Free From The Law

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Friday January 11, 2008

The Jewish believers in the early church had a tendency to continue living under the Old Testament Jewish law that was given through Moses. But Paul opposed such ideas and exposed them as hypocrisy:

Galatians 2:11-21 (NIV) (Paul writing)
11. When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision (law-oriented) group. 13. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
15. "We who are Jews by birth and not `Gentile sinners' 16. know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
17. "If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18. If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.
20. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

Paul made it very clear that trying to live by the law is "not living in line with the truth of the Gospel!"

As believers, we need to stop being "law minded", and be more conscious of the Holy Spirit inside us; Who always leads us in line with God's Word!

If we try to live up to the law, we will live our lives in constant condemnation, since-- according to the Word-- we can never live up to it no matter how hard we try! If we simply follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit, and accept our imperfection, we will live much happier and more productive lives for God!

Christianity is not about being perfect; it's about being saved from the consequences of our imperfection! That's what makes us love God so much, and recognize the value and beauty of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us!

God has cancelled the law, which has always been the source of condemnation:

Colossians 2:13,14 (NIV)
13. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14. having canceled the written code (the law), with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

In these New Testament times, our righteousness does not come from "being good people", but by having our new born again nature... the nature of God; which God gave us as a free gift! Every human being on earth is in the same shoes when it comes to acting righteous.... NOT ONE of us can do it! We are ALL completely dependent on the grace of God that has justified us and given us righteousness that none of us deserve!

Romans 3:22-24 (NIV)
22. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24. and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

PRAYER
Thank You Father for Your Word, that tells me so much about You. Help me to listen and hear the voice of Your Holy Spirit inside me, and to obey what You say to do without fear that I'm not good enough to serve you.
In Jesus' Name, Amen

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