Justification by faith

Beloved of Christ, the whole point of the gospel of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is justification (righteousness) by faith. In Philippians 3:9, Paul says - "and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;"

John 1:17 tells us "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

Hebrews 11:6 says "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Galatians 3:11-12 says "But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

From these passages, we see that:

1. No one is justified by the Law in the sight of God

2. The Law is not of faith

3. We need faith to please God (faith comes by hearing and we cannot receive the word unless the Sower scatters the seed our way (after preparing our hearts - the ground - to receive it) and nurtures the plant so even our faith is a gift, not something we by ourselves "muster enough of" in order to get God to act)

We see that we need faith to please God and the law is not of faith!

Believers, keeping the Law (including the Ten Commandments) in order to get right with God is being FAITHLESS and "without faith, it is impossible to please God."

Obeying the law to get into God's good graces or receive from Him has quite the opposite effect according to Galatians 5:4 -

"For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace."

You cannot be trying to keep the Ten Commandments in order to be righteous and then think that Christ will answer when you call. Those in this category shall live by the law (Christ becomes of no effect to them), and since the bible says no one is made righteous by law-keeping; and James 2:10 tells us that breaking one law makes one guilty of all; and the wages of sin is death; and Galatians 3:10 says "For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse,..." they are subject to all of the curses in Deuteronomy 28:16-end! No wonder many believers are still suffering symptoms of the curse and running from pillar to post so pastors can "lay hands" on them; hands that could be from anywhere!

Christ loves you, wants to save you and have a personal relationship with you! All you have to do is believe in Him and not in your ability to do right! When you Believe Right, you will Live Right, and through no effort of yours but Christ in you.

In Christ, we are not under Law but under Grace. Sarah (Grace) does not need Hagar (the Law) to raise Isaac (the church). Grace is enough. Hagar had a child but not according to God's will. This is the same as trying to fulfil what God has promised that His grace will accomplish for us (Salvation) by keeping the law through our own efforts. Ishmael was borne of human effort and not God's will. Sarah's child Isaac was a miracle. The impossible became possible and according to God's will too. Please see this beautiful story in Galatians 4:21-32. This is how our salvation and right living come - by God's grace.

Ishmael (those under the Law) persecuted Isaac (Grace children) and this is still going on today! Ishmael was born of a slave and through human effort so inherited none of what was Abraham's. Isaac did nothing except be born. He had no hand in being born, even. He was born to inherit all that Abraham had, as we when we became born-again and are joint heirs with Christ. But many of us want to go back to being like Ishmael!

Anything you do that you think will make you get into God's good books or receive from Him is law-keeping. This is why Christ took our place on the cross. In Him, we are reconciled with God and are 100% pleasing to our heavenly Father. With Him, God gives us all things freely (Romans 8:32). Nothing we do or don't do can change this for we who have Him as our Righteousness, as you can too! 

Preaching obedience to the law is the Ministry of Death according to Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:7. The letter kills. This is why many believers who try to keep the law in order to be righteous are on death row today, condemned by the law of Moses which no one can keep perfectly and which requires perfect obedience to avoid judgment, imprisoned and awaiting death, tormented by wicked prison guards who legally snatch away any good thing they have, constantly fighting oppression by wicked guards and inmates!

Constantly being told what to do by prison wardens (sow seed, fast, give up their bedspace to sleep on the hard floor so the pastor, sorry, warden;) can enjoy their bed, etc) in order to have a little peace in their prison. All because they put up their own righteousness as their defense when they are accused by the devil in their minds (where spiritual warfare takes place and where our weapon is the "obedience of Christ" a.k.a our righteousness in Christ according to Romans 5:19!-

"For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous."

Believers, under grace, conscious of the love of Christ and the righteousness that we have through Him, you will obey more, love more give more and do exploits without being conscious of it and all from a place of abundance, yet not you but Christ in you.

But those who are imprisoned under the law are always afraid that something they did two years ago will make God allow the devil to have a go at them. This is the "another spirit of bondage to fear" which we in Christ have not received from our heavenly Father. He is our Abba, Father!

Believers, as the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21) there is no condemnation for us when we fall. God still sees us as 100% righteous, even when we sin. Why? "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."2 Corinthians 5:21.

But does this mean that we should go on sinning? Certainly not! I've explained (by God's grace) Romans 6:1 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” here - https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10154838505124693&id=850374692

We read this and start using the Ten Commandments as a measure of our righteousness. This is usually because we somehow think that people will go berserk with sin if we preach or live God's grace without adding the Ten Commandments to put believers "in check."

With our righteousness from our faith in Christ comes the gift of no condemnation. It is Christ's "Neither do I condemn you" that makes us "go and sin no more." Not more laws. Believe Right and be delivered from the desire to sin. You will not want to sin, and not because you use your effort to suppress the urge. Christ takes it away!

Pastors and leaders, stop worrying about what other people will "use God's grace to do" and preach it. Don't try to steady the Ark of God like Uzzah did. Don't add the Ten Commandments to righteousness by faith. The law is not of faith.Titus 2 tells us that Grace is our Teacher, not you or I. Tell people about God's grace and let Grace, in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, do the rest!

Whatever it is that worries you, take it to our Saviour. He will save. He will lead you to hear His Word. He will build your faith. He will heal you. No questions asked!

Believe Right and you will Live Right.