cd: The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ- yes-to show our
transgressions- yes- but the law is still there.
Pete responds:
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a
schoolmaster.
Paul was that saying we are no longer under the schoolmaster which is the
Law. That is pretty clear.
Gal 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the
law?
Paul was making reference to people who desired to be under the Law. He
gives the allegory of Mt. Sinai and Jerusalem. Mt. Sinai was the Law and
Jerusalem was Christ. Jerusalem is the mother of us all in that we are born
in the Spirit through Christ Jesus. The richness of His wisdom of is shown
explicitly in the Law by showing us how unrighteous we are. Like I said
before, I don't claim to understand everything, but the salvation I received
was by faith in His blood and my walk since that experience in Him is not
determined by the Law, but by living by faith and walking in the Spirit.
This is a mystery to the world because the world thinks on a different
level.
Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the Scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and
her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the
freewoman.
We are not from the bondwoman (The Law), but the freewoman (Christ Jesus).
cd: We know we needed a savior because of sin leading to hell and because
of Christ we are taken above the Law but if we break that same law then we
fall back under that punishment or not- as God decides- and depending on
ones continuing with that sin of not. Yes we have an advocate who is our
intercessor but I cannot claim the intercessor will always continue with
complete intercession-there is a severe penalty for that continuance even to
be cut off.
Pete responds:
I believe that a person who continues in sin will eventually come to a point
in his life and say, "I do not wish to fellowship with God any longer."
This is when he puts the blood of Christ to an open shame.
cd: Paul said in 1 Cor 9:27 that he brought his body into subjection (ie
Fasting and prayer) lest-even though he had preached to others -he be a
castaway?
Hebrews 3:12 Take care brethren,that there not be in any one of you an
evil, unbelieving heart that fall away from the living God.
I fail to see this in your teaching Peter. True our good works doesn't lead
one to salvation as God turns on that "light" then we are to choose. But we
are judged by our works after salvation.
Rev 20:12 ...and the dead were judged from the things which were written in
the books according to their works.also Ps 62:12, Jer. 17:10, Rom 2:6, 1
Peter 1:17...etc.
Pete responds:
AMEN.
cd:Yes if that person is walking in the Spirit-but what if he is not? The
chose is always there day in and day out-We choose each day as we have not
lost our free will. I also don't believe we have a sinful flesh due to the
fact I was given a new heart. I don't see any part of a Christian as
evil.This is why we are tested and tried and refined as gold and silver is
refined for purity.I can claim to be righteous because of Christ and I can
claim to walk in righteous because I don't break God's commandments.Walking
in sin-which you called the flesh-will do more then stop your growth
brother. Also please explain " The atonement by the blood of Jesus keeps us
alive in Christ"?
Pete responds:
First: I am not sure I want to debate why the flesh is evil. I know you
have your reasons for understanding Romans 7 in a different light than how I
understand it to mean. I am not sure we will ever agree on it.
Second: The new heart you and I were given at the time of our salvation was
a wonderful gift. Personally, when I received a new heart, I looked at life
completely different than I did before my salvation experience. It was as
if a veil had been lifted from my eyes. Today, I could never claim to be
righteous or to keep my righteousness because I keep the commandments. That
would mean that Jesus' blood was only good at salvation and the life I now
live is the result of keeping the Law. If the Law were somehow instrumental
in sustaining my salvation, then Paul's writings would have been pretty
clear about the significance of the role of the Law in a believer's life.
He mentions that the Spirit was important in leading and guiding a believer.
He makes a huge difference between the two. Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore
in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled
again with the yoke of bondage.
My righteousness was the result of the blood of Jesus. Any righteous deeds
that I do now, is the result of walking in obedience to the Spirit and by
growing in His grace by fellowshipping with God through the Spirit and His
Word. I never say that I am righteous today because I keep the Law, but
only through His blood.
Third: We are made alive through Jesus' atoning blood through the Spirit.
That act purged our conscience from dead works. We are alive in Christ
through the Spirit because of the atonement of His blood. As a new
creature, we grow in His grace. We are not born mature, but as babies. We
learn more about Him and grow spiritually by fellowshipping with Him and
desiring the sincere milk of the Word. The Law does not sustain my
relationship with Him. His Word and His Spirit in me, sustains me and
teaches me to live for Him and to live righteously.
Pete
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"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know
how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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