Being made aware of certain events, details, and other random information is a part of our everyday life. Gaining knowledge and exercising knowledge begins as soon as we wake up in the morning. We do this particularly in specific areas of expertise. In other words, in our jobs, while on the job, and doing business. Most of the time we exercise existing knowledge: certain knowledge we have already gained by education or experience; however, at times our occupation demands further training and education. The companies and businesses we work for take the time to train and educate their employees. This includes an array of things such as how to do your job better, how to do a specific part of your job better, or how to do a new aspect of your job that is being implemented. Simply put, learning and receiving, as well as, exercising knowledge is routine at work and in our lives.
At the moment one trusts Christ as their all-sufficient Savior there is training God our heavenly Father wants them to receive. When one believes Christ died for the debt and penalty of their sins on the Cross our Father wants the believer to be equipped to share the same glorious news that saved them. As our Father begins to train us as “ambassadors for Christ” it could be said, “the eyes of our understanding” begin to be enlightened; in other words, 1) we begin to learn the dark predicament we were in before we trusted in Christ, and 2) the dark predicament the world is still in. In Romans 1-3 our Father equips us to be effectual “ambassadors for Christ” as part of His business and it is in Romans 1:18-32 where we are made aware of the world’s worthiness of God’s wrath. We are made aware “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” , so that, we can make “men” effectually aware of God’s wrath being against them.
LIGHT
All throughout scripture when God’s “glory” is being expressed and explained it always is manifest by a bright light. In fact Paul writes about this very issue in 1 Tim. 6:16, in context of the Lord Jesus Christ,
“who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen”
God through the express person of Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisible God and the brightness of His glory (2 Cor. 4:4; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3) is “dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto”, that is, no man in Adam with an unrighteous standing before God. Now, the brightness of God’s glory is only the represent manifestation of the glory. His glory consists of His God-ness; the characteristics and attributes of who He is such as His “eternal power and Godhead” (Rom. 1:20).
These characteristics of God that make up His God-ness, especially the two previously mentioned, are the very things that God has made known of Himself to every man. God not only left a fingerprint trail in everyman, but He also manifests the things that can be known of Him “from the creation of the world”, which “are clearly seen”. This is what Paul says in Rom. 1:19-20,
19, “because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.”
20, “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly see, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
Simply put, every man can and does understand the “invisible things” of God by the consciousness of Himself that He has placed within everyone, as well as, the creation manifesting and bearing witness to God. Therefore, it can fundamentally be said that mankind knows God. This knowledge is not intimate; however, according to God manifesting the things that can be known of Him it can be said, “mankind knows God.” They know of His “eternal power and Godhead” and thereby “the glory of the uncorruptible God”.
AMBASSADORS
This point of the light of God-consciousness is where we begin to function as “ambassadors for Christ” as we present the “gospel of Christ”. As an ambassador we make men aware of our Sovereigns existence and the testimony of His God-ness from understanding the things that are made in creation. This will be the first point in our presentation of “the gospel of Christ” that will test and challenge the heart and mind of the unjustified. As we present this “truth of God” to them they are left “without excuse” and thereby challenged with the effectual working of God’s Word that is designed to lead them to change their mind. They will respond in one of two ways. If they in the honesty of their heart will respond positively to the light of God-consciousness we then can present the next point that will test their volition. If they decide to respond negatively to the light of God-consciousness and oppose the truth of God it is testimony of God’s wrath being against them.
