Hypocrisy, Duplicity or Integrity

We are presently living through difficult times. In the world we live in today there are wars going on and terrorism creeping up everywhere. In state and federal governments we are dealing with a failing economy and political division. In our communities there’s joblessness and rising crime rates. In the church we are encountering a lack of commitment to the Christian life and a watered down faith. In our homes the divorce rate has sky-rocketed both outside and inside the church and our children are in rebellion.

With all that’s going on in the world around us God has given us an unprecedented opportunity to reach lost and hurting souls with the gospel.

When people are hurting and it seems like things are falling apart in their world, they begin to look for answers to their life’s problems in places they might not normally look. That’s where we come in; we have a message of hope and salvation. We have a message of grace and forgiveness, but, we can’t deliver our message with power and effectiveness without personal and corporate integrity.

If you were asked to describe in one word the present condition of the “church” as you see it, what word would you use?

Revival?  I don’t think so, but I wish it were true. The wind of the Holy Spirit seems very still today. Many church leaders are afraid to release the freedom of God’s Spirit to move in the corporate fellowship; in turn the individual believer is reluctant to seek the filling experience.

Renewal?  Maybe in some individual ministries; but for the most part it’s “business as usual” or even “just going through the motions.” A form of godliness, but there’s no power!

Reassessment?  Yes, a lot of studies are being done, and we hope they well be useful. Recently a new survey of “Americans’ knowledge of religion” found that atheists, agnostics, Jews and Mormons outperformed Protestants in answering correctly, questions about the most basic tenets of their own faith. I fear the church has become a place of feel-good socializing instead of the vehicle God wants to use to raise up strong uncompromising citizens of His kingdom.

Ruin?  No, not as long as God is on the throne and there are people willing to listen and obey. God will always have a remnant, and the church will stand, albeit on shaky ground sometimes, until Jesus return to gather up His bride.

Reproach?  I have a feeling that many feel that this is where the “church” is at today. Let me define this most powerful and descriptive word.

“A cause or occasion of blame, discredit or disgrace; the quality or state so incurred or brought upon oneself; one subjected to scorn.”

One of the church fathers once said “the church was something like Noah’s Ark: if it weren’t for the judgment on the outside, you could never stand the smell on the inside.”

Reproach is the one word that seems to describe other areas of society as well, on the sports fields and in the halls of education, at the Pentagon and on Wall Street, On Capitol Hill and in the White House. We have experienced scandal and disgrace in every area of the public arena. We have had and are having disgraces in our churches and ministries on the local and national level. And you better believe the secular media’s going to jump to publicize those failures long and hard. Time magazine in one of its cover stories asked the question “Whatever Happened to Ethics?” Moral standards are dwindling away, even in many Christian homes.

The crisis the church is facing today cuts to the very heart of its authority and its ministry. A commitment to personal integrity among Christians will have a great impact for the cause of Christ in our world.

Let’s look to God’s Word at just one of many examples of integrity in a time of great temptation and see what we can learn from our brother Joseph.

In Genesis 39, Joseph was an individual whose life story stands in stark contrast to the compromise I have just described. Joseph had a motive for compromising his integrity and an opportunity to do so. And yet, under the heat of temptation, he stood firm and true as a man of unquestionable integrity, a man of God.

Now if anyone had a reason to fall into compromise, into sin, Joseph did:

Motive: Joseph experienced indescribable rejection as his eleven brothers sold him into slavery. Can you even begin to imagine the indignity he must have felt as his brothers watched the slave traders shackle him and drag him off into bondage?

Opportunity: When Joseph arrived in Egypt he was sold into the service of Potiphar, one of Pharaohs officials. While in Potiphar’s home Joseph prospered because of the Lord, and was given much responsibility and freedom. Potiphar’s wife set her eyes upon the young and handsome Joseph. While away on business, Potiphar left Joseph in charge of the household, the perfect setup for Mrs. Potaphar to raise the heat and for Joseph to compromise his integrity without being caught in the act.

The key to understanding the pressure Joseph experienced comes in the form of a short, three word phrase: Gen. 39:10, says “day after day.” Joseph did not experience a one-time seduction. Mrs. Potaphar pursued him day after day in a relentless attempt to erode his convictions. Joseph did not budge. Finally in a last ditch try to conquer her prey, Mrs. Potiphar grabbed Joseph by his coat and tried to forcibly rape him. “Come to bed with me! she demanded (v.12). “But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.”

