The Apostle Paul did use the Law of Moses “lawfully” under this present Grace Dispensation to point men to Salvation through the person of Christ. The Law of Moses pointed men to Christ. During Paul and Timothy’s day and hour there were no New Testament scriptures (as we have them recorded today). Holy men of God used the Old Testament Scriptures to teach and preach the person of Christ from.
All Scriptures (Old Testament Scriptures) that Paul referred to in his letter to Timothy were given for doctrine, correction, reproof, and instruction of righteousness. (2 Tim. 3:16) These scriptures were the Old Testament records passed down from Old. Within these Holy Scriptures there are many prophecies contained in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms that could point sinful men to Christ. This revelation of the Gospel is what convicts and saves men in this Grace dispensation. Most of the Torah taught Israel to have the righteousness of the Law by their works. New Testament records teach men to have the gift of righteousness because of the works of Christ. Paul understood the difference between the righteousness of the Law of Moses and the God given righteousness that comes from our Saviour who purchased the Church with His own blood. …so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous (Rom. 5:19) Two different types of righteousness, two different time frames… the first (during Mosaic Law given to Israel) before Christ’s redemptive work, and the second (under Grace) after Christ’s redemptive work at Calvary.
By Divine Revelation…The Apostle Paul understood New Testament truth about the Grace Covenant. By Divine Revelation Paul understood the miracle of the Church that Christ brought into play through His death at Calvary. Paul a Pharisee was a previous teacher of the Law of Moses before the Spirit revealed Divine Grace to his heart. When Paul wrote his letter to Timothy there was no New Testament records as we have them today. Holy Apostles and Prophets of God used the Old Testament records derived from the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms… to point men to Christ. This is the true Gospel that Christ commanded “us” to preach. …that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, (Luke 24:44-47)
Revelation of the Gospel that comes from the Old Testament records enlightens sinful men to the truth about God’s Salvation through Christ. In this present Grace Covenant Justification by Grace is a declaration made by God upon the heart of a believer because of Christ’s shed blood. Justification by Grace is a pardon from God that a sinful man receives by trusting Christ’s shed blood alone for his own personal forgiveness of sins. Justification is granted to the penitent because man turns from sin and…believes and trusts in Christ’s redemptive work at Calvary for personal forgiveness. Man’s Justification is not obtained by obeying the Law of Moses or by being convicted by the Law of Moses. Christ however; can be revealed from the Law of Moses and Christ will bring reproof, correction, and instruction in the truth about righteousness. Here’s what Paul wrote to Timothy concerning Old Testament Scriptures …And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Tim. 3:15-17)
Paul knew and realized (after conversion by Christ) that when an unsaved man (like himself) is enlightened to the truth about Christ (through the hearing of faith) he cannot be justified by his own personal works to keep the Law. Paul was a keeper of the Law of Moses and described himself to be blameless according to the Law… …Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (Phil. 3:6) According to Law of Moses Paul made claim to be blameless… but He still missed Christ and the God given gift of righteousness by Grace. The righteousness of the Law of Moses could not produce salvation of the human soul. Therefore in this present Church Age it’s not necessary to use the Law of Moses to convict men of sin when the Holy Spirit under Grace does such work. …He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Galatians 3:2-5)Using the Law of Moses to convict the sinner only teaches men indirectly…to keep the Law of Moses by their own works. If a man comes to Christ by the Law of Moses he would therefore be obligated by the same Law of Moses to obey it! Paul said…Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (Galatians 3:10-13) James said…For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
(James 2:10)
Christianity is built upon what Christ did and is doing now from the Throneroom! Religion is built upon what men do to reach God. When you leave human works out of the picture...then you can see the work and person of an invisible Christ... through belief. ... But before (the) faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. (Gal 3:23) "The faith" in the Greek text came through the Gospel message in the Grace dispensation we now live in. All this was revealed when the Holy Spirit became omnipresent in the Church.
No comments:
Post a Comment