2 Samuel 6 - Uzzah's Error

2 Samuel 6

But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upset it. And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he dies there by the ark of God. (verse 6-7)

Message: Uzzah's Error

Time: Second Samuel is set in the land of Israel during the reign of David and follows the course of his forty years as king of Israel (1011–971 BC). It chronicles the establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the expansion of Israel under God’s chosen leader. 

What the Lord is Saying: David's 40 year reign as King began in Judah for 7 years and then it moved to Jerusalem as his capital where a house is built for him. It was in I Samuel 6 that the Ark of the Covenant returned to Israel. It was there that I saw how bad things happened to people that thought they could possess the Ark and clearly the Ark belonged only in certain places. It had been in the city of Baalah Judah (Kiriath Jearim) (I Chronicles 13:5) to retrieve the ark as it had been in possession of the priest Abinidab. I Chronicles 13:7,9-10 says, "They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it...When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark." When this happened, this troubled David and instead of taking the Ark to Jerusalem, it was kept with "the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite" for 3 months and "the Lord blessed his household and everything he had."

2 Samuel 6 summarizes these same events told in I Chronicles 13. Chronicles adds that Uzzah was intending to steady the ark. 2 Samuel 6:6 says the "oxen nearly upset it." Something caused the ark to shake. It was being pulled by oxen. The terrain could have been uneven at times. Whatever the circumstances, it resulted in Uzzah reaching out and grabbing the ark. It seems most anyone would have done what he had done in that situation. And yet for doing it he was struck dead. 

After the events with Uzzah, David starts to question whether the ark should be with him, perhaps concerned that someone might make a similar gesture toward the ark unwittingly trying to help and be struck dead. David will eventually learn that only the Levites are to carry and transport the ark of God (I Chronicles 15:2). Uzzah was a Levite but the ark was not being carried, but instead on a cart. Uzzah did commit an error. Even if there was danger of it falling, it should not have touched because only the priest is able to touch the ark. 

David sees that Obed-edom is blessed for having the ark of God so he then makes plans to take it to Jerusalem - going 6 paces with it, then stopping and sacrificing. And David danced. Michal his wife saw David dancing and despised him, not understanding his joy of the Lord. David later explains to her how he celebrates to the Lord for His hand of providence and the joy he has with God. 

For me this is a lesson about being careful and realize that God's commandments are sacred, though in the New Testament there seems to be also a lesson on the heart being more of what God is concerned about. I suppose we always have to consider the situation at hand. I suppose there is the question as to whether or not commands must be followed by the letter of the Law, thus no variation or if there can be deviation because of circumstances. Overall, good intentions do not justify disobedience to God's Word, which had decreed that human hands should never touch the sacred ark of God's covenant. 

Summary: David now is ready to bring the Ark to Jerusalem and on the way there Uzzah touches the ark and only the priests are allowed to touch it and Uzzah is struck dead. 

Promise: The Lord's wrath is real and people need to be warned. 

Prayer: O God, thank you for having grace with me regarding my sin. Your patience overwhelms me. Your wrath is real and you are to be respected always. Thank you for knowing me and knowing my needs and also showing me the importance of following your ways. Lord, I ask for your discernment in regards to your commands and to what extent Your laws and commands need to be followed. Is it hard and fast like this always? As I read your word and study I see instances of doing things with an emphasis on heart and motivation, is that correct? Or it always precisely how you have laid out? Thank you for wisdom and understanding. And providing people in my life that you use as well to give me understanding. You are to be praised and adored. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

I Samuel 21 - David on the Run

I Samuel 21

Then the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if you would take it for yourself, take it. For there is no other except it here.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.” (verse 9)

Message: David on the Run

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: In the last lesson, David had fled to Ramah. Now he is in Nob (verses 1-9), that is northeast of Jerusalem only about 2 1/2 miles. Ramah is about 3 miles north of Jerusalem. These are places close by. Later he will go to Gath (10-15). Gath is 40 miles in the opposite direction, west. 

David is on the run. Reminds me of one of my favorite TV series, the Fugitive. Like Richard Kimble, David has been accused of something he believes he has not done. But Saul is after him, much like Samuel Gerard of the police is after Richard Kimble. 

When questioned by Ahimelech, the priest there who seems a little surprised that he has met up with David as he probably knows Saul is after him, David responds with a lie in verse 2. He says he has been sent on a mission by the king and no one is to know what it is about. David needs supplies - loaves of bread. Well Ahimelech only has holy bread. He gets it defending himself that he is ceremonially clean having been denied women since the blood from their period makes one unclean. Ahimelech also for some reason has Goliath's sword and gives that to David as well. 

Jesus refers to this passage as recorded in Matthew 12:1-8 citing in verses 3-4, "Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions— how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone?" The idea there being that there is sometimes something greater than a law set up for ceremonial purposes only and the real issue is David's life and his eventual leadership on the throne. So the ceremonial law is allowed to not be adhered to in order to save David's life. The conflict in this instance was moral law and ceremonial. In this instance, the ceremonial law can give way. Preserving life is more important than preserving a law. 

David did things and said things that were not on the surface proper. He is a sinner but his action kept him safe. 

Now onto Gath. The people recognized him there and so David felt like he should display himself as being insane to get out of that situation because the king of Gath - Achish - wanted nothing to do with a crazy man. 

Summary: David flees to Nob and then Gath. In Nob, the ceremonial law is broken so that David's life can be preserved and he pretends to be insane in order to keep him free from custody of the king in Gath. 

Promise: Perhaps at times, though actions seems wrong, they are justifiable in the situation. 

Prayer: Lord, life is of utmost important always and your purposes in life are most important. Perhaps sometimes life gets in the way of this and the way of the world needs to adjust to the way of God. Give me wisdom and guidance as I speak to people and help me to know how to respond to others. Life is hard and it seems at times people are trying to catch us in a contradiction. Lord, what is important is your love and your plan for me - peace in this life, in your presence for all eternity. Keep my eyes on the prize. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Joshua 1:6-9 - Strength and Courage

Joshua 1:6-9

6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Message: Strength and Courage

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: After the death of Moses, God calls his assistant, Joshua to lead the nation of Israel to Canaan. In verse 2 the Lord calls Joshua to cross the Jordan, ultimately defeating and driving out the people of Canaan from their land. No small task. Israel was outnumbered. Previously, the people had question of this occurring. They lacked faith, seeing the obstacles before them. In the previous lesson he receives the promise that God will be with him. This should be all the comfort that one needs. But alas we also need encouraging words and reminders that God will be with us through thick and thin. 

