In the book of Genesis, God gave Abraham a promise. When Abraham believed God’s promise, God forgave all of his sins and counted him as righteous. One aspect of God’s promise to Abraham was that all of the nations of the earth would be blessed through Abraham’s Seed.
In Galatians 3, Paul explained that the Seed of Abraham is Jesus Christ and concluded that the promise will not come to those who keep the Law but to those who have faith like Abraham. His argument is supported by the fact that Abraham received the promise by faith 430 years before the Law was given.
The promise of the Law was that, if Israel would keep the Law, God would give her physical blessings such as health and wealth. However, God never said that He would give Israel eternal life or the promised kingdom as a reward for keeping the Law.
In Galatians 3, Paul explained that God gave the Law to serve as a guardian over Israel until Christ came. Christ’s blood of atonement made it possible for Israel to be made righteous through faith and to receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The power of God’s indwelling Spirit made the purpose of the Law obsolete.
In Acts 15 we see Paul and Barnabas at the Jerusalem Council proclaiming that God was saving Gentiles who had never submitted to circumcision or the other rituals of the Law. When the Jewish leaders were reminded of the fact that Cornelius was saved by faith without circumcision, they concluded that the Gentiles did not need to comply with the legal requirements of the Law.
Given the truths expressed in Galatians, one has to wonder why the Jews continued to observe the Law. And since Paul wrote Galatians after the Jerusalem Council, one might wonder if Paul had come to the conclusion that even the Jews should stop observing the Law. After all, he said that Christ came to take Israel out from under the bondage of the Law.
On Paul’s final trip to Jerusalem, he was challenged about this very thing:
Acts 21:20-21
20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law;
21 "but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.
Paul was asked to participate in some Jewish rituals to prove that, according to his doctrine, it was appropriate for the Jews to observe the Law. Since he did participate in the requested rituals, we can conclude that during the Acts period Paul considered it appropriate for the Jews to observe the Law but inappropriate for the Gentiles to do so.
Galatians is typical of Paul’s Acts-period epistles in that he emphasized the hope of the kingdom which had been promised to Abraham, and it would appear that the observance of the Law by the Jews was connected to that hope. However, even in these epistles Paul taught the Jewish believers that their acceptance in the sight of God was based solely on their faith in Christ. Therefore, they were, indeed, set free from the bondage of the Law.
Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians were written after the Acts period, and in these epistles Paul revealed our present dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ. In these epistles, he never mentioned Abraham or the kingdom promised to Abraham, and he vehemently condemned those who continued to observe the Law.
Phil 3:2-3
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, (NKJ)
The book of Hebrews was written after Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, and in this book Paul wrote words of comfort for the Jewish believers who will suffer great persecution in the tribulation period. In this epistle, his message was once again dominated by the promises given to Abraham. His words paint a beautiful picture of that promised kingdom which will come down out of heaven.
Obviously, the revelation of the Church which is the Body of Christ in Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians is surrounded by books, both before and after, whose dominant theme is the kingdom promised to Abraham. The fact that Paul did not mention Abraham’s hope in Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians indicates that our present age of the Church which is the Body of Christ is a parenthetical age between God’s offer of Israel’s hope in the Acts period and God’s offer of Israel’s hope in the tribulation period. We can also safely conclude that the Church has no specific hope concerning the promises given to Abraham.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Thursday, June 03, 2004
In Galatians, Chapter 3, Paul reminded the believers that God had saved them simply as a result of their faith in Christ, and that He had done many miracles, wonders and signs to give evidence of their salvation. The works of the law had not contributed in the least to their salvation. To support this argument, he mentioned what had been a very overlooked detail of the Old Testament scriptures, that Abraham was saved by faith 430 years before the Law was ever given. Paul quoted from Genesis 15:
Gal 3:6-7
6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. (NKJ)
Gal 3:17-18
17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. (NKJ)
Therefore, Abraham was saved by faith and received the promise of an earthly kingdom 430 years before the Law was given. With these facts in evidence, Paul asked this very pertinent question.
Gal 3:19
19 What purpose then does the law serve? . . .
His answer:
Gal 3:19
. . . It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; (NKJ)
Paul explained that God gave the law as a tutor or guardian to watch over the nation of Israel until the coming of Christ.
When Abraham left his home in the land of the Chaldeans, God had told Abraham that He would make a great nation out of his descendants, and then, several years after Isaac was born, God told Abraham that He would bless all of the nations of the world through his seed.
Gen 22:18
18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." (NKJ)
Paul revealed that the seed to which God referred was Jesus Christ.
Gal 3:16-18
16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. (NKJ)
The nation of Israel was like a minor child who had a great inheritance but was too young to receive it. She had been promised this great earthly kingdom but was still an infant nation. Minor children are usually placed under a guardian until a time set by their father.
At a certain time, set by God the Father, Jesus Christ came into the world to bring Israel to maturity through faith. Paul explained that from that time there was no further need for the guardianship of the Law.
Gal 3:21-25
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Gal 3:6-7
6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. (NKJ)
Gal 3:17-18
17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. (NKJ)
Therefore, Abraham was saved by faith and received the promise of an earthly kingdom 430 years before the Law was given. With these facts in evidence, Paul asked this very pertinent question.
Gal 3:19
19 What purpose then does the law serve? . . .
His answer:
Gal 3:19
. . . It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; (NKJ)
Paul explained that God gave the law as a tutor or guardian to watch over the nation of Israel until the coming of Christ.
