Uh, being 'weakness, as part of not having confidence in your own strength" somehow seems a bit 'trite' to me. I do not know anyone alive who begs for nor demands weakness in any format, to be heaped upon themselves so that they can become stronger, spiritually speaking. Yes, we pray, once we have contracted a disease or condition, so that we can be healed or make it through, but nobody asks for it ahead of time in order to become stronger.
The sign of justification by faith (Hebrews chapter 4)
- Thread starter Roberth
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So you aren't wicked? You are righteous?
It's when or if... we walk by our flesh instead of walking by The Holy Spirit that we place ourselves back into bondage to God's laws.
But what you appear to be saying is that no one can be in that 'walk by The Spirit through Christ Jesus that Apostle Paul taught, which that kind of thinking is error per Scripture. Even a believer on Christ that sins daily can remain in that 'walk' by repenting of the sin and asking Jesus forgiveness, or didn't you understand 1 John 1?
Those in Christ Jesus WHEN walking 'by The Spirit' are counted as righteous (see Galatians 5).
So back to what you said:
"the law was not made for the righteous, but for the wicked and ungodly."
So, since you and I are not righteous, in reality, does that mean we are under law?
Circumcision actually caused the flesh to be weak for a time. When the flesh is weak you can't have confidence in your own strength.
Genesis 34...
Genesis 34...
That wasn't the issue.....Circumcision, as given to Abraham, was a sign (in the flesh/foreskin) that those who are righteous by faith are not to place confidence in anything they can do to help God. God is able to do what He has promised.
God saved us in Christ. Can you add to that through your good works? No! If one thinks He can then he has confidence in his performance. That's called legalism. So circumcision, as given to Abraham, was anything but legalistic!
Okay, "in Christ" we are righteous by faith, but that's "in Christ". In Christ you have a glorified humanity, but again that's "in Him" and He is in heaven. You, of yourself, are not righteous. Being counted righteous is not the same as actually being righteous.
So back to what you said:
So, since you and I are not righteous, in reality, does that mean we are under law?
So back to what you said:
So, since you and I are not righteous, in reality, does that mean we are under law?
Only when we walk by our flesh instead, like I showed per Gal.5. I answered that, no need to repeat it again.
Answer: No!
1 John 1:8 "If we say we have no sin we are deceive ourselves"
Now, what's the measuring stick of righteousness? In other words if one is to claim that he is righteous (walking in the Spirit) how does he know?
So the question is, "what is sin"?
Transgression of the law, right?
Gal 5:14 " For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
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Lovely to see a good post on why circumcision was given..
In Gen 17:14 we read:"But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
OF course circumcision was a sign of the covenant. Abraham believed and it was credited to him as righteousness (see Rom 4:3) was the actual covenant. However, if one rejected the sign he was rejecting the covenant - the covenant of justification by faith....
Thanks....So as given to Abraham it was anything but legalistic.
In Gen 17:14 we read:"But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
OF course circumcision was a sign of the covenant. Abraham believed and it was credited to him as righteousness (see Rom 4:3) was the actual covenant. However, if one rejected the sign he was rejecting the covenant - the covenant of justification by faith....
Gal 3:17 "...the Law (the 10 commandments), which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.18 For if the inheritance (the heavenly Canaan) is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
In other words heaven was Abraham's through faith in the coming Messiah. This is justification by faith. The sign of that, for Abraham, was circumcision, but the Jews (his children) quickly turned "true circumcision" into a sign of salvation by works because they made it a requirement for eternal life. They turned if from a sign of having no confidence in the flesh, to boasting in one's circumcision....
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They turned if from a sign of having no confidence in the flesh, to boasting in one's circumcision....
Its interesting how they twisted it into a legalistic work. The sign should have reminded them that Abraham was saved by faith in Gods promise. but they looked upon the physical act rather than its lesson. Also interesting that at this point the Physical act was to be done even though the salvation aspect of faith was in place.
Before I touch on the Sabbath, as a sign of justification by faith, I first need to draw some parallels to circumcision. Once I do that I will attempt to link the Sabbath, not to the law (i.e., 4th commandment), but rather to the gospel.
Heb 4:1 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.2 For indeed we (Hebrews) have had the good news preached to us, just as they (the Jews of the Exodus) also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it (the good news) was not united by faith in those who heard.3 For we who have believed enter that rest
"His rest" = "the good news" received by faith. If you have accepted the gospel you have entered God's rest.
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"His rest" = "the good news" received by faith. If you have accepted the gospel you have entered God's rest.
So the writer of Hebrews (BTW, I think it's Paul) associates accepting the gospel (the good news) with entering "His rest". In other words when you accept the gospel you've entered "God's rest".
What did the author mean by "His rest"? Does he mean God needed a break? No, God doesn't get tired. Then what? Can we find something in the context that will help?