Before running away from Mrs. Potiphar, Joseph made three significant statements that support the cause of uncompromising integrity. These declarations serve as a blueprint for you and me to help keep our integrity intact.

First: Joseph stated,

“My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife.” (v.9)

In other words, Joseph was saying, “If I go to bed with you, I violate my master, who is counting on me.” Do you realize when you compromise your integrity you violate those who know you? How many people would you take down with you? How many people would call Christianity into question as a result of your actions? You are an ambassador, a representative of Christ!

Second: is also revealing, “How then could I do such a wicked thing?” (v.9)

Joseph in effect says “If I go to bed with you, I violate myself.” No pain can compare to the agony of looking into the mirror and seeing the reflection of a hypocrite. The consequences of sin have a way of catching up with us. God desires that we have a clear conscience before Him at all times.
Third: Joseph finished with four important words; “and sin against God?”

In essence he was saying, “If I go to bed with you, Mrs. Potiphar, I violate God.” Unthinkable, unconscionable, how dare we, through a selfish choice, violate the one who died for us! When we violate our integrity by whatever means, we injure our relationship with God and handicap our ability to respond to his voice and enjoy His presence.

Conclusion;

Integrity involves the whole of the inner person; the heart, the mind, and the will. The person with integrity has a single heart. He doesn’t try to love God and the world at the same time. The person with integrity also has a singleness of mind, a single outlook that keeps life going in the right direction. Jesus said that the person with integrity has a single desire - he seeks to serve but one master.

George Barna in his book “The Frog In The Kettle” wrote;

To the average nonbeliever, Christians act no different than anyone else. Our faith appears to be simply a theoretical construct (a built up theory) (is your faith a theory to you?), an emotional decision that does not have the power to transform who we are and how we behave. We must now forcefully demonstrate, through our actions, that what we believe dictates what we do… Christians should be discernable as people of love and integrity.

The church is God’s main instrument in this world for putting things together, and in order to do the job right, the church itself must have wholeness. If there is one place where the shattered people of our fractured society ought to find integrity, it is in the local church. After all, we Christians are reconciled to God and united to one another, so people have every right to expect to see integrity in the church and her people.

What is integrity? Oxford English dictionary says that the word comes from the Latin “integrites”, which means wholeness, entireness, completeness. The root word is integer, which means untouched, intact, or entire.

The person with integrity is not pretending (that’s hypocrisy). We can no longer just go through the motions – people have seen through the lie and are rejecting Christ as Savior because of it.

The person with integrity is not divided (that’s duplicity). We can no longer live as one from this world and claim to be a citizen of heaven as God Word claims for those who belong to Him.

The person with integrity is whole, life is put together, and things are working together harmoniously. People with integrity have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. We must all seek, with all our hearts, to live a whole and complete life in Jesus. One without compromise, in doing this we will *effect our world in a positive way, that is our calling.

*not , affect: which means to stir the emotions of,

*but, effect: which is the power to cause results,

We cannot express the power of God without experiencing the power of God.

And what results are we looking for?

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16



God Bless and Press On

Larry

"Their Faith"

 A few months back I had the privilege of teaching this message at Desert Reign Church on a Sunday morning and I thought I'd share it here.  It's a call to be know as more than a Christian to those around you.  It's a call to be a friend, one that cares for the hurting, one who sees others through the eyes of Jesus. 

Be the "Jesus" the world has never seen or experienced.
 
Mark 2:1-5, 11, 12
"1. ...He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.  2. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.  And He preached the word to them.  3. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.  4. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.  So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.  5. When Jesus saw their faith, He said the the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven you.'

...11." 'I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.'  12. Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God..."

This story from the gospel of Mark is the third telling of the same miracle performed by Jesus.  You can also find it in Matthew 9:1-8, and in Luke 5:17-26.  The same event from three different perspectives, yet one thing is consistent, one thing each gospel writer agreed upon, that was what Jesus Himself attributed this miracle to, and that was 'their faith'. 

We are not specifically told about the paralyzed mans faith.  No, not whether he had no faith, little faith, lost faith, or great faith, the emphasis is on the faith of his friends.  And, I call them friends because it would take great friends with much love and compassion to go through all this trouble for him who could not do it for himself. 