When Abraham left his home in the land of the Chaldeans, God had told Abraham that He would make a great nation out of his descendants, and then, several years after Isaac was born, God told Abraham that He would bless all of the nations of the world through his seed.
Gen 22:18
18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." (NKJ)
Paul revealed that the seed to which God referred was Jesus Christ.
Gal 3:16-18
16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. (NKJ)
The nation of Israel was like a minor child who had a great inheritance but was too young to receive it. She had been promised this great earthly kingdom but was still an infant nation. Minor children are usually placed under a guardian until a time set by their father.
At a certain time, set by God the Father, Jesus Christ came into the world to bring Israel to maturity through faith. Paul explained that from that time there was no further need for the guardianship of the Law.
Gal 3:21-25
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
The Apostle Paul said that God had called him to preach the gospel of the grace of God to the Gentiles. He also said that his message was not something he had learned from the leaders of the Christian Church in Jerusalem.
Gal 1:15-19
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace,
16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. (NKJ)
In Galatians, Chapter 2, Paul spoke of another trip he made to Jerusalem to meet with the leaders of the Jerusalem Church. That meeting is known as the Jerusalem Council, and its events are recorded in Acts 15. In that meeting it was decided that the Gentiles did not have to observe the rituals of the Mosaic Law to be saved.
When Peter mentioned that God had saved Cornelius (Acts 10) even though Cornelius was uncircumcised, Peter, James, and John agreed that Paul’s ministry among the uncircumcised believers was a legitimate ministry of God. Consequently, they agreed that even though the Jews would continue observing the rituals of the law, the Gentiles would not be required to do so.
Gal 2:9
9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. (NKJ)
After explaining these things in Galatians, Chapter 2, Paul revealed that real spiritual power can only come through a spiritual identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
Gal 2:20
20 "I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me. (NKJ)
The Holy Spirit of God, living within him, had given him something that the Law of Moses never could: deliverance from the bondage of sin.
Gal 2:17-19
17 "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!
18 "For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 "For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. (NKJ)
When Paul thought about the tremendous change that Jesus Christ had made in his heart and in his life, he declared that he would never frustrate the grace of God by giving up on the pure gospel of the grace of God.
Gal 2:21
21 "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Gal 1:15-19
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace,
16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. (NKJ)
In Galatians, Chapter 2, Paul spoke of another trip he made to Jerusalem to meet with the leaders of the Jerusalem Church. That meeting is known as the Jerusalem Council, and its events are recorded in Acts 15. In that meeting it was decided that the Gentiles did not have to observe the rituals of the Mosaic Law to be saved.
When Peter mentioned that God had saved Cornelius (Acts 10) even though Cornelius was uncircumcised, Peter, James, and John agreed that Paul’s ministry among the uncircumcised believers was a legitimate ministry of God. Consequently, they agreed that even though the Jews would continue observing the rituals of the law, the Gentiles would not be required to do so.
Gal 2:9
9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. (NKJ)
After explaining these things in Galatians, Chapter 2, Paul revealed that real spiritual power can only come through a spiritual identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
Gal 2:20
20 "I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me. (NKJ)
The Holy Spirit of God, living within him, had given him something that the Law of Moses never could: deliverance from the bondage of sin.
Gal 2:17-19
17 "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!
18 "For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 "For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. (NKJ)
When Paul thought about the tremendous change that Jesus Christ had made in his heart and in his life, he declared that he would never frustrate the grace of God by giving up on the pure gospel of the grace of God.
Gal 2:21
21 "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." (NKJ)
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Shortly after the Apostle Paul was saved on the road to Damascus, he went to Antioch of Syria where he ministered with Barnabas preaching the gospel of the grace of God. This message is succinctly expressed in I Corinthians 15.
1 Cor 15:3-4
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, (NKJ)
Paul taught in Galatians 2 that people are saved by faith in Jesus Christ apart from the works of the law.
Gal 2:16
16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (NKJ)
However, Paul wrote this Epistle to the Galatians because some Jewish believers had come teaching that God requires compliance with the law of Moses for salvation. We see his stern warning to the people in chapter 1.
Gal 1:6-8
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (NKJ)
Paul said that his message of grace had been given to him as a direct revelation from God.
Gal 1:11-12
11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. (NKJ)
Paul had lived most of his life as a strict follower of the law of Moses.
Gal 1:13-14
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. (NKJ)
When Paul met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, everything changed.
Gal 1:22-24
22 . . . I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.
23 But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy."
24 And they glorified God in me. (NKJ)
Paul had experienced the joy of salvation by faith apart from the works of the law, and he dedicated his life to sharing that joy with others.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
1 Cor 15:3-4
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, (NKJ)
Paul taught in Galatians 2 that people are saved by faith in Jesus Christ apart from the works of the law.
Gal 2:16
16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (NKJ)
However, Paul wrote this Epistle to the Galatians because some Jewish believers had come teaching that God requires compliance with the law of Moses for salvation. We see his stern warning to the people in chapter 1.
Gal 1:6-8
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (NKJ)
Paul said that his message of grace had been given to him as a direct revelation from God.
Gal 1:11-12
11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. (NKJ)
Paul had lived most of his life as a strict follower of the law of Moses.
Gal 1:13-14
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. (NKJ)
When Paul met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, everything changed.
Gal 1:22-24
22 . . . I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.
23 But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy."
24 And they glorified God in me. (NKJ)
Paul had experienced the joy of salvation by faith apart from the works of the law, and he dedicated his life to sharing that joy with others.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
