LAW REPLACED BY GRACE

Newsletter 253 July 24, 2011

Romans 7:7-13 King James Version

SIN DEFINED BY LAW

Aside from the letter to the church in Corinth this letter to the church in Rome contains an abundance of teaching material, and I have over fourteen studies from each book. Even today there is great confusion over the difference between the old and the new testaments. Much of this would be avoided if we regarded the Old Testament as the history of mankind note that it is preparatory to the New Covenant.

Paul had been a Pharisee, tutored by the most brilliant teacher of his time, then personally by Christ after his conversion. He knew the law. He knew the history of his own people. He knew that the law itself was perfect, but it was not the answer to sin. No, it was that which identified what sin is.

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

The law, puts into words basic facts that most nonbelievers, and even the followers of pagan religions accept are wrong.. Many of these people have some concept that it is wrong, to lie, to steal, to murder. The law is not wrong, it has been defined as a “schoolmaster.“ The purpose of the law was to prepare a rebellious, people for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. When they finally arrived at the Jordan river, it was a whole new generation of people who were to launch it’s conquest. Paul used his own history as an example. He had been a terrorist, to put it bluntly, trying to force everyone to follow his leading. He had thought he was serving God, but Jesus had to take a hand with him to get his attention. The result was a chastened, blind young man who was led by the hand to sit and ponder what he had been doing until Ananias came, also reluctantly, to lead him to the truth. His whole life and purpose was changed.

8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me?

forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

SIN OVERCOME BY GRACE

Christ, the Messiah, did not destroy the law. He fulfilled it. It had completed it’s purpose. It had defined sin, and it had introduced the way to conquer sin through Jesus Christ who had paid the price for our own sin with his own life and who shows a new and better way to live. That is why he said, “No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” His purity shows us a better way, and the only way, to enter heaven. He did not tell us to kill our enemies, he tells us to love them. He tells us to pray for them. That is how Stephen could pray, Forgive them for they known not what they do.”

We must not think that becoming a Christian will solve all our problems. No, we are still human, but with something more. We have the Holy Spirit, and we have the assurance where we are going at the end of our physical life here. We each still have our own burdens, but so did Paul. He carried the results of his numerous beatings and stonings, and probably poor eyesight, to his grave. Those things are physical and do not carry over to heaven.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
JULY

24th. Sunday – Hosea 3, 4, Romans 11:1-17, Psalm 89:1-8
25th. Monday – Hosea 5, 6, Romans 11:18-36, Psalm 89:9-13
26th. Tuesday – Hosea 7, 8, Romans 12, Psalm 89:14-18
27th. Wednesday - Hosea 9, 10, Romans 13, Proverbs 18:1-10
28th. Thursday - Hosea 11, 12, Romans 14, Psalm 89:19-29
29th. Friday – Hosea 13, 14, Romans 15:1-16, Psalm 89:30-37
30th. Saturday - Jonah 1, 2, Romans 15:17-33, Psalm 89:38-45

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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believrth.”

Romans 10:4
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SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS ! – Forward this along to all your friends. The saved will rejoice and the unsaved need its message the most, so everyone is blessed: YOU FOR SHARING, AND ALL FOR READING.

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Mountain Neighbors...

Dan, a 35 year old new york stock broker had made it so big on Wall Street that he was able to retire at a young age. Using his wealth, he buys a small cottage in the vermont mountains. After 6 months of hardly any human contact, except for venturing into town for supplies, he hears a knock on his door. He opens the door to find this big, surly, bearded man standing in front of him.
"May I help you," Dan asks.
"The name's Jim, I live 'bout two miles down the road in my cabin," the man says.
"I'm having a party this coming Saturday and I thought I'd invite you seein' that you're new and all here."
Dan accepts the inviation saying, "Great, I haven't been out in six months."
Jim says "I gotta warn ya, there's gon' be a lot a drinkin at this party."
"Well, I've been to all the bars in New York and have held my ground with the best of them," Dan replies.
"A lot of fightin' goes on that these parties too," Jim says.
Dan replies "well, it'll be nice to get out and I think I can hold my own."
Jim offers, "there's also gon' be some wild love making."
"Well I have been alone for the last six months," Dan says with a laugh.
So the two exchange numbers and directions and just as Jim is walking away Dan says "What should I wear?" Jim turns and replies, "Whatever you want, just gon' be us two."