DARKNESS
Romans 1:18-32 is our Father’s indictment against mankind. It is His substantial evidence that ultimately deserves and warrants just judgment. The nature of this substantial evidence against the world begins when the “course of this world” was charted and catered to by mankind. It was at this time God gave the world over to “the power of darkness” . God consigned the world over to the Adversary, because mankind consigned themselves over to it, by aligning their hearts with the wisdom of this world rendering their hearts foolish. In Romans 1:21, God characterizes mankind’s heart for what it now became, according to the “the power of darkness”;
“because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was DARKENED.” {EMPHASIS ADDED}
Their hearts were darkened and the light of God-consciousness was covered by its’ power. In other words, they “hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18b). This ultimately led to ungodly and unrighteous conduct and behavior that warrants justice. God uses this case when He consigned the world over to the Adversary due to their compliance with “the power of darkness” as the substantial evidence to prove man’s ungodliness and unrighteousness that deserves God’s wrath. It is this standing and predicament the world is still in today. This world is characterized by being: “vain in their imaginations”, “foolish hearts are darkened”, “professing themselves to be wise, they became fools”, “changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things”, “vile affections”, women changing “the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly”, not retaining “God in their knowledge”, and doing “those things which are not convenient”. This list of man’s offences is on many accounts; yet, there is more. God concludes what is an already lengthy list of “ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” in Rom. 1:29-32. Romans 1:29-32 is the final piece of God’s indictment toward mankind. The strength that these verses give His indictment is remarkable and one would think this is God’s closing statement, but the truth of the matter is, He is just getting started. With the final piece of God’s opening statement it leaves the world and mankind “inexcusable” (Rom. 2:1). Romans 1:29-32,
“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
The strength of God’s charge toward man’s ungodliness and unrighteousness does not only leave mankind “inexcusable”, but it is also inescapable. The rest of the case is formality and although man will produce tactics to escape the charge, there is no escape of God’s wrath being against them due to their “ungodliness and unrighteousness”.
We truly live in a dark world and to not recognize this as such is to not see the world through God’s eyes. This world and the unjustified men in it need to be delivered from “the power of darkness” and be declared righteous in the sight of God. As an ambassador one of the amazing privileges we have is the nature of the message we are graced with to share.
AMBASSADORS OF LIGHT
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthains 4:3-6
It is in this passage that our Father explains in wonderful detail what He does to an unjustified person through the gospel of Christ. As ambassadors this passage explains the honour and granduer to partake in sharing the gospel we are given. And it is in this passage that explains the glorious nature of the gospel. In 2 Cor. 4:6 there is a comparison of the words He spoke during creation that brought light to shine out of darkness to the words He has given us to speak that brings forth light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ to shine in man’s foolish darkened hearts. The glorious gospel of Christ is the light that shines in the hearts that are darkened being consigned to “the power of darkness”. The glorious gospel of Christ is the power of God to change man’s predicament, to satisfy the justice of God against them, to forgive all their sin, to impute His righteousness, and to give an “inheritance of the saints in light (Col. 1:12).”
As we continue in our presentation of the gospel and make unjustified man aware of God’s wrath being against their ungodliness and unrighteousness, Romans 1:18-32 is the passage that is designed to effectually work and challenge their volition in connection with God’s wrath: both the reality and truth of it. At this point they can respond in one of two ways. They can honestly and positively respond to the truth of the wrath of God being against them and change their mind in connection with it, or they can respond negatively. Usually at this point a negative response is formulated through tactics to try and escape the wrath of God. There are only so many excuses the human soul can come up with and our Father in Romans 2 educates us as ambassadors to make us aware of them and also how to respond to each of them. This subject of study will be the content in TCGF next quarterly.
TRAINING
It is a truth that our Father teaches us to co-labour with Him in His business today in the dispensation of the grace of God, by training us and equipping us to effectually share with others as ambassadors, the gospel of Christ; the message that we have believed and are beneficiaries of. As in any business that further educates its’ employees to be effective and efficient, it is expected that the knowledge and education gained will be appreciated, received with zeal, and implemented. May we esteem the training and education we receive in Romans 1-3 as much as God our Father does and thereby appreciate it, receive it with zeal, and implement it to the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Until next time…..Look Up!!!
J. M. Strelecki
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Perceiving Romans 6:15
"What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."
Recently, I have been thoroughly studying "the law". It is unfortunate that on the left side people will say, "good job, when God gave the law it was one of the best things He did!" with zeal and zest I might add. On the right side people will say, "why are you thoroughly studying "the law", don't you know that we are not under it, like the verse says" with zeal and zest as well.
I realized that some justified saints by the time they get to Romans 6:15, are satisfied. I have experienced 3 categories of this satisfaction: 1) They recognize they are justified and do not progress on and turn back unto their carnal lives, 2) They recognize they are justified and immediately go back under the law to try and produce a pleasing life unto God, and the most dangerous of all in my opinion, 3) They recognize they are justified, have zeal and zest for the Cross-work of Calvary; however, go back under the law, yet, more subtlety then group 2. They have a cyclical life of being under the law and being freed by the cross; going under the law and being reminded of the cross; going under the law gaining knowledge of how dreadful of a sinner they are, then are reminded of the cross and are freed again. A process that never seems to end; a form of knowledge, but denying the power thereof. They don't learn they are never to be under the law. Not only does this cycle happen in their lives, but their view of the scriptures becomes veiled. They have justification glasses on when they read the scripture and only see verses that talk about Christ, the cross, being in Him, as verses of their justification. Our Father never stops where they stop, may you and I be like our Father and not stop.
