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Friday, November
13, 2009
Avoiding A Beat Down
Romans 7:8-11 But sin, taking occasion by
the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the
law sin was dead. (9) For I was alive without the law once: but when the
commandment came, sin revived, and I died. (10) And the commandment, which
was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. (11) For sin, taking
occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. (KJV)
Paul is describing how he was alive and
well in the realm of the Spirit, and then got taken down again by the works
of the law. You too will find the same thing in your walk; something that
can be avoided if you give heed to the warning.
Acts 21:3-4 Now when we had discovered
Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at
Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. (4) And finding
disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the
Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. (KJV)
Acts 21:11-12 And when he was come unto
us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus
saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that
owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. (12)
And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought
him not to go up to Jerusalem. (KJV)
As we can see, Paul was warned twice not
to go to Jerusalem; something he chose not to give heed to.
Acts 21:26-27 Then Paul took the men, and
the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to
signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an
offering should be offered for every one of them. (27) And when the seven
days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in
the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, (KJV)
Days of purification and an offering; I
thought they had already dealt with this stuff the last time Paul was in
Jerusalem, and settled the fact that the grace of God would trump the old
law?
Acts 15:10-12 Now therefore why tempt ye
God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our
fathers nor we were able to bear? (11) But we believe that through the
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (12) Then
all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul,
declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by
them. (KJV)
You can see why Paul was warned not to go
to Jerusalem; and if you read further in Acts chapter 21 you also see that
it involved him trying to incorporate the old law and bring it back into
play because of peer pressure. So who better than Paul to give an accurate
account of why one should not try to incorporate the old into the new?
1 Corinthians 1:16-17 And I baptized also
the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any
other. (17) For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:
not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none
effect. (KJV)
It doesn’t matter how the old law and its
rituals manifest, because whatsoever is not of faith is considered sin.
Galatians 3:11-12 But that no man is
justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just
shall live by faith. (12) And the law is not of faith: but, The man that
doeth them shall live in them. (KJV)
Do you desire to avoid a spiritual beat
down? Then learning to walk by faith apart from the deeds of the law will
keep you in good standing with your Father in heaven.
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