The OT Law has no authority over Christians

QUOTE

Romans 7

1 Do you not know, brothers and sisters—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? 2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. 3 So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

4 So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For when we were in the realm of the flesh, a the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

Romans 7 verse tells us the OT law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives. It's referring to the Law of Moses. God's Law is binding and condemns those who transgress over it. Apostle Paul uses the example of marriage vows to explain. Married couple are bound by the vows they made and is considered an adulterer when you break that oath. But if the husband dies then the wife is release from the law of marriage.

Likewise........

Verse 6 tells us, the OT Law now has no authority over believers who are in Christ because you have died to it. We need to know this and accept it by faith to be set free. Those who fight for the OT Law will only cause contradiction to what is explained in Romans 7.

Notice that verse 4 tells ONLY when you are release from God's Law, "Married" to Christ, we can bear fruit for God.

Think about it.

To be married to Christ is to DIE and Divorce from Mr. Law. There can be only 1 husband.

In typology the wife here represents the Church, you and I.

This may sound strong but I will use it anyway, as Christians you need to get rid of the OT law out of your life in order to bear fruits of the Holy Spirit.

God Bless.

Galatians 4:30 (NIV) - But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”

Hope in the Law? No, Set your hope on Grace!

1 Peter 1:13 (NIV) - Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

Apostle Peter tells us to set our hope on God's grace. What is Grace?

Grace is unmerited favor of God given because God is graceful and good. Not because we have done something to deserve God's goodness.

Truth is, we really don't deserve it. If we go by Law, all of us deserve eternal condemnation. Some of us may feel, we don't do big sins like killing another human or robbing someone therefore what is so bad about ourselves? That is actually self righteousness. It is in a way the mother of all sins. And if you study the Bible, people who are self righteous can hardly receive from God.

God hates self righteousness. His word label it as filthy woman sanitary pad.

Grace may put some of you to feel helpless as if you could do nothing to secure your position. Like it or not, that is how God has make Salvation to be.

I believe Grace is design to teach you to trust that God is reliable and Good. Setting Hope in Grace may sound like standing on straws for some but recognize whose Grace you're setting your hope on?

My Faith is on the Grace of God, how about you?

God Bless.

The book of James is valid to be part of the Bible. Nothing in there contradicts Salvation by Faith in Christ.

I need to establish this as there are people in this forum that suggest Christian to consider the book of James as being false. It is false if your understanding of it is false.

In James 2, we often misunderstood in thinking Faith without works is dead has to do with bringing works to justify for Salvation. It does not. Because if you look at all the examples quoted, what has providing cloths, food, sacrificing Isaac, lying has to do with Salvation?

Think about it. Practically nothing.

Then why and what is the reason for Faith without works is dead?

I don't want to use the phrase common sense but in this case I would have to.

Imagine if God were to just tell you, Be Blessed or Be Healed and nothing happens, would it make sense then? Of course not.

It's the same principle when it comes to us believers.

As Apostle James wrote,

"If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?"

What is the point of just believing God but you don't act like it? <---- Key revelation here.

I'll give an example. You've prayed and believe God for divine protection on your life, but the way you talk and act contradicts. Your words are constantly negative saying and believing you will die the next second.

Another example, perhaps this may hit the nail. You pray to God for a job (faith) but you don't apply and neither go for job interviews (deeds). If this doesn't help for you to understand then I guess nothing will.

Does going to job interviews or the lack of it, grants you salvation? Not relevant, isn't it?

Read this and apply to the examples apostle James recorded of providing cloths, food, sacrificing Isaac, Rahab lying. Whether provide food or not, whether you sacrifice Isaac or not, doing these are never the criteria for Salvation. It is always by Faith in the Son of God as your Savior.

Once you can see and understand clearly on this, And when....you

see these 2 verses for comparison. You will understand better.

Romans 3:28 (NIV) - For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

James 2:24 (NIV) - You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

One talks about justification for Salvation, One talks about acting out your faith so that it make sense or you can say, becomes meaningful, impactful or useful.

The word dead in the Greek is "argos" which means "careless (1), idle (4), lazy (1), useless (2). It is normally use for idle, lazy, thoughtless, unprofitable, injurious. Hence the reverse of it or flipside of it can be use to help understand James 2:20.

