The law was a guardian until Christ came. The law showed up sin for what it is but it could not save – no one can be justified by obeying the law. We are justified by faith in Christ. If we could be saved by law then Christ would not have been needed. We do not try to earn Brownie points (and salvation) by pedantically following the law. The more self-sufficient we are, the more righteous (and proud) we would be. God does not work with human pride but with humble people.
We need to humble ourselves and take up our cross daily following the one who made salvation possible – both for us and also for those faithful who served under the law (Hebrews 9:26). Grace is something that is not earned. Grace is a gift from God. By God’s grace, we can say with Paul:
It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Some helpful Bible references on this subject:
Galatians 2:16-21
yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (17) But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! (18) For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. (19) For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. (20) I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (21) I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Galatians 5:1-6
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (2) Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. (3) I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. (4) You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. (5) For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. (6) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Romans 4:13-16
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. (14) For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. (15) For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. (16) That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring–not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
Hebrews 9:26
for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
“No longer”…….you make it sound like it ever was necessary to experience God’s Grace….IN HAS NEVER BROUGHT GRACE.The law simply define what sin is but doesn’t deal with it to the core…..if you followed it, you will have a claim on God that you followed His law…so all you will get is a reward. But that wont make you righteous in God’s eyes…by the law yes but not in God’s eyes….because you still stink with sin…….NO MAN HAS EVER ATTAINED TRUE RIGHTEOSNESS by following the law because we are incapable of pleasing God on our own…..our very desires are viral before Him…Galatians 5:17
We have miserably failed to fight sin on our own..and thus why we have the salvation plan….that through faith in Christ we defeat sin….we wear His garments of righteousness….and thus what God sees when we are in His presence….He sees His son in us…..and keeping those garments we still need the Holy Spirit to stay clean.Its like someone whispering answers to you during an exam…..and when you pass you don’t get credit for it…He does.Thus when you follow the whisper….you are no longer subject to the law but to the righteousness of the one whispering…the Holy Spirit…God….Galatians 5:18……and thus grace because 1. you didn’t deserve the whisper 2. You did nothing for Him to whisper to you or lead you………..the root of Sin has never been delt this way till Christ.And if Christ is the true saviour on of all mankind….then NO LAW before Him(coming on earth I mean) ever saved man.And if He is the only way….then Abraham too had to wait for Him to go to heaven……Grace has been free from DAY ONE
Another Christian that doesn’t understand the Bible. The Law IS grace
Check out Romans 10:4, Romans 6:14, and as Sothie mentioned, Galatians 5:18
All wrong and misinterpreted especially when the words “My law is Grace” came from the mouth of God.
Also Matthew 5:17-19
Sorry, not sure where “My law is Grace” comes from. Can you help with that one? In Matthew 5:17-19, Christ surely validates the permanence of God’s Law but one must look to the why of that and consider it in balance with other Scriptures. No one is denying God’s Law is to be obeyed and is not going anywhere, but since the coming of Christ we now have grace which when coupled with the Law gives us the great privilege of being in right standing with God!
Consider some of the thoughts of Matthew Henry on this passage:
v. 20. This was strange doctrine to those who looked upon the scribes and Pharisees as having arrived at the highest pitch of religion. The scribes were the most noted teachers of the law, and the Pharisees the most celebrated professors of it, and they both sat in Moses’ chair ch. 23:2 ), and had such a reputation among the people, that they were looked upon as super-conformable to the law, and people did not think themselves obliged to be as good as they; it was therefore a great surprise to them, to hear that they must be better than they, or they should not go to heaven; and therefore Christ here avers it with solemnity; I say unto you, It is so. The scribes and Pharisees were enemies to Christ and his doctrine, and were great oppressors; and yet it must be owned, that there was something commendable in them. They were much in fasting and prayer, and giving of alms; they were punctual in observing the ceremonial appointments, and made it their business to teach others; they had such an interest in the people that they ought, if but two men went to heaven, one would be a Pharisee; and yet our Lord Jesus here tells his disciples, that the religion he came to establish, did not only exclude the badness, but excel the goodness, of the scribes and Pharisees. We must do more than they, and better than they, or we shall come short of heaven. They were partial in the law, and laid most stress upon the ritual part of it; but we must be universal, and not think it enough to give the priest his tithe, but must give God our hearts. They minded only the outside, but we must make conscience of inside godliness. They aimed at the praise and applause of men, but we must aim at acceptance with God: they were proud of what they did in religion, and trusted to it as a righteousness; but we, when we have done all, must deny ourselves, and say, We are unprofitable servants, and trust only to the righteousness of Christ; and thus we may go beyond the scribes and Pharisees.
