The End of the Law

Here are some key verses about the law and how it has ended through Christ. Many Christians are still bound by the law, and have not embraced the liberty in Christ. The law will only bring condemnation, and it is only through Christ and what He has done for you, that you may be saved.

"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matt 5:18

The law couldn't pass away until everything was fulfilled. And it has been. 

It was all fulfilled by Christ Jesus.

"In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." Hebrews 8:13

Christ established a new, Spiritual covenant with us. The covenant which was the law is now passed away. It is old, expired and outdated. We have the new covenant now which is to walk in the Spirit, not by the law of the letter.

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Romans 10:4

Christ is the fulfillment of the law. He is the completed and perfected work of the law. Now that we live in Him, and He lives in us, we also receive the fulfillment thereof.

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Galatians 4:4,5

This was His purpose. Christ was under the law, walked in it perfectly, fulfilled all things, and now in Him, we are redeemed from the law.

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" Gal 3:3

And it is His completed work. Let us rest in His completed work and not stay in bondage! Christ has paid the price and set you free!

"The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." Luke 16:16

This is interesting. The law was to bring forth a need for a Saviour. The prophets all testified of a Saviour. This occurred all the way up until John. John's purpose was to announce the Messiah before the world, and then God allowed him to be killed. I believe this could possibly be because his purpose as a prophet was over, because it was now the time of Christ.

Remember the story when Peter and John saw a vision of Jesus transfigured before Elijah and Moses? This was also symbolic for Christ standing before the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah). Peter wanted to honor all three equally by building three tabernacles for them. God's voice came out of heaven and rebuked Peter by saying "this is my Son, hear HIM!" Christ was not to be made equal with the law and the prophets. It was now His time.

Many people that I have shared this with become offended and say that we need the law as a moral guideline. They say that without the law, people would go on a sinning frenzy. The new covenant that Christ established is Spiritual. He gave us His Spirit to guide us, to instruct us, and to teach us. If we are truly saved, and if His Spirit is truly within us, then our fruits will become evident. We will not go on a sinning frenzy because He lives in us. God directly works in us and forms us in His image. Our steps no longer become our own, but His because we have truly been born again in the Spirit. 

If a Christian decides to keep the law, and let their works become their righteousness, then they will be condemned by God. In the Bible, it says that no flesh will be justified by the law and the law has concluded ALL guilty (Rom 3:19,20, 28, Gal 2:16, Gal 3:11, Gal 5:4). It is not by works that we are saved, but it is by faith. The law is carnal, and those who do not have faith, and are unable to trust Christ alone for their salvation will try to earn their own way into heaven. God requires your faith in His Son, and what He has done for you. This is also the only way.

Israel

The Bible speaks of Israel multiple times. Many Christians zealously support and side with Israel in their battles and conflicts. Yet, when God speaks of Israel, is it the nation Israel? What was physical were shadow of things to come for the Spiritual. Let us come together and uncover another mystery in the Word.

Israel was established when God named Jacob "Israel." Long since then, they have become a nation of Jews. Yet, a lot of things changed when Jesus Christ came and accomplished His work on earth. He established a new spiritual covenant with us and grafted in the Gentiles to the vine. What about Israel? Let us read the scriptures:

Being a Jew was no longer physical, but Spiritual. It is no longer of the flesh according to their birth, but of the heart inwardly (born in Christ).

^"For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Romans 2:28,29


The promise is no longer to those who are naturally born Israelites, but to those who are Spiritually born Israelites.


"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. " Romans 9:6-8


Isaac represents the children of the promise because he was born from the free woman Sarah (grace). Ishmael represented the flesh and he was born from the bondwoman Hagar (law). The flesh (Ishmael) was cast out with the bondwoman because there can only be room for one: the children of the free to whom the promise was in effect.  ***READ GALATIANS 4:22-31 to learn more about this.***

^"Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise." Galatians 4:28

If we are IN Christ, then we are Abraham's seed and the children of the promise.

^"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:26-29


In order to be a part of this lineage of Abraham's seed, we must have faith. In whom shall we have faith? In Christ Jesus alone!