After hearing that God would be with him, we get the words from the Lord to Joshua 'be strong and courageous.' Simple words but meaningful words that bring encouragement to many today, even me. I think of the large tasks before me often. My work and its long list of things to do simply continues to grow and grow. Even my personal time has books I'd like to read through and I seem to add more books to read so easily. And yet struggle to get through them, but enjoy it when I do. Of late, my stomach has been a problem as I have not been very regular in the bathroom. It feels like all of life, from sun up to sun down has burdens, obstacles, things I need to do and get through or would like to do. Maybe that is good and normal. Maybe it is what I have laid out before me and like, to always be achieving something. Michael W. Smith penned a song from his first release of this same title, 'So be Strong and Courageous.' I often think of it when I hear this admonition and sing it to myself. Good words to hear and be reminded of in life. 

And yet this isn't simply a 'believe in yourself' sort of creed, but it is words God gives following Him saying He will be with Joshua. Then following it are other words that go alongside the idea of being strong and courageous. Joshua is to remember the words of Moses that were commanded, more specifically 'the law.' 

"....be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you."

"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth."

"you shall meditate on it day and night."

"...be careful to do according to all that is written in it..."

"Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Simple reminders here continue. Meditate on God's law. Be careful to do it. There is no reason to fear for the Lord God is with you wherever you go. 

Summary: The Lord encourages Joshua to be strong and courageous as he goes across the Jordan toward Canaan, remembering God's law, and being careful to follow it. 

Promise: Being obedience to God's word does not guarantee nothing bad will happen to a person, but those who obey God's word will finally win and we are to live lives in faithful obedience to God. 

Prayer: Thank you God for your words of encouragement you offer to Joshua and I believe you offer to me as well. I need to stay close to your words God always trusting in the Law of God which you have given me follow and obey. Keep me meditating on it and living by it. It is always relevant to my life, but no matter what I need to uphold it and so teach me to be guided by it always and help me to encourage this in others as well. I pray my family would be guided by it and trust in it always. Let it move in people's lives and change them. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 7:47-52 - The Prophet from Galilee

John 7:47-52

47 The Pharisees therefore answered them, "You have not also been led astray, have you? 48 No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? 49 But this multitude which does not know the Law is accursed." 50 Nicodemus said to them (he who came to Him before, being one of them), 51 "Our Law does not judge a man, unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it? 52 They answered and said to him, "You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee." 

Message: The Prophet from Galilee

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: Chapter has mostly taken place over an 8 day period of the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem after Jesus' brothers asked him to go there with them, though Jesus went privately rather than publicly, focused on the idea that it is not yet His time (to be apprehended or seized). In Jerusalem he goes to the Temple and continues to speak of His origin being from the Father and the Father has sent Him. He is the living water but also mentions an important verse in 38 that those who believe in Jesus will flow forth rivers of living water. So we will pass on the water that He is, the Life that He is, the compassion that He is, the sympathy that He is. We will bear great fruit as the Spirit of God comes upon us. There are still some that think He is a prophet only, and not also the Messiah. And the last passage gives the idea the Pharisees are ready to seize Him but the officers will not apprehend Him because they seem to believe He is someone different. 

Despite the officers not arresting Jesus, the Pharisees who had sent the officers were not fooled and now in these verses believe that Jesus has fooled the officers. These Pharisees will not be persuaded by Jesus and are hardened, not willing to see Him for who He is. They even remark this in verse 48 - "No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he?" Meaning none of the rulers and none of the Pharisees actually believed in Jesus. And this was Jesus' outcry or plea or request always - that people would believe in Him. And reminds me once again what is wrapped up in that word belief. For Jesus it is more than agreeing He is who He said He is. It is receiving as mentioned in John 1:12 - "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God." And then his talk of being born again, of living Water, and the bread of Life - these texts signify it is more than belief but an all consuming belief that changes our lives and how they are to be lived. 

And the Pharisees had a disdain for the multitude in verse 49. They state that they do not know the Law. Even today, I think we see this that accepting Christ is for the uneducated. It is for the pipe dream people that are simply holding onto a hope of the future. But it is not for the educated. It is not for the smart scientist, but it is for the simple person. But with the Pharisees is the thought it is not for the one's actually well versed in the Law. But rather, what occurred is those who knew not the Law believed in the one who authored it. We can get too smart for our own britches is the catch phrase. 

But then Nicodemus comes on the scene. The one who asked Jesus about being born again in John 3:4. He, being one of the Pharisees, states that Jesus deserves a fair trial. He stated that Jesus needs to be heard. But again, the Pharisees response is the same stating that he too must have been misled, stating again what others have said (verse 41) that Jesus could not have come from Galilee. This however was only folklore, not based upon Scripture but tradition that the prophet could not come from Galilee. 

Summary: The Pharisees believe the multitudes have been misled by Jesus and later state the same of one of their own - Nicodemus. Some will not believe no matter what Jesus says. 

Promise: Gaining knowledge is a good think but we must be careful it does not puff us up. We must still be willing to listen, realizing that something different may still be what we need to learn. 

Prayer: You are Savior and Lord. You are living water, the bread of life, and we need to be born again, all of us. Help me Jesus to always listen to You and be careful that I am not stuck in my own ways. Draw people to yourself. Give people an understanding of you, like so many around me. Thank You for the truth of who You are and the joy of discovering those truths in the reading of Your word now, today. Even now. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.  

Galatians 3:24 - Law and Gospel

Galatians 3:24 - Therefore the Law has become our tutor [to lead us] to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. 

Message: Law and Gospel 

Time: Paul wrote to the churches in southern Galatia after having a hand in starting them on his first missionary journey to Asia Minor, making sure they were on the path of truth and not led off into deception. Paul wrote the book a few months before his attendance at the Jerusalem Council in AD 49.