Heb 4:4 For somewhere he (Moses) has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”
Okay, so here the author of Hebrews gives us a clue. He uses the 7th-day of Creation as an example. Let's go to Genesis 2:1-3
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
Notice that God rested, not because He was tired or needed a coffee break, but because His work of creation was finished by the end of the 6th-day.
Did God start working again the day after the 7th-day, our Sunday? No! Why? His work was done - it was finished. It needed no touch up. Nothing could be added to God's perfect, sinless creation.
But Hebrews 4 isn't dealing with the creation of the world, it's dealing with the gospel. Those who have accepted the gospel have entered His rest.
Question: From what did God rest that pertains to the gospel and redemption?
Answer: His perfect work "in Christ Jesus".
Just like God's finished creation, God's work "in Christ Jesus" needed no touch up. Once again God rested the 7th-day because His work "in Christ Jesus" was finished. Therefore you can't add to God's work because when God rests from His work that work is perfect. You can't add to it by your good works. If you could, that would infer that God's redemption "in Christ Jesus" was imperfect.
Creation:
Gen 2:1-2 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested
Redemption:
Heb 4:10 "...anyone who enters God's rest (accepts the gospel) also rests from his own work (labor), just as God did from his.
What work did God rest from concerning the gospel? I have already stated that God rested the 7th-day from His perfect work of redemption, in Christ Jesus.
Now I need to prove it:
Gen 2:1-2 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested
Redemption:
Heb 4:10 "...anyone who enters God's rest (accepts the gospel) also rests from his own work (labor), just as God did from his.
What work did God rest from concerning the gospel? I have already stated that God rested the 7th-day from His perfect work of redemption, in Christ Jesus.
Now I need to prove it:
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Q1: What did Christ cry out just before He died?
A1: "It is finished." (see John 19:30)
Q2: What was finished?
A2: "...we were reconciled to him (God the Father) through the death of his Son "(see Rom 5:10)
Q3: What day did Christ die?
A3: "It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin." (see Luke 23:54)
Q4: What did God the Father do on the Sabbath?
A4: Hebrews 4:10: God the Father rested from His perfect work of redemption "in Christ Jesus"
A1: "It is finished." (see John 19:30)
Q2: What was finished?
A2: "...we were reconciled to him (God the Father) through the death of his Son "(see Rom 5:10)
Q3: What day did Christ die?
A3: "It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin." (see Luke 23:54)
Q4: What did God the Father do on the Sabbath?
A4: Hebrews 4:10: God the Father rested from His perfect work of redemption "in Christ Jesus"
Why did God rest? Again, was He tired? No! His work of redemption was finished. It was finished and it was perfect. That means that sinners cannot contribute to God's work in Christ Jesus. That means God's work is complete...it is finished. Otherwise God wouldn't be resting.
Now what does God resting the 7th day have to do with believers?
Well, if you pay attention Hebrews 4:9.10 spell it out....
Now what does God resting the 7th day have to do with believers?
Well, if you pay attention Hebrews 4:9.10 spell it out....
Heb 4:9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
Weren't the Jews keeping the Sabbath as related to the law? Yes, they were keeping the Sabbath to be saved. Why? They had rejected "the Lord of the Sabbath". They weren't resting in God's finished work, the gospel. They were working at meriting salvation. So to them, according to the author of Hebrews, a Sabbath rest still remained open.
10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
The one who has accepted the gospel - that is, the one who has entered "God's rest", also does something else. What does the believer, who has already been saved "in Christ", do?
He rests the Sabbath just as God did some 2000 years ago when His work of redemption was finished in Christ Jesus.
Therefore the Sabbath, properly understood, is a sign of justification by faith.
When I cease from my normal everyday labors on the 7th-day Sabbath I am stating, outwardly (as a sign), that I can't add to what God did in Christ Jesus 2000 years ago. Therefore the Sabbath, as connected to the gospel, is anything but legalistic.
Weren't the Jews keeping the Sabbath as related to the law? Yes, they were keeping the Sabbath to be saved. Why? They had rejected "the Lord of the Sabbath". They weren't resting in God's finished work, the gospel. They were working at meriting salvation. So to them, according to the author of Hebrews, a Sabbath rest still remained open.
10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
The one who has accepted the gospel - that is, the one who has entered "God's rest", also does something else. What does the believer, who has already been saved "in Christ", do?
He rests the Sabbath just as God did some 2000 years ago when His work of redemption was finished in Christ Jesus.
Therefore the Sabbath, properly understood, is a sign of justification by faith.
When I cease from my normal everyday labors on the 7th-day Sabbath I am stating, outwardly (as a sign), that I can't add to what God did in Christ Jesus 2000 years ago. Therefore the Sabbath, as connected to the gospel, is anything but legalistic.
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