Thread: importance in knowing the Feast of the LORD--I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD READ THIS
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importance in knowing the Feast of the LORD--I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD READ THIS
Posted : 14 Dec, 2009 05:32 PM
As christians growing up in western Gentile churches we are not taught the Feast of the LORD. It is very important to understand them because YAHSHUA (JESUS) fulfilled the Spring Feast down to the last detail and HE will fulfill the Fall Feast when HE comes as judge. Mattithyahu (Matthew) 7:22-23 says "Many shall say to me in that day, Master,Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name? 23 And then I shall declare to them, I never knew you, depart from Me, you who are lawlessness." In these verses HE is saying those who are lawless meaning those who do not keep HIS law meaning the Torah (the instructions). Those who go out and make up denominations and call them HIS. Those who do not worship on HIS appointed day, the Sabbath. Those who cast out demons, they will say they have done many works in HIS Name. Who does this sound like to you? Do you think that nonbelievers would say to HIM they cast out anything in HIS Name? NO it is the churches that have been misleading you into believing that you no longer need to keep the law. Many will preach to you and say JESUS did away with the law by shedding HIS blood on the cross. When really HE bought you with HIS blood and was the Passover Lamb, by which HE was fulfilling the Passover rehearsal they had been keeping since they came out of slavery. HE did away with the sacrifice you don't have to spill blood anymore cause HE did it for the last time. If they say that HE did away with the law then why would HE say in Mattithyahu (Matthew) 5:17-20 "Do not think that i came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete. 18 For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one yod or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done. " (NOW READ THIS NEXT PART WITH UNDERSTANDING) " 19 Whoever, then breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called the least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter into the reign of the heavens." When YAHSHUA came HE broke all of the rabbinic law that the Pharisees had put into place many of which we do the same of by saying things like well christmas means this to me and i think that HE doesn't really mean we should keep the old law that is old we are living in the new times. That my friends will get you a one way ticket to "depart from me". When HE says no yod or tittle will pass that means no yod or tittle until the end of the world. Meaning we keep these commands forever. Look closely at the part that says men teach others to not keep it, that is what religious systems are doing by telling you to worship on sungod day and not to keep HIS appointed times. If JESUS tells you to do something then what should you do? We misread Scripture to make it fit into our lives so we can live the way we want to live. YAHWAH has always wanted us to be servants of HIM to call HIM ELOHIM. Do some research on christmas and easter. For easter you can look up ,mithra and nimrod, and christmas just search origins of christmas and you'll see it is the birthdays of mithra,ra, and many other sungods that were being worshiped in those days and now.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 " Now brothers, as to the times and the seasons, you do not need to be written to. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of YAHWAH comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then suddenly destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman, and they shall not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 So then, we should not sleep, as others do, but we should watch and be sober." this is saying that they needed no writing about the times and the seasons ( The Feast of the LORD) for they knew already that it would come like a thief and if you know a thief is coming do you let them come? NO you know they are coming so you prepare for them. When he says like labour pains it means sudden, without warning. They will not be caught like that cause they are in the light and not in the dark about the true Messiah, not the one that has been made up to fit our pagan religious system. What do they teach you in religion peace and safety? If you go to church you will be okay? is that the way you think YAHSHUA taught? NO HE said keep the Torah keep the commandments. All we have to do is read them to understand them, dear brothers and sisters if we don't start to understand the Feast of the LORD we will be in darkness when HE comes,,the hour no man knows and that is the same as how no man knows the beginning of the Biblical year or the Feast dates until the new moon is sighted in Israel. And who controls the moon? It has been this way for as