Because this is also an audio post with the second message on Galatians 5, I will be breif here. In these verses Paul is trying passionatly to explain to believers that keeping a set of rules can never justify a person before God. I can understand why this appeal was necessary at that time; the jews had lived for centuries under the law in hopes of it providing the means of their salvation. To just let go of it instantly would be difficult and go against thousands of years of teaching, practice, and belief.

Now, fast forward to today. Here we are, approximately 2,000 years after the death of Christ and many Christians are still relying on the law for salvation; only it’s a new law, the law of goodness. But, is being good going to get you into heaven? The Bible speaks volumes on this and the answer is a resounding NO! (see Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23).

So…since we are never going to live up to the standard for entrance into heaven (perfection), God provided another way, salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

We all have a choice, will we try to live out the law, which is impossible, or accept the grace of God in Christ. Listen to the audio post, pray through these things, ask God if you have been legalistic and repent if necessary. I have been repenting of such things regularly, I hope you will too.

Right click here and click on “save link as” if you would like to download the mp3.
[audio:http://www.askingy.com/audio/Galatians5-2-6.mp3]

Technorati Tags: Salvation, Jesus, Grace, God, Grace+of+God, Law, Law+Grace, Jesus+Christ, Christ, Legalistic

1. return Says:
   July 14th, 2006 at 8:48 am

   On Legalism..

   The law does stand…

   Psalm 119:160
   All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.

   Psalm 111:7-10:

   7The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
   8They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
   9He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
   10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

   Deuteronomy 12:32:

   32What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

   Deuteronomy 131-8:

   1If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
   4Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
   5And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

   Paul taught contrary.

   Paul wasn’t ordained an apostle (Mat 10)

   Paul didn’t qualify to be an apostle (acts 1:16-26)

   Paul taught lies…

   I cor 15:5 says christ appeared (after resurection) to the 12…but remember, Judas was dead.

   the book of Matthew, mark and luke and acts talk of 11.

   Paul’s conversion story is false..there are 2 different versions of what Christ tells him…compare acts 22 and acts 26.

2. Marc Lewis Says:
   July 14th, 2006 at 11:17 am

   I do not have the time this morning to reply to all of the comments from our friend “return”, although my heart races with joy as I think about the grace of Christ, the authority, consistency, and noncontradiction of God’s Word, the Law as a tutor, Paul’s meeting with Jesus and JESUS calling him to be a chosen vessel unto Him, to bear His name among the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel (Acts 9:15) this qualifies as qualification, 12 apostles – one dead Judas = 11 apostles + Matthias = 12 apostles. Paul is called after this.

   I will comment mainly on returns first comment.

   “The law does stand…”

   return quotes;
   Psalm 119:160
   All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.

   This is the beauty of the accomplishment of Christ. The laws of God are indeed eternal and true and stand as tall and true now as they did in the Old Testiment. Our problem is that we can not stand up to the Law, we can not obey it perfectly or even good, the law will always speak to us of God’s holiness, our sinfulness, and that God’s just wrath will be poured out on us because we are most certainly lawbreakers.

   But wait…

   In steps Christ(even from Genesis, before the 10 commandments, but that’s another blog for another day)with all of His glory being the exact representation of God. Jesus not only understands the demands of the law but he perfectly obeys them, making history–this should be in the Guinness world book of records under strongest obedience ever. Jesus was not only by nature perfect, unlike us, he perfectly obeyed, unlike us.

   Jesus received from God the wrath that was due to us(Grace) because the LAW does stand but we can not stand under the law and it’s consequences, we will surely die a death of deserved wrath. Jesus is most assuredly our savior, substitute, redeemer, and RIGHTEOUSNESS. We are counted righteous not because of our following of the law but because of His. This is justification when God counts us right because of Jesus.

   The Law is eternal, Christ’s Grace over lawbreakers whom He purchased at the cross who trust in Him is eternal. Thankyou return (honestly) for making me think of our tutor- the law and the greatness of the Life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and what He has accomplished for me.

   G.R.A.C.E.

   God’s
   Riches
   At
   Christ’s
   Expense

   I think Adam is addressing the life of obedience for the believer so I will not add to that at this time. We have been freed to obey out of love not duty. Gal. 1:1 It is for Freedom Christ has set us free.

3. Adam J. Says:
   July 14th, 2006 at 8:05 pm

   Since I feel like Marc has done a good job of addressing the idea of “the Law standing”, I will address briefly the second idea that Paul was not an apostle and in fact a liar.

   First let me say that I totally disagree with the idea that Paul was a liar and not an apostle. The evidence given is far from compelling.

   But, rather than trying to refute every point made, let me instead take this argument to its logical conclusion.

   (begin hypothetical argument) If Paul is not credible then logically Mark and Luke are not either, since they were likely discipled by Paul and were his contemporaries and friends. In addition, Peter would no longer be credible because he considered the writings of Paul to be scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16). If the leader of the disciples is no longer credible, then the rest are not either, and thus we lose the entire New Testament. If Paul is not credible, then the entirety of scripture is also not credible and we have no true knowledge of Jesus other than other historical writings like that of Josephus. (end hypothetical argument)

   But, we do know that scripture is credible, that it is God breathed and inerrant. Time and time again scripture proves this true through fulfilled prophecy, historical accuracy and archeology. Not only is the Old Testament the Word of God and the law our tutor, but the New Testament is also the Word of God, teaching that Christ alone has fulfilled the law and made the payment required.