I am not saying, being reminded of the cross; having a zeal and zest for the cross and remembering that Christ paid for your sin, because you were a sinner, is wrong; however, to not progress on in your life in Christ with Him is truly a travesty. I know what Christ did in justifying us is amazing, HE PROVIDED AND GAVE US ETERNAL LIFE, BY PAYING THE DEBT AND PENALTY OF OUR SIN. I know, but what God our Father does through the penmanship of Paul by writing 12 more chapters after Romans 1-4, and 12 other epistles after Romans is to prove and show that on a grand scale and by words and passages on a detailed scale, THAT THE CROSS WAS A MEANS TO AN END. The end being not just eternal life, but functional life, now, that effects our eternal life. An in-depth look at this is not the purpose of me writing, but a basic acknowledgment of what Roman 6:15 is. It is calling justified believers to recognize and should have recognized prior to this point starting in chapter 5.
I have realized that the men and women I am associated with, refer to this verse frequently and rightly so; however, I wonder (especially being an associate pastor, with a heart for saints to have understanding) with consistent, frequent use, if the meaning and proper understanding of this verse has been, not lost, but diminished? I too cannot be excluded from the easiness to pop this verse like spiritual Tylenol (as I heard one pastor say it). It is a easy verse to remember, it is a powerful verse and built into the older English is the grammatical mechanics that make this verse stick in your mind. It is supposed to be all those things; however, God's Word is to work effectually in us, which is a constant, consistent work, not just a spiritual Tylenol that may only have 4-6 hours of strength. I believe it is vital to not only "know" (knowledge) what this verse is saying is important, but "why" (understanding) this verse is saying, what it is saying, is even more important.
So lets get both. This is not a comprehensive look at this verse or its' preceding and following detailed context, but a tool for you to use and my attempt to engage your mind. Our Father calls us to PAY ATTENTION, STUDY, and GAIN WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING from Him.
As mentioned earlier, I have been studying the law and its' purposes'. As I went back in Genesis and Exodus to study out the preceding events of Israel coming to mount Sinai, it was brought to my attention that by the time Israel came to the mount, they were on their last straw of acknowledging something God was teaching them. The LORD by sending the plagues on Egypt was teaching Israel and providing for the uprooting of their heart and mind that they were naturally (because of Abraham) special. The LORD taught this by sending plagues on Egypt; however, the first 3 included the Egyptians and the Israelites. This was to teach them they were no different from the Gentile Egyptians and were not naturally special. The last 7, God "put a division between my people (Israel) and thy (Egyptians) people" (Ex. 8:22). This was to teach them it would only be by God's provision that they would be special.
The 2nd opportunity for Israel to uproot this heart of Jewish natural specialness was through God's provisions up until mount Sinai; which again was to teach them it was God who would have to provide for them, because they were not naturally special.
The 3rd opportunity would be the law. Due to the heart of Israel to think they were naturally special and did not need provisions from the LORD their God; God deliberately and intentionally through Israel's willingness by putting them under the law, put them under the dominion of sin. This last opportunity would be Israel's drawn out lesson consisting of 5 courses (Lev. 26; Deut. 28) to learn what they should have learned in Egypt and before they came to Sinai; however, they failed to recognize their need of God's provision for them; therefore granting themselves the schoolmaster of the law and the very thing the law was designed to produce, an abounding of sin in their members, to again show and teach Israel they were not special. Sin until the law was strong enough to produce death; however, the law was an consistent, constant, contract of extra strength Tylenol that flowed into the members of the members of Israel and made sin abound.
By the way, the heart of natural specialness came to its' acme during the Lord's earthly ministry. It is a heart found in the Pharisee's who thought because they were Abraham's seed, thought they were naturally special, and had natural righteousness/justification. This is what the Lord was up against during His earthly ministry and many of His "sayings" and "teachings" are uprooting this issue by the "words" of His mouth.
