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Galatians 3:1 - 3:29
In Chapter
2 of Galatians, we were given a very important lesson by Paul, on the foundations of
Christianity. In as much as the Apostle Peter had temporarily regressed back into the
Jewish custom of separating from the Gentile, that event was given for us today as an
example. Peter was a good man and loved Christ, and even as he would deny Christ three
times, it no doubt happened for our learning. I'm sure Peter was aware of his shortcomings
in the flesh, as we all should be, for by 'faith in Christ' are we 'justified' and
'saved', and there is none other Way of Salvation.
Did Peter's transgressions endanger his mission which Christ
gave him? Absolutely not, as Peter was called 'Cephas' by Jesus Christ in John
1:42, which is 'Kephas' in the Greek meaning 'the Rock' (Strong's
no.2786). Paul also taught the deeper message of the foundations laid by the Apostles in 1
Cor.3. In that Message a warning was given for God's servants who help lay Christ's
Foundation. It is written there that the 'works' built upon that Foundation, Which is
Christ, will be tried in the fire. Only those who help build It according to The Word,
will have 'works' that will stand through God's 'consuming fire' (also see Eph.2:19-22
note that 'foundation' is built by God's prophets also; Rev.21:14). Well what about the
shortcomings of the flesh? Won't they have to answer for their sins at that time also? You
tell me what happens when we sin, have a change of heart, and repent to Christ. Those sins
are wiped away, removed; just like that, and our Lord doesn't want to hear about it
anymore; and the good 'works' built upon That Foundation remain. And that is the
Foundation of True Christianity which Christ built. Don't let any man or 'system' rob you
of that, trying to keep you in bondage.
Paul is going to go deeper in this 3rd Chapter of Galatians
concerning the differences between the New Covenant and the Old Covenant Law, as we ask a
Word of Wisdom from our Father in Christ Yeshua's Name, Amen.
Gal 3:1
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before
whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Paul is trying to remind them of their first hearing and
receiving our Lord Jesus Christ. These Galatians were going down the path of forgetting,
much as Christ's Apostles had done after Jesus had resurrected (see Luke 24). Their
unbelief is an example for us today, and as said before, that's why these events happened
to them, so we would know what would befall us in these 'latter days' (see I
Cor.10:10-11). So it's really important to know where your 'foundation' is today, in order
to stand against the future coming of a 'false messiah' (Eph.6). That 'son of perdition'
will come in our near future, during this last generation of the flesh (2 Thess.2).
Gal
3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works
of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Paul is asking them a question, "Did you receive the
Holy Spirit because of following the Law, or by believing on Jesus Christ as Savior?"
Well, by 'faith' of course! The Law hasn't saved anyone yet, nor will It ever,
because one would have to be 'perfect' in It, if that were possible. Break just one little
jot or tittle of the Law, and that means automatic failure in all of It.
Paganism teaches the idea of 'perfection'. That's one of
their biggest lies from Satan. The 'wicked one' knows very well that the flesh cannot be
perfect. That's why pagans come up with the idea of reincarnation, because it's very
obvious that everyone born in the flesh has sinned. So they give thousands of lives in the
flesh to 'get it right'. It won't happen, as all are given to be born of woman one time,
and then judgment (Heb.9:27). Christ's command in Matt.5:48: "Be ye therefore
perfect, even as your Father Which is in heaven is perfect", really means
to be complete in moral and mental character, i.e. maturity, as the word for 'perfect'
is 'teleios' in the Greek (Strong's no.5046). Our Savior was in the flesh when He
stated that. He was saying to be 'mature' like our Father (Yehovah) Who is in Heaven.
Jesus was talking about being 'perfect' in the 'spiritual sense', not the flesh, for He
knew we would always fall short while in the flesh.
Gal 3:3
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
Christ sets us free from the bondage of flesh. That's what
Salvation means, because none can ever hope to achieve their own salvation. Does that mean
that God's Law is not good, just because our flesh can't ever hope to be perfect in It?
