Spirit Soul Body The Law The Cross The Covenant of Grace lesson 12

Jesus came with grace and truth. This grace set us free from the law of sin and death so sin could no longer have strength in the believer's life.

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Spirit Soul Body The Law The Cross The Covenant of Grace lesson 12

THE LAW GIVES SIN STRENGTH; THE LAW PRODUCES DEATH

MOUNT SINAI THE LAW

1 Corinthians 15:56  The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

The law stirs up and arouses the sin nature of man.  The law gives strength to sin.  The law is holy and righteous and always will be!  However, the law only exposes sin and gives sin strength; the law cannot impute righteousness nor give life! 

Romans 7:5  For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.

The scriptures are clear the law of Moses applied to the individual gives sin strength!

Hebrews 7:11  Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?  12  For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.  …

When the priesthood changed, at the coming of Jesus, of necessity there is also a changing of the law.  We now have a better covenant established on better promises.

Hebrews 7:18  For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness,  19  for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

A life of victory is learning the better hope and living in the covenant of grace to which we draw near to God.

SPIRIT SOUL AND BODY CHART: remember perfected in the spirit, renewal of the soul and the dying to the body

Romans 7:6  But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

When we came to Jesus we were set free from the law.  We are now empowered to live in the newness of the Spirit! 

Romans 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."

The law will do it’s intended purpose; expose sin and make it exceedingly sinful.

Romans 7:8  But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.

Apart from the law sin is dead!  Where there is no law there in no accounting of sin!

Romans 7:9  I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.

Paul begins to give his personal testimony here.  He came to Jesus and found life apart from the law.  Paul was raised under the law and tradition tells us that Paul would have had the first 5 books of the Bible memorized.  It was a very easy thing for Paul to go back to the commandments of the law again.  When he did sin was given strength again.  By his own testimony “sin revived and I died.”

Romans 7:10  And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11  For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.

Sin was given strength, Paul ’s own testimony is he was walking in deception.  You may walk under the auspices of the law for awhile; however, sin will gain strength and you will find you can not perform up to the standard of God’s holy law.  Under the law sin gains strength and it will choke the life out of you!

Romans 7:12  Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.  13  Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

You bring yourself back under the law and it will do what it has always been intended!  Sin will once again gain strength in your life.  Never forget you’re married to Jesus now!

Roman 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.  15  For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.

Paul came back under the law and sin gained strength.  The things that he wanted to do he could not do.  The things that he wanted not to do were the things he practiced!  Understanding the truth about the spirit, soul, and body of man will help us bring wholeness so we don’t have to be stuck in the middle of Paul’s testimony.

Romans 7:16  If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.  17  But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

Paul’s revelation of grace begin to kick in.  He began to divide between spirit, soul, and body just as Hebrews 4:12 says the word of God does.  It was not the new man Paul had become at salvation it was the old man.  It was sin that dwells in me.

Romans 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.

We died to flesh when we came to Jesus.  We learned in Romans 6 to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive unto God.  Like Paul we can give sin strength by coming under the performance of the law.  In the flesh nothing good dwells.  Paul had a will to do right but lacked the power to overcome because sin had gained strength once again.

Roman 7:19  For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.  20  Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

Paul now repeats what he already said.  The Holy Spirit yearns for us to get a truth and will repeat the same truth over to bring us to attention.  Paul had a true desire to serve God but while under the auspices of the law he could not practice what he willed and could not stop practicing what he willed not to do.

Romans 7:21  I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.

In his flesh he found a law that was present with him that could not bring deliverance or victory.

Romans 7:22  For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

On the other hand he had come to delight in the law of God according to the inward man.  The new creation was alive and well at the same time the law dictating to his flesh seemed alive and well also.  Understanding spirit, soul, and body is so important!

Romans 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  24  O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

As a believer have you ever wondered if victory would stop being elusive?  I know I have faith in Jesus why don’t I have victory?  Thank God Paul’s testimony does not stop here!

Romans 7:25  I thank God; through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Paul said I found victory in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Yes, indeed two laws that seem to be contrary to one another.  But when rightly dividing between spirit soul and body the understanding for victory is unveiled.

Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

First you can believe if you the new man is in you there is right now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!  Here is the powerful truth that can bring your walk from elusive victory to an experience of victory.  The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.  Yes there are two laws at work, but the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus trumps the law of sin and death!  Free from sin!

Romans 8:9  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

If you belong to Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus trumps the law of sin and death!  You now belong to God.  The just shall live by faith in the work of the cross of Jesus Christ!  Victory is realized by walking in the covenant you have been birthed into!

Spirit Soul Body The Law the Cross The Covenant of Grace lesson 11

Grace does an eternal work. We have gained access to the holy God by the greatness of the sacrifice of Jesus. He who the Son sets free from sins is free indeed.

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Spirit Soul Body  The Law the Cross The Covenant of Grace lesson 11

THE LAW: Sin sacrifice was temporal and never did a perfecting work in the believer

Hebrews 10:1  For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.  2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.  3  But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.  4  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

The law was only a shadow of the good things to come; no power for victory in a shadow.  There was always a consciousness of sin!  Every year every worshiper was reminded of sins!  The blood of bulls and goats could not take sins away!

The believer who remains reminded of sin day by day still remains under the auspices of the law.  The sin consciousness keeps them from the victory over sin provided by the grace of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.“

One cannot pick the portion of the law they want to abide by without bringing all things written in the book of the law.  Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things written in the law; this is for the one bringing themselves under the works of the law.

The cross completed an eternal work

Hebrews 10:12  But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,

Jesus provided one sacrifice forever!  Behold the Lamb of God who takes the sin away!

Hebrews 1:3  He is the  express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus by Himself purged our sins, and sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high!

Hebrews 7:19  for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

The law could not bring perfection; God had a better covenant in mind to bring us near!

Hebrews 9:12  Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

… 24  For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;  25  not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another;  26  He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.  27  And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,  28  so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Jesus with His own blood obtained eternal redemption!  Jesus appeared in the presence of God for us!  Jesus put sin away by the sacrifice of Himself!  Jesus bore our sin so we don’t have to!

Grace’s sin sacrifice brings eternal consequence to the believer

Hebrews 7:24  But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.        25  Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

JESUS our High Priest saves to the uttermost, always making intercession for us!

Hebrews 10:10  By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  … 14  For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

We have been sanctified once for all by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ … by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.  Our identity needs to come from the word of God itself!  You are who God says you are! This is truth of our spirits

Romans 4:3  For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.“  4  Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.  5  But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

If righteousness is of works it is no longer by grace we are saved.  Our faith in Jesus Christ the Messiah is accounted for righteousness!

LIMITED ACCESS TO GOD THROUGH THE LAW

Hebrews 9:1  Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.  2  For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3  and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4  which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;  5  and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6  Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.7  But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance;  8  the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.  9  It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience; 

The old testament saints had no access to the presence of God.  Once a year their high priest went into the Most Holy Place .  Access to God was limited to say the least!

When Jesus Died On the Cross the Veil of Separation Was Torn In Two

Mark 15:37  And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.  38  Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 

The work of the cross tore the veil in the Most Holy Place ; access is now granted!

Hebrews 9:10  concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.  11  But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.

Jesus came and brought the reformation that set us free from the law; however it is not just what we have been set free from!  We have been set free into the presence of God!

Hebrews 6:19  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,  20  where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus was our forerunner into the presence of God; the Father is expecting you!

ACCESS INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD HAS BEEN GRANTED ; MOUNT ZION   THE COVENANT OF GRACE

Romans 5:1  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

When the object of your faith is in Jesus Christ access has been granted into divine influence; the blood of the cross has brought us peace with God!

Ephesians 2:18  For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.  19  Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

The access to the Father is so great we are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.  You now belong in the household of God; come on in!

Hebrews 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  15  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  16  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hold on to your confession of faith toward Jesus Christ.  It is your invitation to come boldly into the throne of grace; come in your hour of weakness and time of need.

Romans 5:8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  10  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Romans 5 is the much more chapters.  If God would die for you while you were sinners there is a much more truth to be applied.  Now that you have been justified by His blood you shall be saved from wrath through Him!!  Much more being reconciled we shall be saved by His life!!