With quick, yet proper understanding of the very basic issue of the law, let's take a look at Romans 6:15. Before v. 15, look at v. 14, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Again, before we are to have this verse work effectually in us we need to not only know the fact of it, but have understanding of it.
In Romans 6 our Father has moved into discussing sanctification and how we can now serve Him in newness of life. The following correction, reproof, and instruction in righteousness of sanctification doctrine are found in chapters 6-8. These components are what comprise the "ableness" of God's inspired word to thoroughly furnish us as mature men and women of God ("man of God") He has provided for. Therefore, when the reader comes to Romans 6:14, they are receiving reproof and correction on the doctrine of their sanctification in Christ. The issue is the believer is not only justified, but baptized into Christ with a whole new identity: a reality which the believer first learns he/she needs to reckon. Paul begins to teach what system this new identity works off of; the law or grace? What is schooling us, the law or grace?
Our Father before the believer gets to chapter 6, has already discussed in very basic, general terms the purpose of the law.
Romans 3:22b, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: FOR BY THE LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN."
Romans 4:15, "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression."
Look at these two verses and the different components of the law and bring that to Romans 6:14-15. Notice quickly the first verse. The believer is in the realm of justification, but that no flesh will be justified in God's sight. No one by their own flesh will be justified in God's sight. In Romans 6 the same can be said of sanctification, no flesh by its' own works can be sanctified in the sight of God. The law provided for self-sanctification; Lev. 11:44,
"For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify YOURSELVES, and ye shall be holy; for I am hold: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."
It is my understanding by the basic understanding you are to have by the time you get to Romans 6:14-15 is that the law is a means of self-sanctification in the flesh, which is contrary to God's intention. Romans 6 actually gives the details of our baptism and the identification of the body of sin being crucified with Christ. This is the reality we are to reckon and the means of our sanctification from the power of sin in our mortal bodies, today. Again, these two components of the law:
1) Gives the knowledge of sin
2) Works wrath
a. Means of serving sin
b. Means of sins dominion......which these (a & b) produce wrath.
Although, sanctified the moment a believer was justified, we begin to learn about it here. Our Father begins to teach, how sin will or will not have dominion over you in your new identity in Christ? He presents it in the positive,
"for sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."
Notice a few things:
1) "shall not" - potential mode, meaning "sin COULD still have dominion over you; however, due to our new sanctified position in Christ we have the capacity to be something we were never before and that is being "not under the dominion of sin"
2) "for ye ARE NOT under the law" - definitive mode, meaning we "are not" under the law. This isn't a potential thing. In God's provision He took us out from under the law, that our identity in Christ could operate removing us from the dominion of sin; however, practically WE can put ourselves under sins dominion by willfully going back under the law, which is inconsistent to the preceding verses.
3) "but under grace" - "but"= adverse particle: but we ARE under something else, GRACE. Grace, described here still is a gift of God; however, the application of it is extended into the system in which our new identity in Christ will operate. The means in which our Father is going to teach us. Just as the law gave "knowledge" and functioned by "worketh" things, the grace of God gives "knowledge" and functions by "working" certain things. When I say "working" I am not talking about "fruit" or the "product" of grace, although it does, but rather that it operates or functions.
This leads to the verse 15.
"What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."
Here is some reproof and the next couple verses give some correction. Our Father anticipates the believer's next line of thinking. The first question of 6:1-2 was answered by our new identity and reckoning it so; however, due to verse 14 our Father has opened a whole can of worms, because of the longevity and mastership/dominion of the law over us and by now saying we are no longer under it. The believer will come along and say well if we are not under the operation of the law, then we can sin; however, our Father forbids this thinking and is going to give the mechanics of "graces' operation" to not only destroy sin, but serve God in newness of life and in the spirit. Our Father does this in the rest of chapter 6 and the two following chapters, and truly through the rest of Paul's epistles.
How amazing that not only did our Father justify us through what Christ has done, but He also gave us a new identity by a spiritual baptism in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, so that we could serve Him in newness of life. Not only that, but He provided for the necessary means for that newness of life to function and operate and understood as we should have understood by the time we got to these verses in Romans that, that new life in Christ cannot function under the law, because its' components are of giving the knowledge of sin and working wrath. How wonderful to not only be able to learn these things, but have them work effectually the way our Father designed them to in our inner man.
