Part 2 –Israel’s Program Under the Law
Under Israel’s Law program, faith was proven by their “works of the Law” that it was to produce. James, wrote to Israel saying “faith without works is dead” (cf. Jas 2:14-26).
Under Israel’s Law program, faith was proven by their “works of the Law” that it was to produce. James, wrote to Israel saying “faith without works is dead” (cf. Jas 2:14-26).
It’s difficult, if not impossible, to determine what Galatian believers thought taking the rite of circumcision would accomplish for them spiritually after having begun in the Spirit by faith. I doubt that they knew themselves.
Every sincere child of God should take to heart the Apostle Paul’s reprimand of the believers at Galatia when he writes: “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey (Gk. peitho, rely upon) the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Gal. 3:1). They forgot the truth they had learned from Paul concerning the meaning of the cross-work of Christ on their behalf.
In their effort to claim Israel’s laws of “blessings and cursing” many Christians ignorantly claim verses that pertain to Israel only.
Tithing does not apply to Christians today, living under “the dispensation of the grace of God.” We will examine the history of the tithe to see when it applied and who it applied to. Due to not “rightly dividing the word of truth” for today many are deceived into thinking tithing can earn them favor with God.
Of course, a true Bible student would know that God cannot be ‘bought.’ Today our grace relationship with the Lord works on the basis of God’s pure grace, and faith alone… in Christ.
Within the ranks of Christendom, you find the common idea that Sunday is the so-called “Christian Sabbath.”
We will look to the Holy Word of God to see if there is ‘any day’ to be observed during this age of “the dispensation of the grace of God.”
Roman Catholic priest, “Father” Dale Fushek, wrote:
On what basis does the Christian life operate successfully? The typical church leader or pastor today would reply; “Of course, it’s by you keeping the Ten Commandments – then God will bless you.”
Acts 13 tells how Paul and Barnabas had entered a synagogue as strangers and simply sat down to listen. After “the reading of the law and the prophets,” however, the leaders of the service sent someone to ask them: “Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on” (Verses 14 and 15). Somehow Paul and Barnabas had been recognized as men of God.
There are three basic misconceptions that most people entertain about the law of God and its Ten Commandments.
Actually, God gave the law to Moses for Israel only, about 1,500 B.C. This was after about 2,500 years of human history had elapsed (John 1:17). So mankind lived on earth for about 2,500 years without the law or the Ten Commandments.
Forgiveness…Under ‘the Law’
Versus
Forgiveness…Under ‘Grace’
By Arthur J Licursi
- A Multi-part Study Series -
Examining and comparing