Is there a difference between works and works of the Law?
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works are works are works....
Some are of gold, silver and precious stones <--works of the spirit by faithful believers
Some are of wood, hay and stubble <--works of the flesh by believers not so faithful
At the end of the day any and all works that are considered "good" or of the "law" are the direct result of Christ in a man as a living sacrifice.....they neither save or keep saved, but are evidence of the faith and salvation one already possesses in Christ!
Some are of gold, silver and precious stones <--works of the spirit by faithful believers
Some are of wood, hay and stubble <--works of the flesh by believers not so faithful
At the end of the day any and all works that are considered "good" or of the "law" are the direct result of Christ in a man as a living sacrifice.....they neither save or keep saved, but are evidence of the faith and salvation one already possesses in Christ!
every day, when hub and I wake-up, our hearts are set on pleasing our Saviour,
and by this we mean that we want to honor Him in any way that we can...,
can we accomplish this by our own means?, No, we can only hope and pray that
He will accept our humble attempts and honoring Him by the ways and means that
He has shown us in His Holy Scriptures, and this can only be accomplished by us,
using what He has given to us, His teaching us how to 'walk in His Holy Light, day-by-day,
if we have the heart/will to do so...
and by this we mean that we want to honor Him in any way that we can...,
can we accomplish this by our own means?, No, we can only hope and pray that
He will accept our humble attempts and honoring Him by the ways and means that
He has shown us in His Holy Scriptures, and this can only be accomplished by us,
using what He has given to us, His teaching us how to 'walk in His Holy Light, day-by-day,
if we have the heart/will to do so...
Hebrews 11:1-40, "11:1, "And belief is the substance of what is expected, the proof of what is not seen."11:2, "For by this the elders obtained witness."11:3, "By belief, we understand that the ages were prepared by the word of Yah, so that what is seen was not made of what is visible."11:4, "By belief, Heḇel offered to Yah a greater slaughter offering than Qayin, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, Yah witnessing of his gifts. And through it, having died, he still speaks."11:5, "By belief, Ḥanoḵ was translated so as not to see death, “and was not found because Yah had translated him.” (Gen 5:24) For before his translation he obtained witness, that he pleased Yah."11:6, "But without belief it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to Yah has to believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him."11:7, "By belief, Noaḥ, having been warned of what was yet unseen, having feared, prepared an ark to save his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to belief."11:8, "By belief, Aḇraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he was about to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going."11:9, "By belief, he sojourned in the land of promise as a stranger, dwelling in tents with Yitsḥaq and Ya‛aqoḇ, the heirs with him of the same promise,"11:10, "for he was looking for the city having foundations, whose builder and maker is Yah."11:11, "By belief also, Sarah herself was enabled to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the normal age, because she deemed Him trustworthy who had promised."11:12, "And so from one, and him as good as dead, were born as numerous as the stars of the heaven, as countless as the sand which is by the seashore. (Gen 15:5, Gen 22:17) 11:13, "In belief all these died, not having received the promises, but seeing them from a distance, welcomed and embraced them, and confessed that they were aliens and strangers on the earth. (Heb 11:39)."11:14, "For those who speak this way make it clear that they seek a fatherland."11:15, "And yet, if they had indeed kept remembering that place from which they had come out, they would have had the chance to return."11:16, "But now they long for a better place, that is, a heavenly. Therefore Yah is not ashamed to be called their Strength, for He has prepared a city for them."11:17, "By belief, Aḇraham, when he was tried, offered up Yitsḥaq, and he who had received the promises offered up his only brought-forth son,"11:18, "of whom it was said, “In Yitsḥaq your seed shall be called,” (Gen 21:12) 11:19, "reckoning that Yah was able to raise, even from the dead, from which he received him back, as a type."11:20, "By belief, Yitsḥaq blessed Ya‛aqoḇ and Ěsaw concerning that which was to come."11:21, "By belief, Ya‛aqoḇ, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Yosĕph, and did reverence on the top of his staff."11:22, "By belief, Yosĕph, when he was dying, made mention of the outgoing of the children of Yisra’ĕl, and gave orders concerning his bones."11:23, "By belief, Mosheh, having been born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a comely child, and were not afraid of the sovereign’s command. (Exo 2:2) 11:24, "By belief, Mosheh, having become great, refused to be called the son of the daughter of Pharaoh,"11:25, "choosing rather to be afflicted with the people of Yah than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time,"11:26, "deeming the reproach of Messiah greater riches