Sin’s Advantage in the Law!
Romans 7:5, until we are united to Christ in his death, and rise with him to newness of life, we don't have the Spirit of God and are merely "flesh." That is, we have only a fallen, sinful human nature without the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
And what does the Law become when it meets this "flesh," or this fallen, unredeemed human nature? It becomes, in the power of sin, an actual instrument in defeating its own demands.
Verse 5: "For while we were in the flesh [=mere fallen, unredeemed human nature], the sinful passions, which were [aroused] by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death."
The Law itself is "holy, righteous, and good," Paul says in verse 12. But when we meet the Law while we are "in the flesh," our sin joins forces with the Law to "bear fruit for death." The Law itself becomes an instrument to multiply the very sins that the Law itself condemns (see Rom.7:8, 13; compare Rom. 13:9-10).
That's why Paul says we must die to the Law if we are going to bear fruit for God. 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.
Pharisees, Hypocrites!
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert,
and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. Matthew 23:15
and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. Matthew 23:15
What an insidious and devious Enemy we have!
The ability to take devout men and women of God who are zealous for good works and twist their desires so as to put them back into bondage to the Law illustrates the truly evil nature of Satan.
Titus 1:10-14, For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach…For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.
Righteousness Through Faith
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh! 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh! Philippians 3:2-3
"What is apostasy and how can I recognize it?"
Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them 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, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. Romans 10:1-3
WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE DOES GOD SELECT FOR SALVATION?
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; Romans 9:30-32
God chooses those who accept righteousness by faith to be saved.
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 1 Peter 2:8
By rejecting the plan of God they are rejecting the promise of God.
Having a form of godliness (Torah) but denying the power of the Holy Spirit! 2 Timothy 3:5
The Forms of Apostasy
► As to the forms of apostasy, there are two main types:
► (1) a falling away from key and true doctrines of the Bible into heretical teachings that proclaim to be “the real” Christian doctrine, and
► (2) a complete renunciation of the Christian faith, which results in a full abandonment of Christ.
A soul under Satan's power, and led captive by him, is blind in the things of God,
and dumb at the throne of grace; sees nothing, and says nothing to the purpose.
and dumb at the throne of grace; sees nothing, and says nothing to the purpose.
Yet indeed I also count all things (Judaism) loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8
Be Loyal to the Faith!
13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. 2 Timothy 1:13-15
Abraham Is Our Father They Answered
In this passage Jesus seems to be saying pretty clearly that Satan is the father of the Jews. Jesus called the Jews son of the devil in Revelation 2:9 and Revelation 3:9!
Just Knowing Something Is Sinful Doesn't Solve The Problem!
Romans 7:7-25... We can see clearly Pauls struggle with sin while under the law!
The law reveals sin. (Romans 7:7)
The law provokes sin. (Romans 7:5, 8)
The law condemns sin (Romans 7:9-11)
Our Release from the Law to Serve in the Spirit (Romans 7:1-6)
The Holiness and Righteousness of the Law (Romans 7:7-13)
Our Failure in the Flesh -- the Sinful Nature -- to Fulfill the Law (Romans 7:14-25)
The Era of the Spirit Romans 7:5-6
"For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, 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.
In verse 6, Paul contrasts two paths, the new and the old: NEWNESS SPIRIT; OLDNESS WRITTEN CODE = LAW.
Most of us are looking for Satan's attacks in the form of evil,
when it might really be coming through things that appear good or harmless.
MIXING LAW AND GRACE MAKES LUKEWARM CHRISTIANS!
Live with a mixture of the old and new and you’ll reap the benefits of neither.
You won’t enjoy the grace that God has provided, nor will you heed the law
that points to Jesus.
Mark 2:22: “And no one pours new wine into old wine skins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wine skins will be ruined. No, he must pour new wine into new wine skins.”
Dying to the Law is the means of bearing fruit for God – we must die to the Law that demands love in order to bear the fruit of love for God.
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law [Torah] by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. Romans 7:4
Paul says, for love's sake you must die to the Law (Romans 7:4,6), which itself is summed up in love (13:8, 10).
The Promise Granted Through Faith
13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Romans 4:13-15
By rejecting the plan of God they are rejecting the promise of God. Romans 10:1-3
Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them 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, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.
SINS NOT MENTIONED IN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS!
Paul's grace message warns Christians of Hell Galatians 5:19-21
Who will not inherit the Kingdom of GOD?
Read.. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Revelation 21:8!
The Deceptive Nature of False Teachers!
Scripture teaches that false teachers come in “privily.” Second Peter 2:1 says, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” The word “privily” means “in a privy manner; secretly.” False teachers do not introduce themselves before they enter the congregations for the purpose of teaching false doctrine. They come in secretly and without warning. This is why elders are encouraged to be watchful and diligent in regards to what is being taught in church.
This same pattern is followed by the false teachers at Galatia. Galatians 2:4 says, “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.” These Judaizing teachers came in secretly for the purpose of subverting the gospel of Christ by encouraging Christians to observe elements of the Law of Moses. They did it secretly and in “unawares.”
When Paul is preparing to leave Ephesus, he warns them about false teachers that would soon be entering the flock. Act 20:28-31 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” These false teachers came from two different locations from within the congregation and from without.
In like manner, Satan appears in a deceptive manner to offer temptations. Satan and false teachers are described in 2 Corinthians 11:10-15. The Apostle Paul says, “As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
This sort of deception that is used by Satan and his false prophets was used against Eve in the Garden of Eden. In the verses proceeding those just mentioned, Paul says in Second Corinthians 11.3-4 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”
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