You say “The law showed up sin for what it is but it could not save” so why did the children of Israel have to keep the law then? The keeping of it would show them that they were sinning, yes I udnerstand that but what was the point of them keeping it because a)no one could keep the law and b) it wasn’t going to save them. Would they then be better off not keeping it?
You can understand better if you read this book:He Qualifies You by Chad Mansbridge
Reading Exodus account, you will notice that Moses seeks after God, where the children of Israel seeks after what God can do for them (eg deliver tham from Pharoah, provide food, drink etc) Ps 103:7 clearly states this vast difference between the 2 parties.
The book of Galations describes how one should live by the Spirit by faith, rather than by the Law (Gal 3:11, v2). The former ensures that whatever done, even the attitude is correct whereas the latter see only outward actions. (eg helping a person out of pure concern or helping someone because of what one can get out of this episode)
Gen 39:9 – Joseph understood this in his dealing with Pharoah’s wife. This was before the law of Moses was given. Yet he choose to keep himself holy by not sinning against God, even if it meant infurating Pharoah’s wife!
This is untrue. The Messiah commands us to keep the law. James commands us to keep it as does John in his letters. Try reading Psalm 119 also and checking out @fishersofmenassembly on instagram. Since The Messiah debated and exposed the law breakers of his time, never once did.he say, “by my death the law will be made void” what then gives you the right to break it? Also stop misquoting Paul. He says in acts 3 times he agrees with and KEEPS the law and teaches others to do the same. “Imitate me as I imitate Messiah”.
This.
In fact Yeshua specifically stated that the law would not be one away with “until all things had been fulfilled. Until the Heaven(s?) and the Earth themselves had passed” nothing from the law was to be done away with. (paraphrasing this last part)
Well the Earth is still here so the law should be kept. All of it. This means not eating pork, shellfish etc. and many other laws.
As for sacrifices there is no temple mount to make sacrifices. Also I have looked at some but have not found whether or not Yeshua as the perfect sacrifice took away the need to make sacrifices. This is partly because I do not believe there will be a Temple Mount to make sacrifices at as in the end times this would signal the tribulation period if you believe Revelations.
read acts 21 the apostles still sacrificed animals
Nope. You have no understanding of scripture whatsoever. Now you teach others a false gospel. The sacrifices offered were the same sacrifices offered in Daniel’s Vision. They were sacrifices of prayer and worship. You sacrifice prayers for your transgressions. Nowhere does it say anything about burnt offerings… it literally says offering for sacrifice. I recommend you get into some serious study before you pretend to know what scripture says. And a lot of prayer would do you some good as well. I’m reading some of your other comments and you are absolutely clueless as to what’s in the Holy Bible.
You are the clueless one Jody. I’ve studied the Bible and it’s origins, and the debates among the earliest pastors and how much it has been altered for 11 years.
In Acts 21 the only rituals that matches the description is the Nazirite Vow which says an ANIMAL sacrifice.
When “Jesus” was on Earth he mentioned sacrifices and never once said, “when I die you will stop sacrifices”.
You must read the Bible from a Hebrew perspective to get the Truth not from a Christian perspective.
James was a Hebrew, “Jesus” a Hebrew, all of the apostles, the 12 were Hebrews.
Matthew 5:17-19 “until Heaven and earth PASS AWAY not one letter of the Law shall fail.”
Heaven and earth are still here
Be kind to her. Do you think this behaviour is of God? A good tree bearing harsh, arrogant and unkind fruit? 🙁 no… just a gentle reminder. This isn’t a contest! And even Satan can quote scripture. God’s word is not a battering ram with which to hurt others or make ourselves look smarter.
Yahusha “Jesus” was not a kind person to most. He attacked the rulers of his time, he beat people with a whip out of the temple, read the 7 WOES.
Also
Luke 9:
59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
ALSO
Luke 14:
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters–yes, even their own life–such a person cannot be my disciple.”