THE TRUE RULE OF LIFE

      The Christian cannot help being what he is in the flesh, but thanks be to God that because of faith he does not have to be what he may become in his actual Adam condition on the earth.

      In the early days the Jew was given the Law; yet God's intention always for them was a inheritance by a promise, that is the earth. Then why the Law? The Jew gladly received the blessing of promise, however their deserving of it was not even considered. The Jew never knew his condition he just took the blessing of God's promise, never a question as to his qualifications.

      Did they deserve God's unreserved love forever? No. Why? Because they were sinners just as we are! Then the Law was given to show them not only their sinful nature, but their transgression as Adam men. What is the difference?

      The reason God gave the Law was to show mankind his true condition. Not to bring him a blessing or a rule of life to live by, as many Christians attempt. But to show us the horrible situation of our sinful Adam natural man. It [the law] was not for a guiding light to overcome sin. Our very condition as permanent sinful creatures prevents that. It is simply absurd to think that by a program or behavior, a rule, even one from God, we might thereby please God or somehow be justified.

      Gal. 3:19 says; "the law was added because of transgression"[to choose to intentionally disobey] , not sin. God has no dealing with sin what so ever, he cannot even see it! His view is only of His Son! It was Adams choice to sin. Sin was in man before the law was given as much as after. Sin was so bad God destroyed the entire occupation of the earth, save eight. Corruption prevailed and still does. After the law was given Israel and all of mankind became not merely sinners but transgressors or rebels against God's authority, violators of the law, transgressors. Death was made clear as mans fate by their transgression of God's perfect Law. This was the entire reason for the Law.

      The result was death, shown by mans constant inability in keeping the law; which still prevails! "Knowing this the law was not made for a righteous man [one in Christ] but for the lawless and disobedient, for ungodly[those outside of Christ] sinners" 1 Tim. 1:9. No man can be made righteous by the law however. The law brings only death; because no man can keep it. Or earn righteousness by works; which is law also. That is why in and of ourselves we have no capacity what so ever to measure up to God's free gift of a life in Jesus Christ.

      The term the law is not only the ten commandments. It encompasses all of man religious efforts. Our propensity to remake or somehow qualify the Adam man, the church life included. We think we are OK by a certain life style; attendance of church or bible training etc.; nothing could be further from the truth. Our very nature and the presence of the law proves we deserve only one thing, death.

      Many are driven to God because of fear and failure, then they begin what becomes often simply a routine, even a discipline. This is not a honest behavior however, it is really a self-serving attempt by the Adam man of sin. The law has the effect of punishing those who break it, but this threat is not what makes a man honest or godly in a human sense, much less the divine.

      A new principal was made by God in a new dispensation [time period] to establish us in His sight. That of faith in our spiritual presence in His Son Jesus Christ. By this gift we become new men, possessors of a new life, Christ's Life, which is dependent and obedient upon/to God's love. By this new creation we may live in faith and only in faith; in the accomplishment of another and by faith we do the will God wishes.

      We now may count ourselves alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord and in no other way. Not falling victim to a dread of failure, or a duty to perform, nor a vision of remaking our Adam nature by training or converting our soul. And certainly not by a pride of accomplishment, or the colloquial man made image we all preform in our western modern mode of operation which we have adopted by copying the world. Then translating custom and tradition as a satisfaction in meeting God.

      If one takes the route given by mans establishment of godly things he becomes a spiritual adulterer [Rom. 7: 1-4]. We are called to look at the Lord Jesus, and Him only. He being the source of our life [2 Cor. 3:18]. He has created every portion of our life as true children of God. He constitutes every particle of righteousness and life the believer possesses.

      The natural man would allow law, traditions and duty by works for a false feeling of righteousness; a demand of the law. The complacent Christian or even the diligent worker for Christ knows nothing of the fruit of true righteousness which is only given by Jesus Christ unto the glory of God, [Phil. 1:11]. The law was the rule of death for the sinner; the Lord Jesus Christ is the rule of life for the saint.

      This blog was inspired by the writing of Wm. Kelly. May God bless you in the remaking of the image you see in the mirror, by knowledge and faith; becoming Jesus Christ's life in full awareness, seen only by your faith, which is the true rule of life.