What the Lord is Saying: This passage of scripture is a good reminder of the significance of the Law in leading us to Christ. The verse begins with "Therefore" so first we go back to earlier verses in this chapter. Chapter 3 starts with a call to "foolish Galatians" and Paul hearing among them that they are still focused on "the works of the Law" rather than by faith. He goes back to Abraham and shows his faith, "so Abraham believed God." But for his audience he communicates the purpose of the Law remarking that "no one is justified by the Law before God." He remarks that righteousness is not based upon law. 

Now, verse 24 makes more sense. "The Law has become our tutor." The Law shows us we are lost. Faith justifies us and saves us. 

The lesson here is it makes a difference in how we define the gospel. We are thankful in America that we have so many good places of teaching, but some areas are limited and don't have as many avenues for good learning. We need to be trained in this good teaching and go back to these good road maps for truth. 

Summary: The Law shows us we are lost. Through faith we are saved or justified.

Promise: We need both law and gospel to be equipped to know and serve the Lord. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your word. Thank you for truth. Lord, I pray that the truth of Your Gospel would shine forth and be clear to people. Help me to encourage this in others. Lord, be glorified. 

Revelation 1:10 - The Time of Worship

Revelation 1:10 - I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.

Message: The Time of Worship

Time: John mentions himself 4 times as author. It was written around the year 95 on John's exile to the island of Patmos after preaching the gospel to Asia. Revelation comes from the Greek word for apocalypse and refers to an unveiling. The book is about the tribulation period with symbolic language, giving us the end of the story -- Jesus will once and for all heal the wounds of sin, reign for a thousand years on earth, then re-create the world into a place that represents God's original design.

What the Lord is Saying: The previous lesson talked about place of worship and helped me see that worship can take place beyond church walls and even beyond a city such as Jerusalem. Jesus was speaking to the Samaritan woman and the Samaritans believed that Mount Gerizim rather than Jerusalem was the place that God needs to be worshiped. But with Jesus words that we are to worship in spirit and truth is the lesson to us today that place is not the issue, but rather the Spirit of God and God's truth is what is key. Now it seems funny to say that church is therefore confined to a day of the week. It seems rather the lesson is to set aside one day, a Sabbath day for Him, as a day that is different from other days to corporately worship. 

And so today's lesson wonders if that day to either Saturday or Sunday or can it be any day. Once again, the words from the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) seem necessary to review. I really enjoy the summary of the WCF and what it says. Can't believe I've never really studied these words before. WCF 1.6 

6. The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word; and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.

What this says is there are specifics and there are concluding thoughts that can be seen from all of Scripture as it pertains to salvation, faith, life, worship and government of the Church. 

The Seventh-day Adventists believe that God instituted the Sabbath as the seventh day and this has never been changed in Scripture and so this is what should remain. There are a few instances in which Jesus mentions the Sabbath but it is in the context of speaking of the Law of Moses. Colossians 2:16 Paul mentions the Sabbath in reference to a teaching. Most every other church practices that since Christ's resurrection occurred on the first day of the week, we seem to have Apostolic precedent for changing the Sabbath from the 7th day to the 1st day. 

Acts 20:7 - And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.  

I Corinthians 16:2 - On the first day of the week let each of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. 

And then also today's passage which speaks of the Lord's day, the only mention of the Lord's day in Scripture. In other words, there are some sort of references. And yet it seems that we focus on Sunday's more because of the resurrection and historically it seems there was a desire to shed the custom's of the Jews and be different and distinct. 

Summary: Christ's resurrection took place on the first day of the week and so there is ample warrant for setting aside Sunday as the time of obligatory Christian worship. 

Promise: Let us take our responsibility to worship and rest on the Lord's day seriously and make the most of our corporate gatherings every week. 

Prayer: Lord, you are good and desire us to worship and know you through our service at church. Lord, it is hard to deal with all of the differences between Christians even today. I pray we can celebrate these differences and be more focused not on who is right but that we are desiring to know You and worship You. 

Psalm 1 - My Prayer

Psalm 1

Psalm 1:1-6 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.  But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

My Prayer

Lord, when I do not not follow the advice of the wicked it is joy to my soul; when i do not follow the ungodly, the non-Christian, the enemy of You, friends that do not honor you with their lives, friends that serve a different master, and those that make fun out of loving and honoring You. I pray that I will not go along with people that oppose you. 

Conversely, I pray that my delight is in the Law of the Lord, your Scriptures, your revelation to me; that my days are marked by beginning and ending time with You, in Your Word, and having the peace of Christ as I lay my head down at night; May I love Your Scriptures and seek to follow it all the days of my life. Make me like a tree planted along the riverbank, so that the nourishment I need to Grow each day is found in Your Word and my life then bears fruit. May I be one that stands out and looks to the outside world as one that is healthy and aligned with You. As I align myself daily with You and Your word you watch over me; turning my back on You and seeking after human wisdom and worldly ideals will lead me to destruction.  

Lord, there is a stark difference between the wicked life and the Godly life. The wicked grab onto whatever is in front of them and just as they find their security in it, it is gone. There are no good final outcomes for the wicked. The godly and ungodly will be at opposite corners of the ring of life. If I follow You completely, I must realize that the way of the wicked will not be something I ever want to walk. 

Lord, you watch over me as I walk along the edge of a mountain, keeping me close, but the wicked will fall off their paths and are destroyed by a non-holy path. 

--------------------------------

There is joy in not following. Lord, I need to remember this. I need this to shape my life. A happy man is marked by the places he does not go,, the movies and TV shows he does not watch, books he does not read, company he does not keep. Lord, my world is filled with so many choices and options for my time. As I sit down at the TV, the number of different views for my eyes is staggering. There is joy in not choosing to watch voices that do not honor You with their words. They are poisonous and destructive and counter-productive. What they do is bring rest from following You.

Romans 6:15-23 - The Antinomian Error (Version 2)

October 13

Romans 6:15-23

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Message: The Antinomian Error

Time: Paul route to Rome, the city has never visited, from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57. The rights to a church that he believes needed to hear basic Gospel doctrine. The city was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idolatry.