Not at all; The Law was our 'Schoolmaster', as stated earlier. It is our 'Guide'. Even the
Hebrew word for 'Law' points the Way of Salvation through Christ; i.e. 'Towrah',
from its root means 'to throw or shoot an arrow; point out; teach' (Strong's
nos.8451;3384)..
Perhaps the confusion between Salvation through faith in
Christ and The Law by many Christians today, is because they don't have a good
understanding from The Old Testament concerning this matter of flesh and Spirit. Since
very few Churches are teaching the whole Word of God, Chapter by Chapter and verse by
verse, they miss much Truth. I'm going to go really deep here, so hang on to your hats.
Both Old and New Testaments reveal, especially in the
Manuscripts, the previous existence of a spiritual first earth age (Gen.1:2; Jer.4;
Isa.45:18; Jer.1; II Peter 3; Jude; Romans 9). It was a time when even Satan (Lucifer) 'was
perfect' in his ways (Ezek.28). At that time also, all 'souls' (that means us too)
had already been created by GOD (Gen.2:1), and we 'all' existed on this earth, in a state
of Paradise, or Eden, with 'no flesh body'. You won't find any 'direct'
statements like the last one in God's Word, but you will come to know it if you properly
understand Paul's references to 'foreknew', 'predestinated', and many
more Chapters which reveal that first time 'of old'. I feel I've done my job so
far, in helping to reveal that first time with my other Letters on Genesis and Isaiah.
That was to prepare for properly understanding The New Testament, and the 'fulfillment' of
the prophesied Salvation through Christ Jesus, and the coming of God's future Kingdom upon
earth. Even Paul taught this in Hebrews 11 that those Patriarchs and prophets of The Old
Testament had 'faith' in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ, but they hadn't received the
fulfilled Promise of Salvation yet, as It wouldn't be fulfilled until Jesus Christ came in
the flesh and died upon the cross. In other words, they definitely knew that GOD was going
to send His Savior for the gift of Salvation; they just didn't get to live in the flesh to
see it be fulfilled! Hebrews 11:13 reveals that those of Old Testament times who had
'faith' in the Promise of the coming Salvation, 'knew' they were 'strangers' and
'pilgrims' here on the earth, trapped in flesh bodies, and that their REAL HOME was a
spiritual 'heavenly home', and that It would AGAIN, eventually, be re-established upon
this earth, as it was once before. Satan (then called Lucifer) rebelled during that first
time drawing with him a third of all souls (Rev.12), and GOD removed His Heaven from off
the earth (Gen.1:4-5), to where It is now, until the time which all Christians await, the
second coming of Messiah Jesus Christ, and the 're-institution' of His Kingdom upon earth
(Rev.21:2-10). It is sad today that many Christians don't understand this from Scripture,
especially since those who had 'faith' in Old Testament times did know.
Apparently, that's why so many fellow Christians are lacking
in their understanding about what 'Heaven' is going to be like in the future. Ask them;
you'll get all sorts of concoctions. Many can seem to dream up all kinds of cotton candy
visions of Heaven, living in a cotton-like ether space of floating clouds and such, and
nothing else below. GOD created this ancient earth to be inhabited, and
that's just the way it's going to be put back in His Eternity also, as it was before
Lucifer rebelled (Isa.45:18; Isa.14; Ezek.28 & 31). This 'flesh age' is a TEST to see
who we would worship, and nothing more. That's why we don't remember that first time 'of
old', because it would influence our decision of who we would worship today. Lucifer's
rebellion caused this 'flesh age', and he has been given control of it. There never was
any such thing as 'death in the flesh' during that first time of old, because none of us
were in flesh then; we were all 'spiritual bodies', as it will be again in the future
Eternity. That's why Paul is talking about the re-establishing of that original spiritual
first earth age of God's Holy City with, "...flesh and blood cannot inherit the
Kingdom of God..." (I Cor.15:50). Since Jesus Christ came as Savior, how did He
accomplish It? He came in the flesh, being born of woman just like you and I, but He was
Perfect even while in the flesh, which was required to defeat Satan who is 'Death'
(Heb.2:14).
