Theword

?THE GRASS WITHERS, THE FLOWER FADES, BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD STANDS FOREVER.? (ISAIAH 40:8)

Pastor Ernest Martinez

The Community Church of Devore

?Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage (NKJV; Galatians 5:1).?

It is not uncommon to come to a place where you find yourself weak and weary from the trials of life, and thinking that you have not ?done enough? you begin to look to other sources of strength, rather than looking to Christ alone. We look to ?scholars? and departed ?saints? who have a mystical appearance of sound doctrine and wisdom, but in the end they are ?clouds without rain.? They are ?full of sound and fury but signifying nothing.? If they do not bring you to a deeper understanding of God?s grace and His everlasting love in Christ Jesus, then what do they bring? Doubts, work and bondage!

I ask you to look at these words of mine as insufficient to be classified as ?wise? or ?new? but only as a looking glass to cause you to look more intimately at the Savior and the grace he has given us. It was A. W. Tozer who said in his book ?The Divine Conquest? about originality: ?As for originality, has not someone remarked that no one since Adam as been wholly original? ?Every man,? said Emerson, ?is a quotation from his ancestors.? All that I can hope is that this book may be a right emphasis coming at the right time. If the reader should discover here anything really new, he is conscience bound to reject it, for whatever in religion is new by the same token false.?

That is all I can hope this teaching will be, ?a right emphasis coming at the right time,? nothing more.

In reading Galatians chapter five I am struck at the words Paul uses to indicate that we must ?stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free.? The New American Standard Bible puts it this way: ?It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.? Christ set us free ?for freedom.? There are times when you think you have not done enough to win God?s favor, or you misunderstand the gospel completely that you begin to look for other sources of understanding. You look to the Old Testament to bring you to a newer level of understanding, and that leads you back to the ?law.? Now there is nothing wrong with studying the Old Testament and learning the wisdom of the Old Testament, but let us not forget that the essential factor in celebrating the ?feasts? and ?festivals? of the Old Testament requires us to bring our sacrifices to the Temple and travel to Jerusalem for the appointed feasts. The New Testament teaches us that we have a ?new? Temple and new ?feasts.?

The Hebrew writer indicates this in chapter 13 verses 9 ? 10:

? ?Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.?

Paul makes this argument in 1 Corinthians 3:16:

? ?Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you??

Paul speaks often about the temple and the law. The rituals and feasts of the Old Testament are an integral part of the law, and yet we know that even the feasts and rituals of the Old Testament are part of the ?tutor?s? lessons. Jesus said He had not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. But when the Law is fulfilled it is no longer in effect. These are not my words, but the words of Scripture. Paul said that the law was a tutor and we know that once the tutor has done its work there is no longer a need for him any longer. Read the words of Scripture:

? ?But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Emphasis mine Galatians 3:22 ? 26).?

What an awesome thought, that after Jesus came, no longer would we have to go to the temple or be involved with the ?feasts? or ?rituals? of the Old Testament, but could come ??boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).?

We do not hope in the wisdom of ?scholars? or a ?new? teaching that promises to bring about ?revival? or ?reform? in the Church, but in the grace of Jesus Christ. As Peter said: ?Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ?(1 Peter 1:13).?The great reformers of the past did not usher in the ?new? but they taught reliance of the everlasting truth of grace.

Paul continues his argument from verse one of Galatians chapter 5 and his words need no explanation, just careful and honest reading:

? ?Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Galatians.5:2 ? 14)''

The law is fulfilled in loving our neighbor not by celebrating the ?feasts? and ?rituals? of the Old Testament. We have been called to liberty, and though it has to be tempered with wisdom of the Spirit, it is still liberty nonetheless. Stand firm in your liberty and refuse to be brought back under bondage, no matter how well the teacher may present his words or how craftily he may use the Scriptures. Rest your hope in grace!

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Published on: 2005-07-22 (2309 reads)