What the Lord is Saying:

I've studied this passage before. This passage covered 4 lessons I did in September 2014 when I studied Romans. Wow, I did 30 lessons that month. A lesson every day? Whoa. Living Under Grace, Slaves to Righteousness, Slavery to Sin and Its Fruit, and the Wages of Sin vs. The Gift of Life.

October 18

The justified person has died to sin and earlier in chapter 6 Paul is asking whether we continue in sin that grace may increase and the answer is emphatically "no" because sin is dead in our life. That is the way we need to view it because that is the way God views it. And then in verse 15 we wonder that since we are no longer under the law, which was also called a curse, can we sin then? The law never meant to save us, but rather guide us and show us we are sinners. And this still is true today. But the thought was that law living meant complete obedience where grace living is complete freedom so maybe breaking the law is not a big deal. 

And then further in this text in verses 16-19 I learn I have shifted to now being a slave of righteousness. The Christian that walks in a life where God has forgiven him completely and cleansed him from all forms of unrighteousness now walks in righteousness and wants righteousness completely, in all forms of their life. Why? Because any act of unrighteousness in my life is an offense to God; any act is embarrassing to me when it is committed. There is no middle ground. I think we wish there was. But I no longer live in non-Christ like ways, but instead shift to all righteous living. 

This is what I remember from studying these passages. 

An Antinomian is a person that views the law as not applicable anymore in a person's life. This is a person that says the moral law is no longer relevant and obedience to the commandments is no longer needed. Therefore, Christians can live however they want. It is a shift. I was speaking to someone the other day and they remarked that the Law of God is simply there as a nice story in the Bible but we only need to emphasize the New Testament or New Covenant living and yet Jesus in the New Covenant remarked that the Law had not disappeared. 

The Law of God has not been set aside. Instead God sent Jesus to be obedient to it. We were incapable of perfect obedience. Thus, the Law remains what it was - showing us we are incapable of following it. I still need this reminder. 

October 19

Exodus 19:5-6 -- 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

2 Corinthians 6:14 - 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

I John 1:5-7 - 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.


I John 2:4 - Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

I John 3:6 - No one who abides in him keeps on sinning

Summary: I think the point of this lesson today is to remind us that the law of God is still relevant in our life today. It remains a guide to our life. It is not to be dismissed. Commandments are still needed in our life. Each of us should be following God's commands and should desire to follow them -- all of them. A slave to righteousness is how I should live. 

Promise: From Tabletalk -- "People who possess saving faith earnestly desire to obey God’s commandments. They do not seek to do so to merit eternal life; they do so in order to thank God and demonstrate the authenticity of their faith."

Prayer: O God you are holy and true. You have saved me from the penalty of living an unrighteous life. In response, help me to continue to want to live righteously. Lord, sin is still present in me. As you know I stumble still. I get tempted and I give into that sin, not trusting in You and Your ways. I am two-faced - one moment saying I will abide in You and then the next moment lying and seeking my own desires. For my own sake, I need to be different. For your sake, I need to honor You with my life and surrender my entire will to you. I say it again - I don't want to be a partner of lawlessness. Thank you for restoring me and making me clean again. Keep helping me evaluate my life and submitting to you. I need your strength in me. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God. 

Bringing me to Christ

The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects. The Law and Our Powerlessness - We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin. The Law our Guardian - The law is not a tool of justifying me, but rather it is an instrument to bring me to Christ and show me my need for Him. 

Guiding our Lives

The Guidance of the Law - The Law is a guide in our lives for what pleases God and what it looks like to walk in holiness. The Antinomian Error - We were slaves to sin, but now we are slaves to obedience and righteousness. Judaizing Legalism - The error of Judaizing Legalism is the idea that obedience brings about God's acceptance of us for salvation. The Deadliest Form of Legalism - This legalism is that one would get too focused on external practices instead of focusing on the heart.

The Law is our Guide

The Centrality of Love - Love and the law go hand in hand. We do not belong to God unless we love our neighbor, and we cannot love our neighbor without knowing and doing God‘s law and loving him. Finding Guidance in the Law - God's Word, all if it, is a guide to my life and I am to meditate on it continually. 

Psalm 119:97-104 - Finding Guidance in the Law

Psalm 119:97-104

O How I love your law
It is my meditation all the day.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged,
Because I have observed Your precepts.
I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
I have not turned aside from Your ordinances,
For You Yourself have taught me.
How sweet are Your words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
From Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

Message: Finding Guidance in the Law

Time: Psalms, a collection of lyrical poems, with multiple authors. David wrote 73 Psalms, though for 50 or so the author is unknown. Psalms means songs of praise. The writings span 1,000 years. They encourage us to praise God, illuminate the greatness of God, affirm His faithfulness in times of trouble, and remind us of the absolute centrality of His word. 

What the Lord is Saying:

October 5

Tabletalk records that "God's law is a place to find guidance for what pleases the Lord." The 10 commandments were used to help believers understand what kind of life God expects of His people. 

I have previously learned in this study that the Law primarily is a tool God uses to bring me to Christ, showing me what God expects and in turn bring me to Christ who is the only one that fulfills the Law. The temptation is the idea that obedience to God's word brings about salvation. We get too focused often on acts of obedience and can miss the grace of God; we think instead that obedience either completely or at a high level is what God seeks. So once we understand that salvation is not a measure of obedience, we can still see that the Law guides us into what pleases God. Obedience is really about praising God and seeking to please Him, than it being something that will benefit me. Granted, it will benefit me but my motivation should be towards praising God. 

Romans 7:12 - The Law is Holy. The commandment is Holy and Righteous and Good. 

When we love God we love His statutes and commands He has given us.

Psalm 119:97 O how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.

I have been encouraged since a young age to memorize scripture. I remember my mom telling me my dad loved Psalm 1 so I memorized that (and remember lying down, looking at the stars in the backyard with my mom and reciting it). And then put other verses to memory that I still know today - 40  years later. In this practice, I've learned to love God's word as I repeat it again and again.