These verses give the necessary reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness that we need to understand and have God's doctrines work effectually in us. They prove with great certainty that our Father wants us to progress and mature with proper understanding and thankfulness. Our Father has provided not only for justification, but sanctification and as I said before it is a travesty to not only recognize His provision and not take full advantage of it, but also to not properly understand our Father has provided Himself as the means of teaching us to be godly and not have us be under the tutor and governorship of the law. These verses are more than a spiritual medication or cliche's, they are the Word's of the living God that have specific context and meaning that is designed to work effectually in certain parts of our inner man that God also created and has now quickened by the Spirit; to produce a shewing of our members as instruments of righteousness. These verses take believers from step one to step two, they lay the second cornerstone of the foundation of our edification in our inner man, so that, we cannot only have a wonderful foundation, but also BUILD upon that foundation. I am talking about a spiritual building with a correct foundation with the perfect mix of concrete, a wonderful building of each brick laid exactly where it is supposed to, in order to give it the strength, establishment, and stability it was designed to have, and the most glorious capstone of that building in our inner man that in the end could be seen as a inner man conformed to the image of Christ. This is not spiritual jargon, theology, or a time for our pride to get in the way, they are the living Word's of the Living God. Our Father has order, sense and sequence, foreknowledge to know exactly what we need and more than able to provide what we need by His word, He is complex, but not complicated, and has designed His curriculum to teach us with genius and wisdom. He is God, but He is our Father and has specifically provided for Himself to be just that, and for us to be His "sons and daughters".
Look Up,
Josh Strelecki
Recently, I have been thoroughly studying "the law". It is unfortunate that on the left side people will say, "good job, when God gave the law it was one of the best things He did!" with zeal and zest I might add. On the right side people will say, "why are you thoroughly studying "the law", don't you know that we are not under it, like the verse says" with zeal and zest as well.
I realized that some justified saints by the time they get to Romans 6:15, are satisfied. I have experienced 3 categories of this satisfaction: 1) They recognize they are justified and do not progress on and turn back unto their carnal lives, 2) They recognize they are justified and immediately go back under the law to try and produce a pleasing life unto God, and the most dangerous of all in my opinion, 3) They recognize they are justified, have zeal and zest for the Cross-work of Calvary; however, go back under the law, yet, more subtlety then group 2. They have a cyclical life of being under the law and being freed by the cross; going under the law and being reminded of the cross; going under the law gaining knowledge of how dreadful of a sinner they are, then are reminded of the cross and are freed again. A process that never seems to end; a form of knowledge, but denying the power thereof. They don't learn they are never to be under the law. Not only does this cycle happen in their lives, but their view of the scriptures becomes veiled. They have justification glasses on when they read the scripture and only see verses that talk about Christ, the cross, being in Him, as verses of their justification. Our Father never stops where they stop, may you and I be like our Father and not stop.
I am not saying, being reminded of the cross; having a zeal and zest for the cross and remembering that Christ paid for your sin, because you were a sinner, is wrong; however, to not progress on in your life in Christ with Him is truly a travesty. I know what Christ did in justifying us is amazing, HE PROVIDED AND GAVE US ETERNAL LIFE, BY PAYING THE DEBT AND PENALTY OF OUR SIN. I know, but what God our Father does through the penmanship of Paul by writing 12 more chapters after Romans 1-4, and 12 other epistles after Romans is to prove and show that on a grand scale and by words and passages on a detailed scale, THAT THE CROSS WAS A MEANS TO AN END. The end being not just eternal life, but functional life, now, that effects our eternal life. An in-depth look at this is not the purpose of me writing, but a basic acknowledgment of what Roman 6:15 is. It is calling justified believers to recognize and should have recognized prior to this point starting in chapter 5.
I have realized that the men and women I am associated with, refer to this verse frequently and rightly so; however, I wonder (especially being an associate pastor, with a heart for saints to have understanding) with consistent, frequent use, if the meaning and proper understanding of this verse has been, not lost, but diminished? I too cannot be excluded from the easiness to pop this verse like spiritual Tylenol (as I heard one pastor say it). It is a easy verse to remember, it is a powerful verse and built into the older English is the grammatical mechanics that make this verse stick in your mind. It is supposed to be all those things; however, God's Word is to work effectually in us, which is a constant, consistent work, not just a spiritual Tylenol that may only have 4-6 hours of strength. I believe it is vital to not only "know" (knowledge) what this verse is saying is important, but "why" (understanding) this verse is saying, what it is saying, is even more important.
