"For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."
Today's is another lesson that should be intently studied by those who contend that there is no eternal security for those of us whom have placed our faith in Jesus and that the saved are again bound to perfection just as were the ancient Jews who were under by the Law of Moses.
Paul, in the first part of this lesson, makes it clear that to those of us whom are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, the old law is "dead". That means that NONE of those commandments that were handed down to Moses any longer apply to the eternally saved. Paul said, "But now we are delivered from the law". Jesus fulfilled the Law on behalf of all who will believe in Him.
Jesus Himself said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to FULFIL." (Matthew 5:17)
In the latter portion of today's lesson, Paul explains that to those who are saved, the sins that are manifested through them are "justified" by their faith and are only charged against the carnal "man", or the man/woman in the flesh. Those sins are NOT charged to the redeemed inner spirit, or "inner man" that has been made wholly righteous before God by the righteousness of Jesus Christ that has been imputed into him/her through his/her faith in Him.
Therefore, once a person has tasted the heavenly gift of salvation, it WILL NOT and CANNOT be taken away. "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." (Hebrews 6:4-6)~
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