Using the Law
Lawfully
By Bart Nelson
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In the past couple of years I have heard more and
more dear brothers and sisters caught up in using the law in a manner that
Jesus and Paul would hate (using it unlawfully). For a time I thought that it
was innocent and that they were sincerely trying to get closer to the Lord.
Then, in my normal reading, I encountered scriptures that quite strongly came
against these practices and I felt driven to do this study and pass it
prayerfully on to you. These are serious passages and I urge you as strongly as
possible to carefully study them and allow Holy Spirit to speak to your heart.
I would love to hear your feedback.
Mt. 5:17 “Do not think
that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but
to fulfill. 18 “For truly I say to you, until
heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from
the Law until all is accomplished. 19
"Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and
teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven;
but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of
heaven. 20 “For I say to you that unless your
righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter
the kingdom of heaven. One of Jesus’ purposes was to fulfill,
complete and accomplish the law, something no one else has ever been able to
do!
Mt. 7:12 “In everything,
therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is
the Law and the Prophets.
Mt. 12:1 At that time Jesus went through the
grain fields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick
the heads of grain and eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to
Him, "Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath."
3 But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he became
hungry, he and his companions, 4 how he entered the house of God, and they ate
the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with
him, but for the priests alone? 5 “Or have you not read
in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and
are innocent? 6 “But I say to you that something greater
than the temple is here. 7 “But if you had known what
this means, 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,' you would not have
condemned the innocent. 8 “For the Son of Man is Lord
of the Sabbath." Jesus was in a consistent battle over the Sabbath
with the Pharisees. Here He boldly declares Himself Lord over it!
Mt. 23:16 “Woe to you,
blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever
swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.' 17 “You
fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that
sanctified the gold? 18 “And, 'Whoever swears by the
altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is
obligated.' 19 “You blind men, which is more important,
the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? 20 “Therefore,
whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. 21
“And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the
temple and by Him who dwells within it. 22 “And whoever
swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes
and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected
the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but
these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. Jesus
NEVER taught the disciples about tithing, He only confronted the
Pharisees about not giving correctly.
24 “You blind guides, who
strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! 25 “Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of
the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 “You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of
the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. 27 “Woe
to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs
which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's
bones and all uncleanness. 28 “So you, too, outwardly
appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
The Pharisees would slice and dice the law to fit their lifestyles. If you’re
going to keep it, according to Jesus, you’ve got to keep it all, which only He knew how to do and
was able to do.
Mk. 7:4 and when they come from the market place,
they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things
which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and
pitchers and copper pots.) 5 The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, "Why
do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat
their bread with impure hands?" 6 And He said to them, "Rightly did
Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME
WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 7 ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY
WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.' 8 “Neglecting
the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men." 9 He was also
saying to them, "You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God
in order to keep your tradition. 10 “For Moses said,
'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER'; and, 'HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR
MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH'; 11 but you say, 'If a man says to his father or
his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say,
given to God),' 12 you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or
his mother; 13 thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you
have handed down; and you do many things such as that." More about
money.
14 After He called the crowd to Him again, He
began saying to them, "Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: 15 there
is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the
things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. 16 "If anyone
has ears to hear, let him hear." 17 When he had left the crowd and entered
the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. 18 And He said to
them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand
that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, 19
because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is
eliminated?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.) 20 And He was
saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.
21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed
the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of
coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride
and foolishness. 23 “All these evil things proceed from
within and defile the man." This is the first of many references that release
us from the law’s dietary restrictions.
Lk. 16:16 "The Law and the Prophets were
proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom
of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. 17 “But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for
one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail. Verse 16 starts to show the shift
away from the law to grace.
Lk. 18:9 And He also told this parable to some
people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others
with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to
pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 “The
Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like
other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' 13 "But the tax
collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes
to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the
sinner!' 14 "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than
the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles
himself will be exalted." Keeping the law is not a basis for righteousness
before God, humility is!
Jn. 1:15 John testified about Him and cried out,
saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher
rank than I, for He existed before me.'" 16 For of His fullness we have
all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses;
grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
Jn. 7:19 “Did not Moses
give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to
kill Me?" 20 The crowd answered, "You have a demon! Who seeks to kill
You?" 21 Jesus answered them, "I did one deed, and you all marvel. 22
“For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not
because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you
circumcise a man. 23 “If a man receives circumcision on
the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me
because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? 24 “Do
not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." Jesus
reveals Himself as above the Sabbath.
Jn. 8:3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a
woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 4 they
said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very
act. 5 “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such
women; what then do You say?" 6 They were saying this, testing Him, so
that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with
His finger wrote on the ground. 7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He
straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let
him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 Again He stooped down and
wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning
with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in
the center of the court. 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman,
where are they? Did no one condemn you?" 11 She said, "No one,
Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now
on sin no more."