As Christians our deepest desire is to put people in touch with the Master, at least it should be.  God desires to use us, you and me, as His agents of love and hope.  Then we experience again, the joy of our Christian faith, that we can be to others what Jesus has been to us.  To be in Christ means to be in ministry.

So let's paint the entire picture here.  Jesus arrives by boat in Capernaum several days after His sermon on the mount message.  By this time His healing ministry has been made known throughout the land and crowds of people were following him from every village of Galilee, Judea, and from Jerusalem.

He had returned to His home base of ministry and it didn't take long for the people to hear that He was in the house, and gathered to hear Him speak.  So many people gathered in fact, that there was no more room inside the house.  People were standing outside the door and windows listening as Jesus spoke to them The Word.

Now somewhere else in town were four men deciding how they were going to get their paralyzed friend to see the healer.  They each grabbed a corner of his bed and set out to gain an audience with Jesus, believing in their hearts that He would be able to heal their friend - 'their faith' - grew feet.

They walked him through the streets of the town following the crowd and looking for the house that surely would be surrounded with people looking for a healing of some kind.  They found the house but then realized, because the throng of people was so great they would never be able to get their buddy into the house where Jesus was.

They had a few choices, they could turn around and go home, and try again tomorrow or another day, or they could wait outside at the edge of the crowd and hope that Jesus would eventually come out and pass by their way, or they could force their way through the people and make a way in to see Jesus.

I believe it was their great love for this friend coupled with their great faith in Jesus healing power that compelled them to go forward.  I picture in my mind these four determined men, pushing their way through until they reached the door to the house, and then seeing the house completely full they had the idea of going up on the roof, so they did just that.  The scripture tell us "they uncovered the roof where He was,... they had broken through, ...they let down the bed".  Visualize with me, these four men, as they're breaking through the dried mud and thatch roof pulling up the wood stave's that made up the roof to this house.

Did you ever wonder what was going on inside the house at this very moment?  The owner of the house was probably saying "what in the world is going on up there? You know you're going to pay for that roof!!" The gospel said they were above where Jesus was standing.  So again picture with me Jesus standing there as this dust begins to fall on and around Him.  Then the dust turns into dirt, and grass, and leaves, and finally sunlight.  as Jesus looks up He sees these four smiling faces looking down into the room elated that they had found a way in, no made a way in, to see the Master.

Now back on the roof, as they break through and look down into the room, they make sure they're in the right spot and proceed to enlarge the hole so that it's large enough to fit their friend and his bed.  Next problem, how do we get him down there?  "We can't just drop him in there!  I got an idea, lets use our belts, tie one to each corner of the bed and lower him into the room, right smack in front of Jesus, yes, that will work."   So that's what they did, they lowered their paralyzed friend to Jesus feet, and Jesus was moved with compassion.  All three accounts of this incident in the gospels tell us "when Jesus saw their faith"  He healed the man.

This story is an account of a paralyzed man fortunate enough to have four loving, compassionate friends who were also men of great faith.  They acted upon their faith and carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus.  "When Jesus saw their faith" - the faith of the four friends - He acted on "their faith" and healed their crippled friend on the spot.

I believe every miracle in the Bible is there to teach us a concept of the Christian faith.  If we understand the concept behind the teaching of the miracle, then the miracle or concept can take place in our lives too.

The paralytic truly needed his determined friends to carry him and his problem to the feet of Jesus.  The healing took place because of the faith, encouragement and support of the man's four devoted friends.

This particular story deals with physical illness, yet people can be in a state of paralysis for a number of reasons: physical illness, social dysfunction, financial burdens, spiritual turmoil or even emotional illness, and fear.  We need to be prepared for that time when God may call us to lift someones bed, and carry them to Jesus. 

No one wants to suffer alone!  To hurt is bad enough, but to hurt alone destroys people, physically, mentally and spiritually.

Remember also, each one of us at any moment in life can suddenly be put on our backs and feel paralyzed, unable to effectively deal with our problems alone.  In such moments, we will need to have friends, people sharing their gift of encouragement and support with us.  But first, you must be that kind of friend.

So be encouraged church, we have been called to be that friend who carries another to Jesus.  We have been called to be that "stream in the desert", that "flow of refreshing in the wilderness."

And it will be your faith that makes it happen.
We will reach the lost, forgotten, and fatherless.
We will call forth the healing of addictions, afflictions and disease.