Psalm 119:98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.

Wisdom comes about through learning and knowing God's word. It anchors me and makes me wise. It 
gives me God's perspective on life. Another reason I should run to it.

October 7

Psalm 119:99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.

There is a temptation in the Christian's life to possess pride and feel like we are better than others because in the study of God's word it is as if we have found a hidden treasure. But we must resist this and acknowledge God's spirit in us giving us this insight.

Psalm 119:100 I understand more than the aged,
Because I have observed Your precepts.

As I study God's word, I start to see it in action in my daily life -- I observe it. And in this process my understanding of all things of life increases.

Psalm 119:101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.

My goal is to keep God's word. To have it hidden in my heart as I do this and rid evil from my life it opens me up to the good practice of keeping Thy word, following it.

Psalm 119:102 I have not turned aside from Your ordinances,
For You Yourself have taught me.

I am taught scripture by doing scripture by doing scripture. I can't do it if I don't know it. I sit under God's teaching when I make this his ordinances part of my life.

Psalm 119:103 How sweet are Your words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Like candy, which makes my mouth feel good, God's word is my sweetness. Candy provides often a feeling of a reward and more than I deserve and this is what happens when I get God's word.

October 10

Psalm 119:104 From Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

As I understand God's word, in turn, I see what is important to God and what glorifies Him and it helps me to hate falsehood. 

------

Thus, his Law needs to be one with my very being. This gives me knowledge of what pleases and displeases Him. Matthew 5:17-20 reminds me that the Law of God remains important; Jesus came to fulfill it. He is the only one that could. The law is meant to be kept.

October 11 

I'm thankful for the Word. I remain not perfect. This manifested itself in me last night when I pursued something not honoring to me, God, or my marriage. I'm taken back to God's word, His law and reminded one that I am week, in capable of meeting His perfect plan, but also in moments of weakness He needs to be my refuge. 

Promise: Love God. Love His Word. Keep His Word. Hate Falsehood. 

Prayer: Lord, your Word is a lamp to my life. Oh How I love your Law as it accompanies me throughout my day, pointing me in the direction I need to go. As I read Your word, it makes me wise and wiser than my enemies. I gain insight and understanding. And then as I observe your words and make them a part of my life my way or the path I walk is not on the path of evil. Your words are sweet to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth. From these words I get understanding. O God, remind me of this when I am struggling. I want to hate falsehood more. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

Bringing me to Christ

The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects. The Law and Our Powerlessness - We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin. The Law our Guardian - The law is not a tool of justifying me, but rather it is an instrument to bring me to Christ and show me my need for Him. 

Guiding our Lives

The Guidance of the Law - The Law is a guide in our lives for what pleases God and what it looks like to walk in holiness. The Antinomian Error - We were slaves to sin, but now we are slaves to obedience and righteousness. Judaizing Legalism - The error of Judaizing Legalism is the idea that obedience brings about God's acceptance of us for salvation. The Deadliest Form of Legalism - This legalism is that one would get too focused on external practices instead of focusing on the heart.

The Law is our Guide

The Centrality of Love - Love and the law go hand in hand. We do not belong to God unless we love our neighbor, and we cannot love our neighbor without knowing and doing God‘s law and loving him.

Colossians 2:16-23 - The Deadliest Form of Legalism

Colossians 2:16-23

16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.

20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

Message: The Deadliest Form of Legalism

Time: In AD 60–61, during his first imprisonment in Rome, Paul penned this letter to the Colossian church after he had received a report that they were struggling with a christological heresy. Paul wrote this having not been to this church. False teachers in the church were denigrating the deity of Jesus.

What the Lord is Saying:

August 30

My Current Condition
I'm back again, looking at this lesson, trying to wrap my head around it. We got a puppy 2 weeks ago and my morning routines has been sidetracked once again. The puppy demands attention so my wife is showering now and getting ready for work and I am with the dog, basically trying to make sure he doesn't poop in the house, before I have to leave for work. I try to keep him busy while stealing a second here and there to look at this study. 

Plus, my brain is not thinking well it seems lately outside of work. Concentrating lately has been tough. I've done 8 of these lessons now on the law and its correct use. 

Getting Into This Lesson

In thinking about the law, I am often reminded that on the subject of religion and acceptance there is often the idea that our life each day is more about doing religion or doing good works and yet Jesus was about repenting and turning from sin, and then believing in Him. Jesus came on the scene and was drawn to John and his message and submitted to baptism and saw that He was about His father's business. Jesus on this earth would eventually fulfill the Law by how he lived his life; this means my acceptance by God is not about fulfilling the Law but accepting or believing in Christ. Jesus became my substitute by living the perfect life, dying on the cross and conquering death by raising from the dead. I am justified by faith - I repent and believe (Mark 1:15). But the Law is still a part of life and living. And as a child of God loving Him means I will keep His commandments (John 14:15).  

August 31

Judaizing Legalism

The error of Judaizing Legalism is the idea that obedience brings about God's acceptance of us for salvation. This is the way of our world which preaches to work hard so you can get rewards. God actually calls this way of living before Him a curse. Deuteronomy 27:26 -- ‘Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ Later Paul will speak of this further as recorded in Galatians 3 and was studied in the last lesson. Paul quotes from 4 different Old Testament passages in those verses in Galatians 3:10-14. This curse is a problem because perfection is required and yet perfection cannot be attained so it is a curse because man on his own is incapable of earning salvation. Man without God on the throne of his life is cursed as it says in Deuteronomy 27:26, but Jesus became a curse and it was necessary because of Deuteronomy 21:22-23 for it says -- “If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God)." Jesus hung on a cross for each of us and though without sin, he was thought to have done something worthy of death and he became cursed by God for hanging on the cross (tree).

When we think we can use the Law to justify us, we come under God's curse. No one can keep the law perfectly. Romans 2:13 -- for not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. Only those who are always doers of the Law will be justified which means none of us can be justified. Only Christ. Galatians 3:13 -- Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree."