So if you understand all of this, then know that we,
who believe on and accept Jesus Christ as our Salvation, AND by refusing to worship the
'false messiah' who comes first, our souls will have already had 'eternal life', beginning
at that time 'of old', i.e. the first earth age before Lucifer rebelled, all the way
through this flesh age, and even evermore in the last earth age to come, GOD's Eternity.
That is the 'first resurrection' written in Revelation 20. Those who refuse
Salvation through Christ today; they are the 'spiritually dead', also written of in
Revelation 20:5. Those spiritually dead 'live not again' during the thousand year
reign of Christ and His elect, in the eternal everlasting 'sense' of the spiritual
body, because their 'image' can still yet perish. Their spiritual body is still
'mortal' at that point (I Cor.15:53). Those will be given the opportunity to hear and
understand The Word at that time, and will be 'tested' at the end of that thousand year
period, and by overcoming Satan, will also receive 'eternal everlasting life' along with
Christ's elect.
So tell me now; what is all this deception and
consternation of the flesh? The REAL YOU is of the 'Spirit', not the flesh! Jesus Christ
came as The Way of Salvation to release our souls from the 'perishing nature' of Satan's
flesh world, so don't get all bogged down in this flesh and make it a prison of bondage
for yourself. Paul the Apostle, and all the saints who once lived in this flesh knew these
Truths from The Word, and The New Testament was written with this previous knowledge of
that first time 'of old', to GOD's Eternity. So always keep these things in
remembrance, even when studying The New Testament, and you'll understand Its Truth where
others only cover the surface.
Gal
3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh
miracles among you, doeth He it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
As you should realize by now, the Spirit is of Its own
'realm', and the flesh is of another. They are joined into one being, as Paul taught with "There
is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." (I Cor.15:44). The
word 'is' means present tense, so both bodies exist, 'right now', at the same
time, in one being, to make up, us, me, you, we, they, etc.
The miracles Jesus Christ did while in the flesh, those
miracles which the Apostles did, and even the miracles which still happen today among
Christ's believers, which realm and of Whom do they come from? Is 'faith' of the flesh, or
of the Spirit? The flesh is of Satan's design. It is destined to 'perish', as all of us
will have cast off this flesh, either before Christ returns, or at His coming.
Gal
3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the
children of Abraham.
Abraham's faith of his time is no different than our faith
in Christ today. It is the same 'Faith', thus all in that 'faith' through Jesus Christ,
are counted as the 'children of Abraham'.
The 'Promise' of Salvation through Jesus Christ Messiah's
crucifixion and resurrection, was given to Abraham. Even righteous Abel knew of that
'promise' and also had 'faith' (Heb.11; Gen.4). That Tree of Life, Which is Jesus Christ,
established in 'heaven', The Way of Salvation, even in Adam's days (Gen.3:22-24; Rev.2:7).
And Enoch, the seventh from the man Adam, through 'faith' received The Gospel, which is
the 'testimony of Christ' (Heb.11; Jude 1:14). That Plan of Salvation was revealed to man
in stages.
Gal 3:8
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached
before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, "In thee shall all nations be
blessed."
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Did you realize that the Promise which GOD 'preached
unto Abraham' was The Gospel of Christ? (Gen.12) Remember John 8:56 where
Christ said to the 'scribes and Pharisees', "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see
my day: and he saw it, and was glad." Even Abraham knew Salvation was unto the
Gentile also, and that before It was revealed to Peter in Acts 10.
Gal
3:10 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."
Paul was quoting from Deut.27:26 here. He's merely saying
that those who strictly live by The Law, are under a 'curse' when they fail to do
everything written in that Law. Can we do it? No, and neither could the Israelites be
perfect in It. But Christ was Perfect in The Law, being totally without sin (Heb.4:15).
