Trust and Obey
Part 6a – Maintaining a Healthy Fear of God
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Salvation – God, According To His Will By The Holy Spirit: Confirms Man As A Sinner
Then Removes His Sins and Their Consequences & Gives Him Grace For Righteousness
Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13)
In this first part, The Holy Spirit & Restoration of Man Part 1 we will have a look at God, According To His Will By The Holy Spirit: Confirms Man As A Sinner. It looks at:
Introduction –
The Holy Spirit
Regeneration of Man
The Holy Spirit & Regeneration of Man
Salvation
The Components of Man (Body, Soul & Spirit)
Heart of Man
The Holy Spirit & Salvation
The unregenerate Man
The law
The Gospel of Christ – God By The Holy Spirit:Confirms Man As A Sinner
While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.
“ Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, AND THAT HE WAS BURIED, AND HE ROSE AGAIN THE THIRD DAY ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, AND THAT HE WAS SEEN BY CEPHAS, THEN BY THE TWELVE. AFTER HE WAS SEEN BY OVER FIVE HUNDRED BRETHREN AT ONCE, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
We will in this post look at some parts of the work of the Holy Spirit in the eternal Purpose of God as we continue with our look at the first stanza of the hymn, Trust and Obey by John Henry Sammis as part of our mini series “Maintaining a Healthy Fear of God” In previous posts we have looked at God’s good will, His original plan of His eternal purpose Ultimately being, PLAN A – The Glory of God – We saw that it is safe to say that His good will, His eternal purpose, is a plan to ultimately, bring us to His Glory, with provision made for perceived blunders we will make along the way.
In our last post we looked at Justification : Before that, Redemption as part of God’s Regeneration of man. We saw justification as the “Act of God” by which (according to His promise) He approves us, based on His own standard of righteousness. This He can legally do without compromising His divine righteousness because of the finished redemptive work of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary. We saw that justification can only be obtained through the grace of God and not by our works.
Before we move on to Faith & Believe I’ll like to stop briefly to have a look at the work of the Holy Spirit in this eternal purpose of God especially the work of the Holy Spirit in the salvation of man. We will be looking at this from the perspective of the specific activities of the Holy Spirit in the salvation of man.
Salvation
What Is Salvation?
God, According To His Will By The Holy Spirit:
Confirms Man As A Sinner
Then
Removes His Sins and Their Consequences & Gives Him Grace For Righteousness
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Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13)
I this first part, The Holy Spirit & Restoration of Man Part 1 we will have a look at
God, According To His Will By The Holy Spirit:
Confirms Man As A Sinner
It looks at:
Introduction – The Holy Spirit
Regeneration of Man
The Holy Spirit & Regeneration of Man
Salvation
The Components of Man (Body, Soul & Spirit)
Heart of Man
The Holy Spirit & Salvation
The unregenerate Man
The law
Introduction – The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost) is a real person – the third person of the Holy Trinity: Father (God), Son (Jesus Christ) and The Holy Spirit. He is equal in every way as The Father and Jesus Christ, with the same attributes as they have. The Holy Spirit is our helper in all things, as our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ promised to His disciples:
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:26)
THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
These are of the same components as that of man, these components being, will, intellect and emotions (as we shall see later),
Will
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (I Corinthians 12:11)
Intellect
For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11)
Emotions
Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me. (Romans 15:30)
FUNCTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
He teaches us all things.
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever ….. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:16,26)
He is our indwelling Spirit of God.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (I Corinthians 3:16)
He exalts Jesus Christ in us, and as all truth is in Jesus, we are impacted with the Truth.
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (John 16:13-14)
He strengthens us in our innermost being.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
SPECIFIC ACTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
He guides us in truth.
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (John 16:13)
He gives us victory over flesh (domination over our soul by that part of us which is at odds with God).
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
He speaks to us.
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ―Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. (Acts 13:2)
Then the Spirit said to Philip, ―Go near and overtake this chariot. (Acts 8:29)
He leads us.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:14)
He convicts us sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:7-8)
Helps us in our weaknesses and prays for us.
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26)
He sanctifies us
But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. (II Thessalonians 2:13)
ATTRIBUTES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
He exists from Eternity to eternity
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? (Hebrews 9:14)
He is Omnipotent. (being the Spirit of God, He has all power over all things at all times and in all ways).
