FOURTH QUARTER--2011--LESSON 5--Old Testament Faith

[colporteur]

Maybe with this degree of brevity the topic is over simplified but ....we are not saved by works.... neither are we saved without them.

There is a growth and a saving, if you will, that happens when God's people obey  and serve Him that cannot happen otherwise.

[Richard Myers]

Because of the lies, it is  not easy to be brief when discussing faith and works. We can see that by reading in Galatians and James.  But, we need to get our eyes more firmly fixed on Christ and His teaching  on the subject. His teaching was very simple.  You must be born again of the Spirit. And, if because of false teaching, it needs to be supplemented to understand what Jesus meant, then He said much more as did the whole Bible.  He not only told us that we need to be born of His Spirit, but He told us how it happens. We must look if we want to live. Looking does not save us, but it is part of the process of being saved. If we do not look, we shall not be saved. The lesson is very clear and very simple. We must look to live and we must be born of His Spirit.  We will be judged by our works, but our works do not save us.  It is the grace of Christ that both paid the price for our salvation and then transforms the very nature of man. We retain our evil vile flesh, but we are made partakers of the divine nature when the Holy Spirit indwells the human heart. Then the promise is fulfilled,   Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5.

And, bringing my thoughts into line with this week's lesson on Old Testament Faith, Jesus pointed us back to the time when Moses made the brazen serpent as an object lesson of salvation by faith. It was not the brazen serpent that saved them, but it was faith in the promise of God. It was an object lesson teaching that one day Christ would be made sin for us and by looking upon Him lifted up on the cross we would be saved.  It is not only a Bible promise, but it is a spiritual and an intellectual truth that by beholding we become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself to that which it is accustomed to love and reverence.

[Richard Myers]

In thinking about my last post, I think it good to know that it is not good enough for Christ to have suffered and died in my place, I must accept that grace into my heart. Then, His sacrifice is efficacious. And, it not only produces a legal justification for me to have eternal life, but it also transforms my life. And it does so at the moment of conversion. There is a radical changed that takes place when the heart is given fully to Christ. The heart is purified and the process of change continues on. First the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. Moral perfection at each stage in the Christian life.

[Richard Myers]

WEDNESDAY    October 26

The Gospel in the Old Testament

“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed’” (Gal. 3:8, ESV). Paul writes that not only was the gospel preached to Abraham, but it was God who preached it; so, it must have been the true gospel. But when did God preach the gospel to Abraham? Paul’s quotation of Genesis 12:3 indicates he has in mind the covenant that God made with Abraham when he called him in Genesis 12:1–3.

  12:1   Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: 
  12:2   And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 
  12:3   And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 

Read Genesis 12:1–3. What does this tell us about the nature of the covenant that God made with Abraham?

We are told that God would bless Abraham. But, it was a conditional promise, just as the everlasting covenant is to all of humanity. The gift of grace must be accepted before the covenant can be fulfilled.

The basis of God’s covenant with Abraham centered on God’s promises to him. God says to Abraham four times, “I will.” God’s promises to Abraham are amazing because they are completely one-sided. God does all the promising; Abraham promises nothing. This is the opposite of how most people try to relate to God. We usually promise we will serve Him, if only He will do something for us in return. But that is legalism. God did not ask Abraham to promise anything but to accept His promises by faith. Of course, that was no easy task, because Abraham had to learn to trust completely in God and not in himself (see Genesis 22).

The author of the lesson expresses the truth about the part that we have to "do".  It is not an "easy task because Abraham had to learn to trust completely in God".  "Saving faith" cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We must know God before we will trust Him completely.

The call of Abraham illustrates, therefore, the essence of the gospel, which is salvation by faith.

Some mistakenly conclude that the Bible teaches two ways of salvation. They claim that in Old Testament times salvation was based on keeping the commandments; then, because that did not work very well, God abolished the law and made salvation possible by faith. This could not be farther from the truth. As Paul wrote in Galatians 1:7, there is only one gospel.

What other examples can you find in the Old Testament of salvation by faith alone? See, for instance, Lev. 17:11, Ps. 32:1–5, 2 Sam. 12:1–13, Zech. 3:1–4.

Psalm
  32:1   [A Psalm] of David, Maschil. Blessed [is he whose] transgression [is] forgiven, [whose] sin [is] covered. 
  32:2   Blessed [is] the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit [there is] no guile. 
  32:3   When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 
  32:4   For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 
  32:5   I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 

This is an example of the everlasting covenant working in a man's life. It is a two-way street. The promise of life was offered, but it must be accepted. Here we see David confessing his sin and accepting the forgiveness offered.

