Son made of a woman, which was “born out of a woman” because we would not have accepted the Messiah under any other conditions!

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

God spoke the Word by the Holy Spirit and this young virgin conceived a Son, who had to become a man so He could save all men!

Luk 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luk 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

These are the things that we must base our “Faith” upon!

Jesus Christ was born under the Law because all mankind are under the laws of men!

Jesus Christ had to obey the Law in every single detail in order to become that “perfect” ideal man and the only “sacrifice” that could be accepted by our Father in Heaven.

Rom 8:3 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:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

To believe all these things is to be redeemed and openly welcomed into the family of God!

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Law condemned us all to death, but by our own “Faith” we are welcomed into God’s family!

*****Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

The Spirit of Christ will be sent by our Father in Heaven to dwell within every believer upon a confession of their ‘Faith”!

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Adoption is a serious matter!

An adopted son is permanent. They cannot be adopted today and unadopted later!

An adopted son loses all rights to his previous family but now has full rights to his new family.

An adopted son is looked upon as a new person and has a new name and any debt connected to his old family is cancelled and forgotten as if they never existed!

An adopted son has a very special relationship with all the other family members, up close and personal!

An adopted son becomes an heir to the riches of His new Father!

None of these things are available to those that reject the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****Gal 4:8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

The Apostle Paul says to remember where you came from!

We should ask ourselves, just why does God want us to read and understand all His written Word and God gives us that answer.

1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

God wants us all to know the truth!

When we have reached this point of knowing the plan of salvation by the “Grace of God” and by our own “Faith”, why in the world would we accept anything less than this truth!

When we had no knowledge of our Savior, we knew that we did serve the falseness that this is all this world has to offer!

Once we have realized the presence, and the fellowship, and the care, and the communion with the Lord, why would we want to give that up for anything that promises so much less?

It is a fact that if you are in the world, you are serving false gods!

These Galatians had not been Atheist, they had served many false gods.

These Galatians had not been Agnostic, they knew in their hearts that there had to be a real God!

These Galatians knew that they had been slaves to false worship of false gods, that only took their money and never promised salvation of any kind!

They served gods which by nature were no gods!

They served gods that were only gods of the mind!

Most people worship things that they themselves have exalted to some high priority!

Most people have a fixed picture in their minds of what they want their personal god to be like, to suit only themselves and their own way of life!

Most people worship their own thoughts, their own ideas, and their own way of life and they reject anything that goes against these things!

These people have it in their minds how they want their God to be and reject seeking the truth of who God says He is!

Most people will spend eternity in the Burning Lake of Fire, “because they reject the truth of God in Jesus Christ”!

It is only the sin of “unbelief” that cannot be overcome!

To know Jesus Christ, is to know the Living God and these Galatians knew this to be true!

*****Gal 4:9 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?

We must realize that it is a great privilege to know the truth of God but it is even a greater blessing to know that God knows your name and that God knows more about you than you can ever know about yourself!

God offers us all an opportunity to have a close and personal relationship with Him but we must first accept who He is!

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

God says that while we are still living in this life, we must leave the things of this world behind and focus on the things of God!

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

God says we may live in this world but we are not to be a part of this world!

To be “redeemed” is to belong to God!

Isa 43:1 ***** for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

We cannot come to know God by works, or rituals or anything that we can do ourselves!

We can only be “Justified” by our “Faith” and that is “Faith in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ”!

These are God’s rules and this is God’s plan and too many today just want to ignore God’s plan for their own plan which will always fail!

These Galatians were about to turn back to the weak and beggarly elements that lead to destruction and lead to failure in the service of God.

Were they turning back to pagan worship? No!

They were considering that all men can only become acceptable to God by their own efforts and by good works which God says will have absolutely no effect on your “justification”!

Look at what is happening in our world today. In radical Islam, these people are going to extremes in an effort to appease a false god and they are not the only ones as some so-called Christians do the same thing along with so many others of false religion.

God knew all these things would happen therefore His plan is the greater of all plans!

When Christians return to this line of thought, they are returning to the bondage and slavery of man’s laws!