Gal
3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is
evident: for, "The just shall live by faith."
This quote by Paul was from Habakkuk 2:4, as Paul really
knew The Old Testament Scripture well. "Well we never covered Habakkuk in Sunday
school...," some might say. Time to get busy, is all I can say. You might want to
cover the rest of The Old Testament also. Though you will not find the word 'gospel' in
The Old Testament, I assure you, The Gospel of Christ was known and taught, as Paul here
testifies.
Gal
3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, "The man that doeth them shall
live in them."
Again Paul is quoting from The Old Testament; this time from
Lev.18:5. He hasn't changed his Message concerning those who wish to be solely under The
Law, and thereby shun 'faith in Christ.' If you want to be 'justified' in The Law, instead
of by faith in Christ, then if you fail in just one single matter of The Law, all is for
naught.
Gal
3:13 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:"
This time the quote is from Deut.21:23. As written in 1 John
3:4: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the
transgression of the law," our sins while in this flesh are the
automatic breaking of God's Law. You just sinned? You just broke one of God's Laws. And
who is without sin? So those who live without accepting Christ as Savior, and trust solely
upon the Law, or on their own 'moral code', are without Salvation. I can't make it any
plainer.
Since our Heavenly Father offered His Son for US, so that we
might receive Salvation through Christ Jesus, then why deny Him? Is man's world
perfect? The whole nature of this flesh existence is a perishing. Everything of the
flesh obviously deteriorates and breaks down. Even those who push the environmental crisis
reveal that once man drives pollution, etc. to the max, mother nature will make a major
abrupt change to compensate, destroying man's 'flesh' existence off the earth. Aren't they
admitting an 'outside' intelligent influence with that idea? They just won't say
Yehovah is That Intelligence behind it all, but indirectly, their own science admits it!
The 'curse of the law' is not because of the
existence of God's Law, for It is how we know when we sin, as It points to the Way of
Righteousness. Therefore, it is this 'flesh' state of degradation which causes the
'curse', because the flesh can't abide by It. The flesh state, though formed by our
Father, is not of our True Nature which He intended us to be. No, this flesh state of sin
is of Satan's nature, for he is the one who caused GOD to bring this flesh state about.
Our Heavenly Father brought this flesh age into existence for our benefit, so we could
make our own 'choice' to 'return' to Him. Did you realize that before this 'flesh
age', we all once knew and worshipped The Father through His Son in that time 'of
old'? (Ps.22:27; Isa.46; Ps.74:2; Habakkuk 3, notice past and future tense voice;
Jer.4:22-27 as compared with Gen.1:2 and Isa.45:18 all in Hebrew using a Strong's.)
So all the philosophers in the world trying to preach a
justification of the flesh, do so in ignorance, or are purposefully lying. What audacity,
to think that the flesh could ever see the Kingdom of God. It doesn't matter how we try to
'justify' the flesh, our Father is going to get rid of it, and with a 'consumption' it
will not withstand. So how ya doin'? Are you laying up everlasting heavenly Treasure in
Christ for yourself, or the false kingdom of the flesh?
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the
Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through
faith.
The blessing of Christ's birth through Abraham's seed was
first given in Gen.22:18. Paul is really covering the Gospel of Christ Message way back in
The Old Testament, giving us many examples of his scholarship, and especially, to 'remind'
us that Christ came in the 'Volume of The Book', all of It, not just The New Testament.
You'll find this Promise of Salvation to the Gentile also in
Isaiah.2:2; 11:10; 19:23-25; 42:6; 49:6; 52:10; 60:3; 66:12; Ps.22:27; Ps.67; 68; 72;
Ps.138:4; Micah 4; Zech.2:11; Zech.8. All those references to the Gentiles
receiving Salvation through Christ is amazing isn't it? Did you notice they are all
Old Testament references? In many matters, GOD gives us more understanding of His
Word in The Old Testament, than in The New Testament. Paul knew this. That's why he's
teaching from The Old Testament here in Galatians, because that's all there was during His
day, and he was very, very proficient in It.
