“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God 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” (vs12-13).
To convince us of sin, so that we need Jesus Christ, the holy law comes to reveal the evil that we are. It doesn’t come to reform us or to show what we can do; it comes to reveal that we need help undeserved, without price. God must do everything, and our mouths must be stopped in guilt before God (Rom 3:19-20).
Do you need Jesus Christ to save you from sin‘s penalty, power, and the pain of its stain? Or, are you ok on your own? There are two options here: I need Christ, or I don’t… and if I need Him, then I bow on His terms for the salvation He gives - “And [Pharaoh] made [Joseph] to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt“ (Gen 41:43).
Paul thought himself good until the law came, and then he was blind for three days and nights, “For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died” (Rom 7:9). The law stopped his boasting and revealed him to be a lustful beast, rather than someone that had honored God. Instead of “all these things have I kept since my youth”, it was, “O wretched man that I am, guilty, hell-worthy, undone” (Matt 19:20). The law STOPS the mouth or the sinner goes to hell, asleep in sin - “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. No, I had not known sin, but by the law, for I had not known lust, except the law had said, You shall not covet“ (Rom 7:7).
Where are you? Alive or sleep? Are you conscience of your need and believing on Christ, or are you deceived into thinking it is OK with you?
If you trust Christ, then the law works in you. If not, then you’re deceived, even now, as you rest without Christ. You think it will work out, but it won’t. You think your refuge will last, but it will not, “for the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it” (Is 28:20). You’ll pay for your sins, when you could have had a Savior. You reject the blood of Christ, spitting on God’s holy Son, because you don’t know your need. You say, “All these things have I kept from my youth up”, and you live proudly, when you’re cursed of God (Matt 19:20). You brag about your goodness and not being as bad as the next person, but except you repent, God’s wrath is on you. Jesus says, “I tell you, No: but except you repent, you shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
You’re in Christ or condemned. You’re guilty enough to believe on Him, or you stupid, blind, and lost, thinking yourself safe while you drive towards the cliff. It is only a matter of time, and He will punish you, getting glory out of using you for hell (Rom 9:22-23). You either FLEE to the Savior, or you are under wrath, hated by God, and left to yourself.
There is no safe ground but Christ. Where are you?
Comment regarding foregiveness and heaven:
ReplyDeletele-havdil,I would recommend you to listen to the words of Ribi Yehoshua ha-Mashiakh (the Messiah) from Nazareth’s authentic teachings. It reads:
[Torah, Oral Law & Hebrew Matityahu: Ribi Yehoshua Commanded Non-Selective Observance
The Netzarim Reconstruction of Hebrew Matityahu (NHM) 5:17-20]
[Glossaries found in the website below.]:
"I didn't come to subtract from the Torâh of Moshëh or the Neviim, nor to add onto the Torah of Moshëh did I come. Because, rather, I came to [bring about the] complete [i.e., non-selective] observance of them in truth.
Should the heavens and ha-Aretz exchange places, still, not even one י or one of the Halâkhâh of the Torah of Moshehshall so much as exchange places; toward the time when it becomes that they are all being performed -- i.e., non- selectively -- in full.
For whoever deletes one [point of] the Halâkhâh of these mitzwot from Torah, or shall teach others such, [by those in] the Realm of the heavens he shall be called 'deleted.' And whoever ratifies and teaches them shall be called ' Ribi' in the Realm of the heavens.
For I tell you that unless your tzәdâqâh is over and above that of the [Hellenist-Roman Pseudo- Tzedoqim] Codifiers of halakhah, and of the Rabbinic- Perushim sect of Judaism, no way will you enter into the Realm of the heavens." (see NHM)
Quote from www.netzarim.co.il ; “History Museum”
The reconstruction is made using a scientific and logic methodology. One of the premises is that the historical Ribi Yehoshua was a Torah-observant Pharisee (why that premise is true is found in the above website, in which you also will find more information about why a reconstruction is needed).
The historical Ribi Yehoshua and his followers Netzarim observed Torah non-selectively. The above website proofs that the person who want to follow the historical Ribi Yehoshua must do likewise.
This is what Ribi Yehoshua taught and he taught in accordance with Torah, that anyone who adds a mitzwah (directive or military style order) or removes a mitzwah from Torah is a false prophet.
According to Tan’’kh (for example Yekhezeqiel 18) the foregiveness of the Creator is required for eternal life. Ribi Yehoshua taught: “And whoever ratifies and teaches them shall be called ' Ribi' in the Realm of the heavens.” Ribi Yehoshuas teachings was in accordance with Yekhezeqiel (“Hezekiel”) 18, in which the Creator promisese His foregiveness only for the persons who do his/her utmost to keep Torah non-selectively (The implications of those verses is that He gives His foregiveness in His loving-kindness for the mistakes of those and only those whom do their best to keep Torah). If one braches Torah wilfully one needs to do teshuvah (see definition in the Glossaries in the above Netzarim-website.)
You rely on Christian redactions, instead of Torah and Ribi Yehoshua who taught according to Torah.
Anders Branderud