long as they have been there, but none of us know these things. We have been brought up in a system that does not tell us what we need to hear but what will get people in seats and smiles on faces. These verses are talking about being ready and understanding what is before us in our Scripture. YAHSHUA broke most of their laws(rabbinic laws) and that is why they killed HIM. HE taught that the Temple is not the Spirit the Spirit is alive in you not so building. He taught that the FATHER is alive in you. Little did they know it was all planned. If satan had known killing HIM was the will of YAHWAH, he would have tried to keep HIM as safe as possible. Remember the verse that talks about YAHSHUA being tempted and when satan said look see all the kingdoms of the world, i will give them to you if you kneel before me. YAHSHUA never argued that he didn't have the power to give them to HIM. HE just turned it down. From the second man fell he handed the deed to this world over to satan and this world is his brothers and sisters until YAHSHUA breaks the seals and reclaims what is in the hands of satan and his angels. So beware what you call HIS celebration and please get out and learn about the Feast of the LORD, read your Scripture for yourself stop letting preachers guide you into believing lies. They may not mean to it is just what they are taught too. Read Leviticus 23 for yourself pray and ask the HOLY SPIRIT to guide you not men. I beg you to listen to YAHWAH and come back to the Torah( the instructions) with all my love and prayers for your well being may the peace of YAHWAH our ELOHIM be with you always
importance in knowing the Feast of the LORD--I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD READ THIS
Posted : 16 Dec, 2009 07:35 AM
i don't think anyone is reading the subject i started here it was saying there is NO NEW LAW nothing was wrong with the Torah to start with read Acts 17: 10-11 it says they searched with great eagerness the Scripture daily to see if what Sha'ul was saying was true. Now there was NO new testament then if Sha'ul would have said these are true cause i wrote them in a letter last week they would have killed him. And saying blah blah blah about the Feast that YAHWAH your GOD said to keep is wrong my brother you had better be careful how you talk about your GOD's appointed times. These are to remember HIM. This topic was started to have people want to raise interest in the Feast of the LORD not that any of them will "save" them or not that i said anywhere you would be "saved" by works. The Feast of the LORD are in your Scriptures you say you know so well. This is it i am going to put this up and i will ot be posting any more to this topic most people are not even reading from the beginning to see what this about
importance in knowing the Feast of the LORD--I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD READ THIS
Posted : 16 Dec, 2009 08:56 AM
Hi icebro, welcome to the forums. I have read your post and I have a question that maybe you may be able to assist me with a answer. Did the Gentiles read the Taroh, observe and celebrate the Hebrew law's and Feast's ? Or was it just for the Israel Hebrew and Jew..? Thanxs...Jude..xo
importance in knowing the Feast of the LORD--I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD READ THIS
Posted : 16 Dec, 2009 09:24 AM
We are no longer under old covenent laws Christ nailed them to the cross
And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it [not him; it, the cross].
Therefore, let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath. These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:13-17)
importance in knowing the Feast of the LORD--I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD READ THIS
Posted : 16 Dec, 2009 10:01 AM
that verse is taken out of context over and over again by people trying to say that HE did away with the law that verse in no way says it nailed the law or the Torah to the cross but the DEBIT that is the word used there in that verse straight from Hebrew the original text,,so if you think that HE did away with it then why in Mattithyahu (Matthew) 5:17-20 does it say Don't think i have come to destroy the Torah or the Prophets?? this would mean that HE has told a lie and you know that can not be true,,do you even read what verse you just quoted???
shadow pictures of what are to come,, meaning they are the rehearsals put in place by YAHWAH (FEAST)so that we would know the times and the seasons of which the Messiah comes and you really should finish the rest of it cause it tells exactly what you are doing by misleading people to believe the law was destroyed
LET NO ONE DEPRIVE YOU OF THE PRIZE, ONE WHO TAKES DELIGHT IN FALSE HUMILITY AND WORSHIP OF MESSENGERS, TAKING HIS STAND ON WHAT HE HAS NOT SEEN, PUFFED UP BY HIS FLESHLY MIND, AND HOLDING FAST TO THE HEAD, FROM WHOM THE BODY NOURISHED AND KNIT TOGETHER BY JOINTS AND LIGAMENTS GROWS WITH THE GROWTH OF ELOHIM.