And none of it will happen by our own power, no, it will be by our faith and the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Closing:
Mark 2:12b says "...all were amazed and glorified God, saying, 'We never saw anything like this!"

Let God use you in the life of hurting people.  Let Him take you out of your comfort zone and be a friend to those who need a friend.  And let the world be amazed and give God glory for that which He can do through a humble and loving servant. YOU!

God Bless and Press On!
Larry

JUDGMENT

As I prepared to teach the book of Romans at Church, I thought it critical for those attending my Bible study, to better understand some of the Doctrinal concepts mentioned by the apostle Paul throughout this letter. So I've written a few brief descriptions and explanations of these Biblical teachings to help us to grasp more fully the content of Paul's message. I also thought that maybe others might benefit from them, so as I put them to paper I have included them in my blog, next is this important doctrine:

JUDGMENT

Definitions: Webster’s New American Dictionary;

Judge: 1. To form an authoritative opinion, 2. To decide as a judge, 3. To form an estimate or evaluation about something, 4. A public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court, 5. Umpire, 6. One who gives an authoritative opinion.

Judgment: 1. A decision or opinion given after judging; a formal decision given by a court, 2. The final judgment of mankind by God, 3. The process of forming an opinion by discerning and comparing, 4. The capacity for judging.

Judgment Day: The day of final judging of all human beings by God.

The judgment of God is a reality. God’s judgment of sin shows his righteousness and brings Him glory. His holy character requires that He judge sin. (Rom. 3:5,6).

Unbelievers will be judged for there sin, and believers, who have been freely forgiven of sin because of Christ’s work on the cross (Rom. 3:21-26) will be given degrees of reward in heaven according to their actions in this life. (Matt. 7:21; 16:27; 25:31-46; John 5:28,29; Rom. 2:6; 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:9,10; 11:15; Gal. 6:7-9; 1 Pet. 1:17; Rev. 2:23; 22:12)

Sinners who are not yet experiencing God’s judgment should not presume that God’s mercy would last even another hour. Judgment is withheld only to give them time to repent (Rom. 2:4).

Definitions: VINE’S Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words

A. Judge, din (deen) (to rule, legislate, govern) Deut. 32:36
B. Judge, shapath or sapat (shah-fhat) (to decide a matter or verdict) Judges2:18
C. Judge, krino (kree-no) (to make an opinion, pass decision) John 18:31
D. Judgment, krisis (kree-sis) (a separating) Matt. 5:22
E. Judgment, krima (kree-mah) (to judge or condemn) Rev. 20:4
F. Judgment, dikaioma (dik-i-oma) (an ordinance, righteous act) Rev. 15:4
G. Judgment, hupodikos (hupo-deek-os) (brought to trial, answer to) Rom. 3:19
H. Judgments, mishpat (meesh-paht) (judgment, rights) Num. 36:13
I. Judgment Seat, bema (bee-mah) (the divine tribunal) Matt. 27:19

A. Judge, din: to plead the cause of someone; contend with someone, contend for something. The noun derived from this word is translated as ‘plea’, ‘judgment’, or ‘cause’. From din comes the word medinah, meaning ‘state’, ‘province’ or ‘government’; it is literally ‘place of judgment or justice.’

B. Judge, shapat: one, who judges, governs, passes down judgment, pronounces sentence, and decides matters. In English both “to judge” and “judgment” have negative associations, but not so in Hebrew. Judgment is the balance, ethics, and wisdom, which if present in the rulers mind, enables him to govern fairly. Judgment when used of God is that divine faculty whereby He runs the universe righteously. Handing down decisions that will maintain or bring about a right state of affairs.

C. Judge, krino: to separate, decide, examine, question, select, choose, resolve, make an opinion, determine, decide favorably or unfavorably, pronounce judgment.
Used in Romans; Rom. 2:27 “to condemn”
Rom. 14:5 “to form an opinion”

D. Judgment, krisis: Carries the idea of a separating, the process of distinguishing and selecting, making a decision. The New Testament uses the word primarily in a forensic sense, especially of the divine judgment. Used in Romans; Rom. 2:5 dikaiokrisia “righteous judgment” combines the adjective dikaios, “righteous”, with krisis “judgment”.