^"That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Galatians 3:14

"Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." Galatians 3:6-9

Note: Notice above when God told Abraham, "In thee shall ALL NATIONS be blessed." This foretold of the Gentiles coming into the picture through faith. Why was it through Abraham? It was because he had faith in God, and he was not bound by the law and works. He was uncircumcised. Yet, he was called the friend of God for his faith, and God blessed him to be the father of faith.

We are now the adopted sons of God and heirs to the kingdom. We are no longer his servants through the law, but the sons of God through faith and Christ Jesus our Lord! Jesus took our place and died the condemned sinner's death for us, and we are now in His place as the sons of God and heirs to the kingdom.

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Galatians 4:4-7

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:26

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12, 13

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Romans 8:14

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." 1 John 3:1



The flesh profits nothing. Being born a Jew or an Israelite will not save you. Being born again IN CHRIST shall save you.

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." Galatians 6:15

"And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." Matthew 3:9



Now the Gentiles have been given the promise through faith in Christ Jesus because Israel rejected their Messiah. We were once outsiders having no part of God, but now we have joined in the house of God through the blood of Christ. Now we are fellowcitizens, heirs to the kingdom and the adopted sons of God.


"Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God." Ephesians 2:11-13,19

"For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob." Isaiah 14:1


Yet, let us not boast for the Gentiles were only grafted in the vine of Christ because of the Jews' unbelief. We are the wild branches that have been grafted in the olive tree. God can easily cut us off if we abide not in Him. God can also easily graft back in the natural branches (Israel) if they repent and seek Christ to be saved! (Rom 11:23)
 
"And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." Romans 11:17-25

Israel has been blinded and the law is their stumblingblock so that the times of the Gentiles may be fulfilled.

"What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy." Romans 11:7-11



Yet if they shall turn to CHRIST, the veil shall be taken away!

"And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away." 2 Corinthians 3:13-16



The time shall come when the nation of Israel shall repent and turn to the Messiah.

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." Zechariah 12:10

But the times of the Gentile is now and Israel is being trampled on. We see it in the news everyday. Where is God's protection and grace upon them? God is allowing this to happen to Israel until they turn back to their Saviour again.

^"And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." Luke 21:24

Christ has longed for Jerusalem to return to Him but they have rejected Him, so He shall not return unto them until they come in HIS name.

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." Luke 13:34-35



We see this passage explaining about how the Jews shall come to knock on God's door calling for Him but He will not open the door because He knew them not. They shall say to Him that Christ was one of them and walked amongst them, yet strangers from all nations shall enter the Kingdom and sup with Christ.

"When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last." Luke 13:25-30 (also in Matthew 8)

We see that Abraham is there which represents faith, Isaac is there that represents the children of the Promise, and Jacob as Israel, yet those without shall be cast outside. Those who were last (Gentiles) shall be first, and those who were first (Jews) shall be last.



Israel is now Spiritual and it is for those who are in Christ who have faith. We have been grafted in the vine alongside with Jacob, Abraham and Isaac. Whoever is not in Christ has been broken off as an abombinable branch and shall be burned. Those who were broken off can be grafted in again through Christ. (John 15)

The Jews need to repent and turn to Christ! Flee from thy empty works and religion, and turn to Christ to be grafted back into the olive tree. Do not support Judaism and the way of the Jews, but call unto them to repent and turn away from their old ways!

"I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan." Revelation 2:9

"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 Jews persecuted the Christians and rejected the Gospel that was presented unto them:

^"And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles." Acts 18:5,6


The Jewish High Priests betrayed God when they crucified Christ and pledged their allegiance to the emperor.

"But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar." John 19:15



Jesus warned the Pharisees and High Priests that the Kingdom of God would be taken away from them:

^"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." Matthew 21:43



We call out to the Jews reading this to turn to Christ, to repent and be saved! Let us join together as brethren in Christ to be one body, partakers of one Spirit, and to inherit the promise together.

"But he that is joined unto the Lord is one Spirit." 1 Corinthians 6:17

Those who are Jews that have converted to Christ are now Christians, after Christ, as the disciples were called as well. (Acts 11:26, 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16) They are our brethren.

But remember that as Christians, we cannot approve of or praise Jews caught in the snare of the law and that are in the synagogue of Satan, yet we must preach the truth unto those to come out and be saved.

Who Shall Stand Before the Great White Throne?

