The Righteousness of God is judically reckoned (Given) to all who believe on the LORD Jesus Messiah,
***’Righteousness’ that exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.***
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[Deu 30:11-16 NKJV] 11 “For this commandment which I command you today [is] not [too] mysterious for you, nor [is] it far off. 12 “It [is] not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 “Nor [is] it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 “But the word [is] very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. 15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 “in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.
Paul explains what Deu 30:11-16 means:
[Rom 10:5-11 NKJV] 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down [from above]) (who will go up to heaven for us to get truth so we may hear it and believe it? Messiah) 7 or, ” ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead) (Who will cross the sea for us to get Truth so we may hear it and believe it? Messiah). (“For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.) 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” that is, the word of faith which we preach: 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
‘Righteousness’ – Means upright, just. In the NT, imputed – is judicially reckoned (Given) to all who believe on the LORD Jesus Messiah,
righteousness, the condition acceptable to God. (Given) to all who believe on the LORD Jesus Messiah,
Righteousness is in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be,
in a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each his due.
The doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting,
My personal walk with the Lord has been hills and valleys for all of my life. I learn slowly. The Lord has blessed me and His Mercy Endures Forever. Amen.
1 Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
I have had to be renewed because of my temper, my bitterness, and on and on.
[2Pe 1:5-9 ESV] 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
I am sharing only a little bit of what I am learning and it may not help you at all, but maybe it will. I bind it with Love.
I once heard a testimony of a young man, recounting his experience of doubting his salvation. “He told the story of one day while mowing his yard the thought struck him, ‘How do I know for sure I am saved?”. He quit mowing and went inside and told his Father what thought had just struck him. His wise Father told him of the time he struggled with the same ‘thought’, and how he dealt with it. He said ‘I went out behind the barn one day, took a spike and a sledge hammer. I drove the spike into the ground solid. Then I said, “Lord, I believe in you, once and for all, and this spike is my decision here and forever to you, that I have believed in you.” Every time that thought comes into my mind, I just walk out behind the barn and see that spike.”
I don’t remember who told the story, it was on one of the radio programs I used to listen to. But I tell everyone who has ever had to struggle with the enemy to be positively for sure forever that they have decided to believe, to drive a spike in the ground, and know that our Father who is in heaven, has you in the palm of His Hand, and nothing can take us out of it.
1 John 5:9-13 ‘……”for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.”
“He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.”
“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”
“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,……”
Eph 6:10-17 NKJV “10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”
I don’t have to maintain my salvation by never committing another sin, as Paul explains in Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Matthew 3:20 Jesus says “For I say unto you that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
How does one have more righteousness than those Pharisees? More Righteousness than the Pharisees, so they can enter into the kingdom of heaven?
Romans 10:3 For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (This righteousness alludes to legal righteousness or self-righteousness, the futile effort of man to work out under law a character which God can approve.)
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (This alludes to that righteousness of God which is judicially reckoned to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, i.e. Christians are the righteous.)
Romans 3:21-28 ‘But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Whom God hat set forth to be a propitiation (a mercy seat) through faith in his blood, to declare HIS righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time HIS righteousness, that HE might be just and the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what, law? Of works? Nay, but by the law of faith. Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law….’’
Philippians 3: 9 – ‘…And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by Faith….
Gen 15:6 …And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness,
Romans 3:23 says the same thing…Romans 4:3 quotes Gen 15:6. Galatians 3:3,6 affirms that the Christian life is one of faith, because it was entered by this way..
The Green Letters, Miles Stanford, Page 48-51 – First of all it is utterly futile to expect a believer, by means of consecration, surrender, or commitment, to step from his ground of substitution (Romans 3-5), onto that of the deeper truths in Romans 8 and 12:1…..The well-meaning believer thinks that since he has the will to obey God and to be what He intends for him, he should attempt to carry it out through personal consecrated effort with His help.’