IF THEN YOU DIED WITH MESSIAH FROM THE ELEMENTARY MATTERS OF THE WORLD WHY AS THOUGH LIVING IN THE WORLD DO YOU SUBJECT YOURSELVES TO DOGMAS
DO NOT TOUCH, DO NOT TASTE ,DO NOT HANDLE WHICH ARE TO PERISH WITH USE ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDS OF MEN
THESE INDEED HAVE AN APPEARANCE OF WISDOM IN SELF-IMPOSED WORSHIP, HUMILIATION AND HARSH TREATMENT OF THE BODY OF NO VALUE AT ALL ONLY FOR SATISFACTION OF THE FLESH
these and many other verses are taking out of context by NOT reading the whole Scriptures or the original Hebrew text,,the Scriptures do not contradict themselves they fulfill themselves so you can't not have one book saying the law is gone and then have the WORDS straight from YAHSHUA' mouth say differently
you need to stop filling people's heads with lies you have inherited from some religion that tells us not to listen to the very one we claim to know why don't you step back brother and come to the MEssiah as a child willing to be taught the truth,,never was the law done away with i would also suggest you learn some Hebrew text as well or at least search out some who do know cause there are lots of places where the Hebrew (the original text ) has not been represented,,,i'll give you time to see this but this really is it,, i am to going to have this stuff spread or keep arguing with a brother who says he loves the MESSIAH i love you and may the peace of YAHWAH be with you always
importance in knowing the Feast of the LORD--I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD READ THIS
Posted : 16 Dec, 2009 04:26 PM
You wouldnt call me a liar if I were standing in front of you!
The theme of Galatians 5 is that Christianity is freedom, not bondage. It's not freedom to do evil; it's freedom to do good by internal divine power, not external restraints. Paul makes his appeal in verse 1, and supports it in verses 2 to 12 by attacking the false doctrine of the Judaizers (vv. 2-6), and then the Judaizers themselves (vv. 7-12). First he discusses the nature of the false doctrine, then he discusses the character of false teachers.
I. THE WORK OF FALSE DOCTRINE (vv. 2-6)
The false doctrine that the Judaizers were teaching was salvation by good deeds. They believed Christians had to be circumcised to be accepted by God. You may ask, "Why did Paul make such a fuss over a minor surgical task?" He did it in the case of the Gentiles because false teachers were advocating circumcision as a necessary requirement for salvation. Although Paul tolerated that ceremonial ritual in the case of Timothy for maintaining an open channel of communication with Jewish people (Acts 16:3), he despised the system of works that it represented. The Judaizers were saying that faith in Christ was insufficient to redeem the Galatians. They believed Moses started the process of salvation, Christ continued it, but that it was up to the individual to finish it. That's legalism.
Paul suggests four consequences of abiding by the doctrine of salvation by works.
A. You Are Not Profited by Christ (v. 2)
"Behold, I, Paul, say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing."
By using his name, Paul is introducing a section with a strong statement of apostolic authority. He may also be emphasizing his Jewishness, saying in effect, "Even I, a circumcised Jew, who is proud of his heritage and traditions, am telling you that circumcision is useless; it makes Christ of no benefit to you."
1. The dilemma
Beginning in verse 2, Paul puts his readers in a dilemma: You can choose circumcision or Christ, but not both. A man's faith rests on Christ entirely or not at all. He presents a hypothetical situation in verses 2 to 4, set off with the word if. He is not talking to people who have been circumcised yet. Evidently, the Galatians already were following the Judaizers' advice to the extent that they were observing "days, and months, and times, and years" (Gal. 4:10). Many of them had already accepted the Judaistic calendar as being relevant for them. But they had not yet gone beyond that into being circumcised.