than the treasures in Mitsrayim, for he was looking to the reward."11:27, "By belief, he left Mitsrayim, not fearing the wrath of the sovereign, for he was steadfast, as seeing Him who is invisible."11:28, "By belief, he performed the Pĕsaḥ and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the first-born should touch them."11:29, "By belief, they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, and when the Mitsrites tried it, they were drowned."11:30, "By belief, the walls of Yeriḥo fell, having been surrounded for seven days."11:31, "By belief, Raḥaḇ the whore did not perish with those who did not believe, having received the spies with peace."11:32, "And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to relate of Gid‛on and Baraq and Shimshon and Yiphtaḥ, also of Dawiḏ and Shemu’ĕl and the prophets,"11:33, "who through belief, overcame reigns, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,"11:34, "quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight."11:35, "Women received back their dead by resurrection. And others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain a better resurrection."11:36, "And others had trial of mockings and floggings and more, of chains and imprisonment."11:37, "They were stoned, they were tried, they were sawn in two, they were slain with the sword. They went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in need, afflicted, mistreated,"11:38, "of whom the world was not worthy – wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes of the earth."11:39, "And having obtained witness through the belief, all these did not receive the promise, (Heb 11:13."11:40, "Yah having provided what is better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us."
Hebrews 8
9Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
A Covenant is an agreement.. the Word’s of the Messiah are binding for those that believe and partake in the New Covenant. Hence be a doer of the Royal Law and be judged by the law of liberty.
The Holy Spirit is the seal given to those that Repent and Believe in Christ. We stand by Faith in Christ.
Christ gives us our instructions and we are to believe Him.
9Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
A Covenant is an agreement.. the Word’s of the Messiah are binding for those that believe and partake in the New Covenant. Hence be a doer of the Royal Law and be judged by the law of liberty.
The Holy Spirit is the seal given to those that Repent and Believe in Christ. We stand by Faith in Christ.
Christ gives us our instructions and we are to believe Him.
There is a difference as to by "whose" work of faith as a labor of love performs them? Whether they are the things of natural unconverted man or the things of God who works in us to both will and do His good pleasure as a imputed righteousness .
In the parable below Christ does not say he did not perform them only that he committed blasphemy by attributing that work to his own self, as if we could gain favor and it not given as a free gift according the the faith of God who does move men to perform His will.
While he did perform them in His name it was not by the Spirit of faith (Christ') The Holy Spirit of God
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.Mat 7:22
In the parable below Christ does not say he did not perform them only that he committed blasphemy by attributing that work to his own self, as if we could gain favor and it not given as a free gift according the the faith of God who does move men to perform His will.
While he did perform them in His name it was not by the Spirit of faith (Christ') The Holy Spirit of God
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.Mat 7:22
What a good question.
What was the context in which the term "Works of the Law" was first used?
Rom, 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
All have Transgressed God's Commandments. The wages of the transgression is death. "the soul that sin's shall die".
So because we have sinned, we can't "live" forever, we "Die" forever. So something needs to be done to justify, remove or cleanse this sin from us in order for us to "Live".
So in Moses time there was a law created to deal with this issue of removing sin. "It was, as Paul says in Gal. 3:19, "ADDED because of transgression (sin) until the Seed should come. This Added Law was called the "Levitical Priesthood". (Heb. 7-10)
Heb. 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
This "Priesthood" was a shadow of what the Messiah would do to remove, cleanse, and justify the sins of the people.
When we sinned, we would seek out a "Levite" priest that God had separated specifically for this purpose.
Num. 8:11 And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.
This service was two fold, #1. They gave God's Laws to His people. #2. They performed sacrificial, ceremonial "Works of the Law" for the removal, justification and cleansing of sin.
This is the "Covenant" God made with the Children of Israel that was "Added" because of the transgress of the covenant or promise gave to Abraham. (See Gen. 26: 4&5)
Ex. 2:23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
But this "Priesthood" for administration of the God's Commandments and for remission of sins was not to last forever.
Jer. 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
No more will we need to find a "Levite Priest" to show us God's Laws, or cleanse us from our sins. God will intervene directly.
