Mathew 7:21-23
New King James Version (NKJV)
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many
will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your
name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your
name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Lawlessness: A state in which there is widespread wrongdoing and disregard for rules and authority
Anomia means without the law. The only law they had in Mathew was the Old Testament.
Again... what scriptures did they have? Can you imagine (if I may borrow this illustration from another) if Paul got up to preach and said, "This is what you must do to be saved! We know it is true because it is in the scriptures...that I wrote... just last year."
In the Hebrew culture you could not preach under your own authority but you were typically to preach under the authority of another. (most foundational the authority of Moses or one of the Old Testament writers) That is why in Mathew 7:29 says "For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes"
He spoke with authority because all scripture is God breathed. It was by His authority we are saved and that He preached. The Old Testament shows us Messiah and prophecies about His coming.
Now naturally we know that in order to be saved we must first confess our sins and repent. Acts 2 touches on that. We must then believe in Jesus as Messiah and then follow Him. It's not a name it and claim it then walk away and live how you want deal. It's an every day act of obedience that maintains our salvation by faith (in Messiah) through grace (of Messiah)
Lawlessness: A state in which there is widespread wrongdoing and disregard for rules and authority
Anomia means without the law. The only law they had in Mathew was the Old Testament.
1 John 2:3
King James Version (KJV)
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
What commandments? The only commandments they had were in the Old Testament.
Now let us consider this. Jesus and His disciples went around persuading people out of the scriptures.
Revelation 22:14
King James Version (KJV)
14 Blessed
are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree
of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
What commandments? The only commandments they had were in the Old Testament.
Now let us consider this. Jesus and His disciples went around persuading people out of the scriptures.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
King James Version (KJV)
16 All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Again... what scriptures did they have? Can you imagine (if I may borrow this illustration from another) if Paul got up to preach and said, "This is what you must do to be saved! We know it is true because it is in the scriptures...that I wrote... just last year."
In the Hebrew culture you could not preach under your own authority but you were typically to preach under the authority of another. (most foundational the authority of Moses or one of the Old Testament writers) That is why in Mathew 7:29 says "For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes"
He spoke with authority because all scripture is God breathed. It was by His authority we are saved and that He preached. The Old Testament shows us Messiah and prophecies about His coming.
Now naturally we know that in order to be saved we must first confess our sins and repent. Acts 2 touches on that. We must then believe in Jesus as Messiah and then follow Him. It's not a name it and claim it then walk away and live how you want deal. It's an every day act of obedience that maintains our salvation by faith (in Messiah) through grace (of Messiah)
Luke 9:23
King James Version (KJV)
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
So what am I saying? Should we go back to the Old Testament way of life? No. We should go back to God's instructions that He gave them back then.
Obviously not all in the OT are salvation issues. I'm not going to hell if I eat pork...it's just bad for my health. There were legitimate reasons why God told them the things He did.
The temple sacrifices are not necessary because they were a prophetic foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice... Messiah.
Perhaps we should consider, however, that the instructions in the OT are still relevant to us today largely as a whole. Paul, even in the end of Acts long after the death and resurrection was still following the Old Testament instructions. (and why not... there were still no other scriptures accepted at those times. apostolic writings to the best of my knowledge would not yet be considered scripture)
So what am I saying? Should we go back to the Old Testament way of life? No. We should go back to God's instructions that He gave them back then.
Obviously not all in the OT are salvation issues. I'm not going to hell if I eat pork...it's just bad for my health. There were legitimate reasons why God told them the things He did.
The temple sacrifices are not necessary because they were a prophetic foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice... Messiah.
Perhaps we should consider, however, that the instructions in the OT are still relevant to us today largely as a whole. Paul, even in the end of Acts long after the death and resurrection was still following the Old Testament instructions. (and why not... there were still no other scriptures accepted at those times. apostolic writings to the best of my knowledge would not yet be considered scripture)
Acts 24:14
King James Version (KJV)
14 But
this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so
worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written
in the law and in the prophets:
My intent here is not to "put you under bondage." Jesus said... (again keep in mind that He had no other scriptures to base His teachings off of)
My intent here is not to "put you under bondage." Jesus said... (again keep in mind that He had no other scriptures to base His teachings off of)
Matthew 11:30
King James Version (KJV)
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
My intent IS to make people consider the validity of the Old testament in conjunction with the New Testament as a seamless scriptural guide to our lives. They each support one another and are each just as valid since they hold the same teachings. If one is valid the other is too. Now interpretation of all the nuances inside is another subject entirely! So please keep in mind, the Old testament preaches the same salvation as the New, just in a different way.
So first we must keep His commandments? Does it end there? What if I live my whole life and never break a single one of the ten commandments? (that would be the easiest set to start with) On top of that what if I eat clean foods and believe in Messiah, get baptized (though I do not believe baptism in water is a requirement to get to heaven... however it is a good thing to do)
My intent IS to make people consider the validity of the Old testament in conjunction with the New Testament as a seamless scriptural guide to our lives. They each support one another and are each just as valid since they hold the same teachings. If one is valid the other is too. Now interpretation of all the nuances inside is another subject entirely! So please keep in mind, the Old testament preaches the same salvation as the New, just in a different way.