So lets get both. This is not a comprehensive look at this verse or its' preceding and following detailed context, but a tool for you to use and my attempt to engage your mind. Our Father calls us to PAY ATTENTION, STUDY, and GAIN WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING from Him.
As mentioned earlier, I have been studying the law and its' purposes'. As I went back in Genesis and Exodus to study out the preceding events of Israel coming to mount Sinai, it was brought to my attention that by the time Israel came to the mount, they were on their last straw of acknowledging something God was teaching them. The LORD by sending the plagues on Egypt was teaching Israel and providing for the uprooting of their heart and mind that they were naturally (because of Abraham) special. The LORD taught this by sending plagues on Egypt; however, the first 3 included the Egyptians and the Israelites. This was to teach them they were no different from the Gentile Egyptians and were not naturally special. The last 7, God "put a division between my people (Israel) and thy (Egyptians) people" (Ex. 8:22). This was to teach them it would only be by God's provision that they would be special.
The 2nd opportunity for Israel to uproot this heart of Jewish natural specialness was through God's provisions up until mount Sinai; which again was to teach them it was God who would have to provide for them, because they were not naturally special.
The 3rd opportunity would be the law. Due to the heart of Israel to think they were naturally special and did not need provisions from the LORD their God; God deliberately and intentionally through Israel's willingness by putting them under the law, put them under the dominion of sin. This last opportunity would be Israel's drawn out lesson consisting of 5 courses (Lev. 26; Deut. 28) to learn what they should have learned in Egypt and before they came to Sinai; however, they failed to recognize their need of God's provision for them; therefore granting themselves the schoolmaster of the law and the very thing the law was designed to produce, an abounding of sin in their members, to again show and teach Israel they were not special. Sin until the law was strong enough to produce death; however, the law was an consistent, constant, contract of extra strength Tylenol that flowed into the members of the members of Israel and made sin abound.
By the way, the heart of natural specialness came to its' acme during the Lord's earthly ministry. It is a heart found in the Pharisee's who thought because they were Abraham's seed, thought they were naturally special, and had natural righteousness/justification. This is what the Lord was up against during His earthly ministry and many of His "sayings" and "teachings" are uprooting this issue by the "words" of His mouth.
With quick, yet proper understanding of the very basic issue of the law, let's take a look at Romans 6:15. Before v. 15, look at v. 14, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Again, before we are to have this verse work effectually in us we need to not only know the fact of it, but have understanding of it.
In Romans 6 our Father has moved into discussing sanctification and how we can now serve Him in newness of life. The following correction, reproof, and instruction in righteousness of sanctification doctrine are found in chapters 6-8. These components are what comprise the "ableness" of God's inspired word to thoroughly furnish us as mature men and women of God ("man of God") He has provided for. Therefore, when the reader comes to Romans 6:14, they are receiving reproof and correction on the doctrine of their sanctification in Christ. The issue is the believer is not only justified, but baptized into Christ with a whole new identity: a reality which the believer first learns he/she needs to reckon. Paul begins to teach what system this new identity works off of; the law or grace? What is schooling us, the law or grace?
Our Father before the believer gets to chapter 6, has already discussed in very basic, general terms the purpose of the law.
Romans 3:22b, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: FOR BY THE LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN."
Romans 4:15, "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression."
Look at these two verses and the different components of the law and bring that to Romans 6:14-15. Notice quickly the first verse. The believer is in the realm of justification, but that no flesh will be justified in God's sight. No one by their own flesh will be justified in God's sight. In Romans 6 the same can be said of sanctification, no flesh by its' own works can be sanctified in the sight of God. The law provided for self-sanctification; Lev. 11:44,
"For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify YOURSELVES, and ye shall be holy; for I am hold: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."
It is my understanding by the basic understanding you are to have by the time you get to Romans 6:14-15 is that the law is a means of self-sanctification in the flesh, which is contrary to God's intention. Romans 6 actually gives the details of our baptism and the identification of the body of sin being crucified with Christ. This is the reality we are to reckon and the means of our sanctification from the power of sin in our mortal bodies, today. Again, these two components of the law:
1) Gives the knowledge of sin
2) Works wrath
a. Means of serving sin
b. Means of sins dominion......which these (a & b) produce wrath.