2. The danger
The danger was that they would then yield to circumcision and reduce their religion to a religion based on human achievement. If they accepted circumcision, thinking it was necessary for salvation, they would forfeit the benefits provided by Christ. Romans 11:6 says, "If [salvation is] by grace, then it is no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace." If they added any works to grace--even if they were trusting ninety-nine percent in Christ and only one percent in circumcision--they would be trusting in a system of works and not grace. Commentator William Hendriksen said, "A Christ supplemented is a Christ supplanted" (New Testament Commentary, Galatians and Ephesians, [Grand Rapids: Baker], 1968, p. 195). Paul wants to show that as far as justification is concerned, faith and works don't go together.
The Galatians had heard about Christ. Although many of them had believed in Christ, some of them were on the verge of believing. Accepting circumcision in any sense as part of their salvation would render Christ of no value to them. That is basic to the doctrine of salvation. It is impossible to receive Christ, acknowledging you can't save yourself, and then turn around and be circumcised, acknowledging that you can save yourself. You can't mix the two. You must choose between salvation by law and salvation by grace--between Christ and circumcision.
Salvation is through faith in Christ alone. Any person who believes that circumcision--or any other work, such as keeping the Sabbath or serving as a missionary--is necessary for salvation is showing that he disbelieves in the all-sufficiency of grace, and will never be saved on his own merits. Christ's provision of salvation can't be worth anything if you don't fully trust Him.
The Galatians hadn't accepted circumcision yet, but there were many Jews who were hung up on that ritual. In Romans 9, Paul drew a portrait of Israel struggling with legalism: "What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith" (v. 30). Although the Jews had been seeking righteousness, it was the Gentiles who found it in Christ. Verses 31-32 say, "Israel, who followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they sought it not by faith but, as it were, by the works of the law." Many Jews never found true righteousness because they were really searching for self- righteousness. But many Gentiles who were wandering around got invited to the banquet (cf. Matt. 8:11-12).
So Paul says that the false doctrine of human achievement renders Christ's death worthless to you if you accept that doctrine. His sacrifice on the cross would not profit you at all. His death would be meaningless if you counted on something you had done to save you. You would be ignoring the gracious work of Christ.
B. You Are Required to Keep the Whole Law (v. 3)
"I testify again to every man that is circumcised [lit. `who lets himself be circumcised'], that he is a debtor to do the whole law."
1. Stated
If you want to live by law, you must follow every one of them. The word "testify" (Gk. marturomai) should be translated "I protest" to adequately convey the intensity of Paul's statement. That Paul is protesting "again" may mean he is either repeating the warning of verse 2, or is repeating a warning he gave on a previous occasion. He makes it known that everyone who lets himself be circumcised is obligated to keep the whole law. If a person refuses to accept God's grace, the only other way he can be justified is by keeping the whole law--and that's impossible.
I accept the fact that God loves me and that He redeemed me by His pure grace. I didn't do one thing to add to my salvation. In fact, I'm scared of trying to add to my salvation because then I'm required to keep the whole law. Those who try to keep the law on their own are in trouble because they can't.
2. Supported
a) James 2:10--"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." Can you imagine a Jew who had struggled all his life to keep the law to secure his salvation, yet broke one of the laws at the end of his life? What a horrible thing that would be! (Of course he never could of made it that far without breaking some of God's laws.)
b) Galatians 3:10--"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." Everyone under the law is cursed because no one can keep it completely. If you want to do good works to get to God, you are under a works system, and must make sure that you do nothing but good works. If you ever do anything else, you are cursed. If you want to trade in grace for that kind of a life, that's your privilege--and your biggest mistake.
So Paul warns that false doctrine renders Christ profitless and puts a person under the bondage of the entire legal system. You can't break one command and still expect to be saved by law. Paul then gives the Galatians a third result of following the false doctrine of salvation by works:
C. You Are Fallen from Grace (v. 4)
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."