E. Judgment, Krima: A legal term describing the judicial process of deciding guilt or innocence. The word is used chiefly for the verdict itself, reached after an investigation. The Lord forbids fault-finding decisions in Matthew 7:2 while in 1 Cor. 6:7 Paul discourages lawsuits against fellow Christians. Krima is used frequently of the judgment of God against the wrong doings of man. Used in Romans; Rom. 2:2,3; 3:8; 5:16; 11:33; 13:2.

F. Judgment, dikaioma: “an ordinance, a righteous act” is translated judgment. Used in Romans; Rom. 1:32

G. Judgment, under the, hupodikos: “brought to trial, answerable to “(hupo “under”, dike “justice”). Used in Romans; Rom. 3:19 (guilty)

H. Judgment, mishpat: A decision, determination, judgment, a personal cause or right; justice, rectification, correction, punishment. Judgment is that faculty found always in God and sometimes in man, which produces decisions based on justice, righteousness, truth, fairness, and equity. God Himself is called “a God of judgment” (Isa. 30:18).

I. Judgment Seat, bema: from baino, “to go” the word describes a step or a stride (Acts 7:5). Then it was used for a raised platform reached by steps, especially from which orations were made. Later it denoted the tribunal of a ruler where litigates stood trial. In the New Testament it mostly refers to earthly magistrates (Acts 18:12, 16, 17), but twice is used of the divine tribunal before which all believers will stand (2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:10). At this bema believers are to be made manifest, that each may “receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad”. There they will receive rewards for their faithfulness to the Lord. For all that has been contrary in their lives to His will suffer loss (1 Cor. 3:15).

Judgment day will sift out the “gold, silver, costly stones”, and separate it from the “wood, hay or straw” (1 Cor. 3:12-15). It is important not to surrender the great truth that God saves by grace, but it is important also to bear in mind that final judgment is a reality. We are all accountable, the Christian at “The Bema Seat of Christ” and the non-believer at “The Great White Throne Judgment”.

The Great White Throne Judgment of Rev. 20:11-15; closes the millennial period and opens the “Age to Come”. It is the greatest of all judgments because it encompasses all the wicked from the beginning of man’s history. Jesus Christ is the one sitting on the great white throne, fulfilling John 5:22. Those who are judged are lost because they refused God’s salvation in Christ by grace through faith. Their doom is the second death.

Paul shows us that judgment has consequences for everybody, Jew and Gentile alike. If we are saved by grace through faith how does a judgment by our works relate to salvation by grace? A number of suggestions have been offered:

1. Direct Contradiction; Paul is engaged in a sustained argument that all are sinners and need God’s help (Rom. 1:18-3:20). It is not easy to think that he would lose sight of a central tenet in the middle of his argument.

2. Purely Hypothetical: Others think that Paul is not speaking of the way things are, but setting out in forthright terms the way things would be apart from grace. But Paul says that God “will render”, not “would render”. His words point to a fact, not a hypothesis.

3. Law, not Gospel; Paul is speaking of a real judgment, and one that applies to everybody.

4. The Entrance and The Life: God demands from the sinner, as the recipient of grace, the fruits of grace. Faith is not the dismal prerogative of being able to sin with impunity. A variant of this position sees the reference to “goodness of life”, not however as meriting God’s favor but as the “expression of faith”.

5. Justification is with Power: When God justifies anyone, it is a work of power (Rom. 1:16); the saved person is a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). When he is judged he is judged for what he is, that is, by his works. Judgment shatters all illusions.

Conclusion:
People are saved by faith alone, but in the life that follows, “works”, as the spontaneous expression of the life of faith (the fruit of the spirit), are no less an integral part of the life which will one day be judged by God. Christians are not to judge each other with reference to the practice of morally neutral issues, since each individual is responsible to God. As Lord, the right of such judgment belongs to Christ. Weak and strong Christians alike shall all stand, not at each other’s judgment seats, but before the judgment seat of Christ. That judgment will be based on what we have done in this life. It will not determine whether or not we enter heaven, but will determine degrees of rewards in heaven.


God Bless and Press On
Larry 

The Law In Romans

As I prepared to teach the book of Romans at Church, I thought it critical for those attending my Bible study, to better understand some of the Doctrinal concepts mentioned by the apostle Paul throughout this letter. So I've written a few brief descriptions and explanations of these Biblical teachings to help us to grasp more fully the content of Paul's message. I also thought that maybe others might benefit from them, so as I put them to paper I have included them in my blog, next is this important doctrine:  

THE LAW IN ROMANS


“The Law” in Romans typically meant the “Law of Moses”, or the “Law of the Old Testament”, but this does not necessarily prevent Paul from using the term in different ways.