We often hear the phrase “cheap grace.” Yet, it’s a misnomer. Grace isn’t cheap—it’s free (at least for us). But we ruin it when we think that we can add to it by our works or when we think we can use it as an excuse to sin. In your own experience, which one of these two ways are you more inclined to lean toward, and how can you stop?

Grace accepted into the heart, transforms the life.  Grace rejected does nothing except bring more condemnation. The covenant that God made with Abraham was a conditional promise. It would not be fulfilled unless Abraham did something.  The everlasting covenant was the same, It was conditioned upon Adam accepting the free gift of grace. The law is the school-master that leads the sinner to see his need of a Savior.  When we acknowledge we are condemned and have no way out, then Christ will forgive us and come into our hearts and cleanse us from all sin. He does more than this, He transforms our very nature. The everlasting covenant and the new covenant that Paul speaks of are both the same. The covenant is a promise that God will write His law upon our hearts. But, again, let none think that the promise is unconditional. The law can only be written upon a sinners heart, if he falls on the Rock and is broken. We must die to self and then Christ will make us new creatures in Him and He in us.  Baptism represents this new birth, a dying to self and a new life in Christ Jesus. This is the everlasting covenant fulfilled.

The everlasting covenant promise was first made known to man in the garden when Christ spoke to Satan these words: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Genesis 3:15. This was an unconditional promise of a Saviour. But, it was a conditional promise for Adam and us. The gift was promised, the sacrifice of Christ, but unless the Gift was accepted, the law would not be written upon the heart of man. The enmity spoken of in this covenant, man does not have until he accepts the free Gift.  Man by nature is at enmity with God. There is no enmity (hatred) towards sin and Satan. "The carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."  Romans 8:7.  Adam had no hope until this promise was made at Genesis 3:15. Then, Adam had an opportunity to regain what he had lost. He could be reconciled to God by accepting the future Sacrifice to be made by the Son of God.  By faith in that sacrifice, the blood shed on account of his sins, he would be given a new heart. That new heart would have the law of God written upon it.  When by faith, Adam accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour, his life would be transformed and the new covenant promise would be fulfilled in his life. The law of God through the indwelling presence of God would be written upon his heart.

The lesson in Galatians has to do with the lie that man can, in and of himself, do something inherently good. He cannot.  He can do nothing to merit salvation. It is Christ that paid the price, we must accept the gift. And before we are in a position to accept the gift, we must understand what it is and then trust God with the whole heart.  Some think this is just a matter of saying the sinner's prayer. No. The faith that Paul speaks of is saving faith. It is not  a trite prayer, but a trusting of God with every part of our being. We cannot trust someone with all that we are and all that we have until we know them to be trustworthy. We must learn of God before we will surrender all to Him. Learning of God does not merit us anything, it only enables our faith to grow. The idea that we have nothing to do that the everlasting covenant can be fulfilled is a lie that will keep multitudes from heaven. Our part is immeasurably small. God's part is immeasurably great. Without our part, we shall be forever lost.

As Christ taught, "If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto myself".  He has been lifted up, now it is our work to "look and live".  By beholding His glory, His character of unselfish love, we shall be changed into the same image from glory to glory, by His Spirit. We must be born again of His Spirit.

[Mimi]

Do you need help with your posts, Arnold?

[Richard Myers]

THURSDAY    October 27

Redeemed From a Curse (Gal. 3:9–14)

  3:9   So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 
  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. 
  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. 
  3:12   And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 
  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: 
  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. 

Paul’s opponents were no doubt stunned by his bold words in Galatians 3:10. They certainly did not think themselves to be under a curse; if anything, they expected to be blessed for their obedience. Yet, Paul is unequivocal: “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them’” (NKJV).

What we are reading in Galatians must be taken with the rest of Scripture.  I am not trying to make this difficult, for it is not. Unless one has come under the influence of false teachers, it is simple.  We cannot just leave the matter as it is.  Here is why.

From the Old Testament:
Psalms
  37:29   The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. 
  37:30   The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 
  37:31  The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

Here we see that the "righteous" are obedient to the law of God which is written in the heart. And we see that the same applies to Christ. Again from the Old Testament:
Psalms
  40:7   Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me, 
  40:8   I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart. 
  40:9   I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. 

