Bulletin Edition #262 August 2015

The whole scheme of works salvation is totally dependent upon man and looks inward for all hope, happiness, help, and holiness. Making man the principle object of worship, preeminence and glory.

But, the whole scheme of God’s salvation is dependent upon Jesus Christ, the appointed Mediator and Substitute for sinners. This scheme of salvation looks Godward for all hope, happiness, help, and holiness. Making Jesus Christ the principle object of all worship, preeminence and glory. “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ ” The grand design of God’s salvation is the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:4-5).

Tom Harding
In Paul’s writings to the church at Galatia; he mentions at least twice the fact that there were false preachers ‘troubling’ them and causing the Apostle much anguish of heart as well (chapter 5). Let it be known that when you want to trouble the elect of God, the redeemed and chosen believer of grace, just add some works to the gospel and trouble you will get.

The true preacher of the grace of God desires to speak peace and comfort to the church of His calling, not make trouble for the very blood bought people of the Lord’s choosing. Let the world have its trouble, we want peace of heart, soul and mind every time we come together to hear and worship the Lord our God.

The believer will not stand (nor will the messenger who brings the truth) for such sermons as ‘Christ plus anything.’ NO! We will plainly, simply and clearly speak of THE Christ and HIS work, plus nothing and minus nothing. I get trouble every work week; I want to be at peace with His people. To do so I must Preach Christ and Him crucified….nothing more, nothing less and nothing else.
Drew Dietz.

Forgiveness Works

If a man has ever truly heard the spirit of the law speak and beheld a glimpse of the depth of his sin, if he’s had fear strike his soul at the law’s condemning sentence, “Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!” then heard the Lord Jesus Christ whisper, “Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged” that man will spend the rest of his days trying to mortify that oppressive, old legalist that always wrestles to yoke him and his brethren. As he beholds that the kingdom of God is not meat and drink–he ceases to put confidence in the flesh (or emphasis on this flesh) but worships God in spirit and rejoices in Christ Jesus the Lord. Clay Curtis

Then said they unto Him, what shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered them, this is the work of God that ye believe on Him whom he hath sent (John 6: 28-29).”

This was that day which Daniel prophesied of concerning the end of the seventy weeks when the transgression would be finished, an end made of sin, and the Messiah be cut off but not for himself. (Daniel 9). Seeing this day approaching Daniel began to pour out his heart to God in intercession for himself and for his people. Because of their ignorance and willful rebellion to Gods’ messengers, the prophets, Daniel confessed of himself and his people that they were left with confusion of faces (Daniel 9:7). Who is right and who is wrong? What is worship and what is idolatry? Surrounded by mysteries and diversities of ideas, the multitude cried out to the master, “What shall we do that we might work the works of God?”

My friend it is not the work of God, the gospel of Christ, or the preacher that twists and distorts and leaves men in confusion. It is their twisted reasoning and worldly logic that confuses the sinner. Paul said, “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (II Corinthians 4: 3-4).” To this multitude, being pulled all directions by all kinds of confusing influences, the Lord gives this single explanation, “This is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

Faith does not embrace a system of theology, a table of laws, or a tradition of ceremony. Faith embraces a crucified, resurrected exalted savior. In this living vital union, the sinner receives everything he needs to save him to the uttermost. “Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth: For I am God and there is none else (Isaiah 45:22)”.

Darvin Pruitt
What does it mean to be “of the works of the law?”

Todd Nibert

So then, they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (Galatians 3:9-10)

What does it mean to be “of the works of the law?” The word “of” refers to origin. If I am of the works of the law I trace the origin of my salvation to something I have done. Just what that something is varies according to who you are talking to. Some would say it is obedience to the law. Others would say it is your sincerity. Still, others would say it is your will that decides whether to accept or reject God’s offer of salvation. Whatever form it takes, it is still something you must do before you can be saved. Salvation is the end, the pay back, for the works that you perform. But those who are “of truth” (Gal 3:9), trace the origin of their salvation to God himself. What we do does not end in salvation. We begin in salvation. Our works find their origin in God himself (Eph. 2:8-10). Al who are of the works of the law are under God’s curse! All who are “of faith” are “blessed with faithful Abraham.”

Todd Nibert

A Breaker of the Law

“For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.” Romans 2:25

There is only One Who kept the law of God, and that is Jesus Christ the Lord. All others who claim to do so are liars – “. . . yea, let God be true, but every man a liar …” Romans 3:4.

There is no merit or profit in man’s claims of who he is, or professions of what he has done to justify himself before God. As a matter of fact Almighty God has pronounced judgment upon those who say they are righteous and are not – “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee” Revelation 3:9.

The Apostle, by the inspiration of God, makes it crystal clear that we all (both Jew and gentile) are law breakers. Even if we could obey the law outwardly, what about inwardly? What about the motions of the evil heart and carnal mind? That is where God looks. That is where God demands perfection. If we could obey only one outward demand of God, would it be done in perfect love and by faith, and all for the glory of God and His blessed Son? Can we do this by the mere exercise of the will of the flesh? Or is it accepted by God because we are of a certain sect or believe a certain doctrine?

There is only ONE HOPE for us law breakers (we whom God has made and will make to know our guilt) … That is ONE Who kept the law for us, both inwardly and outwardly, for “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” 1John 4:10. Not only does a believer know and own His guilt, he knows and owns the Lord Jesus Christ as his justification before God.

“For he hath made Him [to be] sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2Co 5:21

Tommy Robbins
Law or Christ

Occasionally I hear from someone, who wants to know what relationship believers have to the law. My reply is always the same. — Believers are not under the law in any way, shape, form, or fashion. God’s people are free from the law’s curse, because “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).

The law was not given to give life, or sanctification, but to reveal how sinful we really are. Can that which pronounces death give life? Can that which demands perfection give a man the ability to perform perfectly? — “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law”? (Galatians 4:21) — Do you not hear it say, “by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in the sight of God”, or “as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse”? — Have you not heard it say, “Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound”?

Thank God that Christ came to fulfill the law, to render to it absolute perfect, full and final obedience. In doing so he satisfied Gods infinite justice on behalf of his elect, who were under its curse, bearing its curse for them. It demanded perfection, he gave it. It demanded death, he died for those he represented; and now, — “CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH” (Romans10:4).

“Free from the law, oh happy condition!
Jesus hath bled and there is remission;
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all!”

Don Bell

How I Love The Law!
Todd Nibert

“If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.” (Exodus 23:4)

How beautiful is God’s law that requires such treatment to our enemies. God’s law reflects the character of God Himself. “He maketh His sun to rise upon the evil and the good, and sendeth rain upon the just and the unjust” (Matt. 5:45). In reading through Exodus 21-23, God’s law regarding how we are to treat our fellow man, we are struck with the impartial justice, the fairness, and the mercy of God. Truly, His holy law reflects His holy character. And His holy law reflects the character of man. How evil must men be that makes such laws necessary in the first place! Remember, “The law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient” (I Tim. 1:9).

Truly, we “delight in the law of God after the inward man.” The law reflects God’s beautiful character, our sinful character, and shows us our need of Christ, and is our school-master to bring us to Christ. Every believer stands righteous before the law and is not under the law. So every believer can say with conviction, “Oh, how I love Thou law!” (Psalm 119:97).

Comments are closed.