Lesson 538

(Lesson 538)(02-05-13) Collossians 2:10-23, "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."

Todays Lesson takes to task those who believe that the salvation of ones eternal soul, and whether or not one maintains that salvation, relies upon ones daily physical actions whether or not one commits a "sin", or is obedient to "the law".

To better understand the intent of this lesson we need to fully understand what is meant by the phrase, "the law".

The law, as referenced in this text, is a list of "dos" and "do not's" that was given, by God through Moses, to the Hebrew people after they had been brought out of Egyptian captivity.

The law determined what was and was not "sin". It was a code by which the Hebrew people were to conduct their everyday lives in order to maintain a relationship with God.

In order to attain forgiveness for disobedience, the violator was required to publicly confess the sin, be baptized (washed with water), then offer a blood sacrifice befitting the "sin" according to the law.

When Jesus came From God, was crucified on the cross, buried, and resurrected from the dead, that law was fulfilled (completed), "Romans 13:8, "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

Paul explained in an earlier lesson how the deeds of the law have NO bearing on salvation, Romans 3:20, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 6:14, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

Am I teaching that there is no standard by which Christian people are to live, NO!! Christian people, the saved, will out of their own conviction, live a life that is reflective of the two commandments that Jesus gave directly to His people, Matthew 12:29-31, "And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

Ephesians 2:8-9, "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."

In short we, the saved are required to do nothing to maintain our salvation, our names are sealed in the "Lamb's book of life", by the Holy Spirit of God.~