Is the Old Testament different from the New? Is Paul contradicting Old Testament theology where the law is written upon the heart of fallen human beings? How can we neglect to bring up these verses in our current discussion?  And, more:
Psalms
  119:32   I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. 
  119:33   HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it [unto] the end. 
  119:34   Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with [my] whole heart. 
  119:35   Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. 

   Proverbs
  3:1   My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 

    Isaiah
  51:7   Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart [is] my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings


And Paul also strongly attacks the idea that Christians are released from the binding claims of the moral law. As a matter of fact he plainly states that law of God is not an outward exibition, but it is written upon the hearts of those who are walking in the Spirit (filled with God).

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

Paul is contrasting two completely different alternatives: salvation by faith and salvation by works. The covenant blessings and curses outlined in Deuteronomy 27 and 28 were straightforward. Those who obeyed were blessed, those who disobeyed were cursed. That means if a person wants to rely on obedience to the law for acceptance with God, then the whole law needs to be kept. We do not have the liberty to pick and choose what we want to follow; nor should we assume that God is willing to overlook a few mistakes here and there. It is all or nothing.

This is, of course, bad news not only for Gentiles but for Paul’s legalistic opponents, as well, because we “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). No matter how hard we try to be good, the law can only condemn us as lawbreakers.

It is absolutely true that those who break the law will be condemned. There is no eternal life for those who knowingly break the moral law of God. It appears that the author is saying that no matter how hard we try, we cannot obey God.  Is that true? If one believes that he cannot do what God has asked of him, then he will never obey God.  That is a very sad understanding of the gospel. It gives no power to grace. Ask a former alcoholic if it is true. He will tell you that God gives power to obey.

Then what is Galatians all about? It is about outward obedience versus inward obedience. God looks upon heart. The Pharisee was a "whited sepulcher". He was nice and clean on the outside, but his heart was rotten to the core.  Until humanity sees this and dies to self, there will be no acceptable obedience. Jesus spoke truth that we may all understand when He gave His sermon on the mount. He did not do away with the need for obedience. He expressed the truth that our obedience must begin in the heart. And, that means we need to have a new heart. Then the moral law of God is written upon the heart. We are changed from the inside out. Paul was making two points in Galatians. Obedience merits nothing. And, we need Jesus living in our hearts. Then by His Spirit we do not sin.  Simple truth, but when the mind is filled with error, it is impossible to understand unless the Holy Spirit reveals the truth.

If you are still having problems with this simple gospel that has power, then study the investigative judgment where the books of heaven are opened so that we all who have professed to love God, can be judged by our works. This judgment reveals both the outward deeds and the inward motives. The correct understanding of the judgment will help all understand what Paul was teaching. It has nothing to do with saying that we cannot obey God. Jesus is not the minister of sin. When He comes into the heart, we are given power to do that which He asks of us. His law is then written upon the heart.

How did Christ deliver us from the curse of the law? See Gal. 3:13, 2 Cor. 5:21.

He paid the price for our past sins and makes us partakers of His divine nature so that we no longer need sin.

Paul introduces another metaphor to explain what God has done for us in Christ. The word redeem means “to buy back.” It was used as the ransom price paid to release hostages or as the price paid to free a slave. Because the wages of sin is death, the curse of failing to keep the law was often a death sentence. The ransom paid for our salvation was not insignificant; it cost God the life of His own Son (John 3:16). Jesus ransomed us from the curse by becoming our sin-bearer (1 Cor. 6:20, 7:23). He voluntarily took our curse upon Himself and suffered in our behalf the full penalty of sin (2 Cor. 5:21).

Paul cites Deuteronomy 21:23 as scriptural proof. According to Jewish custom, a person was under God’s curse if, after execution, the body was hung upon a tree. Jesus’ death on the cross was seen as an example of this curse (Acts 5:30, 1 Pet. 2:24).

No wonder, then, that the cross was a stumbling block for some Jews who could not fathom the idea that the Messiah was accursed by God. But this was exactly God’s plan. Yes, the Messiah bore a curse, but it was not His own—it was ours!

And, the truth of this ought to cause us to fall on our faces and die to self. It is called grace and that is what transforms the life. I fear that too many are not willing to break with self, pride and sin. If there is no new birth, then all who remain alive will continue to crucify Christ afresh.....every time they sin. This ought to cause pain when the great sacrifice is seen to be the result of "my" sin.  Why crucify Christ afresh? The gospel has power to deliver from sin!  God gave us His Son at great risk. If we continue to resist this great love, then we will continue to hurt the One who gave all for us. Sin hurts you, it hurts me, it hurts our family and friends. But, most of all, it hurts God.