September 1

Deadly Legalism

On one hand legalism is motivated often by good reasons -- with the hope of denying sin in a person's life and living a life of righteousness. The problem comes when it does this with fear when it gives people the perception that certain sins (abortion, homosexuality, drinking, divorce, etc.) when committed banish a person from God's acceptance. This is distorting God's plan. God hates sin but loves sinners. And Jesus can still restore a person to being totally accepted by God. Legalism is often rules that have been created through a combination of elements of Judaism, Christianity, and paganism. This is a problem in our day and was a problem in Paul's day with the Colossian church. 

The concern with this legalism is that one would get too focused on external practices instead of focusing on the heart. What happens is we think it is good enough to look the part of a religious person. It is hard often because this is what people see. They don't see what is on the inside of us. We protect people from what is on the inside, what we do in secret, in the dark. 

Psalm 58:2 - in heart you work unrighteousness - I think this is a telling verse as it mentions that in me is unrighteousness and more specifically in my heart. Jesus said as recorded in Matthew 12:34 -- "For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart." Jeremiah 17:9 - “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" This is the problem with the over-reliance on external acts as it has a tendency to evade the real source of our sin - the heart. 

And so we return to our text today -- Therefore no one is to act as your judge - Thus we often get fooled into what holiness is really about -- not drinking, only watching the right TV shows and listening to the right music, attending church whenever the doors are opened. This is not holiness. Rather holiness is bearing the fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23 - the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

September 2

Thus it seems to me there are a couple of problems with legalism. (1) I think it has the problem of being too focused on doing and not on examining our motives and our heart on issues. (2) While people are concerned about the effects of sin, we start to think that certain sins not even mentioned in the Bible are sinful. (3) Christianity starts to be viewed only as a religion of do's and don'ts. (4) We diminish the power of God in people's lives as the outcome of a surrendered life is the Spirit in us, producing fruit. 

Summary: The danger of legalism is it trains us in external obedience rather than surrendering to the God who produces in us fruit. 

Promise: God is not interested in mere externals but in transformation that conforms our heart, mind, body, and soul to Christ. 

Prayer: God, you are love. You are to be praised. Your word is true. Help me God to remember my heart and examining it and helping others to this as well. Give me sensitivity to convictions people have for things they see as unlawful. Help us all surrender to you and let the natural work of your Spirit reign in our lives. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

Bringing me to Christ

The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects. The Law and Our Powerlessness - We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin. The Law our Guardian - The law is not a tool of justifying me, but rather it is an instrument to bring me to Christ and show me my need for Him. 

Guiding our Lives

The Guidance of the Law - The Law is a guide in our lives for what pleases God and what it looks like to walk in holiness. The Antinomian Error - We were slaves to sin, but now we are slaves to obedience and righteousness. Judaizing Legalism - The error of Judaizing Legalism is the idea that obedience brings about God's acceptance of us for salvation.

Galatians 3:10-14 - Judaizing Legalism

Galatians 3:10-14

For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written," “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Message: Judaizing Legalism

Time: Paul wrote to the churches in southern Galatia after having a hand in starting them on his first missionary journey to Asia Minor, making sure they were on the path of truth and not led off into deception. Paul wrote the book a few months before his attendance at the Jerusalem Council in AD 49.

What the Lord is Saying:

I started this study on the Law over 2 months ago. I haven't posted anything in the last month. I don't know why other than I wake up late and have been prioritizing a morning prayer walk and sometimes that is all the time I have to do something before I head off to work. Plus I've been working more. And trying to stay on top of my online missionary duties. And then I haven't been studying much lately on the weekend. 

But this has been an interesting study about the Law. Everyday it seems I engage with the Law in my life. The message this past Sunday was about the mission field. I got home last night so overwhelmed with work and wondering what I was doing of late to reach my mission field. And so I wrestle with these commands God has given me. At work, I'm trying to do the best I can with my job. But, I fail, continually. Life is about performance, doing things. I need the Law in my life to remind me what I shouldn't be doing and what I should be doing. 

I know often I wish at times there was no law and all I had to do each day was take it easy. I get used to rest. But after a while rest doesn't get me much and I wonder if I'm resting too much. 

This lesson today brings up the "law of Christ" as it is referenced in several New Testament verses. The thought by Ligonier is the moral commandments of the Mosaic law are included in this Law of Christ. There are 3 types of laws it seems mentioned in the Bible: Moral commandments or laws, Ceremonial Laws, and Civil Laws. All 3 laws are in the Old Testament but it is the Moral laws that are focused on in the New Testament and that Jesus mentioned and Paul later wrote about. 

I found this description of the three here and here. 

• First, are civil laws. These were specifically given for the culture of the Israelites, which includes everything from murder to restitution and dietary restrictions.
• Second, are ceremonial laws. This literally stands for the customs of a nation. These would have included sacrifices of perfectly good animals, and rejection of food sources such as pork and rabbits. These laws were specific only toward the Jews.
• Third, are God’s moral laws. These relate to justice and judgment. They are based on God’s own holy nature. As such, these ordinates are holy, just and unchanging.

The lesson from Ligonier's devotional today is that "believers are bound to the law of Christ (I Cor 9:21; Gal 6:2)." Those verses speak of the law of Christ. This "law of Christ includes the moral commandments of the Mosaic law (Matt. 5:21-30; Rom. 13:8-10; 1 John 3:12,15)." Matthew 5:21-30 is where Jesus brings up personal relationships and takes the Mosaic law to a new level or different level. Thus, it includes it, but Christ explains that the laws which have clear outward results when violated (you can see a person murdered, you can see adultery), but they also have a component that can't be seen as clearly (hatred and lust). 

This reminds me of something. Last week we discovered that one of our employees had been convicted of crime of rape. It was shocking to see how this one act changed their lives. But, I think we often stare at the acts and forget that there was a heart issue present. Sin begins in the heart in how we view women in this case and sex in this case. In this case, it starts with a desire that turns into an action that we have difficulty controlling. I think that is what Jesus is talking about here in Matthew 5 that we must look at our heart. And I John 3 further speaks to the idea that these internal acts are viewed in the same way as the outward acts, meaning that doing them negates your ability to make it to heaven. Once again showing that any disobedience results in losing the promise of eternal life. 

