OVERVIEW OF QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON LAW, FAITH & LIBERTY
By Dennis Schmidt 9/2007
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This paper answers questions on the law, faith & liberty. Discussed are: what does a Christian do
with the law, what does a Christian do with liberty and how does faith fit into
God's plan. See also my papers: "Faith" & "What Does God
Really Want?" for additional information on these subjects. All scriptures
are from the King James' version Bible.
INDUCTIVE COMMENTS:
THEME: WHY IS THE LAW EMPHASIZED IF THE LAW WAS ESTABLISHED AFTER FAITH?:
Man is a law structured being. Man is taught (from youth) law, such as what
to do and not do. God puts the law into the hearts of unbeliever/Gentile
(Romans
Law given 430 years after faith promise &
cannot disannul faith God first gave a law to Adam & Eve
of not eating of the fruit of tree of knowledge of good and evil. Adam did not
need faith since God walked with him daily. Adam did need faith after he sinned
since he was looking for the Messiah (Genesis
PURPOSE: WHAT IS THE LAW'S PURPOSE?:
The law shows God's perfect standard which man can not live-up-to.
The standard lets man knows when he is doing wrong. If a man does less than the law and feels justified to the new self standard then he has become a law unto self. God standard is correct. The man should look for another answer to living to the law (faith).
"All the
world may become guilty before God"
Since no one can keep the law, everyone will be found guilty.
"By the law is the knowledge of sin"
The law is in out hearts and on paper/stone. We know when we sin.
"Is the law sin? Nay, not known sin, but
by the law"
God did not produce the law for people to sin, but to show our sin.
"Law worketh wrath..where no law is, there is
no transgression"
KEY VERSE:
WHO: God mainly by Bible authors Matthew, John, Peter, and Paul
TO WHOM: Elected Christians
WHAT: THE LAW IS
Once Jesus came and fulfilled the law, the standard is faith in the completed work of Jesus. Jesus lived as a Jew under the Jewish law.
"Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness"
"The law..added..till the seed
should come"
The seed is Jesus.
"Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto
Christ"
Once we trust Jesus to be justified, we are not
under the law.
"After faith is come, we are no longer
under schoolmaster" (law)
The Christian is in a faith walk not putting his attention to law.
WHY: WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE LAW?: No one but Jesus could do it.
"Law is spiritual: but I am carnal"
"Law could not do..it was weak through the flesh"
Man is to weak to keep the law. God as a man, Jesus, fulfilled it.
DOES THE LAW'S EXISTENCE PRODUCE DEATH?:
If some people are told by their pastor not to see a movie, they will go. The law, plus the temptations of Satan, is enough to move the person to sin.
"By the law..our members bring forth fruit unto death"
"Cursed
is every one that continueth..in
all..law"
To try and follow the law will cause man to take their eyes off Jesus as their only way to please God.
"Every man..circumcised..debtor to do
the whole law. Christ is become of no effect..ye are fallen from grace"
If a person requires himself and all others to be circumcised as the way to please God, they must do all that the law requires. A person can be circumcised if he wants to, depending on motivation.
WAY: DID THE LAW REPLACE FAITH?: No, Abraham was justified by his faith.
"Man is justified by faith without deeds
of the law"
A person is justified if God says he is and only by God's faith plan.
"Promise..be heir..was not..through
the law, but..of faith"
WHEREAS: WHAT'S THE CONCLUSION OF Q & A ON LAW, FAITH &
LIBERTY?:
"Put my law in their inward parts..write it in their hearts"
God's laws are in our hearts as inner principles
to live by.
"Think not that I am not come destroy the law..but to fulfil"
Jesus lived as a Jew, under Jewish law, &
completed it perfectly.
"Cursed is every one that continueth not in all..written
in..law" Law
demands perfection. Jesus did the law perfectly & gave His life
"Receiving the end of your faith..salvation of your souls"
The Old Testament person under the law searched
for what is now ours. Faith, which
is a freedom from the law, is by Jesus death & glory.