Andrew Murray ‘A superficial acquaintance with God’s plan leads to the view that while justification is God’s work, by faith in Christ, sanctification (growth) is our work …..self-life….. He could never accept it, since in that realm there dwelleth no good thing (Romans 7:18); plus the fact that He has already taken the old life to the cross and crucified it (Romans 6:6; Gal. 2:20; 2 Tim 2:11)
[Col 2:12-15 NKJV] 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with [Him] through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
[Col 3:5-10 NKJV] 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new [man] who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
Here is the crux of the matter. The question is, Which life is to be consecrated to Him, the old self-life, or the new Christ-life? ‘God asks us to present our bodies as living sacrifices to Him (Rom 12:1) ……
Crucifixion comes before consecration. …This is why so many people with all sincerity walk down the aisles again and again, consecrating uncrucified self to God.: H. Duncan.’
He sees and acknowledges only that which is centered in His Son, who is our Life. Hence God has but one stipulation for consecration: “Yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead” (Rom 6:13). This is our only ground, and from this platform we are to count ourselves dead unto sin, self, the law, the world, and alive unto God in Christ Risen—to walk in “newness of life,” “risen life”
“11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” – Rom 6:11-14 NKJV
(Rom 6:11-14b).
We daily put our sins at the foot of the cross and leave them there! I have died to self life and been raised to walk in newness of life. Over and over again daily I practice walking in Newness of Life.
“The Green Letters”, by Miles Stanford, Page 48,49 “Someone has rightly said that there are many ‘separated from the world’ Christians who are not ‘separated from themselves’ Christians.”
Romans 4: …3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness 9 For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised, that righteousness might be imputed unto them also;……..13 but through the righteousness of faith…….16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. 22 – And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him, 24 but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus, our LORD, from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, [saying], In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Gen 6:9 Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.
Because he is right with God Thru Jesus – Blameless
Romans 10:4 ‘For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes
Our Lord accounted Abraham’s belief (faith) to be righteousness, because Abraham couldn’t get there any other way. He promises us righteousness the same way, thru Faith in Jesus Christ, because we can’t get there any other way.
Luke 5:30 their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 33 Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink? “Then Jesus says Luke 5:36 ..No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was [taken] out of the new does not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. 39 And no one, having drunk old [wine], immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.
Jesus is explaining – He is the new coat, and the Pharisees and their scribes are wearing the Old coat (the Old Testament) not knowing they need The New Coat (Born again, a new creation) which is Jesus- Jesus is the New Wine, and must be put into new wineskins (Born again, a new creation) and they don’t know the New Wine really is better than the Old Wine.
[Tit 3:5-8 ESV] 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
Now listen brother in Christ – Do not become like the Pharisees and demand righteous works of others or yourselves – it is not profitable and it is futile. It causes dissension, it is being a legalist like those in the early Church who demanded the Gentiles do all the rules and regulations of the Jews.
Acts 15:7-11 ‘…and Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.’
Paul in Galatians 2:14 – ‘ (KJV)..But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?…..Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. ………This only would I hear of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?…Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham……The just shall live by faith. …..Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen’
Philippians 3:9 ‘And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by Faith….’
Gen 15:6 …And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Acts15:23 To the Brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings: 24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law’ – To whom we gave no such commandment 25 It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our LORD Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden that these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols ‘ from Blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
(**[1Ti 4:1-5 NKJV] 1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Micah 6:6 With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He hath shown thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Titus 1:9 ‘…Guard the body of revealed Truth from perversion and error….’
2 Timothy 4:2 ‘Preach the word; of God. ‘Never lose your sense of urgency in season or out of season; Prove, correct, and encourage, using the utmost patience in your teaching.’
[Col 2:10-19, 21-23 NKJV] 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with [Him] through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in [false] humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase [that is] from God. … 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using–according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, [false] humility, and neglect of the body, [but are] of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
[Col 3:1 NKJV] 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry – RSV (Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth -KJV So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you -NLT Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature -NIV Put to death therefore what is earthly in you -ESV Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead -NASB)
[Col 3:1, 6-17 NKJV] 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. … 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new [man] who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave [nor] free, but Christ [is] all and in all. 12 Therefore, as [the] elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also [must do]. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
(Rev 19:8 . . . for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints (The garment in scripture is a symbol of righteousness. 1. The basic provision of God’s salvation by grace through faith in Christ, “the garments of salvation . . .the robe of righteousness (Isa 61:10; Rom 3:21, note); and 2 the garment of fine linen . . . the righteousness of saints” as here in verse 8.)