Although, sanctified the moment a believer was justified, we begin to learn about it here. Our Father begins to teach, how sin will or will not have dominion over you in your new identity in Christ? He presents it in the positive,
"for sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."
Notice a few things:
1) "shall not" - potential mode, meaning "sin COULD still have dominion over you; however, due to our new sanctified position in Christ we have the capacity to be something we were never before and that is being "not under the dominion of sin"
2) "for ye ARE NOT under the law" - definitive mode, meaning we "are not" under the law. This isn't a potential thing. In God's provision He took us out from under the law, that our identity in Christ could operate removing us from the dominion of sin; however, practically WE can put ourselves under sins dominion by willfully going back under the law, which is inconsistent to the preceding verses.
3) "but under grace" - "but"= adverse particle: but we ARE under something else, GRACE. Grace, described here still is a gift of God; however, the application of it is extended into the system in which our new identity in Christ will operate. The means in which our Father is going to teach us. Just as the law gave "knowledge" and functioned by "worketh" things, the grace of God gives "knowledge" and functions by "working" certain things. When I say "working" I am not talking about "fruit" or the "product" of grace, although it does, but rather that it operates or functions.
This leads to the verse 15.
"What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."
Here is some reproof and the next couple verses give some correction. Our Father anticipates the believer's next line of thinking. The first question of 6:1-2 was answered by our new identity and reckoning it so; however, due to verse 14 our Father has opened a whole can of worms, because of the longevity and mastership/dominion of the law over us and by now saying we are no longer under it. The believer will come along and say well if we are not under the operation of the law, then we can sin; however, our Father forbids this thinking and is going to give the mechanics of "graces' operation" to not only destroy sin, but serve God in newness of life and in the spirit. Our Father does this in the rest of chapter 6 and the two following chapters, and truly through the rest of Paul's epistles.
How amazing that not only did our Father justify us through what Christ has done, but He also gave us a new identity by a spiritual baptism in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, so that we could serve Him in newness of life. Not only that, but He provided for the necessary means for that newness of life to function and operate and understood as we should have understood by the time we got to these verses in Romans that, that new life in Christ cannot function under the law, because its' components are of giving the knowledge of sin and working wrath. How wonderful to not only be able to learn these things, but have them work effectually the way our Father designed them to in our inner man.
These verses give the necessary reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness that we need to understand and have God's doctrines work effectually in us. They prove with great certainty that our Father wants us to progress and mature with proper understanding and thankfulness. Our Father has provided not only for justification, but sanctification and as I said before it is a travesty to not only recognize His provision and not take full advantage of it, but also to not properly understand our Father has provided Himself as the means of teaching us to be godly and not have us be under the tutor and governorship of the law. These verses are more than a spiritual medication or cliche's, they are the Word's of the living God that have specific context and meaning that is designed to work effectually in certain parts of our inner man that God also created and has now quickened by the Spirit; to produce a shewing of our members as instruments of righteousness. These verses take believers from step one to step two, they lay the second cornerstone of the foundation of our edification in our inner man, so that, we cannot only have a wonderful foundation, but also BUILD upon that foundation. I am talking about a spiritual building with a correct foundation with the perfect mix of concrete, a wonderful building of each brick laid exactly where it is supposed to, in order to give it the strength, establishment, and stability it was designed to have, and the most glorious capstone of that building in our inner man that in the end could be seen as a inner man conformed to the image of Christ. This is not spiritual jargon, theology, or a time for our pride to get in the way, they are the living Word's of the Living God. Our Father has order, sense and sequence, foreknowledge to know exactly what we need and more than able to provide what we need by His word, He is complex, but not complicated, and has designed His curriculum to teach us with genius and wisdom. He is God, but He is our Father and has specifically provided for Himself to be just that, and for us to be His "sons and daughters".
