Post by Les Brewer on Mar 1, 2012 10:20:59 GMT
Hi and God bless you all!
Law Keeping or Faith Keeping? That is the question!
Genesis 21:8-12;Galatians 4:21-31.
Abraham cast out Hagar and Ishmael at Sarah's word,because of jealousy on Sarah's part and because of Ishmael's persecution of Isaac (Gen.21:9).Isn't it just like us sinful people at times to attempt in the flesh,what can only be done in the Spirit and through faith in Christ?
Abraham was promised by God Himself,that he and Sarah would have a son,when both were well past the age of child bearing.Abraham 100 yrs. old and Sarah 90 yrs. old.Both well enough past the age of being new parents.Even in the aged couples minds they thought it impossible,but the Scriptures say that Abraham staggard not at the promise of God through faith,but believed God,and it was accounted to him for righteousness.The schemes that we can sometimes come up with to "Help" God accomplish His promises for us,are at best foolishness,and at worst works righteousness,both of which will bring a curse instead of a blessing.The example of Sarah's scheme to help God bring about His promise to Abraham,that he would have a son,is the best example.She thought nothing of giving her handmaid to Abraham as a wife to bear him the promised child.However,this was not the plan of God,as is very evident.
Look at the problems of following the sin nature in an attempt to please God. Jealousy,mis-trust of God,bondage,and sin were the results,all of which are anti-thetical to faith in God's promises.Abraham was not an innocent party to any of this scheme.He went along with Sarah's plan as any good husband should do,right?Not always.He may have entertained in his carnal mind,how great it would be to have a younger bride,and with his other wife's blessing! As always,we get into alot more trouble than we can get ourselves out of at times.
Now,let's get to the point of the post!
Hagar and Ishmael are a type of sin and bondage and law.Isaac was the son of promise and a type of faith.The story was symbolic of the two covenants.Law and Faith.The two covenants can never be confused or mixed together as some false religions and even some true christians believe.The Law of Moses was given for only one purpose,to show us what sin is,it was never intended to bring righteousness.It can't,it can only bring bondage,as the story plainly shows.Simple faith in the Son of Promise,Jesus Christ is all that is needed to secure salvation.
There is a movement afoot in the modern church that draws us away from the walk of faith to a walk of works or law.The Hebraic Roots Movement and the newest Prayer Shawl movement,are just two examples of laws or rules that men in powerful positions of influence have come up with to show my point.The first,basically teaches that there is a seperate plan of salvation for the Jew than there is for the Gentile.Time and space does not allow me to elaborate,but there is only One Way,His name is Jesus Christ.His name is the only name that has ever been given whereby we must be saved.The latter example is one of:"If you send me $1,000.oo dollars,I'll send you this beautiful handmade prayer shawl from Israel,so that you too can have a better prayer life and be closer to God.There is an old Greek word for this:BOL-OG-NA a more english rendering is "boloney."
If you are walking in the faith of Jesus Christ and are in right relationship with God through His Son,you are as close to God as you can get.Nothing else is needed to bring you any closer.The bringing in of the better hope and promise is Jesus Christ,He is all that is needed (Hebrews 7:19).Paul the Apostle struggled with Judaizers who were trying to mix Law with Faith in an attempt to draw away the disciples after them.This can never work,for we are not saved by works or law,but by grace through faith,and that even has to be given to us by the Father (Eph.2:8-9).Dear child of God,in these last days just prior to His return,there will be many gimmicks and charlatains who will make every attempt to bilk you out of your money and your faith.I'm not telling you to stop listening to them,although you should,but rather,to come back to the word of God rightly divided,and allow God to direct you in your walk by Faith instead of works or Law.If they are not preaching the truth of God's word,but rather are selling the proverbial "snake oil" treatment,run from it.
I love you all,and may God richly bless each and everyone of you.Until next time...............JW.
Law Keeping or Faith Keeping? That is the question!
Genesis 21:8-12;Galatians 4:21-31.
Abraham cast out Hagar and Ishmael at Sarah's word,because of jealousy on Sarah's part and because of Ishmael's persecution of Isaac (Gen.21:9).Isn't it just like us sinful people at times to attempt in the flesh,what can only be done in the Spirit and through faith in Christ?
Abraham was promised by God Himself,that he and Sarah would have a son,when both were well past the age of child bearing.Abraham 100 yrs. old and Sarah 90 yrs. old.Both well enough past the age of being new parents.Even in the aged couples minds they thought it impossible,but the Scriptures say that Abraham staggard not at the promise of God through faith,but believed God,and it was accounted to him for righteousness.The schemes that we can sometimes come up with to "Help" God accomplish His promises for us,are at best foolishness,and at worst works righteousness,both of which will bring a curse instead of a blessing.The example of Sarah's scheme to help God bring about His promise to Abraham,that he would have a son,is the best example.She thought nothing of giving her handmaid to Abraham as a wife to bear him the promised child.However,this was not the plan of God,as is very evident.
Look at the problems of following the sin nature in an attempt to please God. Jealousy,mis-trust of God,bondage,and sin were the results,all of which are anti-thetical to faith in God's promises.Abraham was not an innocent party to any of this scheme.He went along with Sarah's plan as any good husband should do,right?Not always.He may have entertained in his carnal mind,how great it would be to have a younger bride,and with his other wife's blessing! As always,we get into alot more trouble than we can get ourselves out of at times.
Now,let's get to the point of the post!
Hagar and Ishmael are a type of sin and bondage and law.Isaac was the son of promise and a type of faith.The story was symbolic of the two covenants.Law and Faith.The two covenants can never be confused or mixed together as some false religions and even some true christians believe.The Law of Moses was given for only one purpose,to show us what sin is,it was never intended to bring righteousness.It can't,it can only bring bondage,as the story plainly shows.Simple faith in the Son of Promise,Jesus Christ is all that is needed to secure salvation.
There is a movement afoot in the modern church that draws us away from the walk of faith to a walk of works or law.The Hebraic Roots Movement and the newest Prayer Shawl movement,are just two examples of laws or rules that men in powerful positions of influence have come up with to show my point.The first,basically teaches that there is a seperate plan of salvation for the Jew than there is for the Gentile.Time and space does not allow me to elaborate,but there is only One Way,His name is Jesus Christ.His name is the only name that has ever been given whereby we must be saved.The latter example is one of:"If you send me $1,000.oo dollars,I'll send you this beautiful handmade prayer shawl from Israel,so that you too can have a better prayer life and be closer to God.There is an old Greek word for this:BOL-OG-NA a more english rendering is "boloney."
If you are walking in the faith of Jesus Christ and are in right relationship with God through His Son,you are as close to God as you can get.Nothing else is needed to bring you any closer.The bringing in of the better hope and promise is Jesus Christ,He is all that is needed (Hebrews 7:19).Paul the Apostle struggled with Judaizers who were trying to mix Law with Faith in an attempt to draw away the disciples after them.This can never work,for we are not saved by works or law,but by grace through faith,and that even has to be given to us by the Father (Eph.2:8-9).Dear child of God,in these last days just prior to His return,there will be many gimmicks and charlatains who will make every attempt to bilk you out of your money and your faith.I'm not telling you to stop listening to them,although you should,but rather,to come back to the word of God rightly divided,and allow God to direct you in your walk by Faith instead of works or Law.If they are not preaching the truth of God's word,but rather are selling the proverbial "snake oil" treatment,run from it.
I love you all,and may God richly bless each and everyone of you.Until next time...............JW.