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“Praise The Lord” – I have had Righteousness “”IMPUTED”” to me!! Through faith in Jesus Christ my Savior! Amen
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
note 1: The righteousness of God is all that God demands and approves and is ultimately found in Christ Himself, who fully met in our stead every requirement of the law. Through imputation Christ is “made unto us . . . righteousness” (1 Cor 1:30; cp. Lev 25:47-52; Rom 3:26; 4:6; 10:4; 2 Cor. 5:21; *Phil 3:9; Jas 2:23).
*Phl 3:9 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;
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
note 1: The word “righteousness” here (and in the passages carrying a marginal reference to this verse) alludes to legal righteousness or self-righteousness the futile effort of man to work out under law a character which God can approve.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
note 2 : ‘Righteousness” here (and in the passages carrying a marginal reference to this verse) alludes to that righteousness of God judicially reckoned, Given, to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, i.e. Christians are the righteous. See 3:21 note.
Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.
Matthew 5:20 “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
The Righteousness of God is judically reckoned (Given) to all who believe on the LORD Jesus Messiah, ‘Righteousness’ that exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.)
For the life of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an “atonement” for your souls: for it [is] the blood [that] maketh an atonement for the soul. Lev 17:11 ([Heb 9:22 KJV] And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.)(
Rom 5:11 KJV And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the “atonement”.)
Rom 3:21-31 NKJV – 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth [as] a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 29 Or [is He] the God of the Jews only? [Is He] not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since [there is] one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
Rom 4:1-25 NKJV – 1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has [something] to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed [are those] whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed [is the] man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.” 9 [Does] this blessedness then [come] upon the circumcised [only], or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which [he had while still] uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only [are] of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham [had while still] uncircumcised. 13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world [was] not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law [are] heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law [there is] no transgression. 16 Therefore [it is] of faith that [it might be] according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed–God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
Rom 5:1-21 NKJV – 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only [that], but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only [that], but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned– 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift [is] not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift [is] not like [that which came] through the one who sinned. For the judgment [which came] from one [offense resulted] in condemnation, but the free gift [which came] from many offenses [resulted] in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense [judgment came] to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act [the free gift came] to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:1-23 NKJV – 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be [in the likeness] of [His] resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [Him], that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For [the death] that He died, He died to sin once for all; but [the life] that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin [leading] to death, or of obedience [leading] to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that [though] you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human [terms] because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members [as] slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness [leading] to [more] lawlessness, so now present your members [as] slaves [of] righteousness for holiness. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things [is] death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin [is] death, but the gift of God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[Gal 2:21 NLT] 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
[Gal 3:1-29 NLT] 1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it? 5 I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. 6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. 8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith. 10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” 13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith. 15 Dear brothers and sisters, here’s an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case. 16 God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”–and that, of course, means Christ. 17 This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. 18 For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise. 19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people. 20 Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham. 21 Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ. 23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. 24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. 26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
[Gal 4:19-31 NLT] 19 Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. 20 I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you. 21 Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says? 22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. 23 The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise. 24 These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. 25 And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law. 26 But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother. 27 As Isaiah said, “Rejoice, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into a joyful shout, you who have never been in labor! For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband!” 28 And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. 29 But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit. 30 But what do the Scriptures say about that? “Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 31 So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman.