Jn. 19:30 Therefore when Jesus had received the
sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head
and gave up His spirit. At this specific point the law was accomplished.
Acts 10:9 On the next day, as they were on their
way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth
hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they
were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 11 and he *saw the sky opened
up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to
the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and
crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him,
"Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" 14 But Peter said, "By no
means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean."
15 Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no
longer consider unholy." 16 This happened three times, and immediately
the object was taken up into the sky. Do we ever call unclean what God calls
clean?
Acts 13:38 “Therefore let
it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed
to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things,
from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. 40 “Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may
not come upon you: 41 ‘BEHOLD, YOU SCOFFERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH; FOR I AM
ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD
DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.'"
Acts 15:1 Some men came down from Judea and began
teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom
of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 And when Paul and Barnabas had great
dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas
and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders
concerning this issue. 3 Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they
were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the
conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. 4
When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the
apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. 5
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying,
"It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law
of Moses." 6 The apostles and the elders came together to look into this
matter. After there had been much
debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brethren, you know that in the
early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would
hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 “And God,
who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He
also did to us; 9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing
their hearts by faith. 10 “Now therefore why do you put
God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which
neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 “But
we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same
way as they also are." 16 ‘AFTER THESE THINGS I will return, AND I
WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS
RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT, 17 SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD,
AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,' 18 SAYS THE LORD, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS
KNOWN FROM LONG AGO. 19 “Therefore it is my judgment
that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20
but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols
and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. 21 “For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those
who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath." 22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the
elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch
with Paul and Barnabas--Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among
the brethren, 23 and they sent this letter by them, "The apostles and the
brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who
are from the Gentiles, greetings. 24 “Since we have
heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you
with their words, unsettling your souls, 25 it seemed good to us, having become
of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 “Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will
also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 “For
it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden
than these essentials: 29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and
from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep
yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell." This is
such an important, pivotal passage. Here, the ‘Jewish apostles’ lay
nothing on the believers about tithing, Sabbaths and festivals, and two food
restrictions – which pertain to idolatry and health issues. Paul even addresses
the food offered to idols in 1 Cor, and Rom.
Rom. 3:19 Now we know that whatever the Law
says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth
may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by
the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through
the Law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the Law the
righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and
the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God, 27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded.
By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain
that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 31 Do we
then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we
establish the Law. Faith, not the Law, justifies us. The Law reveals our
sin, in order to drive us to our knees to Jesus.
Rom. 4: 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of
the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and
whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute
sin.” 13 For the promise to Abraham or to his
descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but
through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the Law are
heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; 15 for
the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no
violation. 16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in
accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants,
not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of
Abraham, who is the father of us all,.
Rom. 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin
entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men,
because all sinned-- 13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is
not imputed when there is no law. 20 The Law came in so that the transgression
would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so
that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness
to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Get this –
no law, no imputing sin does not increase! Remind me again, why we want to go
back to keeping it?
Rom.7:1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I am
speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a
person as long as he lives? 2 For the married woman is bound by law to her
husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from
the law concerning the husband. 3 So then, if while her husband is living
she is joined to another man, she shall be called an ADULTERESS;
but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an
adulteress though she is joined to another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you
also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might
be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we
might bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful
passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our
body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law,
having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the
Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. 7 What shall we say then? Is the Law
sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except
through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not
said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET." 8 But sin, taking opportunity through
the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law
sin is dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment
came, sin became alive and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was to result
in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity
through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So then, the
Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 13 Therefore
did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather
it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death
through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become
utterly sinful. 14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh,
sold into bondage to sin. 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our
Lord! So then, with the mind I myself
serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. We MUST choose our
spouse – Christ OR the law! Neither will allow adultery with the other.
Rom. 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For
what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did:
sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin,
He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be
fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the
Spirit.
Rom. 10:3 For not knowing about God's
righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject
themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law
for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes that the man who
practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that
righteousness. Christ is the end of the law! Why would we want
to establish
own righteousness?
Rom. 13:8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love
one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 10
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the
law.
1 Cor. 9:19 For though I am free from all men, I
have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I
became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as
under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those
who are under the Law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law, though
not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might
win those who are without law. Who are we trying to reach?