If you're interested in New Testament references to
Salvation to the Gentile, here's more: Rom.4:3-17; 10:9; Gal.3:29; Luke 2:10; Acts 2:39; 1
Tim.2:4; Acts 2:38; 10:45; Acts 9:15; Acts 11; 13:47-48; 26; Rom.8; 1 Cor.12:13; Rev.7:9;
11:15.
Gal 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men;
Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man
disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
The word 'covenant' is 'diatheke' in the
Greek meaning 'a contract', and the word 'confirmed' in the Greek means 'to
ratify, make authoritative' (Strong's nos.1242;2964).
Paul's saying that men in the world make 'contracts' with
each other, and when they put their seal upon it, that contract is binding to all parties
involved. So likewise, GOD gave us a 'Contract' (His Covenant), as written through His
prophets, and it is binding also. That is, if we are willing. Our Father Yehovah's
Contract is offering us Salvation through 'faith' in His Son Jesus Christ, if...we
are willing. And His Contract is written 'in stone', It will not be broken, as man's
contracts often are. That 'Covenant Promise' made to Abraham is GOD's Contract to all who
believe on His Son Jesus Christ Messiah.
Gal
3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not,
"And to seeds," as of many; but as of one, "And to thy seed," Which is
Christ.
Romans Chapters 8 - 11, and 1 Peter 2 teach that many
stumbled at a 'stumblingstone' which is the 'cornerstone' the builders rejected. That
'Stone' of stumbling is Christ for many of Judah, even today, as they are still waiting
for the first Advent of Messiah. Each individual has a responsibility to accept Jesus
Christ as Savior, or not. And each will be held accountable to Him for their choice. Some
from the 'house of Judah' have accepted Christ today, though it's not widely publicized,
and many from the 'house of Israel' have not. That GOD made a specific Promise through one
particular 'seed', and through that 'bloodline seed' would come Jesus Christ, is what Paul
is talking about here. Through that 'seed', all nations would be blessed, as Jesus Christ
came to offer all peoples Salvation. The various races each have a purpose and Mission
which our Heavenly Father ordained in the beginning. But Christ is to all; not just
one 'seed' when Salvation is involved.
Gal
3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before
of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot
disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
The Law (Torah) was given by Yehovah to Israel through
Moses, 'four hundred and thirty years' after He gave Abraham 'The
Promise'.
How many can remember when 'a man's word was his
bond'? I think it's been a long time compared with the way man makes promises today.
But even though God hadn't written down His Law yet during Abraham's day, It was still 'in
force', as God will not go back on His Promise. But just as man's 'contracts' have
conditions, so does agreeing to God's Covenant Contract. That 'condition' is a 'willing
heart' to follow His Son in faith, in deed, and in repentance:
Isa
1:18 Come now, and let us reason together," saith the LORD: though your
sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they
shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat
the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for
the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."
Why would a child wish to rebel against his righteous father
who offers blessings and goodness. The situation is no different with our True Father in
Heaven, Who loves us and offers us His Blessings and Goodness.
This 'sword' refers to Satan's 'sword' of lies, i.e. the
'flood' of the end time which comes out of his mouth, and is his method of going forth to
conquer (Rev.6).
Gal
3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of
promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Paul told us that the Law was given later, after GOD gave
The Promise to Abraham. So what was that 'Promise' again? That Christ Jesus Messiah would
come through Abraham's seed, offering 'all' The Way to Salvation. Is that 'gained' by the
Law then? No, it is by 'faith'. The 'inheritance', which means to be 'joint-heirs
with Christ', will not be given to us if we seek to be justified by The Law (see
Rom.4; 8; Titus 3:7; Heb.6:17). That we are justified by 'faith' in Jesus Christ, and not
through following The Law, is still the heart of Paul's Message here in Galatians.