[Gal 5:1 NLT] 1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
SIN
pg 1214, 1967 Scofield Study Bible KJV with Word Changes
‘Redemption from Sin, Saved to live eternally with Christ:‘
“redemption means: to deliver by paying a price. The work of Christ fulfilling the O.T. types and prophecies of redemption is set forth in three principal Greek words: (1) Agorazo, to buy in the market (from agora, market). Man is viewed as a slave “sold under sin” (Rom.7:14) and under sentence of death (Ezek.18:4; Jn.3:18-19, Rom.6:23) but subject to redemption by the purchase price of the blood of the Redeemer (1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23; 2 Pet. 2:1; Rev. 5:9; 14:3-4). (2) Exagorazo, to buy out of the market, i.e. to purchase and remove from further sale (Gal.3:13; 4:5; Eph.5:16; Col.4:5), speaking of the finality of the work of redemption. And (3) lutroo, to loose or set free (Lk.24:21; Ti.2:14; 1 Pet.1:18), noun form, (lutrosis (Lk.2:38; Heb.9:12). Compare also “redeemed” (lit. to make redemption, Gk. epoiesen, lutrosin, Lk.1:68, and “deliverance” (intensive form, apolutrosis) used commonly to indicate release of a slave (Lk.21:28; Rom.3:24; 8:23; 1 Cor.1:30; Eph.1:7,14; 4:30; Col.1:14; Heb.9:15; 11:et). Redemption is by sacrifice and by power (Ex 14:30, note); Christ paid the price, the Holy Spirit makes deliverance actual in experience (Rom.8:2). See Ex.14:30, note; Isa.59:20, note 1; Rom.1:16, note.”
‘Redemption that is in Christ’
Why does a person need ‘redemption’? (Rom.7:14) We are ‘sold’ under ‘sin’ to death. (For it is appointed unto men once to die . . . (Heb 9:27))
(Rom.6:6 note) The ‘old man’- the man that was in Adam. It is the natural man himself; (Eph 4:22) the former manner of life, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts . .
Which before ‘the law’ man was unable to see himself as ‘a corrupt, deceitful, lost sin(ner)!’
Sin originated with Satan, entered the world through Adam, was and is universal, Christ alone excepted. Sin incurs the penalties of spiritual and physical death and has no remedy but in the sacrificial death of Christ availed of by faith.
The O.T. righteous man was not sinless (Eccl.7:20) but one who, for his sins, trusted the coming Messiah and offered in faith the required sacrifice. “Before Abraham was I am,” (John 8:58).
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you had no pleasure. Which are offered by the Law. Every such offering was an execution of the sentence of the law upon a ‘substitute’ for the offender, and pointed forward to that substitutionary death of Christ which ‘alone’ vindicated the ‘righteousness’ of God in passing over the sins of those who offered the typical sacrifices.
According to Scripture the sacrifice of the ‘law’ only ‘covered’ the offerer’s sin and secured the divine forgiveness. The O.T. sacrifices ‘never’ removed mans’ sin. “It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.” (Heb 10:4). The Israelite’s offering implied confession of sin and recognized its due penalty as ‘death’; and God “passed over” (Rom 3:25, lit.) his sin in anticipation of Christ’s sacrifice which did, finally, “put away” the sins “done previously (lit.) in the forbearance of God” (Rom.3:25; Heb.9:15,26).
Man is viewed as a slave “sold under sin” (Rom.7:14) and under sentence of death (Ezek.18:4; Jn.3:18-19, Rom.6:23) but subject to redemption by the purchase price of the blood of the Redeemer (1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23; 2 Pet. 2:1; Rev. 5:9; 14:3-4).
All Mankind is appointed to Die! We are under the sentence of Death. Because Sin entered through Adam all men are under sentence of death. Sold under Sin. Sin incurs the penalties of spiritual and physical death and “has no remedy” but in the sacrificial death of Christ availed of by faith.