When is the Great White Throne Judgment? Who shall stand before the Great White Throne Judgment? What will happen there?

Let us study this together:


There are two resurrections. One shall be for those in Christ, and the second shall be for the wicked unto damnation.


"And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:29


Also note: Only the dead IN CHRIST shall rise at His coming. It never says everyone shall rise, but those who are already IN Christ (1 Thess 4:16).

Also read Revelation 20:5,6


"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." 

In the first resurrection we shall receive these things:

Incorruptibility: "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1 Cor 15:52

Immortality: "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Cor 15:53, 54



A Spiritual Body: "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." 1 Cor 15:44


We who shall rise first have become the Sons of God and heirs to the Kingdom: (John 1:12, Romans 8:14, Gal 4:5-7, Phil 2:15, Hebrew 12:7, 1 John 3:1, 2)


Now keeping these things in mind, let us read the passage about the Great White Throne Judgment.

"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.


And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.


And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.


And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Rev 20:11-15

-After reading the above passage, who are those standing before the Great White Throne?

The Dead.

-Where were the dead delivered up from?

The sea, death, hell (Greek word is Hades which means grave). 

-What are they judged by?

Their works.

Those without Christ are placed before the Great White Throne which takes place after the thousand years are passed and after Gog and Magog. Those are the dead that did not rise in the first resurrection. This is the Second Resurrection! When this occurs, we shall be with Christ and we shall be immortal so we are not the dead standing before the throne.

"Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. " Luke 20:36

We are not the ones judged by our works for we have the blood and liberty in Christ Jesus. The law was made for the transgressors and it shall condemn them for they have not grace.

 "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine" 1 Tim 1:9-10

When the dead are judged, shall any be justified by their works according to the law? Hear what the scriptures have to say:

"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the 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. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith." Gal 3:10,11

"But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." Gal 3:22

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Gal 2:16


"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Isaiah 64:6

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10


Whoever stands before the throne shall be judged by the law and their works. None shall be justified. None shall walk away from the throne. All shall perish and die.

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10

The whole point of the Gospel is to show that no man can enter heaven without Jesus. No man can enter heaven by his own righteousness. No man shall be justified in the sight of God on their own.

Whoever HAS Christ, shall not be there at the Great White Throne. We shall be reigning with Christ. We shall have no condemnation (Romans 8:1) and we are justified by faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24, 28, Romans 5:1, 9, 1 Cor 6:11, Gal 2:16, 3:11, 24, 5:4, Titus 3:7)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

"And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God." Matthew 14:25-33

This is an amazing story of Jesus walking on the water. When the disciples saw Him, they were terrified cause they thought He was a ghost! Peter went to Jesus and in Jesus' prescence, he was able to do what Jesus had done. Peter was able to walk on water! This shows us that we are able to do marvelous things with Jesus.

Then Peter took his eyes off Jesus and noticed the wind and the waves. It was a scary sight and immediately, he began to sink. Spiritually, we sink when we take our eyes off Jesus. When we fear our surroundings, our circumstances or our problems, we begin to sink for fear is the lack of faith. Never take your eyes off Jesus.

And any time we cry out to Jesus, we shall be saved. Jesus stretched forth His hand and reached for Peter. He then rebuked Peter for doubting in Him for God is more powerful than our circumstances!

Let this be a friendly reminder, that with God, we live above the circumstances. Our fears and doubts will only sink us. Never take your eyes off Jesus, for with Him, you can do all things!

The Evidence of Our Faith

It is important to understand the true source of works. There is a fine line between works that stem from faith, and works for self gain. Firstly, we want to show that works alone cannot save us.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8,9

Yet it proceeds onto the next verse saying,

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

When we are in Christ Jesus, we are ordained and sent unto good works so that we may serve him. It is not of ourselves! If we do works on our own, thinking we are to earn points, or move up some sort of ladder of merit, then it is empty works! It is vanity!

But because Jesus Christ lives and dwells within us, we have a change of heart and lifestyle. We will find a renewed sense within us to want to help others, to take chances, to spread the Gospel. Our works become evidences that He lives within us, and that we have faith.