Look Up,
Josh Strelecki
Thursday, December 2, 2010
"To Know Wisdom and Instruction"
As I continue to study out THE issue of "they are the sons of God" and how we are adopted as sons, I have been taken back to the book of Proverbs to see the curriculum God has laid out for His sons to follow. Proverbs is fitting for many reasons, but logically because David writing a book of Proverbs (an educational system of an elder teaching a younger man how to be an elder) to his son Solomon (ch. 1-9) typifies that of God teaching His sons. Although, the doctrine of Proverbs I as a member of the Body of Christ do not follow there's a "table of contents" as it were that is laid out in Proverbs, that I have learned every son goes through. The little I have learned already is amazing and the table of contents can be laid out right on Paul's epistles. The main reason I write is this. Throughout all my study and my former persuasion experience in religion and Calvinism, under Lordship salvation I have never come across or understood this issue of adoption and now that I have I am utterly awed. Every denomination as it gave its' own style of education also sought to deny the flesh in some form or capacity, the attention and desire was always misplaced. There may have been some desire to please God, but always went about it in the wrong way. Again, focus, time, energy, was almost always put on the flesh and how to deny it and stop sinning; however, as I learn more and more about "being a son of God" the very first thing God does within His son is "to know wisdom and instruction". Father wants us to be aware of wisdom and instruction, it is a basic but necessary component to being a son of God. The Father then takes you and explains something about His business that will shock, awe, and amaze you. What He explains reveals that all the allurements and attractions are not to be compared with God as our Father teaching us as His sons. The Father is excited and desires to teach you and this "to know wisdom and instruction" is designed to give you the same desire and excitement in receiving the education from your Father. Our Father doesn't want us focused on the flesh and carnal things, but rather reveals that He is MORE attractive than anything else, and His teaching us as a Father this curriculum with Pauline doctrine is not even to be compared with earthly things. Our Father is truly amazing.
Look Up,
Josh Strelecki
Look Up,
Josh Strelecki
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Don't Frustrate The Grace of God
"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
- Galatians 2:21
Every believer, ones who solely trusts that Christ has died for their sin, was buried, and raised again, ones who believe Christ was delivered for their offences and raised again for their justification (to be declared righteous), and the ones who God's righteousness is not only unto, but the ones on whom it is upon, should know what it is to frustrate the grace of God. The believer understood through faith that they were sinners in need of God's righteousness, that no matter what good or bad they had done they fell short. The believer came to understand that all their attempts through law keeping and service to others was not the means of their righteousness, but that their righteousness would come from a source outside themselves, who is Christ.
It seems all to common among believers today that fruit, service, and law-keeping are the focus in the life of a believer. The issue of righteousness is lost and almost unsettled in the believers life resulting in a proving of their salvation by trying to produce something they never could: righteousness. They put their flesh suits on, hit the religious treadmill, and start working and exercising the flesh all to prove something they received by faith in the first place.
Righteousness never came by law keeping or the flesh and never will for if it did or if it does Christ is dead in vain. If your trying to prove your saved, stay saved, or think your saved by works, by law keeping, by the flesh then Christ is dead in vain. The believer starts out by believing solely in the crosswork of Christ, and they continue believing in the crosswork of Christ, He remains the issue. It is then when Christ is not dead in vain, but rather the reality of Galatians 2:20, is unleashed in the inner man.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."
I pray to all those that read that "as ye have received Christ Jesus, so walk ye in Him."
In Him,
Josh
- Galatians 2:21
Every believer, ones who solely trusts that Christ has died for their sin, was buried, and raised again, ones who believe Christ was delivered for their offences and raised again for their justification (to be declared righteous), and the ones who God's righteousness is not only unto, but the ones on whom it is upon, should know what it is to frustrate the grace of God. The believer understood through faith that they were sinners in need of God's righteousness, that no matter what good or bad they had done they fell short. The believer came to understand that all their attempts through law keeping and service to others was not the means of their righteousness, but that their righteousness would come from a source outside themselves, who is Christ.
It seems all to common among believers today that fruit, service, and law-keeping are the focus in the life of a believer. The issue of righteousness is lost and almost unsettled in the believers life resulting in a proving of their salvation by trying to produce something they never could: righteousness. They put their flesh suits on, hit the religious treadmill, and start working and exercising the flesh all to prove something they received by faith in the first place.
Righteousness never came by law keeping or the flesh and never will for if it did or if it does Christ is dead in vain. If your trying to prove your saved, stay saved, or think your saved by works, by law keeping, by the flesh then Christ is dead in vain. The believer starts out by believing solely in the crosswork of Christ, and they continue believing in the crosswork of Christ, He remains the issue. It is then when Christ is not dead in vain, but rather the reality of Galatians 2:20, is unleashed in the inner man.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."
I pray to all those that read that "as ye have received Christ Jesus, so walk ye in Him."
In Him,
Josh
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