1. The principle analyzed
Some people have read this verse and have panicked because they believe the concept of falling from grace contradicts the doctrine of security, which simply states that a person can't lose his salvation. However, the passage here has nothing to do with the security of salvation. It is dealing with the contrast between law and grace: If you include good works as part of the requirements for salvation, you have lost hold of grace and its meaning. If a man believes in salvation by works, Christ is rendered "of no effect." That phrase could be translated: "severed from" (NASB), or "cut off from" Christ. It is a similar statement to the one at the close of verse 2. If a man tries to combine law and grace as a means of salvation, he makes Christ of no benefit because he puts himself under the law. If he is going to live under the law alone, Christ can't do anything for him.
2. The principle applied
a) To apostates
I don't think Paul is necessarily applying the concept of being severed from Christ to anyone in particular. He is just showing that law and grace don't mix as means of salvation. Being severed from Christ could apply to an apostate: someone who understands what Christ has done, but turns away, counting on his works to save him. He has fallen from grace into the pit of legalism.
b) To Christians
It is also possible to apply the concept of being severed from Christ to a Christian. You may ask, "Could a Christian fall from grace?" Yes, in a sense. You were saved by grace, and you are to live by grace--God's free favor on your behalf. God's blessing comes when you yield to the Spirit. When you operate in the flesh, you close the door to God's blessing. When a Christian lives in the flesh, he forfeits the blessing he would receive if he were living in the Spirit. Second Corinthians 9:8 says that "God is able to make all grace abound toward you." That's a tremendous promise. God's wants to unload blessings on us, but the condition is our Spirit-led service. In that particular passage it was the condition of Spirit-led giving. If the Corinthians responded to the Spirit in the matter of giving, God would pour His grace on them in return.
However, a person can be saved and not grow in grace. Peter said, "Grow in grace" (2 Pet. 3:18), which implies not every Christian does that automatically. However, just because a Christian refuses the grace of sanctification does not mean he forfeits the grace of justification. If a Christian loses his grip on grace as a way of life, that doesn't mean God has lost His grip on him in terms of saving grace. The process of sanctification can be retarded by the flesh. A Christian can live in the flesh, hoping to earn God's favor, but that only cuts him off from the flow of daily blessing. If justifying grace were interrupted every time sanctifying grace was interrupted, it wouldn't be worth anything; you would need to retain your salvation by works. If every time you sinned you lost justifying grace, how would you keep it except by working for it? Salvation would no longer be the result of grace but of works. If you try to add works to grace, you destroy grace. Everyone would be required to be a legalist to keep saved.
D. You Are Excluded from Righteousness (vv. 5-6)
If you try to live by law, you forfeit the righteousness you are looking for. Romans 9:30-32 says that the Jews sought to become righteous, but they missed out because they sought to attain that by the works demanded in the law.
1. The expectation of the future (v. 5)
"For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith."
a) The promise of glorification
We accept righteousness not by works but by faith. Judaizers and any other adherents to the religion of human achievement are hoping to attain righteousness through their works. Paul contrasts them with Christians, who wait for righteousness through the Spirit by faith. Although righteousness is ours right now, there is an aspect of it that is hoped for. When we are ushered into the presence of Christ, "we shall be like him" (1 John 3:2). There will be a fullness of righteousness that will be ours when we see Jesus Christ face-to-face. Paul says in Romans 8, "For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.... the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God" (vv. 19, 21). There is a future aspect of righteousness that we still wait for. Although we as Christians presently possess the righteousness of Christ, which was imputed to us when we believed, there is a sense in which we are waiting for a greater fulfillment of that righteousness.
b) The Proof of Grace
Verse 5 has three words that seal the argument that righteousness does not come by working to earn it.
(1) "Spirit"
Those who seek to attain righteousness by the law do so through their flesh, not through the Spirit. But the righteousness Christians hope for comes through the Spirit.
(2) "Wait"
The text doesn't say we're to work for righteousness; it says we're to wait for it. You may hear someone say, "I was saved and now I am working to be one of the 144,000 in Revelation 7." I'm not working for righteousness; I'm waiting to receive it. It will be as free a gift to me as my salvation was. When I die and go to be with the Lord, I will be made completely righteous. I do good works, but I don't work for righteousness. I work because my heart is filled with love for Christ. Such love issues in good deeds. I'm not trying to earn anything. My service is merely my response to what God has done for me.