Romans 5:17  For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

THE LAW OFFERED NO FREEDOM FROM SIN

Hebrews 10:4  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.  5  Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.  6  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.  7  Then I said, 'Behold, I have come; In the volume of the book it is written of Me; To do Your will, O God.'“  8  Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law),

MOUNT SINAI THE LAW

The blood of  bulls and goats could take away sins.  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin God had no pleasure.  All the sacrifices and offering pointed to the Lamb of God that was to come that actually dealt with sin.  The animal sacrifices only did a temporary work sanctifying the flesh of the worshipper and needed repeated over and over.

Hebrews 9:13  For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,…

JESUS SOUL WAS AN OFFERING FOR SIN; THE FATHER WAS SATISFIED   

MOUNT CALVARY THE  CROSS

Isaiah 53:10  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.  11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.  12  Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

The sacrifice of Jesus' body on the cross appeased our Holy Father.  It pleased the Father’s holiness and justice; the separation between God and Man had a bases for reconciliation.  The lamb of God was so great that there will never be a need for another sacrifice for sin.  Jesus as the sacrifice brings freedom from sin for true believers. 

1 Peter 1:18  knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,19  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

JESUS CAME SAVING PEOPLE FROM THEIR SIN. HE WHO THE SON SET FREE… MOUNT ZION THE COVENANT OF GRACE

John 8:31  Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  32  "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.“  33  They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?“  34  Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  35  "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  36  "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Romans 6:4  Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  5  For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,  6  knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  7  For he who has died has been freed from sin.  8  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,  9  knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.  10  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  11  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

When we came to Jesus, we died to sin; it is a one time deal.  Like Jesus died to sin once for all, we reckon ourselves dead to sin; it is indeed a faith issue!  FREE AT LAST

The Law The Cross The Covenant of Grace lesson 10

The law is holy and righteous; however the law cannot impute life. The purpose of the law is to make sin exceedingly sinful; Jesus came to give us victory over sin and all of its ramifications. Jesus bore the sin, shame, guilt, griefs, and sorrows of sin; the end result is justifying those who will put their faith in Him.

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The Law The Cross The Covenant of Grace lesson 10

GUILTY UNDER THE LAW

Romans 3:19  Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.  20  Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

God has placed all under the law so that all may be found guilty.  It does not matter if you are a wicked man, a “good Joe”, or a performer of the law.  Whichever category you find yourself in you are born with a sin nature and by the law of Moses standard you are guilty.  Man must see their guilt before they can see their need for a Savior!

Romans 3:10  As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;  11  There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.  12  They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.“  13  "Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit"; "The poison of asps is under their lips"; 14  "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.“ 15  "Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16  Destruction and misery are in their ways;  17  And the way of peace they have not known.“  18  "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

God is holy and the revelation of God the law brings shows that all are sinners.  No one was ever able to be a perfect law keeper until Jesus Christ the Son of God came and fulfilled the law.  When compared to the holiness of God no man can stand holy before Him.  The law exposes the guilt of man.

Romans 7:9  I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.  10  And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.  11  For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.

The law exposes the guilt and bondage of sin.  It has never been the role of the law to give life.  The law makes sin exceedingly sinful.  When man sees they are separated from God because of the sin nature they were born with, the law has fulfilled it’s purpose.

THE WORK OF THE CROSS; JESUS BORE OUR GUILT AND PUNISHMENT

Isaiah 53:4  Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.  5  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Jesus bore our grief and sorrows.  The punishment of our peace was upon Him!  His wounds and bruises were all for our healing.  The Father’s wrath was poured out upon Jesus; the Lamb of God took away the sin of the world.  Only the power of the cross can build the bridge to bring us out of law and into the covenant of grace. 

Romans 3:21  But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,  22  even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

Jesus came with an intimate revelation of righteousness apart from the law of Moses.  God righteousness can only be applied through faith in Jesus Christ and there is no other way to the righteousness of God.  We are reconciled back to God by grace through faith that is what it means to be made righteous.

Luke 24:46  Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47  "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem .

Jesus went to the cross so that repentance and remission of sins could be preached in His name!  Jesus bore the wrath so we might be reconciled.  Repentance is not just being sorry for your sin; repentance is godly sorrow with a turning from the sin and toward God.

Acts 2:38  Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  39  "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

Turning from your sin and surrendering to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is what the confession of faith is about.  Then Peter told the believer after true repentance there is water baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.  This pattern is for every believer; it is found through out the book of Acts.

GUILTLESS VIA THE FATHER’S JUSTIFICATION

Romans 3:24  being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,  25  whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,  26  to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Our faith in Jesus is the point of our free justification.  We are imputed righteousness and counted as if we have never sinned.  Propitiation is Jesus taking the punishment and bearing the wrath for our sins.  Sins remission is exclusively found through faith in the blood of Jesus.  God is just and the justifier; that is it is a just thing for God to give us righteousness and justify us.  The sacrifice of Jesus is so great; it would be unjust if God did not justify one who has exhibited faith in the saving blood of Jesus Christ.  We have been declared innocent in the sight of God. 

2 Corinthian 5:21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The Father set us up for victory!  Jesus who knew no sin became sin so we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  Behold the Lamb of God!

Hebrews 9:14  how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?            LIVING WITH A PURGE D CONSCIENCE!

A purged conscience comes from the blood of Jesus Christ, offered in sacrifice to God!  There is no other source of a purged conscience.  We are not called to walk in a sin conscience;  put the object of your faith in the eternal work of Christ for your God awareness

1 Peter 2:24  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.  25  For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jesus Himself bore our sin in His own body of the tree.  We come to Jesus we die to the sin nature and we are empowered to live for righteousness.  It is by His stripes we were healed.  We are now under the care of the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.

LAW CONDEMNS

2 Corinthians 3:9  For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 

THE LAW IS CALLED THE MINISTRY OF CONDEMNATION

READ 2 CORINTHIANS 3:4-18

THE CROSS ENDED CONDEMNATION

Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has 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 did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4  that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Right now, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!  Oh that we might gain the understanding what it means that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death!!!  The law had no power to bring life to sinful flesh.  Jesus came that on account of sin and condemned sin in the flesh!  We died to sin when we came to Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:5  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to 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, nor indeed can be.  8  So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  9  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  He that confesses Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.  Because you are not in the flesh you the believer are called not to walk in the carnal mind.  Put off the old man be made new in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man!

NO COND EMNATION IN GRACE

John 5:24  "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

When do we pass from death unto life so that we do not face judgment?  When we hear the words of Jesus and believe that the Father sent Him to save us from our sin.

1 John 4:17  Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

When we get a revelation of the love of God we may have boldness on the day of judgment.  Wow, what a promise.  Love has been perfected; it is time to let your soul come in line with the perfected love of God.  Because as Jesus is, so are we in this world.  The Father spoke from heaven on several occasions in Jesus' ministry saying “this is my Beloved Son”.  The Father’s desires for you to know you are beloved to such a degree there is no fear of judgment!  Powerful!!!

John 3:16  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  17  "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  18  "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Where does the condemnation end?  At the point of faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus gives you everlasting life.  Jesus came that the condemnation may end!  Guilt and condemnation has been ended in the greatness of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ!  More to come…

The Law The Cross The Covenant of Grace lesson 9

The law the cross and the covenant of grace! Jesus came with a better covenant, established on better promises, and with the greatest Mediator.

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The Law The Cross The Covenant of Grace lesson 9

THE LAW

Hebrews 12:18  For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest,  19  and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.  20  (For they could not endure what was commanded: "And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.“  21  And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.")

THIS IS NOT YOUR MOUNTAIN; NEW COVENANT = NEW DESTINY

Remember last week we talked about Mt. Sinai where the law was given to Moses.  The verse starts with you have not come to this mount.  So fearful was the experience that the mediator Moses was exceedingly afraid and trembling.  Thank God for the law.  It is good and it is holy.  It sets the standard for sins definition.  However the law must be used lawfully. 

Romans 10:1  Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.  2  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  3  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.  5  For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them."