[asygo]

Do you need help with your posts, Arnold?

It looks like it. I was trying to post with my BlackBerry. I guess it's not high-tech enough for that.

I'll try it the old-fashioned way.

[asygo]

I did not say that our works cause salvation.

Don't you hate it when people make assumptions about your beliefs based on what you did not say?

In any case, I didn't intend to imply that you said that. I just wanted to emphasize the lack of causality between salvation & works. There is no causal relationship in either direction.

However they are a part of it. There is a cooperation in our salvation.

As long as we're clear that neither our works nor our cooperation are the basis for our acceptance with God. Our cooperation is required, but not salvific.

What we do not only is a result of what we are but it further effects what we are.

Very true. It's a 2-way street.

Part of being saved is what we are becoming, what we are leaving behind, and what we are being saved from.

As long as we agree that it is part of what it MEANS to be saved, not what it TAKES to be saved.

I don't think this is difficult other than when someone mistakenly assumes there is merit involved in sanctification.

We know that these truths open doors that can lead to grievous errors. But that shouldn't hinder us from proclaiming the truths.

God's truths are surrounded by Satan's lies. Satan has error close to every truth. If we veer off the strait & narrow even a little, Satan has a door to error ready for us.

The key is to teach pure truth without shying away from them because they might open doors to error. There will always be hooks to hang our doubts on if we want them. No matter what truth we teach, error will be nearby. And failing to teach truth because of fear that it might open a door that leads to error, serves Satan just as well as walking through that door.

[asygo]

From Wednesday:

The basis of God’s covenant with Abraham centered on God’s promises to him. God says to Abraham four times, “I will.” God’s promises to Abraham are amazing because they are completely one-sided. God does all the promising; Abraham promises nothing. This is the opposite of how most people try to relate to God. We usually promise we will serve Him, if only He will do something for us in return. But that is legalism. God did not ask Abraham to promise anything but to accept His promises by faith. Of course, that was no easy task, because Abraham had to learn to trust completely in God and not in himself (see Genesis 22). The call of Abraham illustrates, therefore, the essence of the gospel, which is salvation by faith.

I am uncomfortable with this, to say the least. If salvation was based solely on God's promises, then all would be saved. God wants everyone to be saved, and He has enough power to save everyone. So if salvation is dependent only on Him, then none would be lost. But we know that is not the case.

Salvation is by faith. How do we know that Abraham had faith?

Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:17
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

In both cases, Abraham's faith came with obedience. It was, in other words, faithfulness.

Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness. But that belief, as it always is with the belief that results in receiving God's righteousness, led to him trusting and obeying God's word.

In contrast, unbelief and disobedience go hand in hand.

Hebrews 3:18-19
18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

And there we see the difference between belief and unbelief. True belief - true faith - gives one access to God's grace, which teaches us to live godly lives in this present age. Anything short of this is unbelief, which only leads to disobedience and death.

[asygo]

From Tuesday:

Abraham’s obedience was not the ground of his justification; it was, instead, the result.

I have a problem with this as well. Justification comes through faith. Obedience is the fruit of faith. They do not cause each other.

The only possible exception is if one is using "justified" in the sense of "making just." If so, obedience is not the result of justification, it is the definition.

[Glen]

...We must be given power to love as Christ loves. Then we do not sin. This is what it means to have "good works". It is not a meritorious thing, but a result of Christ being in the heart. He brings with Him the fruit of the Spirit. Not one is missing.  Then having the mind of Christ, there is power to keep the evil flesh under subjection. Both the imputed and imparted righteousness of Christ are necessary for salvation.