(3) "Faith"
Glorification will be mine by faith, not by works. I wait in faith for that divine gift and God will respond by bestowing completed righteousness to me.
2. The effectiveness of faith (v. 6)
a) The external shortcoming (v. 6a)
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision"
Circumcision isn't even an issue in Christ. A Gentile boasting about his lack of circumcision or a Jew boasting about his circumcision as the sign of the covenant are both irrelevant. Only grace and faith matter.
The trouble the Corinthians were having illustrates that external rituals have no effect on a person's spirituality. When the Corinthians bought meat at the market place, it was likely that it had already been offered to idols. After people gave their meat offering to the priests, the priest would sell the meat in the market to make money. Christians who wanted to buy meat experienced an ethical struggle, wondering if the meat had already been offered to idols. Paul reassured the Corinthian Christians that an idol is nothing (1 Cor. 8:4). He says, "But food commendeth us not to God; for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse" (v. 8). Who cares whether we eat or don't eat? It doesn't make any difference. External rituals and ceremonies don't mean anything to a person who is in Christ.
b) The internal solution (v. 6b)
"But faith which worketh by love."
(1) Explained
If Paul hadn't added that last phrase, someone could complain, "You Christians just get saved, then you sit around and don't do anything!" Sure we work. However, we don't work to gain righteousness; we work because of love. The whole law is fulfilled when faith works by love. Instead of working by external rules, I work out of love, which internally motivates me.
(2) Exemplified
For example, the law says, "Thou shalt not kill" (Ex. 20:13). Let's suppose I'm living under law without the indwelling Holy Spirit producing love in my life. If someone had done something to me and I decided to kill him, perhaps the only thing that would restrain me would be that external prohibition. But if I love that individual, I will not kill him. The law says, "Thou shalt not steal." But if I love people, I'm not going to steal from them. The power to do what's right is motivated internally, not externally. Devoted love, which springs from the Holy Spirit, operates in the life of faith and precludes the necessity of law.
(3) Expressed
(a) Galatians 5:14--"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." If you love people, you aren't going to kill them, steal from them, covet their wives, or lie to them.
(b) Romans 13:8-9--"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Love is the fulfilling of the law. So instead of having to keep the law by external restraint, I can keep the law from the inside out because the Spirit is producing love in me.
(c) Romans 8:4--Paul knew Christ was crucified "that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (v. 4). I fulfill the law by the Spirit dwelling within me. It could never be fulfilled by relying on externals.
So my faith produces works of love, but my working is not to obtain righteousness. I already have been declared righteous in Christ. My works are the result of His righteousness.
Conclusion
One who listens to false doctrine on salvation by works finds that Christ profits him nothing, he is debtor to the whole law, he is fallen from grace, and is excluded from righteousness--righteousness belongs only to those who come to God in faith. There was an artist who dreamed of sculpting a masterpiece of multiple characters. Finally receiving a commission from a donor to do a work that was to be placed in a museum, the artist began the work he was sure would bring him honor and fame. After spending a lifetime toiling at his masterpiece, it was finished and ready to win the acclaim of the world. Unfortunately, there was no way to get the massive sculpture out of the room he had built it in. His masterpiece was held captive in the room in which he had worked on it. That's a good illustration of a man trying to earn his way to heaven: Everything he does in this world to merit acclaim from God will be left in this world. There will never be any applause from God for acts of self-righteousness. Whatever you do to earn salvation by works will perish with this earth. Salvation is by grace through faith alone.
Focusing on the Facts
1. Identify the two basic kinds of religions (see p. 1).
2.What makes the life of faith work (see p. 1)?
3.From what had the Galatian Christians been set free by believing in Christ? What would the Judaizers have put them in bondage to (see p. 1)?
4.Explain the negative and positive aspects of a Christian's freedom (see p. 2).