These elements of false religion are weak and beggarly according to the Apostle Paul and useless in the eyes of God!

Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

What did Paul see happening to these Galatians?

*****Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

These Galatians began “again” to trust in rituals.

They again, returned to ceremonial worship.

They again, returned to special religious days or special worship days in an attempt to please God.

They returned back to worldly attempts to please God!

BUT, none of these things can bring “Justification” in the eyes of God!

This does not mean we are ignore the Lord’s Day as a day of worship.

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We must gather together in worship and we must gather together to strengthen each other in “Faith”!

BUT, we can never make our own selves righteous!

And Paul said to these Galatians that they would be useless in their service to God!

When we do not follow God’s plan, then we become useless in God’s plan to redeem other sinners!

*****Gal 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

We live wasted lives when we seek to find ways to become righteous in the eyes of God!

Every approach to God will fail except “Faith” in Jesus Christ!

The world rejects this truth and the world is doomed to failure!

Any other approach to appeasing God, leads to death and destruction the same as not knowing God at all!

And Jesus said:

Luk 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

And God says this:

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

We are just as foolish as these Galatians, if we have accepted the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have been “redeemed” and then turn back to religious self-righteousness and ignore the Word of God!

The Apostle Paul said, “I was also raised as a Jew under all those laws, under all those rituals, under all those ceremonies and under all those observances and none of those things got me one step closer to a relationship with God”!

*****Gal 4:12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.

We should not forget the Apostle Paul had come under vicious attack not only by those Judaizers but many of these of the church who had gotten confused about the truth of the “Gospel” and the “Grace of God”!

Paul called them brothers because they were still his brothers in Christ.

Paul did not treat them as enemies.

Paul did not treat them as those who opposed Jesus Christ!

Paul did not talk about them, Paul talked to them!

Paul did not gripe over his frustrations, nor complain about their actions, Paul expressed deep brotherly love for each of them.

After all they were still God’s children by adoption!

Paul showed to these Galatians the heart of true Pastor!

Paul begged and pleaded with them from the heart as a true minister of God!

Paul simply said “be like I am, for I am one of you”.

Paul had totally given up Judaism as a means to please God and had accepted Jesus Christ as his own personal Savior.

Paul was saying to these Galatians, “you do not have to become a Jew to be saved, you must only have “Faith” in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul said “I will never hold any bitterness or malice against you”!

What is a Pastor?

A Pastor feeds God’s sheep!

A Pastor is God’s appointed man over a congregation of believers!

A Pastor ministers the “Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ”!

A Pastor should be a picture of God’s “Grace” to each believer!

God had prepared these Galatians when they had first met Paul but God had also prepared Paul in a special way.

*****Gal 4:13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
Gal 4:14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

God will often use weak, despised, and poor instruments to accomplish His will!

When we are weak in the flesh because of illness, we certainly cannot display our own power.

BUT, the truth of the “Gospel” cannot be hidden even in our own weakness!

2Co 13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
2Co 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

Paul’s illness at this time was as much a trial to himself as it was a trial to all these Galatians.

This traveling evangelist had taken the opportunity in all of Galatia to preach the Gospel no matter how he felt, no matter his health, and no matter his physical condition.

Paul had not been rejected because of the way he looked.

Paul had not been rejected because he was not some great speaker.

Paul had been received because of the Message he had!

In fact Paul had been received as if he were an angel sent from God!

Paul had been received as if he had been Jesus Himself!

Jesus said:

Mat 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

When we hear the “Gospel of Grace”, we know that we have heard the truth!

1Th 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Again Paul points out to these people how much they have changed from the truth!

We began this lesson by saying that we can only be redeemed by our “Faith”!

One day John the Baptist was preaching and baptising in the Jordan River and he looked up and saw Jesus Christ and he had these words:

Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”.

If our “Faith” is not wrapped up in this statement by John the Baptist, then we are not saved. and we have placed our “Faith” in something other than Jesus Christ!

For behold, it is only the Lamb of God who can take away all our sin!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!