And the angel answered and said to her, ―The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)
He is Omnipresent. (being the Spirit of God, He is present everywhere at all times)
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? (Psalm 139:7)
He is omniscient (being the Spirit of God, He has complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding and perceives all things)
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (I Corinthians 2:10-11)
He is The Spirit of holiness.
And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. (Romans 1:4)
THE NATURE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
It is possible to blaspheme against The Holy Spirit.
Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. (Matt. 12:31)
It is possible to resist The Holy Spirit (in unbelief).
You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. (Acts 7:51)
It is possible to insult The Holy Spirit.
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29)
It is possible to Lie to The Holy Spirit.
But Peter said, ―Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? (Acts 5:3)
It is possible to Grieve The Holy Spirit.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Eph. 4:30)
It is possible to Quench The Holy Spirit.
Do not quench the Spirit. (1 Thess. 5:19)
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE REGENERATION OF MAN
Regeneration is broadly made up of three parts; Propitiation (by God); Salvation (by Christ): and Repentance (by man) ALL CARRIED OUT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. At any point in time, a man can either be regenerate or unregenerate: But all men are born unregenerate:
Jesus answered and said to him, ―Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to Him, ―How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother‘s womb and be born?‖ Jesus answered, ―Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.” The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:3-8)
Every man from birth is in spiritual darkness until God through the Holy Spirit, shines light into his heart. This spiritual darkness in man is borne out of a lack of intuition and a communion with God; and until God shines light into a man‟s heart by the work of the Holy Spirit, this darkness remains. It could be outer or but definitely inner:
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)
Outer Darkness in Man
This is darkness that may exist due to the fact that there is nothing to enlighten man about God and godly spirituality.
The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.(Matthew 4:16)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ―How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things! (Rom 10:15)
But then there is no excuse because:
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun ……… The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. (Psalm 19:1-4, 8)
But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: ―Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world. (Romans 10:18)
Inner Darkness in Man
Inward darkness is one that is borne of natural rot and depravity in man’s mind. This is corruption in things pertaining to normal everyday living such as social, political, economic, moral or even spiritual or heavenly things; it may even come in the form of ‘churchianity’ or ‘religion’. The full blown effect of this rot or depravity is often held back by the common grace of the Holy Spirit.
Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)
No matter how eloquently presented, spiritual things can never be understood by such a mind. We will look at this further on in this presentation:
The fool has said in his heart, ―There is no God.‖ They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. (Psalm 14:1)
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them for Jesus‘ sake. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
But then:
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
He has sent us the Holy Spirit. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever ….. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:16,26)
THE COMPONENTS OF MAN (BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT)
Body – Physical Functions
God prepares man with a body that he may live for Him; with the expectation that, his (man‘s) body will be offered to Him and used to declare His Glory:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Rom. 12:1)
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God‘s. (1 Cor. 6:20).
According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. (Philippians 1:20)
And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. (Romans 6:13)
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one‘s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? (Romans 6:16).
Soul – Functions of Will, Intellect & Emotions
Will (Volition)
The will is the part of our soul through which we have our rationales and make choices. The process of decision making is (supposed to be) activated by the intellect (mind) though the information before us; our emotions could (if allowed to prevail) determine the outcome; but the will is the function of our soul that makes actual decisions.
So that my soul chooses strangling and death rather than my body. (Job 7:15)
Here we see that the choice made by the soul (of strangling and death rather than living); is coloured by the emotional pain that is a result of the picture Job‟s intellect (mind) paints of the state of his body.
My soul refuses to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me. (Job 6:7)
In this verse we see a choice being made by the soul (of not eating this particular kind of food) based on the fact that information from his intellect (mind) describes the food as being loathsome. It does not show if the emotion played a part in the processing of the information by the intellect (mind).
Intellect (Mind)
The Intellect (Mind) is the part of our soul where thoughts, ideas, concepts, reasons, understanding knowledge etc are processed. It contains our though faculties. The function of the Intellect (Mind) include:
Thinking, considering
How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13:2)
Knowing
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. (Psa. 139:14).
