The Schoolmaster

Listening to Richard Rives video, this morning, alluded to, and gave credence to, the rising crescendo of voices insinuating that Christians are to obey the Law. The Law, as the Scripture says in Romans 7:12, "...is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good...". That will never change. But, it can never do anything than to convince us of our need for Christ.  Romans 9:31, "but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal...". Galatians 3:23-25, "But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." I do not know how much clearer the Scripture can be. Romans 6:15-18, "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." Paul wrote about a more excellent way...that of Love. Now the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. The spirit of the law is Love. Faith works by Love. Love does no ill to its neighbor. Love is the fulfillment of the Law. The instrument that our Lord chose to answer these questions was the 'Hebrew of Hebrews' Paul. If you notice much of his writings are for the express purpose of answering the question as to whether or not Christians need to obey the Law. The Book of Romans answers the question for Gentile believers, the Book of Hebrews answers the question for Jewish believers (with dire warnings), and there is much information to be found in other epistles, especially Galatians. Notice Paul's arguments about this subject with the other apostles...especially Peter. Note that Paul did NOT TEACH the TORAH. As we submit ourselves to God, HE leads us and guides us into all truth. HE sanctifies us and corrects us. Romans 5:20-21, "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Tim 1:5-7, " Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: from which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm." Galatians 3:2-3, "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?". Many are influenced by people that are in the public eye...you are responsible for what you preach and will stand to give account before the Judgement seat of Christ. I suggest you give diligent heed to the writings of Paul and ask the Lord you claim to serve (as did the Pharisees and Sadducees) to search your heart and mind and to correct you if need be. I say "if need be" because I know that in your heart you believe yourself to be serving God. Woe to them that go in the way of Cain...who gave his best to God, but was rejected because he refused to acknowledge what God said He actually required. Our best, our understanding, our opinions are as dung. Compare Scripture with Scripture and as you heart is prostrate before God, He will do the work and as the Scripture says, will lead you and guide you into all truth.