5.What was the particular yoke of bondage that the Gentiles were being influenced to accept (see p. 3)?
6.Why did Paul tolerate circumcision in the case of Timothy, but not in that of the Galatians (see p. 3)?
7. What is ironic about the search for righteousness according to Romans 9:30-32 (see p. 5)?
8.Why would it be necessary for the Galatians to keep the whole law if they chose to be circumcised? Support your answer with scripture (see p. 5).
9.What does it mean for a Christian to be severed from Christ and fall from grace (see p. 6)?
10.If a Christian lost justifying grace when he sinned, how would he be obligated to retain his salvation (see p. 7)?
11.What are Christians waiting for, according to verse 5 (see p. 7)?
12.What three words in verse 5 lend support to the fact that our righteousness is not earned by working for it? Explain the concepts behind them (see p. 8).
13.What did Paul assure the Corinthian Christians about in 1 Corinthians 8 (see p. 9)?
14.Why do Christians do good works (see p. 9)?
15.How is the law fulfilled by Christians? (see p. 9)
Pondering the Principles
1. How disciplined are you as a Christian? Since you have been set free from your previous pattern of life, have you consistently depended upon the Holy Spirit to lead you in your life of freedom? Whereas a prisoner would have a very regimented life while in jail, he would have the freedom to do most anything he wanted when released. The question is: Would he use his freedom in a profitable way, or would he fall back into the self-destructive patterns that sent him to jail? As Christians, we should be using our freedom to nurture our spiritual growth and bring glory to God. How are you stimulating yourself spiritually on a daily basis? What are you doing to bring honor to the God who created you and saved you? Memorize 1 Corinthians 6:20 and Galatians 5:13 as you consider the answer to those questions.
2.Galatians 5:5 says Christians are waiting "for the hope of righteousness by faith." Although we were declared righteousness when we believed in Christ, there is still a fuller righteousness that we will receive when we are glorified as we enter heaven. That fact ought to motivate us to live godly lives now. Read Colossians 3:1-17. Are you seeking "those things which are above" (v. 1)? Are your goals, plans, and activities structured around how they relate to Christ and His Kingdom? Reevaluate your life. Determine if you are still on course, pressing "toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14), or whether you have wandered off course. Praise God for the grace by which He has saved, empowered, and preserved us for His glory as you meditate on Ephesians 2:1-10 and Romans 8:28-30.
importance in knowing the Feast of the LORD--I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD READ THIS
Posted : 16 Dec, 2009 05:24 PM
dear ice, i appreciate your knowlege of the hebrew language here.. although i might suggest that you dont out and out call a man a liar.. as thats pretty serious talk..
maybe say i believe that what you believe is wrong ,or that you are understanding it all wrong.. anything but using the word you are lieing.. or spreading lies.. that way youre not being insulting. just stating your belief that someone else is wrong.
see when it comes to the WORD OF GOD , you have your beliefs , man has his, beliefs, i have my beliefs, and others have theirs and sometimes we agree and sometimes we will disagree..
but i dont think anyone is intentionally trying to lead others astray . yet are just expressing their beliefs.. wrong or right ya see.. so lets not use such harsh words as lie ,liar,lying.. i appreciate everyones following this.
importance in knowing the Feast of the LORD--I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD READ THIS
Posted : 17 Dec, 2009 03:50 AM
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?
Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish.
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
importance in knowing the Feast of the LORD--I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD READ THIS
Posted : 17 Dec, 2009 06:23 AM
Do you know why we no longer sacrifice the finest fruits or the fatted calf upon the alter unto the Lord anymore? Because we are no longer under old law, but we are now under new covenant. Why? Because ANYTHING we could find to sacrifice anymore would be an abomination because the Greatest Sacrifice has already been slain, and there is no sacrifice that can stand in Glory next to the slain Lamb of God. This is why we are now under Grace and no longer under the old law, and there is proof.