Remembering
My soul still remembers and sinks within me. (Lamentations 3:20)
Emotion
The emotion is the part of our soul through which we love, hate, like or dislike, are joyful or grieved. The main aspects of the function of our emotions are of :
Sensing and affection:
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
Desire
As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. (Psalm 42:1)
With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (Isaiah 26:9)
Feeling and Sensing
Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‗Father, save Me from this hour‘? But for this purpose I came to this hour. (John 12:27)
Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. (Psalm 86:4) Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. (Psalm 116:7)
Spirit – Functions of conscience, Intuition and communion.
Conscience
The conscience is for us to discern right from wrong, to justify or to condemn. Knowledge shows what is right or wrong but our conscience is that part of us that approves of what is right and disapproves of what is contrary to it. The conscience is a part of our spirit:
In the unregenerate man, the conscience as a part of the heart is devoid of guidance from the Spirit of God; but restricted within limits by the grace of God. But at salvation the conscience is restored to perform it’s full functions as part of the spirit of man.
And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (Deuteronomy 30:6)
Intuition
Intuition is the function of our spirit that enables us to receive knowledge, perception or conviction directly in our spirit, regardless of reason or circumstance. It is a function of “spiritual sensing” . The sharpness of our intuition is very much dependent on the purity of our conscience – thus, it is impossible for someone with a polluted or corrupt conscience to have discernment. It is more like the “USB Connector” between our spirit and the Holy Spirit. The intuition is that in us which enables us (unlike our natural instincts or soulish emotional feelings) to adhere to what the Holy Spirit is saying (God‟s instructions).
For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11)
But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? (Mark 2:8)
Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. (John 11:33)
When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. (Acts 18:5)
This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. (Acts 18:25)
And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, (Acts 20:22)
For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men. (1 Corinthians 16:18)
Communion (Fellowship)
Communion is our contact, fellowship and our communication with God. Like any Father, God wants us His children to spend time with Him so that we can get to know Him. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
The woman said to Him, ―I know that Messiah is coming‖ (who is called Christ). ―When He comes, He will tell us all things. (John 4:23-25)
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. (Romans 1:9)
But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (1 Corinthians 6:17)
Fellowship is the most important thing God wants from us. He wants us to come to know him – to be with him – to spend time with him.
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (Philippians 3:9-11)
THE HEART OF MAN
Heart of Man is made up of Body – Physical Functions Soul – Functions of Will, Intellect & Emotions Heart Spirit – Functions of conscience ONLY. The heart is a composition of the first part of the spirit – the conscience and all three parts of the soul.
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Heb. 10:22)
Being part of our spirit (the conscience); it can condemn:
For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. (1 John 3:20)
As it also includes the mind, the will, and the emotion, which are the three parts of our soul:
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ―Why do you think evil in your hearts. (Matthew 9:4)
Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
It Rejoices:
Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. (John 16:22)
Has Sorrow:
But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. (John 16:6)
It Purposes:
When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. (Acts 11:23)
Has Intents:
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
In God’s eternal purpose, the intended main function of man‟s heart is to give man the ability to:
Love Him – And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.‘ This is the first commandment. (Mark 12:30)
Also, In God‟s eternal purpose, the intended main function of man‟s spirit is to give man the ability to:
a) Be in constant contact with Him – God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)
b) Receive Him – But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (1 Corinthians 6:17)
c) Hold or Contain Him – The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:22)
Finally, In God‟s eternal purpose, the intended main function of man‟s soul is to give man the ability to:
Reflect or Express Him – But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Because our heart LOVES Him; our spirit is able to BE IN CONSTANT CONTACT with Him; RECEIVE Him; and HOLD or CONTAIN Him; so that our soul is able to REFLECT or EXPRESS Him in all that we think, like, and decide – in all that we are and all that we do.
THE UN-REGENERATE MAN
The dictionary defines the unregenerate man as:
un•re•gen•er•ate
1. Not regenerate; not renewed in heart and mind or reborn in spirit; unrepentant: an unregenerate sinner.
2. Refusing to believe in the existence of God. : an unregenerate atheist; an unregenerate skeptic.
3. Unconvinced by or unconverted to a particular religion, sect, or movement; unreconstructed.
4. Persisting in the holding of prior convictions; opposing new ideas, causes, etc.; stubborn; obstinate: an
unregenerate reactionary.