Gal
3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of
transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was
ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
So why did GOD give us His Law through His prophet Moses,
the 'mediator' of this verse? Today, Jesus Christ is our Mediator Who we
must go through to our Father Yehovah. The 'veil' of The Temple was torn in two from top
to bottom (rent) when Jesus Christ died on the cross. That means our 'faith' in Christ
needs no man, no system of man, none but Christ, for us to speak to our Father in Heaven.
Have you talked to Him lately, through His Son Jesus Christ?
Before Jesus Christ came in the flesh, there was only a
'hope' towards His coming and the offer of Salvation. God's Law was given at that time to
help those 'point the Way' of Christ. Can you imagine how much worse man's state would be
today, if GOD had not given us His Law also? We are to use It as a 'Guide', but It
will never replace Salvation through Christ, GOD's Promise.
Gal
3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
A mediator by itself is no 'go-between' of itself. But
Jesus Christ is Immanuel 'God with us', and He is our Mediator to The Father
(Isa.7:14; Matt.1:23).
Gal
3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God
forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life,
verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Well since Christ came and died on the cross to offer all
Salvation, then does The Law conflict with Salvation? Paul's saying that if we were
given a Law which could give us eternal Salvation, then Christ wouldn't have needed to die
on the cross for us. So we are to understand that The Law and The Promise of
Salvation are two different operations.
Let me put it this way. When Christ comes into His Kingdom
upon this earth, on His future Advent, as written in Rev.20 and many other places in
Scripture, what will He use to hand out righteous Judgment? Every King has a Law of
the land to rule by. Which will Christ, our True KING use? The last nine Chapters of
Ezekiel will give many of the answers, and those Chapters must be understood in the
spirit, not the flesh, for the age of flesh will be past history at that time during God's
Millennium reign on earth.
Gal
3:22 But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith
of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe,
As 1 John 3:4 said, "...for sin is the
transgression of the law." If anyone could be perfect in
following The Law, Christ would not be needed. God made sure that we all fall short
for a reason. To show us that without Him through His Son, we are vanity. Call it a
humbling, or whatever one wishes to name it. It still shows that Yehovah is The Only GOD;
there is none else.
Notice Paul is pointing out a condition with this verse.
That the 'promise by faith of Jesus Christ' might be given to believers, and not to those
who refuse Christ. Those who refuse, well, they've got a bit more humbling coming. That's
why God gave us His Law, to show us that we cannot do our own Salvation.
(Those who rebel, having no interest in GOD's Promise,
attempting to do their own salvation, will not admit it, but they lead miserable lives.
The reason why their pride keeps pushing them into walls, is because their senses have
become 'numb' to suffering. They've gotten somewhat used to it, as an addiction. That's a
terrible price to pay for self-pride, and determination to prove GOD wrong. The wicked one
loves them for it, and is laughing at every wrong step they make, as they grope in
darkness. They may show their ill-gotten gains and riches, but they won't tell you how
miserable hanging on to it makes them. When through all their meticulous craft and great
planning of precision, after beating down God's children, and God raises up His,
miraculously, with no apparent planning, it really stumps their understanding and riles
their anger at God even the more. Again, Satan loves them for their ignorance, and even he
gets angry when they fail. The ensuing battle of Armageddon, which GOD fights, not us,
will be their biggest coming 'wall' against all their apparently well thought out plans
for world government. They think they are setting the 'trap'. In reality, God is setting
the 'trap' for them.)
Gal
3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith
which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto
Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Paul finally hits it on the nail. The Law was given so that
we would know of GOD's Promise, that His Son would come offering Salvation to all who
would believe on Christ. The Law was our constant pointer and reminder of that Promise and
how we were to prepare for Him and serve Him.
