=PS;3357741]RED: Not by works.
The law condemns, we are not even justified by works of the law, salvation is through faith.
No man is justified by deeds of the law: for the law is the knowledge of sin. (Rom 3:20 KJV)
Rom. 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.
I don't believe "Under the Law" means following God's Law. I believe "Under the Law" means dead. Gentiles who didn't even know God's Law were still condemned by the Law.
Rom. 2:
12 For as many as have
sinned without law shall also
perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
This way "Everybody" is brought to the same place, death, because they all, both Gentiles and Jews transgressed God Law.
Rom. 8:2 For the
law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the
law of sin and death.
Rom. 7:
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came,
sin revived, and I died.
It doesn't matter if I'm a Jew and know the Law or am a gentile and don't know the law, Transgressing God's Law is sin, and the "soul that sins shall die".
The preaching that "under the Law" means under God Commandments is not true. For one, the Gentiles were spiritually dead having not known the Law.
I don't believe the mainstream preaching on this.
The preaching that God created His instructions for mankind so that every mouth may be stopped and all the WORLD may become Guilty before God is not supported by scripture. God didn't bring everybody "Under the Law" as defined by todays mainstream preachers, He brought everybody under death so as to bring us all to Christ for redemption, those who knew the Law and those who didn't.
God said of Abraham:
Gen. 26:
4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
So Abraham wasn't judged guilty before God so his mouth may be stopped by being "Under the Law" as you define it.
He was brought "under the Law" meaning death, and was forgiven by the Blood of Jesus because he trusted enough in God to follow His Instructions. This trust was called "Faith". Abraham was also dead in his sins. But we know he repented and brought forth works worthy of repentance. This is why Jesus said before our sins are forgiven we MUST.
#1. Repent of our ways and turn to God and His Ways Jew or Gentile. (As Abraham did was considered faithful)
#2. Bring Works Worthy of Repentance because Jesus teaches us we will be judged by our works. (As Abraham showed)
This is what Paul taught.
Acts 26:
20 But shewed
first unto them of Damascus,
and at Jerusalem,
and throughout all the coasts of Judaea,
and then to the Gentiles, that they should (ALL)
repent and turn to God, and
do works meet for repentance.
Without this repentance Grace will not help us, there is no being "Freed from death". Without this repentance and subsequent works worthy of repentance we are still "Dead in our sins".
Luke 13:
3
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
This is why Paul teaches:
Rom. 12:
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world:
but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,(True Repentance) that ye may prove what
is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.(
Works worthy of Repentance)
Eph. 5:
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words:
for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness,(
DEAD in our sins) but now
are ye light in the Lord
repentant)
walk as children of light: (works worthy of repentance)
9 (For the
fruit of the Spirit
is in all goodness and
righteousness and
truth) (Man's righteousness or God's righteousness?)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.(works Worthy of Repentance)
If you understand that the term "Under the Law" means death as the Bible teaches, then the meaning of the scripture doesn't contradict the rest of the Bible.
Rom. 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are
under the law(Spiritually DEAD):
that every mouth may be stopped,
and all the world may become guilty before God.
So here we are, everyone, all the world, guilty before God of sinning and the wages of sin is death. We are all dead because of what the Law says. We are therefore "under the law".
Now what? Once we find the Commandment, read it, and understand that we are guilty before God and the judgment given in this Law is death, what can we do?
There is no Law that can give life.
Gal. 3:
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid:
for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
So here we are dead, and there is no law that we can perform to take that death away. We are under the Law, or under the curse of the law. Dead.
No man is justified by deeds of the law: for the law is the knowledge of sin.(Death)
Rom. 6:
14 For sin(Transgression of God's Commandments)
shall not have dominion(kill you) over you: for ye are not under the law,(Dead) but under grace.(Alive)
15 What then?
shall we sin, (continue to transgress God's Commandments?)because we are not (Dead) under the law, but (Alive)under grace?
God forbid.
Rom. 6:
16 Know ye not, that to
whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,
his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin(Transgression of God's Commandments)
unto death,(back under the law) or of
obedience unto righteousness? (Repentance and works worthy of repentance)
Eph. 2:
1 And you
hath he quickened,(after repentance)
who were dead (under the Law)in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in
time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air,
the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Before repentance)
Who are the children disobeying?
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in
times past (Before required repentance)in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind;
and were by nature the children of wrath, (Before repentance)even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved,
(Rom. 2:4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God
leadeth thee to repentance?)
6 And hath raised
us up together, and made
us sit together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
I truly believe EVERY scripture you posted, but I also know there are other scriptures which more clearly explain the true meaning of these.
You seem to somehow believe that these few scriptures you posted makes void the rest of the Bible which speaks about God and His Salvation regarding the required repentance and subsequent works worthy of repentance that Jesus clearly commanded. I know the mainstream preachers of today teach a different meaning for what "Under the Law" means in order to justify their traditions and man made doctrines as prophesied.
I have posted just a few scriptures in support of my belief, actually the whole Bible teaches this truth but I don't want to make a post that long.
Thanks for your reply