Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Many of you can probably remember learning about the civil war, and how the soldiers would march in a straight line into battle. During that era of history, they could only fire one shot at a time in their musket, so marching in a line would concentrate all of their fire in one moment upon the enemy. But when they got shot at, it required serious discipline to maintain their formation without retreating. During the battle at Gettysburg, the 20th regiment held the line at Little round top, keeping the Confederate soldiers from breaking through. Throughout the centuries, many soldiers have stood on top of a wall in order to secure the border of their countries, and when people attempted to climb over, they completely resisted them, standing fast and holding their position without yielding.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
As a soldier of Christ, we are called to hold the line, by remaining firm, fixed and unyielding in the teachings and freedoms of our faith. We must stand fast, refusing to yield and change positions that have been established through the knowledge of Holy Scripture.
Galatians 5:1-4 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
First of all, many people think that they are a good person and that they will obtain eternal life because of their own personal morality, but this is what is known as self-justification. This is when somebody tries to earn their own salvation outside of faith in Christ. Don’t get me wrong, in the New testament we are commanded to bring forth works that are meet for repentance. The Apostle James taught the church that we are justified through works, not by faith alone, but this is only after you have placed your faith in Christ Jesus. Those who attempt to obtain eternal life apart from Him have no forgiveness for their sins, and because of this, they will be eternally damned.
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Many Jews felt that they had kept the law, but the truth is that nobody did.
John 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
Galatians 6:13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
The Apostle Peter denied the Lord Jesus Christ, and deeply regretted it. Even King David sinned, and cried out to God for mercy. The Apostle Paul persecuted Christians, and then later referred to himself as the chief of sinners. But the point I’m trying to make is that every single one of us needs forgiveness from God, Jews and gentiles alike. Unless people come to Christ Jesus and are converted to the teachings of our faith, they will go to judgment day and find no mercy from God. We cannot be justified by the law, because it only produced wrath and punishments, and was meant to convict us of our sins
Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
2 Corinthians 3:7-9 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
Through the New Testament we have forgiveness and justification through faith in Christ, but there will be some people who claim to believe in Jesus that are not going to fully submit to the teachings of scripture. Instead of humbling themselves under God’s Holy Word, they will rebel, because they have no fear of God. Rather than submitting to His purpose, they will misuse the treasure of God’s Grace, and without contrition and repentance, they will be punished by God.
Hebrews 10:28-31 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
The Old testament was not enough to get us to heaven, because everyone needed to be forgiven by God. This is why Jesus came, God’s Passover Lamb who shed His blood for our forgiveness. No one, and I mean NO ONE will be able to enter into eternal life without Christ Jesus.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Although there are many Jews today who are still in bondage under the law, when we convert to Christianity, we are freed from the demands of the Old Testament, a liberty that is given to us through faith in Jesus.
Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Those who are under the law are under the curse of the law, because like I already said, it only produces death and punishments.
Galatians 3:10-14 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
So you see, the law by itself is not enough to get us to heaven because everyone during the course of their life has sinned at one time or the other. We cannot be justified by the law, but only through faith in Jesus Christ
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Some Jews who believed in Jesus, were still in bondage to the law, and wanted Christians to be circumcised, but it makes no sense to return to bondage when you have already been set free.
Acts 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
Remember that we are not free to sin, and those who don’t bother to repent will certainly perish. We are freed from the punishments of the Old Testament, so that we can turn to Christ Jesus and obey Him from our hearts.
Galatians 6:15-16 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
As a Christian, we are freed from the Old Testament and its ordinances, and we must walk in the Liberty that has been granted to us through Christ Jesus. There were a lot of things that needed to be done in the Old Testament, but the yoke of Christ is easy. We must place our trust completely in Him by abiding in teachings of the New Testament, and as a good soldier for Christ Jesus we must continue to keep…….
……..Holding the Line
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
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