[Rom 7:1-25 NKJV] 1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? 2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to [her] husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of [her] husband. 3 So then if, while [her] husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another–to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not [in] the oldness of the letter. 7 What shall we say then? [Is] the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all [manner of evil] desire. For apart from the law sin [was] dead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which [was] to [bring] life, I found to [bring] death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed [me]. 12 Therefore the law [is] holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. 13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that [it is] good. 17 But now, [it is] no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but [how] to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will [to do], I do not do; but the evil I will not [to do], that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not [to do], it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God–through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
[Rom 8:1-39 NKJV] 1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God [did] by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those [who live] according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded [is] death, but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ [is] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin, but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors–not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with [Him], that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected [it] in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only [that], but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for [it] with perseverance. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit [is], because He makes intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to be] conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [can be] against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? [It is] God who justifies. 34 Who [is] he who condemns? [It is] Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [Shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[Rom 9:1-33 NKJV] 1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom [pertain] the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service [of God], and the promises; 5 of whom [are] the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ [came], who is over all, [the] eternally blessed God. Amen. 6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they [are] not all Israel who [are] of Israel, 7 nor [are they] all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 8 That is, those who [are] the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 9 For this [is] the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only [this], but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, [even] by our father Isaac 11 (for [the children] not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” 14 What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” 16 So then [it is] not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed [it], “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? 22 [What] if God, wanting to show [His] wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As He says also in Hosea: “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.” 26 “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You [are] not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.” 27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. 28 For He will finish the work and cut [it] short in righteousness, Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth.” 29 And as Isaiah said before: “Unless the LORD of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah.” 30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because [they did] not [seek it] by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down [from above]:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) (Deut 30:6,11-15) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Isa 52:7) 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by [them that are] no people, [and] by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
(The 1967 Scofield Study Bible KJV with Word Changes. The Scofield Reference Bible. Copyright © 1909, 1917; Copyright renewed 1937, 1945 by Oxford University Press, Inc. The New Scofield Reference Bible copyright © 1967, by Oxford University Press, Inc.)
Taken from: Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth, By C.I. Scofield
Chapter 6
LAW AND GRACE
The most striking division of the Bible is that between law and grace. These contrasting principles characterize the two most important dispensations: the Jewish and Christian: “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” John 1:17).
It is not meant that there was no law before Moses, any more than that there was no grace and truth before Jesus Christ. The forbidding to Adam of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17) was law, but grace was manifested in the LORD’S seeking out His sinning creatures, and clothing them with coats of skins (Gen. 3:21), a beautiful type of Christ “made unto us… righteousness” (1 Cor. 1:30). Law (the revelation of God’s will) and grace (the revelation of God’s goodness) have always existed, and to this Scripture abundantly testifies. But “the law” most frequently mentioned in Scripture was given by Moses, and characterized the time from Sinai to Calvary; just as grace characterized the dispensation which begins at Calvary and has its predicted end in the rapture of the Church.
It is, however, most vital to observe that Scripture never, in any dispensation, mingles these two principles. Law always has a place and work distinct from that of grace. Law is God prohibiting and requiring; grace is God beseeching and bestowing. Law is a ministry of condemnation; grace is one of forgiveness. Law curses; grace redeems from that curse. Law kills; grace makes alive. Law shuts every mouth before God; grace opens every mouth to praise Him. Law puts a great and guilty distance between man and God; grace brings guilty man near to God. Law says, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”; grace says, “whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Law says, “Hate thine enemy”; grace says, “Love your enemies, bless them that despitefully use you.” Law says, do and live; grace says, believe and live. Law never had a missionary, grace is to be preached to every creature. Law utterly condemns the best man; grace freely justifies the worst. (Luke 23:43; Rom. 5:5; 1 Tim. 1:15; 1 Cor. 6:9-11). Law is a system of probation; grace is one of favor. Law stones an adulteress, grace says, “Neither do I condemn thee.” Under law the sheep dies for the shepherd; under grace the Shepherd dies for the sheep.
Everywhere the Scriptures present law and grace in sharp contrast. The mingling of them in much of the current teaching of the day spoils both, for law is robbed of its terror and grace of its freeness. The student should observe that “law” in the New Testament Scriptures always means the law given by Moses (Rom. 7:23 being the only exception). But sometimes the whole law is meant; sometimes the commandments only; sometimes the ceremonial only. Passages referring to the first type are Rom. 6:14; Gal. 2:16, and 3:2. Verses referring to the second are Rom. 3:19 and 7:7-12. Col. 2:14-17 is an example of the third type. It should be remembered also that in the ceremonial law are enshrined those marvelous types the beautiful foreshadowings of the person and work of the Lord Jesus as priest (Ex. 25-30) and sacrifice (Lev. 1-7) which must ever be the wonder and delight of the spiritually minded.