Read James 2:14-26,

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

We read in James that faith alone profits nothing. Faith alone without any evidence of it by our works is dead. Many Christians believe in God, but so do the devils! What sets us apart from devils? It is our faith in action. It is our lifestyle. It is our fruit! The devils believe in God and know He is real, yet they live wickedly. There are Christians out there who believe in God, and their works and lifestyles are wicked!

We see the examples in the passage listed above that Abraham and Rahab had none to profit themselves from these works! Abraham was about to lose his favorite son, and how could that be a self gain? Rahab became a traitor to her own country when she decided to help hide the spies in her home. Works are to be selfless, not selfish!

Works that are for our own gain, our own recognition, our own merit and glory are vain and worthless! Yet, works that come from our heart of faith, are good works that are well pleasing unto God! It is good fruit sown on good ground in the true heart of a believer.  Let us not be Pharisees who do works after their own glory!

When God looks at your life, will He see good fruit? Will He see the fruits of the Spirit? Will He see love, compassion, long suffering, patience, peace, joy, charity? Or will He see selfishness, pride, greed, lusts, gluttony, anger, jealousy, vanity? (read Galatians 5:19-23)

Believing in God isn't the only thing that can get you home.

Paul encourages us to examine ourselves, to test ourselves and to find whether we are in the faith, or whether we are reprobate.

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" 2 Corinthians 13:5

We will see many Christians come and go, but who are the ones that are truly saved and living in Christ? Paul says that we shall know them by their fruits.

"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matthew 7: 16-20

"Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." Matthew 12:33

Let us examine ourselves. Do we bear good fruit? Read Matthew 13, the parable of the sower.

God is the sower that sows His Word like seeds all over,

The Wayside Believer: This believer did not understand the Word of God, and the enemy removes the Word from their heart.

The Stony Believer: This believer receives the Word with joy and lasts a short time. When times of persecution and tribulation comes, this believer is immediately offended and leaves.

The Thorny Believer: This believer receives the Word, but then is entangled in the world. The thorns of the world choke the Word out of this believer with it's lusts, riches and pleasures.

The Good Ground Believer: This believer receives the Word and understands it. This believer bears fruit, and then it increases many times over! This is the believer that God seeks, whom bears good fruits and God sends an increase. God's Word is manifest in their lives because the faith they received grew into trees that bore good fruits. Their faith is manifest by their fruits.

Let us always examine ourselves and let our hearts be like the good ground that receives His Word. Let our faith grow and bear many fruits in God's field. Let our works be manifest through our faith and show that Jesus Christ lives within us indeed!When the Son of Man appears from the sky with His Angels, let us rejoice knowing this,

"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." Matthew 16:27

For our works testify of the faith we have in Him.

We Are No Longer Cursed

We see Christians nowadays that go down two different paths. Some choose to live by grace while others choose to live by the law. Many are deceived and taught that they must provide God with their own works and righteousness after salvation. Yet, what is grace and the purpose for why Jesus Christ came down to die for us? This is a very important subject because it has the ability to change our whole lives once we fully realize the full aspect of what the cross achieved for us.

We must first realize that there is nothing that we can bring to the table. We cannot create or compose something even halfway decent to give back to God on our own. Even at our very best, we still put Him on the cross. He still had to die for those whom we consider to be the very best Christians or the most righteous and "good" people we know.

All our righteousness still put Him on the cross!

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" Isaiah 64:6

The Bible calls our righteousness filthy rags. Those are the filthy rags that those with leprosy had to wipe off the pus from their boils with! Our righteousness is filthy in the eyes of God.

Is there any exception for anybody on this Earth? Nope!

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10

and every man has failed to meet the exceptionally high quota of God which is perfection.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

So we have concluded that we are not righteous and we all are sinners. Is that bad news? Actually, not really because if we were good enough, we wouldn't need Jesus at all. That's the thing! How many of us actually think that we can produce our own righteousness and become "good enough" for God? Actually, a lot of us still do.. but the danger is that in this belief, there is no need for Jesus and what He did for us on the cross.

The Bible says that if we follow the law and try to produce our own righteousness by following the law, then we are fallen from grace! That's a terrifying thought!

"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." Galatians 5:4

Grace is the gift of God. Grace is what God's own son did for us on the cross. Grace is knowing that we will never be good enough for God, and accepting this free gift. If we reject grace, then we reject the price that Jesus Christ paid for us on the cross. If we choose righteousness by the law, then Christ is dead for nothing!

