Rejoicing In The Law Of Faith

"But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God sent forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds (works) of the law." (Romans 3:21-28)

"Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." (Romans 3:31)

"We" establish the law of God through faith in Jesus Christ. The Lawgiver (James 4:12) justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Not by the law of commandments in ordinances, washings, sacrifices for sin but through faith in Jesus Christ, in His testimony, understanding the hope of His calling, following by the Lawgiver's prescribed works of faith.

The Works Of The Flesh (Romans 4:1-8)

"What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works (of the flesh), he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' Now to him who works (according to the flesh), the wages are not counted as (or according to) grace but as (or according to) debt."

"But to him who does not work (according to the flesh) but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works (of the flesh):

              'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, 

              and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom

              the Lord does not impute sin.' "

              (Psalm 32:1,2)

Paul calls Abraham "the father of us all" (as it is written, 'I have made you a father of many nations' [Genesis 17:5]). Yet we know that he went into Hagar, by the encouragement of Sarah, from whom the heir was supposed to come. Ishmael was conceived. Abraham repented and finished the course: Isaac was conceived through Sarah as God had spoken.

What do we find according to (agreeing with; corresponding to; adapting to) the works of the flesh? Debt, not grace!

"Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification." (Romans 4:23-25)

Just as Abraham became "fully convinced", so may we in hope believing!

Denying the Power of Godliness

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING ITS POWER. And from such turn away." 

(2 Timothy 3:1-5)

"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to US who are being saved IT IS THE POWER OF GOD. For it is written: 

'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.' " (1 Corinthians 1:17-19) 

"Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2 Timothy 2:7-10)

Paul reassures Timothy "according to MY gospel". The message of the cross of Christ is the power of God!  The "wisdom of the wise and the understanding of the prudent" will not accomplish what the cross desired, promises. Only our Lord Jesus Christ, head over all things to the church, which is His body, is able to direct our steps in it.

The Doctrine Which Accords With Godliness

"If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself." (1 Timothy 6:3-5)

The words of our Lord Jesus Christ, the doctrine which accords with godliness, is the way that we learn to agree or correspond to sonship. He shows us how to consent to wholesome words: "perfect and complete, lacking nothing" as James wrote. Godliness draws men, and corruption repels them.

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses (Timothy had seen Paul live this), commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:1,2)

If you retain your arguments over His words, very little fruit of righteousness will be produced.

Foods Which God Created

"Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from FOODS WHICH GOD CREATED to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth." 

(1 Timothy 4:1-3)

"In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, 'Rabbi, eat.' But He said to them, 'I have food to eat of which you do not know.' Therefore the disciples said to one another, 'Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?' Jesus said to them, 'My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.' " 

(John 4:31-34)

Jesus Christ was created in the womb of His mother Mary by the Father. He called Himself the bread of life; the living bread. He is/was meant to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

"As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me." (John 6:57)

Departing from the faith, speaking lies that cause those who listen to fall below that which is critical for eternal life produces hearers, not doers, who are unaware of what it means to make oneself ready for the bridegroom. If they don't hear the truth, how will they do the greater works?

The Purpose Of The Commandment (1Timothy 1:1-7)

"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, BY THE COMMANDMENT of God our Savior, and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, to Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord."

"As I urged you when I went into Macedonia - remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they may teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMANDMENT is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere (unhypocritical) faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things that they affirm."

"And we (Paul and those with him) know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His PURPOSE." (Romans 8:28)

"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love." (John 15:10)

"This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it." (2 John v.6)

It was "by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope" that Paul was made into an apostle of Jesus Christ. Likewise, Timothy was in faith, learning the commandment. We should ask for clarity regarding "the commandment".

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked OF HIM."(1 John 5:14,15) His commandment is the will of God.

Groups Of Fifty (Luke 8:10-17)

"And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing."

"When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, 'Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.' But He said to them, 'You give them something to eat.' And they said, 'We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.' Then He said to His disciples, 'Make them sit down in groups of fifty.' And they did so, and made them all sit down."

"Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them."

Jesus directed His disciples to give the multitudes something to eat, in groups of fifty. Supposedly, fifty men and their families. Is this the ideal size for a fellowship of believers? Not sure. But the result was that all in these groups ate and were filled!