Nailed To The Cross, Part IX

In this world their are many theological views of Christianity and even more denominations (even cults). So many voices but which one is true? "What is truth?" Pilate asked Jesus. We are all looking for this truth but the truth is found in Jesus. The bible says that the truth sets us free, sets us free indeed. So, this is how we know when we have heard the truth.

Freedom is the identifier of truth. If you don't feel free after you read this, you didn't hear the truth. Jesus set us free from the law of Moses (even the highly coveted ten commandments). He fulfilled the requirements of the law in our place just as He paid the penalty for sin in our place. Nailed it to His cross putting an end to the law and sin 2,000 years ago.

Satan does not want you to know about this freedom. He is a defeated foe. However, if he can convince you otherwise, he has you right where he wants you; under his control. Guilt, fear, feelings of unworthiness, and judgment are how he traps Christians. We give him power despite the fact that he has none. Once you know you are free from the law, he no longer has power over you. His weapon is temptation to break the law so that he can gloat over you but where there is no law there can be no transgression as Paul proclaims. We are not under the law but under grace. Proclaim it boldly to the devil and he will flee from you. I assure you that you are free from the law and no longer held under it's bondage. Satan does not want you to know this because it strips him of his power.

Galatians 3:10-14

10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." 11Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." 12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Nailed To The Cross, Part XVIII

While I was writing a post on reliance, I came across a passage of scripture in John 1 stating that John The Baptist also declared this freedom from the law that I proclaim in these posts. The law that was nailed to the cross of Jesus. It is a fundamental part of the gospel that I feel has been overlooked and not taught thoroughly to Christians. Jesus put an end to the law and an end to sin once and for all 2,000 years ago.

The law came by way of Moses but grace and truth comes by way of Jesus. The law from Moses was fulfilled (or requirements met) by Jesus. Moses was the beginning of the law and Jesus it's end. All believers are credited righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ and the freedom from the law He provides. He met the requirements of the law for us so that we might become the righteousness of God. How else could Jesus have made us at peace with God if He first did not fulfill the requirements of the law? Dying for our sin would have had to take place every generation if Jesus did not fulfill the law.

God was satisfied with Jesus righteous life and satisfied with His atonement for the sin of the world. Sin had to be punished but what many forget is that the law also had to be fulfilled. Jesus did this for us all who believe in Him. I don't have to live by the law anymore but I do have to live my life according to the new covenant commandment of love that Jesus gave me.

John 1:15-17

15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Nailed To The Cross, Part XVII

Now that I am free from the law and now under grace, do I live righteously? Yes. However, righteousness is not what it used to be under the old covenant. I am to be righteous but righteousness is attained through different means. If you lived by the law under the old covenant and refrained from breaking those laws, you were considered righteous.

Now you attain righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ instead of obeying the letter of the law. To grow in this faith is to grow in trust and believe more and more. Believe not only that Jesus was the Son of God but to believe in His righteousness that comes by way of faith and to believe in His promises to us and everything else concerning Him. God testifies in His word concerning His Son. Not just a snippet of that testimony but all testimony concerning Him. His power, authority, redemption, way of life, birth, resurrection, and promises are all to be trusted and believed.

Righteousness is to believe in the promise that God gave us about His Son, knowing that salvation and righteousness comes by way of faith and we are promised eternal life through Him.

Romans 4:4-5

4Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Nailed To The Cross, Part XVI

We are no longer under the law but under grace. It is easy sometimes as a Christian to forget that fact but if we forget this we become a slave to sin all over again. It must be at the forefront of our minds that we are free from the law through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. The old covenant means nothing to me for it was not written for me. The new covenant is about faith in Jesus Christ and following His one commandment... love one another. It is by faith in Him and everything associated with Him (such as salvation, righteousness, freedom, resurrection, grace, etc) that we are saved.

This being the case, we should remind ourselves constantly of Jesus and anything associated with Him. Most importantly His freedom and His mercy that He provides. I am not concerned with legalistic banter or ravings but only in Jesus Christ and His free gift of grace. For the law was nailed to His cross putting an end to the law. Just as Paul proclaims that Jesus Christ is the end of the law for all who believe.

1 Corinthians 9:19-20

19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.

So, in parenthesis, Paul tells us that he is no longer under the supervision or power of the law.

1 Corinthians 9:21-23

21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Paul continues and says though he is not free from God's law, he is under Christ's law. This is the commandment of love which is the law of Christ. Again in 2 Corinthians we find another mention of this freedom in Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Nailed To The Cross, Part XV

We continue in this post talking about the fulfillment of the law through Christ. Jesus fulfilled the law for us (or in our place) so that we now do not have to meet the requirements of the law in order to be saved or deemed righteous. Instead we are saved by promise. God promised us eternal life to all who believe in such freedom through Jesus Christ and God's testimony of His Son.

The Galatian church were infiltered by men (of the circumcision or Jews) which tried to get them to adhere to the laws of Moses and most importantly circumcision. Paul urges the Galatians to be mindful of the fact that they are saved by grace which is spiritual but these men would rather them perform "physical" acts of the law in order to be saved. In the early church, this was commonplace. Many claiming to be Christian would take advantage of new converts and try to get them to lean more towards the law of Moses and fulfill rites associated with the old Jewish code.

Paul encourages the Galatians to remember that they are saved by grace and not their actions in conforming to the law. He encourages them to live by the "spirit" of the law (which is love) and not the written code of the law itself.

Galatians 5:1-15

1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

2Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

7You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9"A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. 11Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.