Did the leper live under the law before he met Jesus? Did the blind man? Maybe we are not sure, but what about the woman that was to be stoned as an adulteress? What about the tax collector? What about the Woman that pushed her way through the crowd to simply touch Him? What about the Roman soldier? What about the convicted man that died beside Him that was told that he would dine with our Lord this day in Paradise? Did these people follow the law?
No. These people did not follow the law. The simply encountered Christ and BELIEVED. They believed He was the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ.
To believe so fully, so completely, to sacrifice your old life to pick up His Cross and carry it to the World, THAT is Grace. Under the new covenant we are saved by Grace, not by the law, but by the love of the shed blood of the ultimate sacrifice, the almighty Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the World that ALL who would believe can have everlasting life with Him who came to save us. The convicted man who knew nothing of the law dined with our Lord in Paradise, and we can too, it is not by the law that we are saved, but by the covenant of the saving Grace of the Blood of the Lamb.
There is nothing complicated about it, it is simple enough for any child of God to comprehend. You choose Him, or you choose your own life in the world.
importance in knowing the Feast of the LORD--I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD READ THIS
Posted : 17 Dec, 2009 01:25 PM
Dear Manofgod42,
According to your statement:
" As an example, those who erroneously teach that a Christian can lose his or her salvation are, in essence, denying the sufficiency of Christ to save to the utmost. They believe sin to be greater than Christ's grace. But Christ's righteousness which he counts toward us is not only effecient for our salvation, but sufficient. His once for all sacrifice put away sin for all time in those He has united to Himself. His salvation also means that he not only saves at the beginning but preserves us to the end, sealing us in His perfect righteousness whose blood "reminds the covenant God" not to treat us as our sins deserve. Any attempt to add our covenant faithfulness as part of the price of redemption after regeneration is an "attempt to attain our goal by human effort" and thus a complete misapprehension of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must, therefore, reject any and all attempts to maintain a judicial standing before God by any act on our part. Salvation is of the Lord."
Salvation cannot be lost under no condition.
Yet, Jesus, and the apostles clearly taught that a Christian can blaspheme the Holy Ghost, backslide into sin and unbelief, or draw back unto perdition (destruction ). All of these acts are considerder conditions for the lake of fire.
Here are just a few:
12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with
me scattereth abroad.
12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall
be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost
shall not be forgiven unto men.
12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be
forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it
shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world
to come.
12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree
corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
( Matt 12: 30-33 )
24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made
ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find
so doing.
24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his
goods.
24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth
his coming;
24:49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink
with the drunken;
24:50 The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not
for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the
hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
( Matt 24: 45-51)
25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I
knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not
sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there
thou hast that is thine.
25:26 His Lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful
servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather
where I have not strawed:
25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers,
and then at my coming I should have received mine own with
usury.
25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath
ten talents.
25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have
abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even
that which he hath.
25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
( Matt 25: 24-30 )
12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he
will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh,
they may open unto him immediately.
12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall
find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and
make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve
them.
12:38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third
watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
12:39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what
hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have
suffered his house to be broken through.
12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour
when ye think not.
12:41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us,
or even to all?
12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward,
whom his Lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them
their portion of meat in due season?
12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find
so doing.
12:44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that
he hath.
12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his
coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and
to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
12:46 The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not
for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in
sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
importance in knowing the Feast of the LORD--I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD READ THIS
Posted : 17 Dec, 2009 01:45 PM
Well...I think that all the feasts and sacrifices an' stuff that pointed to Christ were done away with at the cross. If we were supposed to keep feasts then the new testament would have been clear. The only thing I see in the new testament concerning feasts would be passover/communion. We are supposed to observe that. But I do believe all of the 10 commandments are still in effect, as evidence of them can be found throughout the new testament. Anyway...wanna know a secret? Do everything that Jesus did, the way He did it...and you'll be safe. When you get to heaven and stand before Him, He's not going to chastise you for following His example. It's the safest path there is. Can't be called legalistic for following in your Master's footsteps.
