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Wednesday, April
2, 2008
Class Dismissed
Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore leaving the
principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not
laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith
toward God, (2) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and
of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this will we
do, if God permit. (KJV)
The spirit is willing it’s the flesh that
is weak and still holds on to the weak and beggarly elements of this world
that keep one in bondage and not in the liberty God intended for us. It’s
only the truth that sets us free; and this truth is only found in Christ
which gives us our permission slip to leave the basics and move on to
perfection.
Galatians 3:23-26 But before faith came,
we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards
be revealed. (24) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto
Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (25) But after that faith is
come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (26) For ye are all the
children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (KJV)
Before we had access to the throne of God
by faith we were kept locked in the realm of the old fallen nature, unable
to access the new man in Christ. But now that we have access by faith into
this new realm why would someone want to go back to the old to try and
establish this new relationship? Now that you are a child of God by faith
which is in Christ Jesus you are now dismissed from the old law and its
rituals, which could never make one mature in Christ but rather kept them
in the first grade so to speak.
Strong’s definition for
schoolmaster:
3807
paidagogos (pahee-dag-o-gos'); from 3816 and a reduplicated form of
71; a boy-leader, i.e. a servant whose office it was to take the children
to school; (by implication [figuratively] a tutor
["paedagogue"]):
KJV-- instructor, schoolmaster.
Galatians 3:23-26 But before this faith
came, we were kept locked up under the law, in preparation for the faith
which was to be unveiled. (24) So the law has been our attendant<n>
to lead us to Christ, so that we might through faith obtain right standing
with God. (25) But now that this faith has come, we are no longer in the
charge of the attendant. (26) For all of you are sons of God through faith
in Christ Jesus. (Williams translation)
When I first started school I needed
someone to take me there and show me the basics. Once I became accustomed
to these basics I was able to walk on my own. The old law served its
purpose and kept an order to things until the time of Christ, who set us
free and allowed us to walk in the newness of the Spirit and not by the old
law. The Holy Spirit should be your new guide to show you the things of God
and how to walk in them, no longer needing someone else to teach you. The
more you rely on your spiritual senses the less likely you will be deceived
by your physical ones. By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified
because those that are in the flesh cannot please God. So who and what is
instructing you today, what are you allowing to be your guide in everything
you do? Is it according to the word of God or is it more in line with the
popular opinions of man?
Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for
those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and
were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of
God, and the powers of the world to come, (6) If they shall fall away, to
renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son
of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (KJV)
You know what happens when you take a
simple faith and try and combine it with works of the law? These chapters
above give a perfect example of how so many fall away again, even after
having partaken of the heavenly gift of Christ. What many are basically
telling God is that He didn’t do a good enough as well as a complete work
through His Son, but that there is still more left to be done by the works
and rituals of the law. Once one has fallen away back into the realm of the
flesh which is not the one the Lord operates in, they will not be able to
come to an understanding let alone a renewing of the mind of how the Lord
operates and what He is asking of them. What the Lord Himself said was
crucified and nailed with Him to His cross, is now pulled back into play by
those that think they can establish a relationship with God based on works
and not faith. This is why it is impossible for those who were once
enlightened if they shall fall away to renew them again unto repentance,
because what the Lord said was destroyed and buried mankind is digging up
again and trying to build a foundation on the works of the law and they end
up crucifying the doctrine of Christ and distorting the simple meaning of
His plan of salvation. Are there dead things and rituals you are still
hanging onto? That rather than having been left for dead you continue to
keep alive. By the way those holding on to dead things will end up in the
same condition.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is
impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he
is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (KJV)
Here we see the word impossible again; so
anyone outside the realm of faith is going to find it impossible to not
only please God, but also to try to establish any kind of close personal
relationship with Him. What greater reward is there than to find the love,
joy, peace, and a confidence as well
as boldness and assurance in the work that has been done on your behalf to
provide this access, and how you can see more and more on a daily basis
into the measure of faith that was dealt to you. It’s impossible by our own
works to get out of the first grade or move onto perfection until we come
to an understanding of what Jesus Christ has accomplished on our behalf and
the liberty we have in Him.
Romans 8:3-8 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. (5) For they that are after the flesh do
mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things
of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can
be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (KJV)
The carnal laws and rituals were until
the time of reformation; which as we see in the above verses has already
taken place. You are no longer under a schoolmaster or tutor, but are now
walking by faith. It’s our carnal mind and the realm of the flesh that is
not pleasing to God; and for those that continue to be stuck in that realm
will find it impossible to do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
Class is dismissed and was when Christ fulfilled the old law so that we
wouldn’t have to be stuck in bondage of it any longer. Now move forward and
go to the head of the class and let the author and finisher of our faith be
your guide.
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