Truly, "not a meritorious thing”; however, the "results of Christ being in the heart", yields the "works", "deeds" as, "made manifest, that they are wrought in God (John 3:21), and emphatically considered by the Godhead a very commendable thing, as the Spirit of God declares through the Revelator, ...death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. Revelation 20:13 Also,...God; 6 ...will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 10 ...glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good... Romans 2:5-10

...all who have a right conception of the plan of redemption will see that they cannot be saved while in transgression of God's holy precepts. They must cease to transgress the law and lay hold on the promises of God that are available for us through the merits of Christ. Faith and Works 88.03

...Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Matthew 25:21, 23

...herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men. Acts 24:16

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:9

...we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10

"The evil flesh” is not our bones, skin, or body. The “flesh” of Romans 8:9,...ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you...is the unregenerate mind with it's exercises in “dead works” (Hebrews 9:14); while, the regenerate have “known the mind of the Lord, can receive or comprehend His instruction, because the regenerate “have the mind of Christ, and walk as He walked.( 1 Corinthians 2:16)

To be “given power to love as Christ loves”; -this is the secret, isn't it?...In His person humanity, inhabited by divinity, was represented to the world.  God's Amazing Grace 14.04 -”...fitted for the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit...partaker of the divine nature”. DA 123

The unregenerate are not spiritual, but carnal, “babes in Christ, unable to bear hearing “the meat” of the WORD. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)

The obedience of Christ to His Father...is the same obedience that is required of man...Man cannot overcome Satan's temptations without divine power...so with Jesus Christ; He could lay hold of divine power. He came...to our world to give the obedience of...a man to obey God's Holy Law, and in this way He is our example. The Lord Jesus came to our world,...to reveal ...what a man could do, through faith in God's power to help in every emergency. Man is, through faith, to be a partaker in the divine nature, and to overcome every temptation wherewith he is beset. Our High Calling 48.03

...by HIS LIFE, as it is wrought (worked?) out in our life, we shall be saved.  The Signs of the Times June 17, 1903.12


Several modern translations have tried to capture the sense of Paul’s words in verse 1 about the “foolish” Galatians. The actual word Paul uses in Greek … means “mindless.” The Galatians were not thinking. Paul does not stop there; he says that, because they are acting so foolishly, he wonders if some magician has cast a spell on them. “Who has bewitched you?” His choice of words here may even suggest that the ultimate source behind their condition is the devil (2 Cor. 4:4).

God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5

...the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind... Luke 8:35

...they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind... Mark 5:14, 15
 
Every man, woman, and child that is not under the control of the Spirit of God is under the influence of Satan's sorcery, and by his words and example he will lead others away from the path of truth. When the transforming grace of Christ is upon the heart, a righteous indignation will take possession of the soul because the sinner has so long neglected the great salvation that God has provided for him. He will then surrender himself, body, soul, and spirit, to God and will withdraw from companionship with Satan, through the grace given him of God.  He will, like the Ephesians, denounce sorcery, and will cut the last thread that binds him to Satan. He will leave the banner of the prince of darkness, and will come under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel… The Youth's Instructor, November 16, 1883   Messages to Young People 278.02

The expulsion of sin is the act of the soul itself. In its great need the soul cries out for a power out of and above itself; and through the operation of the Holy Spirit the nobler powers of the mind are imbued with strength to break away from the bondage of sin. The Faith I Live By 91.02

[Glen]

...while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ's righteousness while practicing known sins or neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Faith and Works 100.02

"Entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place..." -WHAT WORK IS THIS?
I really like the response of Mary; when the angel of the Lord revealed to her God's plan: “...be it unto me according to thy word.” Luke 1:38 How much agony Abraham could have prevented, had this been his response to the Lord's promise. -And Sarah: Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. Hebrews 11:11, 12

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:11

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ...is (your) LIFE... Colossians 3:1-4

[Richard Myers]

It is a blessing to read of the true relationship between faith and obedience, not from inspirational books, but from individuals who have been reading Scripture. Faith without works is dead, but there is no good thing we can do to earn salvation. We must "accept" it.  And even that is dependent upon the Holy Spirit revealing to our dull minds the great love that God has for us while we were yet sinners. God is drawing, we must cease resisting that drawing. It is grace that transforms the life. We must behold that grace and allow it into our hearts.

[Mimi]

If you are still having problems with this simple gospel that has power, then study the investigative judgment where the books of heaven are opened so that we all who have professed to love God, can be judged by our works. This judgment reveals both the outward deeds and the inward motives. The correct understanding of the judgment will help all understand what Paul was teaching. It has nothing to do with saying that we cannot obey God. Jesus is not the minister of sin. When He comes into the heart, we are given power to do that which He asks of us. His law is then written upon the heart.

Amen! This is an element of truth that goes directly back to conversion and receiving the fruit of the Spirit. I am going to double post this in that topic for further discussion.

