Lesson Audio – Mark Day – The Faithfulness of Time
The Faith Came
The law of Moses served the purpose for preparing mankind for Jesus Christ. The only way to live under that law was to continue in flawlessly keeping of all its stipulations, else one was under the curse (Galatians 3:10). In the Old Testament, God stated through Solomon, “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20); he acknowledged this truth again on a separate occasion—when praying at the dedication of the temple representing God’s holiness (1 Kings 8:46; 2 Chronicles 6:36). Nobody could keep the law perfectly; it was a yoke that no one could bear (Acts 15:10). Humanity needed to be saved from the curse it was under.
Enter Jesus Christ, the seed of Abraham through whom God had made a promise of blessing the world (Galatians 3:16; Genesis 12:1-3). This promise came before the law; it was God’s unilateral commitment to bless mankind in spite of man’s failing to keep the bilateral contract of the law (Galatians 3:17-21). Jesus perfectly kept the law which no other man could keep; only He “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). As the apostle Paul goes on to write, “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Galatians 3:22-25). The law served as a guardian and disciplinarian until mankind came of age and could be blessed by the freedom in Christ. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:34-36).
The faith that came is the system of truth of the New Testament. Faith in Jesus Christ is the way of salvation; those who become children of God by faith, by being baptized into Christ, are heirs of God’s promise (Galatians 3:26-29). It is contrasted to the law in that it is, at its root, a faith system, not a merit system. Faith is an integral part of God’s plan of justification that stands for the whole process (Galatians 3:24). Faith does not remove laws for even later in this book we are exhorted to “fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). But faith does remove the curse resulting from failing to faultlessly keep God’s commandments, for we trust and follow Him who did faultlessly keep the commandments.
Therefore, we are no longer under the old law. It served its purpose. It highlighted sin and the need for the Savior. We are not bound by that former law and we should not seek to return to its bondage; instead, we should stand upon the liberating truth of Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:1; cf. John 8:31-32). How thankful we should be that Christ came and brought the faith—His last will and testament. Has the faith found lodging into your heart? Have you become a child of God through faith in Jesus by putting Him on in baptism? What better way to finish up this year? You could then say, “I was in the bondage of sin, but then faith came and made me free.”
-Mark Day
Lesson Audio – Devo by Chris Scott – Being Prepared – Bible Class by Buck Wheeler – Romans 7-8
And Again I Say, Rejoice
From prison Paul wrote to the Philippians, “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places” (1:12-13). He did not become discouraged at his station in life, but rather saw opportunities to do good. Paul looked on the bright side. Though he could not travel, he could write; we have four wonderful epistles in the New Testament that he wrote while in prison: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
He wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). Paul had joy in spite of his outward circumstances because his joy was in the Lord. To be in Christ is to have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). To be in Christ is to be a new creature who no longer judges things according to the flesh (2 Corinthians 5:16-17). To be in Christ means one has been united with Him in baptism, raised to walk in newness of life, anticipating that one shall be resurrected from the dead just as the Lord was (Romans 6:3-5). How often we forget how wonderful it is to be in Christ!
This is why Paul repeats the reminder to “rejoice in the Lord.” We are in need of reminders. We may intellectually know that we are in Christ but were forget what a blessing it is. Other essential truths that we have known for years must be reviewed as well because spiritually we are forgetful, become discouraged, and lapse into sin. So, remember to read God’s word, pray, associate with other Christians, and come to worship in order to “stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance” (2 Peter 3:1).
When you are prone to worry or forget God’s great love for you, remember to take it to the Lord in prayer. After repeating his exhortation to rejoice, Paul goes on to say, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). To “be careful” in the KJV here is to be worried; it is similar to the “take thought” of Jesus’ warning against worry in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-34). God’s peace will guard your heart if you truly cast all your care upon Him, knowing that He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). When Paul was in prison he prayed; he said, “I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 3:14).
Paul remembered to look on the bright side. He reminded others to do the same. Let us help each other to remember this as Paul wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
-Mark Day
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