Gal
3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a
schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Here comes a verse that stirs many. Since Christ came, The
Holy Spirit is now our 'schoolmaster'. That Spirit is our 'Guide' in understanding God's
Word, and our Mission for today as Christ's servants (John 14:26; Acts 20:28; 1 Cor.12).
Well does that mean that all of God's Law was then done away with? Afraid not, as for one
example, Christ became our Passover sacrificed for us (I Cor.5:7). Christ also became our
True 'Rest' or Sabbath (Heb.4). In this way, Christ on His first Advent as Messiah,
'fulfilled' much of The Law. There is yet much written in The Law which is still waiting
to be fulfilled (see Deut.32 for one). That's why Jesus would say in Matthew 5:18: "For
verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise
pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." The phrase, 'Till heaven and
earth pass,' means the second coming of Christ Messiah. That event has not happened
yet, so not all is fulfilled.
Also, God's health Law, nor His Ten Commandments will not be
conned. Since we all are still in the flesh, and still commit sin, and "...sin is
the transgression of the law," that should tell you something.
The Holy Spirit is now our Teacher, so then, does that mean
we no longer have need of Scripture study? Of course not. That's where many are misled. If
it were any other way, then why would our Father have given us His Word, and especially
the Book of Revelation? Did our Father give His Word to us just to show
non-believers that Christians have It in their possession? Again no. Many seem to think
that once they exhibit one or more gifts from The Holy Spirit, they then know all of God's
Word without reading and study. I covered earlier in this Galatians study how Paul, before
Christ struck him down on the road to Damascus, was a scholar of God's Word, yet he didn't
have proper understanding, and was strict in the Pharisee traditions 'based' on The Word
of God. Then after Christ converted him, and he received The Holy Spirit, everything he
had studied in Scripture before, became 'crystal clear'.
Another marker for today is how many in Christ can show
being filled with The Holy Spirit, but they are so misguided in Scripture as to the
pre-tribulation "secret rapture" theory, or they are very unprepared for the events soon to come
upon the world. The Word reveals that none are going anywhere before or during the first
tribulation by Satan as a false messiah. In other words, they are relying solely on The
Holy Spirit to guide them, without studying God's Word. Thus many are being prepared to
'fly away' with the false messiah, a doctrine which our Father hates (Ezek.13). There's a
melting from God's consuming fire which ends this flesh age upon Christ's return, so no
flesh shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. So where's the flesh of the pre-tribulation
rapturists going when they 'fly away'? "Wheresoever the carcase is, there will
the eagles (vultures) be gathered together" (Matt.24:28). That word 'carcase'
is 'ptoma' in the Greek Manuscripts, meaning 'a ruin, i.e. (specifically)
lifeless body (corpse; carrion)' (Strong's no.4430).
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into
Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there
is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye
Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
It is of the utmost importance, that it be understood that
we haven't come into that final Kingdom of Heaven on earth yet. We are still in the flesh,
and that Kingdom is not of the flesh, but of the Spirit (I Cor.15:50). In that sense, when
we accept Christ today, whether one is Jew or Gentile, that Promise is now, but in The
Holy Spirit being fulfilled within us, through our 'spiritual nature', as the Body of
Christ. It cannot be fulfilled in the flesh nature of the world, as this flesh age is
still given under Satan's control (compare Luke 4:6 with Rev.11:15). For the same reason
that we are yet still in the flesh, each nation or people, still have a 'flesh' Mission to
accomplish according to God's Plan. But in the Spirit, those in Christ, no matter where
they are, are already 'joint-heirs' of Christ's Kingdom, Which today still is in
Heaven on The Right Hand of GOD, and not yet established upon earth.
As always, there is a condition to partake of
Christ's Kingdom. 'And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed...', is the
condition. You must accept Christ Jesus as Savior to fulfill that condition.
Peace be to you in Christ Jesus,
Dave Ramey.
Footnotes:
All references to
"Strong's nos." are from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, PC Study
Bible, Biblesoft, 1993-1996.
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