Fruit of the Spirit

[Richard Myers]

FRIDAY    October 28

Further Study:
     

“Upon Christ as our substitute and surety was laid the iniquity of us all. He was counted a transgressor, that He might redeem us from the condemnation of the law. The guilt of every descendant of Adam was pressing upon His heart. The wrath of God against sin, the terrible manifestation of His displeasure because of iniquity, filled the soul of His Son with consternation. All His life Christ had been publishing to a fallen world the good news of the Father’s mercy and pardoning love. Salvation for the chief of sinners was His theme. But now with the terrible weight of guilt He bears, He cannot see the Father’s reconciling face. The withdrawal of the divine countenance from the Saviour in this hour of supreme anguish pierced His heart with a sorrow that can never be fully understood by man. So great was this agony that His physical pain was hardly felt.

“Satan with his fierce temptations wrung the heart of Jesus. The Saviour could not see through the portals of the tomb. Hope did not present to Him His coming forth from the grave a conqueror, or tell Him of the Father’s acceptance of the sacrifice. He feared that sin was so offensive to God that Their separation was to be eternal. Christ felt the anguish which the sinner will feel when mercy shall no longer plead for the guilty race. It was the sense of sin, bringing the Father’s wrath upon Him as man’s substitute, that made the cup He drank so bitter, and broke the heart of the Son of God.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 753.

Discussion Questions:

 1  Even today in our own church, some still have a hard time accepting salvation by faith alone, that God’s grace, through Christ, saves us, apart from our works. What’s behind the hesitancy of some to accept this crucial truth?

 2 Paul spoke very strongly about the theological error of salvation by works. What does that tell us about the importance of good theology? Why should we, as a church, stand up, forcefully if need be, when error is being taught among us?

Summary:

      From start to finish in the Christian life, the basis of our salvation is faith in Christ alone. It was because of Abraham’s faith in God’s promises that he was counted as righteous, and that same gift of righteousness is available for anyone today who shares Abraham’s faith. The only reason we are not condemned for our mistakes is that Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying in our place.

"He was counted as righteous".  Yet, the author has stated a number of times in the lessons that this salvation by faith does not excuse sin. Then, let's put this summary in its proper light. If salvation by faith does not excuse sin, then the sinner must not be sinning while he has this salvation. If that is the case, and it indeed is, then we cannot let the summary of this week's lesson stand on such a misleading statement that Abraham was just counted as righteous. Since Abraham believed God, then he not only was "counted as righteous", but he experienced a "radical change" in his life when the Holy Spirit took possession of his heart. Abraham was changed from the inside out. The righteousness of Christ was both imputed (accounted), and it was imparted (given to) to Abraham. This is to say that Abraham was more than just "counted as righteous".   

Is it important to make this distinction? Absolutely. The author in today's lesson told us that we need to "stand up, forcefully if need be, when error is being taught among us."  He addresses the error of "salvation by works" and he is very strongly standing up against this error, just as Paul did. But, if we neglect to point out the most common heresy in the church today, then we are either not aware of the problem or we do not agree that it is a problem. Either way, it fosters a false gospel. For many years I have listened to "teachers" present a false gospel throughout Christian churches. If I neglect to point out what this false gospel is and I neglect to present the real gospel, then I certainly am not following Paul's example or our author's admonition. I think both are encouraging me to speak up. "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."  Galatians 1:8. I love God too much to bring reproach upon His Word, and I care too much for those who have been deceived and have  no power in their lives to do what is right, to let this false gospel remain alive and well in the church.

Here is the great lie that is being taught by the overwhelming majority of preachers in Christian churches today.  When one sins, he does not need to be re-justified. What is being said? That the sinner is "counted as righteous" because of what Christ has done for him. Another preacher put it this way, "when a man sins on Monday and does not repent until Friday, he is counted as righteous in between. We teach 'relationship theology.'"  This abomination is accepted by most professing Christians. Other "teachers" express the error that when converted, a man still has an evil heart that has pride residing deep within. If this were so, when man becomes a partaker of the divine nature, possesses the mind of Christ, and has the Holy Spirit indwelling his heart, then that would make Christ the minister of pride. Away with this abomination!

A truly converted man retains his evil nature in his flesh, but having Christ enthroned upon his heart, he is given power to keep the flesh under at all times.  "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Corinthians 9:27. It is the power of grace to transform our very nature, and escape the corruption that is in the world. The "old man" will try to get up, but he cannot do so as long as we possess Christ. He transforms our character. And the process of transformation continues until Christ comes. First the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. The Christian life is perfect at each stage. When Christ comes into the heart, He brings with Him all of the fruits of His Spirit. Not one is missing. The heart is made pure and holy and the motives are pure. It is Christ, not I.