Three Errors Concerning Law and Grace
- Antinomianism denies all rule over the lives of believers. Those saved by God’s free grace, wholly without merit, are not required to live holy lives. “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:16). “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our Lord into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 4).
- Ceremonialism demands that believers should observe the Levitical ordinances. A modern form of this error teaches that Christian ordinances are essential to salvation: “And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1).
- Galatianism mingles law and grace and teaches that justification is partly by grace, partly by law; or that grace is given to enable an otherwise hopeless sinner to keep the law. Against this most widespread of the three errors, God’s strong warning, unanswerable logic and emphatic declaration comes in the Epistle to the Galatians: “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:2-3). “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ… but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ… let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:6-8).
The following may be helpful as an outline of Scripture teaching on this important subject of the moral law.
What the Law Is
“Wherefore the law is holy” (Rom. 7:12).
“The law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin” (Rom. 7:14). “I delight in the law of God after the inward man” (Rom. 7:22). “The law is good, if a man use it lawfully” (1 Tim. 1:8).
“And the law is not of faith” (Gal. 3:12).
The Lawful Use of the Law
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20).
“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions” (Gal. 3:19).
“Now we know, that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Rom. 3:19).
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Gal. 3:10).
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).
“The strength of sin is the law” (1 Cor. 15:56).
It is evident, then, that God’s purpose in giving the law (John 1:17; Gal. 3:17) was to bring to guilty man the knowledge of his sin and of his utter helplessness in view of God’s just requirements. It is purely a ministration of condemnation and death.
What the Law Cannot Do
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20).
“No man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident; for, the just shall live by faith” (Gal. 3:11).
“And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:39).
“For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God” (Heb. 7:19).
The Believer Not Under the Law
After declaring the doctrine of the believer’s identification with Christ in His death, of which baptism is the symbol (Rom. 6:1-10), Rom. 6:11 begins the declaration of the principles which should govern the walk of the believer his rule of life. This is the subject of the rest of Rom. 6. Verse 14 gives the great principle of his deliverance, not from the guilt of sin that is met by Christ’s blood, but from his bondage under it: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
Lest this should lead to the monstrous Antinomianism saying that a godly life was not important the Spirit immediately adds, “What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid” (Rom. 6:15). Surely every renewed heart answers, “Amen” to this.
Then Rom. 7 introduces another principle of deliverance from law: “Wherefore, my brethren ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God” (Rom. 7:4).
“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterward 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” (Gal. 3:23-25).
The Believer’s Rule of Life
“He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked” (John 2:6).
“Dearly beloved… abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11).
“Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love” (Eph. 4:1-2).
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us” (Eph. 5:1-2).
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8).
“Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16).
“This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12).
“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment” (1 John 3:22-23).
A beautiful illustration of this principle is seen in a mother’s love for her child. The law requires parents to care for their offspring, with a penalty for the willful neglect of them; but the land is full of happy mothers who tenderly care for their children in perfect ignorance of this law. The law is in their hearts. In this connection, remember that God’s appointed place for the tables of the law was within the ark of the testimony. With them were “the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded” (one a type of Christ, the other of resurrection, and both speaking of grace). They were covered from sight by the golden mercy-seat upon which was sprinkled the blood of atonement. The eye of God could see His broken law only through the blood that completely vindicated His justice and propitiated His wrath (Heb. 9:4-5).
God’s Purpose in Grace
“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” (Eph. 2:8-9).
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13).
“That, being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7).
“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).
“To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:6-7).
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).
How all-inclusive! Grace saves, justifies, builds up, redeems, forgives, bestows an inheritance, gives standing, provides a throne which we may approach boldly for mercy and help, teaches us how to live, and gives us a blessed hope! Note that these diverse principles of law and grace cannot be intermingled.
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work” (Rom. 11:6).
“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:4-5; Gal. 3:16-18; 4:21-31).
“For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (for they could not endure that which was commanded, and if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake). But ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel” (Heb. 12:18-24).
It is not, then, a question of dividing what God spoke from Sinai into “moral” and “ceremonial,” because the believer does not come to that mount at all.
Revelation Last Day 