"I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen."
Today's lesson is a short one but nevertheless an important one. Herein, Paul made it very clear that he was saddened by the actions of his blood kinsmen (The Jews) as they held on to the restrictions of the Law while rejecting the grace of God through Jesus Christ.
Even today there are many who still contend that adhesion to the rules of the old Law is required to attain everlasting life. As Paul made vividly clear in his letter to the Romans, the deeds of the Law have nothing to do with the perfection of the spirit. The ONLY thing that can purify the spirit of the a lost man to the point of eternal salvation is faith in the perfect righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. "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)~
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