Jesus makes it so clear that none can argue against the power of His grace to change the life.
Matthew
  7:17   Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 
  7:18   A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 
  7:19   Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 
  7:20   Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 
  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. 
  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? 
  7:23   And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

The idea that sin will be seen in the life of one who is abiding in Christ, would make Jesus the minister of sin. God forbid as the Apostle Paul says.  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.  Galatians 2:17. If there is sin in the life, it reveals that there is a separation between God and man. When one of the fruits of the Spirit is missing, then Christ is not abiding in the man.

There is no reason for sin. There is no excuse for sin. Today is the day of salvation! Learn of Jesus, trust Him with all of your heart. Cease resisting His drawing and He will come into your heart and give you power to love as He loves. Then you will be keeping the law of God from the heart, not as the Pharisees who were whited sepulchers. White washed on the outside and rotten on the inside. "Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:12.

[Richard Myers]

FRIDAY    October 28


 1  Even today in our own church, some still have a hard time accepting salvation by faith alone, that God’s grace, through Christ, saves us, apart from our works. What’s behind the hesitancy of some to accept this crucial truth?

There are two reasons why there is opposition to the teaching of "salvation by faith ALONE". First, there is little understanding that faith produces a true conversion of heart. That at a full surrender, self dies and Christ lives through the Holy Spirit within fallen human beings. The lack of understanding of true conversion leads many to do all they know how to do, do it themselves. They do not know the peace and joy of the abiding presence of Christ.

Secondly, Satan has stolen a march on the church. He has brought in a counterfeit "righteousness by faith" message, a false gospel that  stands up against salvation by works.  Many see the lie in this false message and are opposed for good reason to the lie that a man is "counted as righteous" while unconverted and still sinning.  True righteousness by faith produces a reflection of Christ. The "moral" character is changed at conversion. The heart is made pure and the motives are holy.  The new Christian may eat wrong, dress wrong, sing wrong, and keep the wrong day, but he is given power to do what he knows to be right. He is filled with the fruit of the Spirit and does not possess the works of the flesh. He is walking in the Spirit. Christ is living within.  Such a radical thought!

The reason why the true message of righteousness by faith or justification by faith is rejected is because the church remains in a Laodicean condition believing it is rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing.

[Richard Myers]

Summary:

"From start to finish in the Christian life, the basis of our salvation is faith in Christ alone. It was because of Abraham’s faith in God’s promises that he was counted as righteous, and that same gift of righteousness is available for anyone today who shares Abraham’s faith. The only reason we are not condemned for our mistakes is that Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying in our place."

We need to be very clear on this because of the great lie about justification by faith.  The author says "The only reason we are not condemned for our mistakes is that Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying in our place."  We need to clarify this statement always. The lie suggests that because Christ died, my sins are forgiven if I profess to love Christ.  Who is it that will have their sins forgiven? If we do not repent and forsake our sins, will they be forgiven because Christ died for my sins? No, they will not. Then we need to clarify such statements because the great heresy in the churches is that one may have his sins forgiven even though he has not repented. 

Christ dying for my sins is not enough for my sins to be forgiven. I must accept Christ as my Saviour before they will be forgiven. I must die to self, first. I must love the Lord my God with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind, and with all my strength.  This creates a problem for most professing Christians because it is the first commandment.  And if they believe in salvation by faith ALONE, they resent having to keep a commandment to be saved. Somewhere along  the line, one is gong to have to believe in all of Scripture, not just the portions that appear to excuse their sins.

If one truly understands the gospel, they will understand the need to lay it out in simple and concise language to avoid the deceptions that plague the churches. Christ is pleading for entrance into our hearts. Shall we let Him in....today?

[asygo]

The moment the sinner believes in Christ, he stands in the sight of God uncondemned; for the righteousness of Christ is his: Christ's perfect obedience is imputed to him. But he must co-operate with divine power, and put forth his human effort to subdue sin, and stand complete in Christ.  {FE 429.3}

[Mimi]

Perfection! Incredible power in that quote!

[asygo]

It is clear that we must co-operate with God, that our effort is needed. But we must not be afraid to teach exactly what it takes for the sinner to stand uncondemned - the basis of his acquittal, and when that "moment" happens.