5. Not reformed; wicked; sinful; profligate; dissolute: an unregenerate way of life.
Conscience of the Unregenerate Man
The dictionary defines the conscience as:
“a knowledge or sense of right and wrong, with a compulsion to do right; moral judgement that opposes the violation of a previously recognized ethical principle and that leads to feelings of guilt.”
The conscience of the unregenerate man as we can see from the dictionary definition is governed by:
‘Compulsion to do right’
‘Moral judgement’
So in our modern day culture where there is a daily attempt to „program‟ our minds to fit into this agenda or the other; “compulsion to do right” and “moral judgement” are ever so subjective and moving further away from what the laws of God says. The world’s thinking overrides and drowns out the inner voice of the true conscience that God put within man.
To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. (Titus 1:15)
There is a conscience in all men by nature. Let this never be forgotten. Fallen, lost, desperately wicked as we are all born into the world, God has taken care to leave Himself a witness in our bosoms. It is a poor blind guide, without the Holy Spirit. It can save no one. It leads no one to Christ. It may be seared and trampled under foot. But there is such a thing as conscience in every man, accusing or excusing him; and Scripture and experience alike declare it (Rom. 2:15).
J.C. Ryle
THE LAW (AT SALVATION)
The Law Law means instruction – do‟s and don‟ts; the norms of society as enforced by the state. In the context of our topic here; “The Law” refers specifically to the compilation of decrees found in the first five books of the Bible.
This whole body of law was given the name Torah.
While the purpose of treating this topic of the law here is NOT about relying on keeping the law to be saved:
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (Galatians 2:16)
But it is sensible for any man to know the reason why God gave these laws to the natural children of Israel: The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile. Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD, and teach out of Your law, that You may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked. (Psalm 94:11-13)
Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments. Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. (Psalm 119:164-166)
The Law
The distinct duty of the law is to reveal what sin is. („dangerous‟ and „unwanted‟ piece of knowledge at that):
Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)
So if the law causes our desire to sin to increase, is it then safe to say that the law is bad? The answer here by Apostle Paul is No!!, Capital No!!! For if not for the law, we would not have known sin in it‟s deadly nature; it‟s resistance against God; in it‟s habitual enmity against God; and the hidden lustings it produces within us.
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. (Romans 7:7)
With regards to salvation; the law enters; deeply and widely opens it’s own commission of enquiry in the conscience of unregenerate man; but here the conscience is only working closely with the soul (devoid of intuition and communion). A kind of “fear of God” (unrighteous because it is devoid of intuition and communion with God) is felt.
“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” (Romans 5:20)
This ‘commission of enquiry’ headed by The ‘Lord Chief Justice’ Himself (of heaven, earth and all that exists); God Almighty, before whom nothing, absolutely nothing is hidden: Because He is:
In our next post please look out for – God, According To His Will By The Holy Spirit: Removes His Sins and Their Consequences & Gives Him Grace For Righteousness.
You might say – “Why do I have to know and experience this Holy Spirit you are going on about” Here is why, when and how you can get to know Him.
Admit your spiritual need as The Holy Spirit would have been pointing out to you while you read the post.
We all are sinners: nobody likes that title “SINNER”, but the bible says in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”.
What is the result of sin?
In Romans 6:23 we read “The wages of sin is death…” in other words, every sin is another step towards death. One thing that we need to remember is that God never sends anyone to hell; one can send himself there by rejecting the truth.
Since we can never measure up to God’s standards by our own strength; God has reached out to mankind.
The Bible tells us in John 3:16-17. ”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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” In Romans 5:8 we read, “God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.
What must a person do to accept this gift?
Simply receive it! Matthew 11:28 states –“come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…for my yoke is easy and my burden is light”.
Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me” Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks, seeking entrance into your life to give you peace, change you for the best. John 1:12 says: “For as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God”.
If you haven’t already received Christ as your Saviour, don’t put it off another day! Take time right now to reflect on the state of your life, how does Romans 3:23 apply to you? Ask God to empower you to see the true state of your heart – “The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) then when enabled, invite Jesus into your life. Confess your sins. Receive His forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. You might pray something like this REPENTANTLY (Having taken time to bring your sins before God with a determination to completely turn away from them):
Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner in need of a Saviour. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. Thank You for giving me eternal life. Help me to live my life in a way that pleases You, for whatever time You give me here on earth. I look forward to living forever in Heaven with You. Amen.