God Bless

i just learned the late ravi zacharias was a false teacher and who was also a sex offender lol
may God put him in hell i mean forgive his sins.

How do we respond to accusations?

Isaiah 54:17 (KJV) - No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Friends, as believers we need to be firmly establish in the righteousness of God. Not the righteousness of your own. What do I mean?

Imagine that you had a very very bad day.

Perhaps you screamed at someone with extreme wrath. Or you had a fight with your spouse, family members, etc.

Then comes the accusing voice....

“Who do you think you are?”
“Don’t you remember how you yelled at so and so this morning? Why should God give you favor for your act?
“Look at how easily you lose your cool on the road. How can you have the cheek to expect good things to happen to you?”
'You call yourself a Christian?

Sounds familiar?

Many a times we think, how can God be with me after I've don't so much wrong.

Now, that's the response of someone who believes that he needs to earn his own righteousness and place of acceptance before God. This person believes that he can expect good from God only when his conduct is good and his own checklist of self-imposed requirements are met to the hilt.

Continuing the story, imagine the person had a bad fight with the spouse and has a presentation with a potential customer. He would probably storm into his office, still seething with anger at his wife. Worst of all, he feels cut off from the presence of Jesus because of his anger and thinks that he does not qualify to ask for God’s favor for his presentation. He steps into the boardroom disheveled and disorganized. He forgets his points and fumbles, causing his company to lose that major account. His bosses are disappointed with him and give him a huge tongue-lashing.

Frustrated and shamed, he drives home like a maniac, sounding his horn at every car that does not move the instant the traffic lights turn green. When he gets home, he is even more upset with his wife because he blames her for putting him in a foul mood in the morning, for his terrible presentation and for the loss of the major account!

How should we respond as Christians?

If we learn to recognize that the righteousness that God imparts to you is a gift, you didn't get it because you merit it, then we need to respond like this.

I don’t deserve to have God’s favor at all because I lost my temper with my wife this morning. But you know what? I am not looking at what I deserve. I am looking at what Jesus deserves. Even right now, Jesus, I thank You that You see me perfectly righteous. Because of the cross and Your perfect sacrifice, I can expect God's Grace at my presentation. Every one of my shortcomings, even the tone I used this morning, is covered by Your righteousness. I can expect good not because I am good, but because You are good! Amen!”

This person is established upon Jesus’ righteousness and not his own right doing or good behavior.

Now, does this mean that he sweeps all his failings under the carpet and pretends that they never happened? Of course No. This man, full of the consciousness that the Lord is with him, will find the strength in Christ to apologize to his wife for the tone he had used on her. You see, a heart that has been touched by Grace cannot hold on to unforgiveness, anger, and bitterness.

Friends, the Lord promise, those who are established in the righteousness of Christ, God will come in and fight for you and your family as stated in Isaiah 54.

Let God always come into your life, no matter what has happened.

God Bless!

To Add in book of James.

Patriarch Abraham was credited as righteous LONG before he was about to sacrifice Isaac. Many years before that. If that is so, then you need to think and digest what is this righteousness is referring to?

Some of you may not agree but I see it's referring to horizontal justification before Man and not God. I say this by the constant reference of the phrase "You See" You here points to Man. Not God.

Anyway, Faith must be completed by your actions. It is never disputed but no where in the book James, from verse 14 all the way to 26, the needed deeds or works refers to justification to Salvation.

You will not find it.

Hope this helps.

This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Sep 25 2021, 09:53 AM

Entering into God's rest

Hebrews 4:11 (NIV) - Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

Entering into God's rest does not mean inactivity. It's more of spirit directed activity. You can labor and work but in Peaceful rest that God gives instead of carnal anxiety.

Salvation is a life of rest in God. The devil doesn't want that, he always want you to be agitated, irritated, doubtful.

Hence we need to make effort to enter into God's rest

God Bless.

Do you think the resentment against anti-vaccine people are examples of how Christians who live in the era where everyone uses chip to do trading being treated?

The vaccine is not mature, it's a fact.
The vaccine has caused deaths around the globe, it's a fact.
Vaccine does not make people immune to covid19 and will still be able to spread to others and yet, those who refuse to get themselves vaccinated are being hated as they are the only people who will spread the virus to others.

Even with so many justifications, they are still hated and made fun of. Imagine it's the day where people use chip to do trading as written in the Bible. Without all those side effects to justify their act for not using chip, Christians are more likely to be resented.