And so Paul rightfully takes this thinking that Jesus puts forth in the law of Christ to show us that overriding thought is one of love and how we love our neighbor. If we truly love people we will not break the commandments of adultery, murder, coveting, theft. Thus, we should desire to keep God's commandments -- in all of the ways they are presented. 

But, we must never think that law obedience then results in God's acceptance and salvation. God saved them from slavery and then gave them 10 commandments (Exodus 20:2). Our obedience is a response of God's love not a condition for receiving it. And so the idea that obedience brings about God's acceptance of us for salvation, this is the error of Judaizing legalism. And thus obedience is intertwined with justification. It is, but only Christ's obedience matters because only his obedience was without sin. Any sin nullifies our ability to be saved. But being obedient is how we live life. 

And so this leads us to today's passage in Galatians 3:10-14. If one subscribes to the idea that working the Law or working obedience then that person is under a curse. For a person is cursed because law obedience for salvation is based upon doing "all things written in the book of the law." Deuteronomy 27:26 records these words -- "Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ Thus, true righteousness is obtained in living by faith or being a person of faith. And law living is not faith living. What Christ did on the cross is He redeemed us from Law living; He redeemed us from this curse. We are cursed because law living is impossible. The curse got transferred to Christ and only Christ can fulfill the Law. 

To me, once someone acknowledges God this idea of Judaizing legalism enters lives in very subtle but profound ways. We must always re-focus ourselves on the idea of obedience in response to God's love and not as a condition for God's love. I think the area that I struggle with is whether obedience results in God's blessings for our life. I mean, once we understand salvation is by faith alone, does obedience impact blessing? Most definitely to receive any blessing we must be in Christ, surrendered to Him, accepting His justification. 

Promise: God saves us to make us obedient. We are not obedient in order to be saved. 

My Prayer: O God, the riches of your love and the riches of this message never ceases to amaze me. I have to place it at the forefront of my thinking all of the time because it is so opposite to the way in which life is lived in the world in which acceptance follows good work. But, you show us the better way. Help me to always keep this supreme in my thinking. And Lord help me to understand also your blessing and what it means to me and how obedience is related to normal day to day blessings. Lord, forgive me for letting the busyness of life get a hold of me. Help me to do my best at work while also do my best 

in the areas of ministry you have called me to be in. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects. The Law and Our Powerlessness - We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin. The Law our Guardian - The law is not a tool of justifying me, but rather it is an instrument to bring me to Christ and show me my need for Him. The Guidance of the Law - The Law is a guide in our lives for what pleases God and what it looks like to walk in holiness. The Antinomian Error - We were slaves to sin, but now we are slave to obedience and righteousness. 

Romans 6:15-23 - The Antinomian Error

Romans 6:15-23 

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Message: The Antinomian Error 

Time: Paul wrote to Rome, a city he had never visited, from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57. He writes to a church that he believes needed to hear basic gospel doctrine. The city was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idolatry.

What the Lord is Saying: Often we see the extremes in life. The Pharisees and much of our world believe that salvation or eternal life is earned instead of given and there are elaborate systems or rules that must be followed to earn this salvation. On the other end are those that accept grace but along the way believe it is completely a free gift and Christians can live however they want, for the law is in no way binding for believers. 

Today's passage makes it clear that in understanding the gospel is understanding that we are about obedience no matter what; it is never an option. Prior to Christ being in our lives we were slaves to sin. And now we are slaves to righteousness. It is actually an interesting paradigm shift that has occurred in our lives in that we remain slaves; our life and how it is lived takes on a different meaning. As a slave to sin we are a slave to perfect obedience in order to merit salvation. The fact that we do not live under grace means that all of our deeds are worthless before God because our sin is not excused or not paid for. In this framework these verses iterate that we are slaves to impurity and lawlessness resulting in greater lawlessness. Sin multiplies and continues and we need more sin as it feeds upon itself. As a slave to sin, righteousness is not even an option though. 

But now life is different and we have been freed from sin and freed from the penalty of sin, resulting in sanctification and eternal life. Our destiny is secure. We are free and free indeed. The wages of the gift of God now is eternal life. Before the wages of sin was death. 

Promise: By possessing saving faith there is now the desire to fulfill the commandments. We do so as a response to God's love and to please Him not looking to merit or earn salvation through our deeds. 

Prayer: O God thank you for the beauty of your Gospel message and I look to You continually God for salvation. It is in You. It is in Christ. Thank you for showing me at 14, just shy of 15, that there was nothing I could do to earn my way to eternal life and it is a free gift. You confirm this daily and the message never gets old. Help me to continue to be true to the reading of your word and applying it in the correct way, so as to bring you all of the glory. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects. The Law and Our Powerlessness - We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin. The Law our Guardian - The law is not a tool of justifying me, but rather it is an instrument to bring me to Christ and show me my need for Him. The Guidance of the Law - The Law is a guide in our lives for what pleases God and what it looks like to walk in holiness.

Psalm 119:9-11 - The Guidance of the Law

Psalm 119:9-11

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.
With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

Message: The Guidance of the Law

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

The Law acts as a restraining tool. I think of the time of Noah when the Law was not yet present and God would wipe out the earth because everyone did evil continually. And then the Law came on the scene to aid man, restraining from doing evil all of the time. So it is a tool of restraint for every person - whether they recognize it or not in their lives. But this is meant to point people to Christ. Recognizing our sin is meant to show people their need for deliverance. We are powerless to this sin and need Christ to be forgiven and the power to resist sin. Christ is the answer to all of life's problems of sin. Thus, the law is a tool to bring me to Christ and help me see my need for Him. 

But in addition to being a restraining tool and pointing us to Christ, it also acts as a guide in our lives for what pleases God and what it looks like to walk in holiness. As today's verse starts in Psalm 119, verse 9 - How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your Word. This Law, is our guide.  We are to treasure or store God's word in our heart. This is something I always so my mom doing, writing out verses on notecards and reading them often. God's word was ever present in her life. I know she struggled with doubts and her marriage and things still, but God's word was close. She always wanted to do the right thing. 

I've gotten away from memorizing God's word for it is a struggle it seems for me. But, I need to keep reading it and studying. 