But the Mainstream God of Abraham preaching people of Jesus time didn't believe He was the Messiah. Even after He showed them in the scriptures, healed people and forgave people without ever using a single drop of goats blood as prescribed by the "works of the Law". Even after He was raised from the dead, they still rejected His blood and His Sacrifice for the removal, justification or cleansing of sins. They rejected God's prophesied "New Covenant" and continued in the Old Covenant of preaching and performing Levitical Priesthood sacrificial, ceremonial "works and Deeds of the Law" for removal of sins. And they persecuted, even killed anyone who taught differently. Jesus fought with them and Paul and Peter fought with them through out their whole lives according to scripture.
That's brings us to Rom. 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
God forbid!
Just because the Mainstream congregation of that time didn't believe in God's Words, doesn't make God's Word void.
Jesus is the Messiah, and He did usher in the "New Covenant" as prophesied by the Prophets of old.
Rom. 3:20 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.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
"for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." "the Just shall "LIVE" by Faith"
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of/in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
So this is the context of the term "works of the Law" (faith in Levitical Priesthood duties)" vs. faith in the blood of Christ.
This has absolutely nothing in common with "works worthy of repentance that is required of us. Or the work of "Submitting ourselves unto the Righteousness of God" of the work of "Studying to show ourselves approved of God", or most importantly, living in obedience to God by following His Commandments rather than doctrines and traditions of men.
There are pages of scripture that prove this true according to the Bible, but to keep this post shorter, I have only chosen a few. I would be glad to show the rest to anyone who is interested.
Great topic, great question
What was the context in which the term "Works of the Law" was first used?
Rom, 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
All have Transgressed God's Commandments. The wages of the transgression is death. "the soul that sin's shall die".
So because we have sinned, we can't "live" forever, we "Die" forever. So something needs to be done to justify, remove or cleanse this sin from us in order for us to "Live".
So in Moses time there was a law created to deal with this issue of removing sin. "It was, as Paul says in Gal. 3:19, "ADDED because of transgression (sin) until the Seed should come. This Added Law was called the "Levitical Priesthood". (Heb. 7-10)
Heb. 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
This "Priesthood" was a shadow of what the Messiah would do to remove, cleanse, and justify the sins of the people.
When we sinned, we would seek out a "Levite" priest that God had separated specifically for this purpose.
Num. 8:11 And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.
This service was two fold, #1. They gave God's Laws to His people. #2. They performed sacrificial, ceremonial "Works of the Law" for the removal, justification and cleansing of sin.
This is the "Covenant" God made with the Children of Israel that was "Added" because of the transgress of the covenant or promise gave to Abraham. (See Gen. 26: 4&5)
Ex. 2:23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
But this "Priesthood" for administration of the God's Commandments and for remission of sins was not to last forever.
Jer. 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
No more will we need to find a "Levite Priest" to show us God's Laws, or cleanse us from our sins. God will intervene directly.
But the Mainstream God of Abraham preaching people of Jesus time didn't believe He was the Messiah. Even after He showed them in the scriptures, healed people and forgave people without ever using a single drop of goats blood as prescribed by the "works of the Law". Even after He was raised from the dead, they still rejected His blood and His Sacrifice for the removal, justification or cleansing of sins. They rejected God's prophesied "New Covenant" and continued in the Old Covenant of preaching and performing Levitical Priesthood sacrificial, ceremonial "works and Deeds of the Law" for removal of sins. And they persecuted, even killed anyone who taught differently. Jesus fought with them and Paul and Peter fought with them through out their whole lives according to scripture.
That's brings us to Rom. 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
God forbid!
Just because the Mainstream congregation of that time didn't believe in God's Words, doesn't make God's Word void.
Jesus is the Messiah, and He did usher in the "New Covenant" as prophesied by the Prophets of old.
Rom. 3:20 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.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
"for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." "the Just shall "LIVE" by Faith"
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of/in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
So this is the context of the term "works of the Law" (faith in Levitical Priesthood duties)" vs. faith in the blood of Christ.
This has absolutely nothing in common with "works worthy of repentance that is required of us. Or the work of "Submitting ourselves unto the Righteousness of God" of the work of "Studying to show ourselves approved of God", or most importantly, living in obedience to God by following His Commandments rather than doctrines and traditions of men.
There are pages of scripture that prove this true according to the Bible, but to keep this post shorter, I have only chosen a few. I would be glad to show the rest to anyone who is interested.
Great topic, great question