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." Galatians 2:21

A lot of us subconsciously worry about being good after we are saved. We try to be good enough and feel like we owe God something. Should we feel that way? No, because there is no debt we need to pay. We don't owe anybody anything! The debt has ALREADY been paid! Why are we working as if we're paying off a debt?

"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Romans 4:4,5

We are no longer under the old covenant where we had to observe the law to become righteous in the eyes of God. Jesus came to fulfill all 613 of the old Torah laws because the law was a curse and it brought death.

The law was given to us because of the sin that was brought on to the world and now we are redeemed! Adam disobeyed God and sinned against Him, then sin and death reigned in the world. The world was cursed with law and sin until God sent His Son to redeem us. This was the promise that the old testament saints waited for thousands of years.

"Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator." Galatians 3:19

(Note: Jesus Christ is the mediator, 1 Tim 2:5)

God gave the Gentiles free righteousness without law and works through His Son. Israel had the law and their works to give an account for their righteousness but we have something far greater. We have the Son and our faith is our righteousness. If we seek God through the deeds of the law and not of faith, we shall stumble and fall. We will fail.

"What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone." Romans 9:30-32

We are justified by our faith and not by the law or of works. Isn't that amazing? Faith is what justifies us!

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Romans 3:28

 We know that it was our faith in Jesus Christ that saved us. It was our salvation! Why do we turn back and return to the law and works? Faith is what got us in, and faith is what brings us home.

"Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? " Galatians 3:3

 Here is a warning. I have been to many churches personally that teach grace, but they also teach us to follow certain laws in the Old Testament. The law is one and whole. There are 613 laws in the OT that is called the Torah. Those 613 laws are commandments from God in the old covenant. If we choose to keep and observe a few, even just a select few, we are bound by the law. And when we are bound by the law, we are to keep every single one of them!

Who can live up to 613 laws of righteousness? If we miss one, we have failed ALL!

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. " James 2:10

 The law is a curse and it brings death! There will be those who will tell you the law is good, but the Bible says it is a curse and all who follow the curse shall die! No man shall be justified by the law in the sight of God! No one can stand before God and present their works by the law and make it through!

"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the 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.
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.


And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." Galatians 3:10-13

The law was created to bring us unto Jesus Christ. It gave us a need for a Saviour and God's purpose was fulfilled in His Son. Now that He has come and now that we have faith, we are no longer under the law. The law was only made to bring us HERE to be in Christ with faith.

"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." Galatians 3:24, 25

We are so blessed to be in this point of time where we have the gift of grace that is made into effect by grace that was given to us by the shedding of the blood of Jesus. Yet, it is grievous to see that there are those who choose to still be under the law even to this day! There are even those who claim to have grace but still keep some rules of the law.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8

The reason why this is so urgent is that if we have been deceived to follow the law, then we shall be judged the law. God honors our decision and our choices if we choose to follow the law. We shall be judged before the throne of God by every deed we do and by all our works! And in Revelation, no man makes it out of the Great White Throne alive. Those who have the law have the wrath of God upon them.

We need the blood of the spotless lamb for death to pass over us. We need to fully receive the blood and accept grace. In accepting grace, we are accepting the free gift of God. Jesus takes our place, and the Father will look at us and see His Son's righteousness in us! He will NOT see our own righteousness, but His Son's Righteousness!

Our righteousness are filthy rags and we will surely die! We need the righteousness of Jesus Christ upon us! What is so beautiful about this is that Jesus walked on Earth and He completed every single law perfectly! He was flawless and righteous! He was perfect! That is what the Father will see in us! We have literally traded places! Jesus paid the price of our righteousness by dying for us and he became a curse for us. He had the wrath of God upon Him on the cross! And we can take His place and become the heir to the kingdom of God! We become the adopted sons of God!

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. " Galatians 4:4,5

We must choose faith. We must choose grace. We must realize that under the law and works, we shall be condemned and we shall die! I know that this has been an exhaustive study and this is only a few scriptures from the New Testament. I encourage those who are thirsty for more information about law and grace to read Romans and Galatians. Paul writes in depth and passion about grace and teaches it to the new believers.

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Romans 10:4

Jesus Christ = end of the law. It is complete.



Do you believe?