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Monday, January
7, 2008
Not Going Anywhere For a While?
Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing
perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw
nigh unto God. (KJV)
Do you want to draw close to God and grow
in Him? Then you need to withdraw yourself from the law and the works of it
to succeed. Many begin in the Spirit and still try to perfect or become
mature in the Lord by the flesh and its carnal ordinances. Ever wonder why
so many Christians are weak and sickly? Those that should be a beacon of
spiritual light are a flickering candle getting dimmer and dimmer.
Galatians 3:10-14 For as many as are of
the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is
every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book
of the law to do them. (11) But that no man is justified by the law in the
sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. (12) And
the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
(13) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse
for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14)
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus
Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
(KJV)
The promise that mankind has been waiting
for, the promise of the Messiah that the Old Testament prophets wrote of
has arrived and brought us a perfect plan of salvation that would release
us from the curse of the old law. If you read back to the beginning of this
Chapter 3, you will find that many begin in the Spirit with a simple belief
in Christ and then go and spoil the plan by reverting back to laws and
rituals that are done away in Christ. Rather than having faith in the work
Jesus Christ did on our behalf, and the sacrifice that was paid and
accepted of the Father as complete, we in essence by these dead works are
telling the Lord that He didn’t do a complete work. God the Father accepted
the blood sacrifice of His Son, then released the debt of sin and
separation from Him, and has given us a ministry of reconciliation through
Jesus Christ. If you plan on continuing your walk in the Spirit and would
like to grow closer to the Lord, then from this point on it can only be
accomplished by faith.
Acts 13:38-39 Be it known unto you
therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the
forgiveness of sins: (39) And by him all that believe are justified from
all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (KJV)
No matter how you slice it, no matter how
much you twist and turn things and try to make them fit, the only
justification with our Lord is apart from works. The man being referred to
in the above verses is none other than Jesus Christ; and in order to be
justified, which means to render free, innocent and righteous, it can only
be accomplished by faith in Him. Anytime one steps outside the realm of
faith they are walking away from the Lord and trying to find another way
into the kingdom, which the Bible refers to them as a thief and a robber;
letting the devil steal the life and cut off the line of communication of
the believer. It’s the simplicity of the gospel that many miss. Rather than
keeping it simple, they complicate a simple plan of salvation by faith with
a bunch of man-made additional works that cause more confusion than peace.
Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore leaving the
principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not
laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith
toward God, (2) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and
of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this will we
do, if God permit. (KJV)
Our indoctrination into God’s plan of
salvation came in the form of Jesus Christ, who came and fulfilled the law,
which culminated in the perfect sacrifice through His laying down His life
for all mankind. Having resurrected and now seated at the right hand of the
Father, this simple plan of salvation is manifest through a law of faith.
Many today still seek forgiveness and repentance through dead works
thinking something else needs to be done in order to be justified. Many
believe in God and have a faith toward Him but are unable to tap into the
measure of faith they were given; so rather than look inward they are still
seeking the answer in the outward. It goes without saying that many still
keep the doctrine of the external baptism in play, which is nothing more
than a watered down dead doctrine. Verse 3 uses the word permit, which
means to give liberty or be set free. The only way a believer can be set
free and draw nigh or close to God and go on to perfection (maturity) in
Christ, is by leaving the works of the law dead and buried.
Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for
those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and
were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of
God, and the powers of the world to come, (6) If they shall fall away, to
renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son
of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (KJV)
Without faith it is impossible to please
God and they that are in the flesh cannot please God. The reason many
believers fall away and get duped by the devil is because they miss the
simple fact that it was faith that got them into the kingdom, and only
faith in the completed sacrifice of Jesus Christ can keep them in it. Many
crucify the simple doctrine of Christ by basically telling Him He didn’t do
a complete job and that there is still work that needs to be done.
John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him,
What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? (29) Jesus answered
and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he
hath sent. (KJV)
Christ in you is the only hope of glory.
This is the hope that was brought to all mankind, the gift of life given to
bring healing and restoration to a fallen world. Anytime you look outside
the realm of faith to find your answer you are stepping away from the Lord
instead of being drawn closer to Him. Anytime you put yourself back under
the old law and its dead works which were nailed to the cross you are
telling the Lord He is a liar and did not do a complete job.
Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That
every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in
the day of judgment. (37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by
thy words thou shalt be condemned. (KJV)
The word idle means, inactive or useless;
which sounds like dead works, those things that keep a person from moving
forward. Words of faith will build up the believer and bring them closer to
the Lord. Your words which come from the heart will either bring you
justification or condemnation. And those that speak in line with the Lord
and operate according to the law of faith will find themselves innocent and
just before the Lord. Anything less will just keep one stagnant and idle,
and they will not be going anywhere for a while.
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