It is used in the general sense:

Romans 2:12; both as “law” and “the law” expressing a general principle relating to law, also in the later part of Romans 2:14.

Romans 3:27; “By what law?” or by what sort of principle?

Romans 4:15; “where there is no law”

Romans 5:13; “For until the law sin was in the world,..” referring to the period between Adam’s sin and the giving of the law.

Romans 7:1; “..those who know the law,”



It is used of a force or influence impelling to action:

Romans 7:21; “So I find it to be a law, that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.”

Romans 7:23; “but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin...”



It is used of the Mosaic law, the law of Sanai:

1. With the definite article in; Romans 2:15, 18, 20, 26, 27 ; 3:19 ; 4:15 ; 7:4, 7, 14, 16, 22 and 8:3, 4 & 7.

2. Without the article, stressing its quality as “law” in; Romans 2:14 ; 5:20 and 7:9 where the stress in the quality lies in this, that which he thought would be a means of life, he found to have the effect of revealing his actual state of death.



“the law of faith”:

Romans 3:27; The principle that demands only faith on mans part to activate justification.


“the law of my mind”:

Romans 7:23; The principle that governs the new nature in view of the new birth.


“the law of sin”:

Romans 7:23; The principle by which sin exerts its influence and power despite the desire to do what is right; “the law of sin and death” death being the effect.


“the law of the Spirit of life”:

Romans 8:2; The principle by which the Holy Spirit acts as the imparter of life.


“the law of righteousness”:

The general principle presenting righteousness as the object and outcome of keeping the law of Moses.


Paul goes on to emphasis that the law does not bring salvation. He repeatedly links sinning to the law. The law came in so that transgressions might abound (Rom. 5:20), and where there is no law there is no transgression (Rom. 4:15; 5:13). The righteousness of God is “apart from the law” (Rom. 3:21, 28), this has always been God’s way: the promise that came to Abraham was “not through law”. The law works wrath, that is, it brings the wrath of God on sinners.


It was not the function of the law to justify, but rather to give knowledge of sin, to make sin obvious, to make more evident the need for redemption. Apart from the law sin was dormant, but the law aroused a desire to do that which it forbad. Sin is responsible for death, not the law. God’s law, reflecting His righteous moral principles, is holy. It simply does not have the power to make us righteous. While the law can enlighten ones conscience, it is powerless to produce holiness in a life because it depends on sinful human nature to carry it out.


The gentiles did not have the law as the Jews did, but by nature they do some of the things that are stipulated in the law. God has given all people a moral instinct. People will be judged according to the revelation they have. The standard for the pagans will be the unwritten law of conscience and nature. To be “under the law” is to be under a system of trying to earn salvation in our own strength by obeying the law. But to be “under grace” is to be justified and to live by the indwelling resurrection power of Christ.


Some interpret Christ to be the end of the law (Rom. 10:4) in the sense that He is the goal of fulfillment of the law. However, “law” here refers to the system of earning righteousness in our own strength. Christ truly is the perfect fulfillment of everything the law requires, but He also put an end to the law as a way of achieving righteousness for everyone who believes. Thus, Paul emphasizes the sufficiency of faith in receiving the righteousness of God because in fulfilling the laws demands, Christ terminated its claim. This verse does not mean that a Christian may ignore God’s moral standards or commandments. It is only when we experience the love of Christ that we come to see the place of the law and find that “love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:10).


Freedom from the law does not mean license to sin, but servitude to God. In the newness of the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to obey God, a power the law by itself could never give. The law is good, but it cannot empower us to obey.


Conclusion:

*To have this law is one of the high privileges of Israel. The law is meant for life. It is holy, spiritual and good. It is a source of instruction and of truth. People will be judged by it, so it is important to obey. However, Paul says no one will be justified by the works done in accordance with the law of Moses, but he is probably saying something more, namely that no one is justified by any works of the law, the law of Moses or any other. God’s way has always been the way of grace, and we misunderstand the law if we see it as the way of earning salvation. It is God’s way of showing our shortcomings so that we will turn to Christ for our salvation.


God Bless and Press On
Larry


*Leon Morris