So first we must keep His commandments? Does it end there? What if I live my whole life and never break a single one of the ten commandments? (that would be the easiest set to start with) On top of that what if I eat clean foods and believe in Messiah, get baptized (though I do not believe baptism in water is a requirement to get to heaven... however it is a good thing to do)
Matthew 19:21
King James Version (KJV)
21 Jesus
said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and
give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and
follow me.
Now this obviously doesn't mean that if we don't sell all and follow Him we are not getting to Heaven... right? It depends on how you look at it. We are to be stewards of what God has given us. In the parable of the talents (Mathew 25) the money he gave his servants was theirs to do with as they chose but it did not belong to them.
All we "posses" belongs to God because we are to be His bond servants as James talks about. The very idea of a bond servant is someone who their master sets them free but out of love by their own choice they refuse to go free and dedicate themselves to serving that master for the rest of their life.
So if you look at it that way then we must "sell" everything we own because we must commit it to God. He will still allow us to use it to provide for our physical needs and some of our wants, but it is to provide for the physical needs of others as well.
Now this obviously doesn't mean that if we don't sell all and follow Him we are not getting to Heaven... right? It depends on how you look at it. We are to be stewards of what God has given us. In the parable of the talents (Mathew 25) the money he gave his servants was theirs to do with as they chose but it did not belong to them.
All we "posses" belongs to God because we are to be His bond servants as James talks about. The very idea of a bond servant is someone who their master sets them free but out of love by their own choice they refuse to go free and dedicate themselves to serving that master for the rest of their life.
So if you look at it that way then we must "sell" everything we own because we must commit it to God. He will still allow us to use it to provide for our physical needs and some of our wants, but it is to provide for the physical needs of others as well.
1 Timothy 5:8
King James Version (KJV)
8 But
if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own
house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Also read Mathew 25:31-46 To sum it up ...........come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ..........For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me............Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not...................Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison................... Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Also read Mathew 25:31-46 To sum it up ...........come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ..........For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me............Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not...................Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison................... Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
1 Corinthians 13:13
King James Version (KJV)
Charity is a word that I am sure we are all familiar with. Agape. To sum it up Agape love is doing (note doing being an action) what is best for the other person in spite of your own needs and desires. In Mathew 25 those who were let into heaven practiced this for of love/charity. This is part of our daily duty of taking up our cross and following Him. (sometimes a hard one... but a duty none the less) We can't sit back and be inactive and still make the cut.
James 2:10-26
King James Version (KJV)
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 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?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 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.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 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.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
So we must have works our our faith is no good. Simple belief is not sufficient. (even the demons believe- and tremble)
Another thing to ponder... are you saved? Am I saved? Or are we still in the process of being saved? If I turn around tomorrow and systematically break each one of the ten commandments intentionally and do so every day for the rest of my life I will go to hell when I die. However, if I were to die right now I have faith that God's grace would allow me in. So I am not necessarily "saved" until I make it to heaven. Then my salvation is sure. Though this is a bit of a nit-picky subject. I am simply splitting hairs to provoke some thought.
So in other words we must live Messiah to the best of our ability. Always striving for the faith once delivered to the saints as spoke of in Jude. It's an uphill battle but it's not God's instructions that make it hard (his burdens are light) it is the devil who throws resistance against our walk.
If we walk faithfully (though we all will stray and stumble along the way) and persevere to the end we will receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12)
There is a saying I heard once, ascribed to an old Rabi. He was posed the question that, if faith was like a ladder who would be highest on the ladder? His answer? "The one who is still climbing."
The closer we grow to HIM the closer we grow together. So let us walk together, learn together, strive for that faith once delivered to the saints and pick up our cross daily until our end meets us and our God takes us.
Peace to you all and may His will be done.
Jason
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 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?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 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.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 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.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
So we must have works our our faith is no good. Simple belief is not sufficient. (even the demons believe- and tremble)
Another thing to ponder... are you saved? Am I saved? Or are we still in the process of being saved? If I turn around tomorrow and systematically break each one of the ten commandments intentionally and do so every day for the rest of my life I will go to hell when I die. However, if I were to die right now I have faith that God's grace would allow me in. So I am not necessarily "saved" until I make it to heaven. Then my salvation is sure. Though this is a bit of a nit-picky subject. I am simply splitting hairs to provoke some thought.
So in other words we must live Messiah to the best of our ability. Always striving for the faith once delivered to the saints as spoke of in Jude. It's an uphill battle but it's not God's instructions that make it hard (his burdens are light) it is the devil who throws resistance against our walk.
If we walk faithfully (though we all will stray and stumble along the way) and persevere to the end we will receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12)
There is a saying I heard once, ascribed to an old Rabi. He was posed the question that, if faith was like a ladder who would be highest on the ladder? His answer? "The one who is still climbing."
The closer we grow to HIM the closer we grow together. So let us walk together, learn together, strive for that faith once delivered to the saints and pick up our cross daily until our end meets us and our God takes us.
Peace to you all and may His will be done.
Jason