Those under the law sought to find righteousness through the law.  As scripture declares here righteousness found in the performance of the law is not God’s righteousness.  God’s righteousness comes exclusively through faith in Jesus Christ.  If the object of your faith is anywhere else it is not God’s prescribe order for righteousness.  Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.  Verses 4 and 5 is a foundational truth that many have ignored.  The law always points to the performance of the man.  The righteousness of the law says “The man who does those things shall live by them.”  This is not the righteousness of God!

GRACE MOUNT ZION

Hebrews 12:22  But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,  23  to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,  24  to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

We started this lesson by saying you have not come to Mount Sinai .  However, you have come to Mount Zion to the city of the living God.  Ephesians 2:6 teaches we have been seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  Our citizenship is in the heavenly Jerusalem .  Those who are in covenant with God have an innumerable company of angels.  The angels of the Lord encamp around those who fear God.  Angels are on the case of those who will inherit salvation.  You are apart of the assembly of the church of the firstborn.  D on’t let the firstborn status skip you.  God has bestowed first born status on the church.  Our names are registered in heaven.  That is all good news but the news keeps getting better.  You have come to God the judge of all.  Yes, you are on the Mount where just men’s spirit have been made perfect.  As Hebrews 10 declares we have been perfected once for all.  The greatest news, grace brings us to the place where the blood of Jesus is speaking on our behalf!  The blood of Jesus speaks better things than that of Abel.  Abel’s blood spoke of guilt and judgment needed.  The blood cried out from the ground that it had been spilled upon.  The blood of Jesus was spilled out and it still cries out from the ground it fell on.  The blood of Jesus 1^st of all speaks of the forgiveness of sin.  By the blood of Jesus we have been brought near to God the Father.  The blood of Jesus speaks of redemption; it still cries out sins remission for every believer in Jesus.  Have you ever noticed the anointing that rises when the congregation begins to sing about the blood.

FAITH: THE COVENANT OF GRACE IS THE WAY OF FAITH; THE LAW IS NOT

Galatians 3:12  Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them."

The law is not of faith; the law is the performance of man doing works to be made right with a holy God.  You know the law is being preached when the performance of man is lifted up as the way to righteousness and holiness.  The way of faith is found in the grace and truth found in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 8:6  But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.  7  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.

This covenant we have been brought into is not the law of Moses updated and tweaked.  It is the better covenant, established on better promises founded upon the greatest Mediator Jesus Christ Himself.

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

We begin a life of living by faith in Jesus Christ!  This covenant brings the good news that Jesus is the way to salvation for everyone who will believe in Him.  In the gospel is found the righteousness of God unveiled.  It starts by faith in Jesus, it ends by faith in Jesus and everything in-between is  faith in Jesus.  The just shall live by faith.

THE LAW

Moses as a servant in the house

A place of honor

A place of glory

THE WORK OF THE CROSS

John 8:35  "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36  "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

GRACE

Jesus as a Son over his house

The Son has greater honor

The Son has greater glory

Hebrews 3:1  Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,  2  who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.  3  For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house.  4  For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.  5  And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward,  6  but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

WHOSE HOUSEHOLD DO YOU BELONG TO?

Hebrews 3 brings beautiful contrast between the household of Moses and the Household of Jesus Christ.  Notice the passage starts by bringing your eyes and attention upon Jesus Christ.  Because of Jesus we are holy brethren.  Because of Jesus we are partakers of the heavenly calling.  Because of Jesus we have a confession of faith.  Indeed Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.  Moses was faithful as a servant and that was glorious; however Jesus was faithful as a Son and that is much more glorious.  Moses was the pattern and shadow; Jesus was the substance and reality that the pattern and shadow pointed to.  Which household do you belong to?  If your faith is in Jesus Christ the Messiah you belong to the household of faith.  Hold fast the confession of your faith it is the most valuable thing you possess.   Come live in the greater glory!  If Jesus set you free from sin you are free indeed. A servant can be sold out but a son abides forever.  When my children come into my house they will swing wide the refrigerator door and help themselves.  Why?  They forever belong to the house.  If you will serve God from the mentality that you are a son, it brings strength and assurance that a servant could never possess.