THOT 323, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT GOD THINKS ABOUT YOU? That is an important question because whatever it is that will be HOW you approach Him, and how you deal with the people around you! THEY SAW NO MAN, SAVE JESUS ONLY. Romans 15:4, John 1:17, and Matthew 17:1-8, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. [Emphasis mine] This same account can also be found in Mark 9:2-13, and Luke 9:28-36. Let’s look first at the characters, Moses, who represents the law (Ten Commandments included), Elijah, who represents the Old Testament Prophets. Remember that it was part of the ministry of OT prophets to repeatedly remind GOD’S people OF THEIR SINS, and transgressions, because the blood of bulls and goats did NOT take away sins, and they had to be confessed again and again. (The ministry of the New Testament preachers is to point God’s people to Christ who paid for their sins in full ONCE and FOREVER!) Last but not least, our Lord Jesus Christ who IS the grace of God come down to us. DO WE LIVE IN A TIME THAT IS UNCONSCIOUSLY MIXING LAW and GRACE? Romans 11:6, Galatians 3:11, 12, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. DOES THE MAJORITY OF BIBLE BELIEVING CHURCHES TODAY UNCONSCIOUSLY PROMOTE THREE TABERNACLES? When Peter awoke and saw what was happening he didn’t know what to say, so he blurted out, “Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.” Now, if there was ever a time that a picture could be shown THAT LAW COULD BE MIXED WITH GRACE or that the ministry of New Testament Preachers is the same as the OLD, IT IS RIGHT HERE! HOWEVER, IT WAS STOPPED, NOT BY MAN BUT BY GOD HIMSELF! 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. There ARE NOT three tabernacles, ONLY ONE … and that is, And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. DOES GRACE MAKE THE LAW EVIL OR NO GOOD? Does this mean that the law and the prophets are of no value? NO! God forbid! Jesus, FOR US, fulfilled all that the law demanded, which was NOTHING LESS THAN perfection, and he has perfected (in our spirit NOW and later our soul and body will be as perfect) us in himself! Now, you may say that we see flaws in ourselves, that is in our thinking [minds, souls] and bodies yes, but that is HOW WE SEE OURSELVES, as a work in progress, but God sees the FINISHED PRODUCT IN CHRIST. He sees us NOW as His righteousness. Our souls and bodies have been bought and paid in full and WILL WITHOUT QUESTION BE REDEEMED ONE DAY! GOD BELIEVES HIS WORD! His righteousness RIGHTEOUSLY [legally] forgives and perfects SINNERS and that has been demonstrated IN US! WE ARE THE PROOF! Hallelujah! When we see Jesus though the gospel, then we will see ourselves as God sees us IN CHRIST. The LAW is still, and will always be right, perfect, and pure. Romans 7:12, “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” However, in all its goodness it could (still cannot) NOT make us good. Its demands have ALREADY been met, and we are free from its curse! Galatians 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:” No man can be justified by the law, and believers ARE NOT KEPT JUSTIFIED BY TRYING TO KEEP IT! We have been justified [once and for all] because of the finished work of Christ! Hallelujah! As far as the prophets are concerned, John [the Baptist] said it best, John 3:30, He must increase, but I must decrease.” Hebrews 1:1, 2, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets [remember, that part of their ministry was bringing sins to the remembrance of God’s people], Hath in these last days [after the cross] spoken unto us by his Son, [grace, sins forgiven, taken away!] whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” Now, all of the word, all that the prophets spoke, CAN BE FULLY UNDERSTOOD through Christ and his finished work for us, THE GOSPEL OF GRACE. GRACE IS THE FINAL WORD FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR US! WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL OF GRACE, then like the apostles we will, “And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.” Think about these things. Pray for one another. Until next time God bless you and yours, Bill Sr. Acts 17:11, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” 8/1/13
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 11:23:26 +0000
Trending Topics
© 2015