1 Cor. 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power
of sin is the law;
2 Cor. 3:4 Such confidence we have through Christ
toward God. 5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as
coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us
adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit;
for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry
of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of
Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his
face, fading as it was, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be
even more with glory? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory,
much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. 10 For indeed
what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses
it. 11 For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that
which remains is in glory. 12 Therefore having such a hope, we use great
boldness in our speech, 13 and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over
his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what
was fading away. 14 But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at
the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is
removed in Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over
their heart; 16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken
away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there
is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the
glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to
glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. Which do you want - the ministry
of condemnation or the ministry of righteousness?
Gal. 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even
we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in
Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law
no flesh will be justified. 17 “But if, while
seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners,
is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! 18 “For
if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.
19 “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I
might live to God. 20 "I have been
crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 “I do not
nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then
Christ died needlessly."
Gal. 3:2 This is the only thing I want to find
out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing
with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now
being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain--if
indeed it was in vain? 5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and
works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it
is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN
IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." 11 Now that no one is justified
by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY
FAITH." 12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO
PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM." 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse
of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE
WHO HANGS ON A TREE"-- 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of
Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the
Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even
though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets
it aside or adds conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham
and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to
many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ. 17 What
I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later,
does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the
promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a
promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. 19 Why the
Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through
angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the
promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God
is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never
be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then
righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has
shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might
be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in
custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be
revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ,
so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no
longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in
Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed
yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in
Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants,
heirs according to promise. I no longer want to be under the curse or a
tutor! I want the blessing of following Christ.
Gal. 5:2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you
receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I
testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation
to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are
seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 16 But I
say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17
For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the
things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under
the Law.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things
there is no law.
Eph. 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the
enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that
in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,
Col. 2:16 Therefore no one is to act as your
judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival
or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- 17 things which are a mere shadow of
what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep
defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of
the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by
his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire
body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with
a growth which is from God. 20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary
principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit
yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not
taste, do not touch!" I want substance, not shadow!
1 Tim. 1:6 For some men, straying from these
things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of
the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the
matters about which they make confident assertions. 8 But we know that the
Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 realizing the fact that law is
not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and
rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those
who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral men and
homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is
contrary to sound teaching, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed
God, with which I have been entrusted. Did you read who the law is for?
Heb. 4:1 Therefore, let us fear if, while a
promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come
short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they
also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by
faith in those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as
He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,"
although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has
said somewhere concerning the seventh day: "AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH
DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS"; 5 and again in this passage, "THEY SHALL NOT
ENTER MY REST." 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and
those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of
disobedience, 7 He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through
David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU
HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS." 8 For if Joshua had given them
rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a
Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has
himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be
diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the
same example of disobedience. This is NOT taking about
Saturday! JESUS is our Sabbath rest!
Heb. 7.18 For on the one hand there is an
annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and
unprofitableness. 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other
hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to
God.
Heb. 8.4 Now if He were on earth, He would not
be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according
to the Law; 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things,
just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for,
"SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE
PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN." 6 But now He has obtained a
more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better
covenant, which was established on better promises. 7 For if that
first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion
sought for a second. 13 When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the
first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready
to disappear.
Heb. 9.9 It was symbolic for the present
time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who
performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience 10 since they
relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the
body imposed until a time of reformation. Do we want the symbolic or
reformation?
Heb. 10:1 For the Law, since it has only a
shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can
never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make
perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to
be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer
have had consciousness of sins? 9 then He said, “Behold,
I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away
the first that He may establish the second. Why hold on to that
which is a shadow, has ceased, and taken away, when we can have what has
been established?
One use for the law, other than pointing
to our absolute need of a Savior, is to show us pictures of Jesus. It
foreshadowed Him in sacrifices, offerings priesthood, etc, We would be wise to
study it out. Lk. 24:44 Now He said to them, "These are My words which I
spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about
Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Rom. 15:4 For
whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that
through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have
hope.
Heb. 12:18 For you have not come to a mountain
that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and
whirlwind, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound
was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20
For they could not bear the command, "IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE
MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED." 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses
said, "I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling." 22 But you have come
to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to
myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who
are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the
righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,
and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. 25 See
to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape
when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who
turn away from Him who warns from heaven. We have a choice, do we want Mt.
Sinai or Mt. Calvary? I know what my choice is!
Jam. 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet
stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For He who said,
"DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT
MURDER." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have
become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be
judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has
shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. Do you wear clothes with mixed
fibers, eat meat gravy with milk or eat hamburger? You’ve just violated the whole law!
We have had laid out before us here a clear choice. Do we want a shadow, that brings a curse, which is fading away and gives power to sin, or do we want substance, which brings liberty, that is eternal and frees from sin? In short, do we want the Law or Jesus? They are mutually exclusive spouses. I know who my husband is. I have already run to Him. How about you?!?!