I think it's important for Christians to 1st believe for divine protection from God from covid-19. That the first step.

Next is to also get vaccinated with the understanding, vaccines is design to reduce the risk of death. Keyword is reduce risk, not immune to risk.

There are misunderstanding in thinking, having vaccine is like a shield / barrier to keep away covid virus.

It is not.

As we all know the vaccine is in infancy stage, vaccine normally takes a long time to research n produce.

Vaccines are not created overnight - Its a decade old tech that has been improving exponentially in line with the information technology in the late 2000s. You have been vaccinated at least once at some point as well

Vaccines cannot prevent death yes, as it is not a guarantee. Just like wearing a helmet does not guarantee you from dying. The key here is "risk reduction".

Vaccines makes it less likely for you to go symptomatic, meaning less coughs and sneezes. With lesser aerosol droplets in the air, you are significantly less likely to spread to others

The actions of those hating on antivax are appalling and I agree with your sentiment. But we dont do this for ourselves, but rather to protect others as a form of a sacrificial way of living. You are not resented as a person of faith, but in the failure of being considerate to the safety of others. A good example of this are those who rejects modern life saving medicines and paying the price. Life is precious, if you knowingly chose to ignore scientific medicines in favour of hearsays then the responsibility is on you

No matter our faith, be it Islam or Christians etc, modern progress in medicine happens because of blessings to understand and apply these knowledge and for the care and benefit of all

There is no chip that was not there in the beginning, its called social norms in anthropology. The same way you are expected to behave well (a limitation/constraints) in exchange of acceptance of the community, the same applies to vaccine use

Be safe and be well

This post has been edited by UrbanGraduate: Sep 27 2021, 02:19 PM

He Calls My Name(The Song of Zacchaeus) - Yeram Worship | Luke 19:10

#Zacchaeus #Yeramworship #Luke

When Jesus called Zacchaeus by name
Then, in the emptiness of Zacchaeus' heart,
he have been restored through the Lord.

The Lord speaks to us today.
“It’s enough to meet me just the way I am”

‘Song of Zacchaeus’ became ‘my song’ today
Even if there is anxiety and emptiness hidden in you
I hope that your life will be healed and restored through the love of Jesus.

Miracles to know God.

Ezekiel 34:28-31 (NIV) - 28 They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid. 29 I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations. 30 Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord. 31 You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’

In the Bible, God often reveal Himself with the things He do for his people. God being the same yesterday today and tomorrow, if how that is how he treats his chosen people Israel, I believe it's the same for anyone who believe and receive Christ.

There cannot be no interaction between God and you. It would not make sense to say the Christian Life is just status quo and nothing ever happens from God to you.

The problem has always been between our faith, our pride, self strength and gross misunderstand of God our Father.

We often see Him in the wrong perspective.

God once rebuke me during my early years.

He told me, why do I have a harsh view of Him? I use to think that God is a God of punishment against my wrongs. It's a very skewed view of God when we don't know the Bible. The devil has greatly influence people to only see the judgement of God but very seldom and hard to even believe the Patience Father to prodigal son. That has force me to change and repent of my views.

I began to have a good view of who God is. Loving and extremely patience and long suffering of my weaknesses. He is a GOOD Father better than any biological ones.

Ever since then, there is a tremendous shift of my walk with Him. Things began to happen when I pray to The Lord.

I urge you fellow believers, learn to let go of your own pride, strength. Learn to be dependent and needy before Abba in Heaven. Never have the prideful view, you should only bother God for the important things or that you cannot pray asking too many things from God.

Many of us depends on our chariots and horses as how the Bible rebukes. Out of pride we become self sufficient and feel we don't need God, just his Salvation. Salvation we can believe but other things we can be confident in ourselves rather than on God.

Perhaps that is what is keeping you from seeing God's miracles. I don't know.

But Whatever it is, the willingness to believe God for answers in vulnerability, I know pleases God so much so.... He moves.

Don't let disappointment causes you to have bad view of God. Don't let it.

Hope this speaks to you.

God Bless

What justify your Salvation?

Romans 4:25 (NIV) - He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

The Bible tells us Jesus's finished work on the cross is our justification. If Jesus's work on the cross did not remove our sins, He would not be raised to life. The fact that Jesus was raised means our sin have been put away. And the Bible tells Jesus only dies once for this. Think about it. Is it an only 1 time initial grace and after that it all now depends on working out your Salvation? Answer is No. You have nothing to work out if Salvation was never given to you in the 1st place.

