Sue J Love
Loyal
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2015
- Messages
- 3,524
Context, Context, Context
If we want to be those who correctly handle the word of truth, then we need to study and to discern the teachings of the Scriptures by reading them in their proper context. For too many lies are being taught as truth because people are teaching the Scriptures out of context and are twisting them to make them say what they do not say if taught in the appropriate context. So, make certain you understand the full context before you might end up reaching the wrong conclusion. And always read the Scriptures under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit and not as an intellectual exercise.
So, what is the context here? Gentiles, by faith in Jesus Christ, were now one in Christ with Jews who believed in Jesus – all one body, the body of Christ, the church, biblical Israel. But there were Judaizers, who were false brothers, who were trying to persuade the Gentile Christians that they had to be more like Jews, and that they had to obey some of the Old Covenant liturgical, ceremonial, dietary, and circumcision laws, which they were not under. For Jesus did away with the Old Covenant which God had with the Jews when Jesus died on that cross to deliver us out of bondage to sin.
[Genesis 17:7-9; Genesis 18:19; John 8:18-19,38-47; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 9:4-8,25-28; Romans 11:1-36; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 3:16,26-29; Galatians 4:22-31; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ephesians 3:6; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-16; Hebrews 8:6-13;1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:22; Jude 1:5; Revelation 2:9; Revelation 3:9]
But just because the believers in Christ, Jew and Gentile, were not under the Old Covenant, that didn’t make them lawless. It didn’t mean that they no longer had to obey God’s commandments. All throughout the New Testament writings we are taught the necessity of obedience to our Lord’s New Covenant commands as part of faith which saves, and that if we don’t obey our Lord and his commands, that we do not know God and we will not inherit eternal life with God. So “the law” being referred to here is in reference to the Old Covenant liturgical, ceremonial, dietary, and circumcision laws.
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” (Galatians 2:20-21 NASB’95)
For, when Jesus Christ gave his life up for us on that cross, it was in order to put our sins to death with him, so that by faith in him we might now die with him to sin. And he was resurrected from the dead, in victory over sin and Satan, in order that we, by faith in him, might now walk in obedience to his commands, in holy living, and no longer as slaves to sin. Therefore, we are no longer to let sin reign in our mortal bodies, to make us obey its desires, for if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God.
And the grace of God, which is bringing us salvation, is what sent Jesus to that cross to put our sins to death with him so that, by faith in him, we will now die to sin and walk in obedience to our Lord’s commands. And his grace is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return. For Jesus “gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds,” “which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
[Tit 2:11-14; Eph 2:8-10; Matt 7:13-14,21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 10:27-30; Ac 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17; 1 Jn 3:4-10]
For us to be crucified with Christ so that it is no longer “I” who live, but it is Christ who lives in us, we, by faith in Jesus Christ, must submit ourselves to Christ and to the cross of Christ, and deny self, die with him to sin, in practice, and walk with him in obedience to his commands, in practice, in his power, by his grace. We must empty ourselves of ourselves and surrender our lives over to the will of God for our lives so that Jesus is now the one directing our paths, and no longer is the flesh ruling within us. We are not in charge, but God is, and we are to be following him in his ways.
So, don’t believe the lies which are telling you that faith in Jesus Christ frees you from having to obey the commands of the Lord, and that God’s grace is free license now to continue living in sin without punishment and without guilt. We are free from the Old Covenant liturgical, ceremonial, dietary and circumcision laws, but we are not free to keep sinning, and we are not free to disobey our Lord’s New Covenant commands. For if sin is what we practice, and not walks of obedience to our Lord’s commands, then we will die in our sins. We will not inherit eternal life with God.
Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer
Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897
Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.
O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.
O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.
Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
Caution: This link may contain ads
No Longer I Who Live
An Original Work / April 7, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
If we want to be those who correctly handle the word of truth, then we need to study and to discern the teachings of the Scriptures by reading them in their proper context. For too many lies are being taught as truth because people are teaching the Scriptures out of context and are twisting them to make them say what they do not say if taught in the appropriate context. So, make certain you understand the full context before you might end up reaching the wrong conclusion. And always read the Scriptures under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit and not as an intellectual exercise.
So, what is the context here? Gentiles, by faith in Jesus Christ, were now one in Christ with Jews who believed in Jesus – all one body, the body of Christ, the church, biblical Israel. But there were Judaizers, who were false brothers, who were trying to persuade the Gentile Christians that they had to be more like Jews, and that they had to obey some of the Old Covenant liturgical, ceremonial, dietary, and circumcision laws, which they were not under. For Jesus did away with the Old Covenant which God had with the Jews when Jesus died on that cross to deliver us out of bondage to sin.
[Genesis 17:7-9; Genesis 18:19; John 8:18-19,38-47; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 9:4-8,25-28; Romans 11:1-36; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 3:16,26-29; Galatians 4:22-31; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ephesians 3:6; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-16; Hebrews 8:6-13;1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:22; Jude 1:5; Revelation 2:9; Revelation 3:9]
But just because the believers in Christ, Jew and Gentile, were not under the Old Covenant, that didn’t make them lawless. It didn’t mean that they no longer had to obey God’s commandments. All throughout the New Testament writings we are taught the necessity of obedience to our Lord’s New Covenant commands as part of faith which saves, and that if we don’t obey our Lord and his commands, that we do not know God and we will not inherit eternal life with God. So “the law” being referred to here is in reference to the Old Covenant liturgical, ceremonial, dietary, and circumcision laws.
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” (Galatians 2:20-21 NASB’95)
For, when Jesus Christ gave his life up for us on that cross, it was in order to put our sins to death with him, so that by faith in him we might now die with him to sin. And he was resurrected from the dead, in victory over sin and Satan, in order that we, by faith in him, might now walk in obedience to his commands, in holy living, and no longer as slaves to sin. Therefore, we are no longer to let sin reign in our mortal bodies, to make us obey its desires, for if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God.
And the grace of God, which is bringing us salvation, is what sent Jesus to that cross to put our sins to death with him so that, by faith in him, we will now die to sin and walk in obedience to our Lord’s commands. And his grace is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return. For Jesus “gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds,” “which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
[Tit 2:11-14; Eph 2:8-10; Matt 7:13-14,21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 10:27-30; Ac 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17; 1 Jn 3:4-10]
For us to be crucified with Christ so that it is no longer “I” who live, but it is Christ who lives in us, we, by faith in Jesus Christ, must submit ourselves to Christ and to the cross of Christ, and deny self, die with him to sin, in practice, and walk with him in obedience to his commands, in practice, in his power, by his grace. We must empty ourselves of ourselves and surrender our lives over to the will of God for our lives so that Jesus is now the one directing our paths, and no longer is the flesh ruling within us. We are not in charge, but God is, and we are to be following him in his ways.
So, don’t believe the lies which are telling you that faith in Jesus Christ frees you from having to obey the commands of the Lord, and that God’s grace is free license now to continue living in sin without punishment and without guilt. We are free from the Old Covenant liturgical, ceremonial, dietary and circumcision laws, but we are not free to keep sinning, and we are not free to disobey our Lord’s New Covenant commands. For if sin is what we practice, and not walks of obedience to our Lord’s commands, then we will die in our sins. We will not inherit eternal life with God.
Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer
Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897
Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.
O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.
O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.
Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
Caution: This link may contain ads
No Longer I Who Live
An Original Work / April 7, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