Promise: God's word is our always present help in life. It is God's good gift to equip us for pleasing Him in all that we think, do, say, love and believe.

Prayer: Thank you God for your Word and thank You Spirit of God for continuing to instruct me in how I am to live. Keep me close to it. And give me discernment in the reading of it. Help me to know how to talk to people about it. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects. The Law and Our Powerlessness - We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin. The Law our Guardian - The law is not a tool of justifying me, but rather it is an instrument to bring me to Christ and show me my need for Him.

Galatians 3:24 - The Law Our Guardian

Galatians 3:24 - Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

Message: The Law Our Guardian

Time: Paul wrote to the churches in southern Galatia after having a hand in starting them on his first missionary journey to Asia Minor. This is Paul at his angriest, writing to make sure the church is on the path of truth, as the church had fallen into error. He wrote the book a few months before the Jerusalem council in AD 49. 

What the Lord is Saying:

This is a verse I tried to memorize several years ago as it was a verse I was encouraged by as I spent time studying the School of Biblical Evangelism. I loved the verse, but struggled with the memorization as I have struggled memorizing it seems once I've hit about 45 in age. 

In this study of the right use of God's law, I am seeing that at the core of each person is the fact that each of us is a sinner. This study must begin with that premise as we were sinners prior to the giving of the Law. It is an important reminder in this study that sin is already on the scene and is already stirred up in people's lives. I think that is a really important distinction because this means that man's rebirth or salvation answer must have occurred before the giving of the Law. I say this because I think in civilization there is a tendency in thinking that the Law is a saving tool, often providing a measuring tool of how we are living life with the idea that how we believe we are performing against that tool or measuring rod determines our acceptance by God. 

But rather these lessons are here to remind us that our salvation is apart from the law entirely and this law simply helps us see further our need for Christ and our own insufficiency. The Laws are important and represent our standard and remind us also what we need to be doing, but it is not a saving device. 

I think one reason that the Law has an attraction to man is it is ingrained in us. That can be a good thing and that can also be deceptive. A consequence of sinning is working (toiling the land) and yet we find joy in our toils and a sense of accomplishment and in that accomplishment a sense of justification that our work is producing something good. In contrary the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a simple message of "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." That salvation is not accomplished by me, but simply by my walking to Him and letting Him take care of the problem of sin; this is a re-training of our thinking. 

The law is not a tool of justifying me, but rather it is an instrument to bring me to Christ and show me my need for Him. And the Law is also a tool in helping us understanding that the atonement or the atoning sacrifice that occurred in Christ is the means to my salvation.  

Promise:  As John Calvin comments, "The law, in short, was nothing else than an immense variety of exercises, in which the worshippers were led by the hand to Christ."

Prayer: Lord, thank you for continuing to confirm truth into my life and continuing to show me the Story of Life and Your Story of Salvation. It is easy and that easiness is always under attack. Lord, help me know how to talk to people that are simply ingrained in the idea that righteousness comes about through man's obedience. Lord, I must admit that I get sidetracked by their thinking and with them I struggle in my conversations that seem to result in more division than greater adherence to your ways. You know me Lord, I want to keep peace and this I see at times is not good as it starts to have me be agreeable to people instead of leading them to You. I want to nourish and feed your sheep. Give me the strength to do this in the way you have called me to do this. I stay committed to You God and Love you God and am forever grateful of your forever mercy. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects. The Law and Our Powerlessness - We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin.

Romans 7:14-25 - The Law and Our Powerlessness

Romans 7:14-25

14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

Message: The Law and Our Powerlessness

Time: Paul wrote to Rome, a city he had never visited, from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57. He writes to a church that he believes needed to hear basic gospel doctrine. The city was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idolatry. 

What the Lord is Saying:

In some circles, the Law is the Old Covenant and since Christ came with a new covenant there is the thought that the Law does not have any relevance to us today and no place in Christian discipleship. 

Romans 7:4 gives the idea that we die to the Law through the body of Christ and in verse 6, we have been released from the law. And then also is this idea that sin itself is alive outside of the Law, as recorded in verse 9 - I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died. 

But as always we must keep reading scripture and remember to tie principles together and look at the whole matter in context. It is not that the Law is Bad, what is bad is we are sinful creatures and the Law simply awakens us to our understanding and gives us clarity of our sin. Verse 13 says that sin produced death in me. And in verse 14 the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh. And in verse 18 nothing good dwells in me. 

The Law simply prescribes obedience, but not the power to obey. People obey the law mostly out of a fear of punishment or consequence. I'm reminded of the radar detector that seeks to remove the notion of getting caught so that we can sin more freely. The Law cannot correct us. In verse 21 is the words that evil is present in me. 

Sin is a lifelong struggle that does not simply disappear when Christ comes into our life. The law still does not make us obey. This is really the essence of Paul's words in this passage today. Paul says that nothing good dwells in me. I want to do good, but I don't often because of that evil present in me. This should make us have more compassion on those that are Christians and yet still struggle with sin. So many do. I do. But we remain so quick to find the offense in others. Our compassion should be more centered in our lives, in my life, because the only thing that has changed is Jesus in me. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord (v.25) we are set free from the body of this death (v. 24) from being a prisoner of the law of sin which in my members (v. 23). Jesus has freed me from the punishment and from being a prisoner to sin. This must be realized that the non-Christ bearer is a prisoner. 

Therefore, what the Law does is it reveals the death of our depravity and show us how we cannot obey it. It shines a spotlight on sin, describing it, and helping us see it more clearly and in that seeing is the inability to do it. As Paul says we go back and forth - serving the law of God, but also serving with my flesh the law of sin. Thus, we are powerless over sin. We have no power. Only God can give us this power. 

Promise: We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin. Then daily, when we sin, and we will, we seek His forgiveness (freely given) and the grace to grow in holiness. 

Prayer: Lord, I am powerless over sin. You changed me; you set me free Jesus and I am praising You daily that I am free indeed. Your forever mercy has forever changed me. Thank you for keeping me rooted in these principles. Thank you for the freedom I have in Christ. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects.