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.
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
Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles (Rom 11:13). Paul says we are "under grace" and "not under 'the law" that was given to Israel. Romans 6:14b ... ye are not under the law, but under grace. The law was not and is not for the Gentile "body of Christ," so any law regarding "the sabbath" is irrelevant to us as members of "the body of Christ."
The Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians how he traveled to meet with the Messianic Jerusalem Pentecostal Church leaders so me 14 years after his first and only other visit. Below Paul refers to his meeting in Jerusalem when he told the apostles and elders there about the unique new gospel that he had received directly from the ascended Lord Jesus (Gal 1:12).