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Thursday, June 4,
2009
Law And A New Order
Romans 8:1-4 There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (3) For what
the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending
his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in
the flesh: (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (KJV)
Now that you have come to the conclusion
that the old law is no longer in play you are able to see and access the
new law of life which is found in Christ Jesus our Lord who took His seat
at the right hand of God ready to show us this new life in Him. Right now,
this moment, there is no condemnation; you are no longer under the death
sentence of sin because you are no longer walking according to the
influence of the flesh but rather the Spirit. Given the fact that the old
law was spiritual, and I was carnal and basically unarmed and unprepared
for all the fiery darts the wicked one would hurl my way, there is no
excuse or reason for me not to be walking in the victory and the liberty that
I now have access to in Christ.
Galatians 2:18-21 For if I build again
the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. (19) For I
through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. (20) I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in
me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the
Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (21) I do not frustrate
the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead
in vain. (KJV)
Do you know what the word ‘vain’ means? It
means empty, worthless, without results; which is what people are when they
try to build a foundation on things that have been done away in Christ. I
through the law of faith am now dead to the law of sin and death, any works
of the flesh apart from Christ which I think will keep me in good standing
with Him. To continue in this liberty, this new found life, I am crucified,
keeping my body in subjection to the Spirit of Christ within me so that I
can let His Word have more of an influence on me than anything or anyone in
this fallen realm. Paul said he was alive once apart from the law; and as
we see illustrated again in verse 18, that when he tried to rebuild a
foundation on something or someone other than Christ he was then in
transgression, and falling away rather than drawing closer.
Colossians 2:8-10 Beware lest any man
spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men,
after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (9) For in him
dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are complete in
him, which is the head of all principality and power: (KJV)
You know, when people come your way and try
to give you any other answer than one that involves Christ then it is
incomplete, vain, worthless, a waste of time. Everything needed is in
Christ; He is the complete package because He did a complete work on our
behalf. Not only has our Lord done a good work in you but He is ready,
willing, and able to bring it to completion in your own life, knowing that
what He promises He is able to perform as well.
Colossians 2:11-15 In whom also ye are
circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the
body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (12) Buried
with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith
of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (13) And you,
being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened
together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (14) Blotting out
the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to
us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (15) And having
spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it. (KJV)
Hey guess what, we win. Well, actually
you should not have to guess any longer but you should know, and keep your
mind renewed in this fact daily of what our Lord has done on your behalf so
that you would no longer have to be in bondage to the old law of sin and
death.
Colossians 2:14
[Blotting
out the handwriting] The word rendered handwriting means something written
by the hand, a manuscript; and here, probably, the writings of the Mosaic
law, or the law appointing many ordinances or observances in religion. The
allusion is probably to a written contract, in which we bind ourselves to
do any work, or to make a payment, and which remains in force against us
until the bond is cancelled. That might be done, either by blotting out the
names, or by drawing lines through it, or, as appears to have been
practiced in the East, by driving a nail through it. The Jewish ceremonial
law is here represented as such a contract, binding those under it to its
observance, until it was nailed to the cross. The meaning here is, that the
burdensome requirements of the Mosaic law are abolished, and that its
necessity is superseded by the death of Christ. His death had the same
effect, in reference to those ordinances, as if they had been blotted from
the statute-book. This it did by fulfilling them, by introducing a more
perfect system, and by rendering their observance no longer necessary,
since all that they were designed to typify had been now accomplished in a
better way.
(from Barnes' Notes)
Galatians 5:1-4 Stand fast therefore in
the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again
with the yoke of bondage. (2) Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be
circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. (3) For I testify again to
every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. (4)
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by
the law; ye are fallen from grace. (KJV)
Circumcision in the old law was quite
painful to put it mildly; and having been given the choice I sure like
having a Spiritual heart circumcision as compared to the old one any day.
There is a new law and an order of Spirit that brings life to the believer
apart from these old laws and rituals which were nailed to our Lord’s cross
and done away once and for all. Have you left them for dead, or are you
still trying to dig up the dirt with other dead people. Our Lord said He
was not a God of the dead but of the living.
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