The value and power of Christ blood is timeless and avails for all time. It is greater than any sins you've just or has committed even greater and the ability of the devil.

We need to repent in our mind and always believe on this assured foundation. I use the word assured on purpose.

IF Salvation depends on our good behavior and our obedience to God, there is NO assurance. Man can fail anytime and in an instance. There is no consistency with us. It becomes merit base Salvation.

So what justify your Salvation?

Meditate on Romans 4:25 as above.

PS:

Acts 13:39 (Berean) - Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.


God Bless.

This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Sep 30 2021, 01:49 PM

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified

Romans 10:9 - 10 (NIV) - If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

God the Father value Christ's Finished work at the cross. So much so that when you believe with your heart, you are justified. That is so powerful.

Beloved , meditate on this simple yet profound truth.

God Bless

If you continue in your faith, God promise to work in your life despite of your weakness

Colossians 1:21-23 (NIV) - 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of g your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Colossians 2:11-12 (NIV) - 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Oct 4 2021, 07:38 AM

God forgave us ALL our sins.

Colossians 2:13-15 (NIV)
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.


The verse in Colossians 2:13-15 are vital verses you can meditate and embrace whenever you have doubts on your salvation. Whenever there is nagging conscious which can be either of your own self condemning thoughts or the devil, remember Colossians 2:13-15.

If God forgave all our sins, who has the right to condemn you? Not even your own self has that right. God is the greater one who will judge all life even unto the fallen angels. God's word says it very clearly here, the debt of your charge has been CANCELLED. Keep that as a divine receipt in your heart.

When you know your sins are forgiven because of the cross, the powers of the devil and his kingdom are disarmed. <-----KEY Revelation.

This is so very important because there may be some of you who encounter spiritual attacks in your own life or your family.

The devil is the father of all lies, hence his power is based on lies. Lying symptoms and lying deceptive attacks all designed to fool you into thinking he still has the right into believers' life who has been redeemed.

You can quote this verses vocally in prayer against the evil one. If you are someone that is a threat to the devil, you will be noticed by them. The devil wanted to sift Apostle Peter as wheat, remember? The more that you are attacked, the more you should know you are someone of divine potential for God. The Apostle peter failed as he denied Jesus 3 times, Yet the Lord restored him later, so don't lose courage.

The phrase He forgave all our sins means ALL of them, not one remains intact. Otherwise our Lord Jesus Christ would have not been raise to life for our justification. There may be some of you who disagree and think God's grace is only initial (starting point) then the rest depends on your own working out Salvation. This is an age old error which is not supported by Bible which I believe the devil has deceptively inserted unto some people who are ignorant of God's truth.

The word all here in the Greek is "PAS" which means exactly what it is...ALL.

Friends, when God forgive, it is ALL our sins, not some. If you want The Lord's victory over the evil one, you will need to accept this truth.

God Bless.

Ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will.

Colossians 1:9-13 (NIV) - 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Knowing God's will is not something obscure and mysterious. Many times Jesus who is the Image of God mention the will of God as recorded in Bible. Therefore to know God's will, you got to know the Bible in and out.

God's word tell us, knowing Him (His Word) being filled with his wisdom and understanding, we may bear fruit in every good work....even having GREAT endurance and patience. And we all want that don't we?

There are so many treasure in the verses above, so many blessings. I love the part where it says, in Jesus we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Plural).

Outside of Jesus there is nothing, no redemption no forgiveness of sins.

brethren I urge you abide in Christ, stay in Him.

God Bless.

John 18:36 (NIV) - Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”


This world is not God's world, it is a fallen and corrupted world where the devil is god (smaller g)

Fallen world means everything in the natural is corrupted. Hence there is death and decay, evil, etc etc.

God is not obliged to what is not His. Reason being God is a God of justice and order, He doesn't do whatever He like though He can.

To do whatever He likes, for example like making a person suffer for no reason would be unjust, you get the idea.

He follows though order, laws that has been established or created.

Whenever I hear sermons

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV) - And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

This is the position and attitude to have whenever we go to church to hear the word of God being preached.

This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Oct 7 2021, 07:36 AM