"Love..God..all thy heart..love..neighbour as thyself..hang..law"
WHERE:
Earth
WHEN: All Times
WHILE: THE LAW WAS
GIVEN TO ISRAEL & NOT TO THE GENTILES:
Scriptures, from
"He showeth his
word unto Jacob, his statutes..judgments..
"Gentiles..abstain from pollutions of idols..from
fornication.. from things strangled..from blood"
WANT: WHAT DOES THE
CHRISTIAN DO WITH THE LAW?:
"He that loveth
another hath fulfilled the law"
The Christian is in a love relationship with God first then others.
"All the law is fulfilled in one word..love neighbour
as thyself"
PAPER
OUTLINE:
I) WHY IS THE LAW EMPHASIZED IF THE LAW WAS ESTABLISHED AFTER FAITH?:
II) WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE LAW?:
III) DOES THE LAW'S EXISTENCE PRODUCE DEATH?:
IV) WHAT IS THE LAW'S PURPOSE?:
V) DID THE LAW REPLACE FAITH?:
VI) IF GOD IS PLEASED BY FAITH, THEN WHAT IS THE LAW'S STATUS?:
VII) WHAT DOES FAITH DO WITH THE LAW?:
VIII) THE LAW WAS GIVEN TO ISRAEL & NOT TO THE GENTILES:
IX) WHAT DID THE OLD TESTAMENT JEW DO FOR SALVATION?:
X) THE LAW IS
XI) IS THE LAW REMOVED FOR THE CHRISTIAN?:
XII) IS THE LAW REPLACED
WITH
XIII) IS THE LAW TO BE BROKEN
BY CHRISTIANS UNDER
XIV) WHAT DOES THE CHRISTIAN DO WITH THE LAW?:
XV) WHAT'S THE CONCLUSION
OF
I) WHY IS THE LAW EMPHASIZED IF THE LAW WAS ESTABLISHED AFTER FAITH?:
Man is a law structured being. Man is taught (from youth) law, such as what
to do and not do. God puts the law into the hearts of unbeliever/Gentile
(Romans
Law given 430 years after faith promise & cannot disannul faith God first gave a law to Adam & Eve of not eating of the fruit of tree of knowledge of good and evil. Adam did not need faith since God walked with him daily. Adam did need faith after he sinned since he was looking for the Messiah (Genesis 3:15). Noah also had law in building the ark. He also exercised faith in that no boat was needed before this time. When the law is mention, it usually deals with the Ten Commandments. When faith is mention, in the Old Testament, it usually is Abraham's faith that is discussed. The Ten Commandments came 430 years after Abraham's faith promises.
II) WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE LAW?: No one but Jesus could do it.
"Law is spiritual: but I am carnal"
"Law could not do..it was weak through the flesh"
Man is too weak to keep the law. God as a man, Jesus, fulfilled it.
III) DOES THE LAW'S EXISTENCE PRODUCE DEATH?:
If some people are told by their pastor not to see a movie, they will go. The law, plus the temptations of Satan, are enough to move the person to sin.
"By the law..our members bring forth fruit unto death"
"Cursed is every one that continueth..in all..law"
To try and follow the law will cause man to take their eyes off Jesus as their only way to please God.
"Every man..circumcised..debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect..ye are fallen from grace"
If a person requires himself and all others to be circumcised as the way to please God, they must do all that the law requires. A person can be circumcised if he wants to, depending on motivation.
IV) WHAT IS THE LAW'S PURPOSE?:
The law shows God's perfect standard which man can not live-up-to.
The standard lets man knows when he is doing wrong. If a man does less than the law and feels justified to the new self standard then he has become a law unto self. God standard is correct. The man should look for another answer to living to the law (faith).
"All the world may become guilty before God"
Since no one can keep the law, everyone will be found guilty.
"By the law is the knowledge of sin"
The law is in out hearts and on paper/stone. We know when we sin.
"Is the law sin? Nay, not known sin, but by the law"
God did not produce the law for people to sin, but to show our sin.
"Law worketh wrath..where no law is, there is no transgression"
V) DID THE LAW REPLACE FAITH?:
No, Abraham was justified by his faith.
"Man is justified by faith without deeds of the law"
A person is justified if God says he is. Only by God's faith plan.
"Promise..be heir..was not..through the law, but..of faith"
VI) IF GOD IS PLEASED BY FAITH, THEN WHAT IS THE LAW'S STATUS?:
God is pleased by the faith walk of Christians who walk in the Spirit and follow God's directions. But, the law of God must be fulfilled to satisfy God's justice. Jesus did this on the cross.
"Without faith it is impossible to please..God"
"The law is holy..the commandment holy, and just, and good"
The law is perfect and just; but man could not keep it. Jesus did.
VII) WHAT DOES FAITH DO WITH THE LAW?:
"Do we..void the law through faith?..we establish the law"
We fulfill the law by taking of Jesus perfectly fulfilling the law.
"Righteousness of law by..not after the flesh walk..after Spirit"
VIII) THE LAW WAS GIVEN TO ISRAEL & NOT TO THE GENTILES:
Scriptures, from
"He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes..judgments..Israel"
"Gentiles..abstain from pollutions of idols..from fornication.. from things strangled..from blood"
IX) WHAT DID THE OLD TESTAMENT JEW DO FOR SALVATION?:
Abraham was saved the same way New Testament saints are saved, by faith in God. Imputed = God reckon or attribute Him righteousness.
"A seal of the righteousness of faith..he might be the father of all them that believe..that righteousness might be imputed..them"
Jesus's righteousness to us making us pure, just, holy and clean. This is true of Abraham and all Christians who believe as Abraham.
"He believed in the LORD..he counted it to him for righteousness"
X) THE LAW IS
Once Jesus came and fulfilled the law, the standard is faith in the completed work of Jesus. Jesus lived as a Jew under the Jewish law.
"Christ is the end of the law for righteousness"
"The law..added..till the seed should come"
The seed is Jesus.
"Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ"
Once we trust Jesus to be justified, we are not under the law.
"After faith is come, we are no longer under schoolmaster" (law)
The Christian is in a faith walk not putting his attention to law.
XI) IS THE LAW REMOVED FOR THE CHRISTIAN?:
"We are delivered from the law..serve in newness of spirit"
The Law is death which only condemns. It does not produce life.
"All things are lawful..I will not be brought under power of any"
The Christian is free, but he knows in his heart what is right.
"We were kept under..law..unto the faith..afterwards be reveal"
"Led of the Spirit..not under the law"
"Blotting out..ordinances..nailing it to his cross"
Jesus death took the law out of the Christian's way.
XII) IS THE LAW REPLACED
WITH
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty"
"Stand fast..in the liberty..Christ..made us free..not..bondage"
XIII) IS THE LAW TO BE
BROKEN BY CHRISTIANS UNDER
"Take heed..liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to..weak"
"Called unto liberty..not liberty for..flesh, but by love serve"
"Free..not using your liberty for..maliciousness..but..servants"
"Whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage"
XIV) WHAT DOES THE CHRISTIAN DO WITH THE LAW?:
"He that loveth another hath fulfilled the law"
The Christian is in a love relationship with God first then others.
"All the law is fulfilled in one word..love neighbour as thyself"
XV) WHAT'S THE CONCLUSION
OF
"Put my law in their inward parts..write it in their hearts"
God's laws are in our hearts as inner principles to live by.
"Think not that I am not come destroy the law..but to fulfil"
Jesus lived as a Jew, under Jewish law, & completed it perfectly.
"Cursed is every one that continueth not in all..written in..law" Law demands perfection. Jesus did the law perfectly & gave His life
"Receiving the end of your faith..salvation of your souls"
The Old Testament person under the law searched for what is now ours. Faith, which is freedom from the law, is by Jesus death & glory.
"Love..God..all thy heart..love..neighbour as thyself..hang..law"
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This page is maintained by Dennis Schmidt. Please send your questions or comments to (dennisschmidt@att.net)