- May 21, 2018
- 74
- 78
- Country
- Singapore
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Married
The church is mainly made up of Gentiles who became Christians. Unlike Jews, Gentiles do not know anything about the law or the perfect standard of God. Usually, people come to church because of brokenness (in need of physical healing or emotional distress) or invited by friends.
Without the knowledge of the law, we do not know what the flesh and sin is.
To operate in the flesh does NOT mean to sin. Operating in the flesh is like a TWO-edged sword. One side is following the desires of your flesh which will lead to sin. The other side is to use your flesh (will-power, determination, perseverance and other good traits in human) to do good deeds or obey the law. When you think you are doing well, pride arose, and you will eventually end up failing and falling flat on the ground.
Peter was a very good example of a disciple of Jesus who depended on the flesh to follow Jesus. Before Jesus was capture, he was telling Jesus that he will not deny him and will die with him.
Matthew 26:35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.
But fearing death, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times.
Everyone is who not born again, is living in the flesh. The flesh sometimes does good works. But God does not accept everything that is from the flesh. Everyone who tries to earn their own salvation through the flesh is condemn.
Romans 8:13 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.
If good works from the flesh alone can earn salvation apart from the work of Christ, then Jesus died in vain!
New or immature Christian will try to combat sin by obeying the law with their flesh. Since we have been living in the flesh since birth and that is the only way we know and operate.
The first step to Christian maturity is knowing what the flesh is, and sin comes from the flesh.
The law empowers the flesh to act. From the flesh spring forth sin and no good thing.
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
After endless cycle of obeying and failing which is like a refining process to remove dependence on self (flesh).
The second step to Christian maturity is to know our helplessness. The more we depend on ourselves (flesh), the more we fail.
Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
The third step to Christian maturity not to be law and sin conscious. To do that, we must know what Jesus did for us and as us on the cross.
Hebrews 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins
Jesus has fulfilled the law on our behalf so that we are no longer under law. The law demanded that all sinners be put to death. When Jesus went to the cross, he went to the cross representing us. We have been put to death with Jesus and the payment for all our sins have been paid. With all our payment paid, the law is done with us, and we are no longer under it.
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
The fourth step is focus on Jesus and remind yourself of what he has given and did for you. It will help you to be humble and grounded. When you encounter a problem, you will pray before doing.
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God
The fifth step is to learn how to walk in the Spirit. The Lord knows all things including our beginning and our end. He knows what is to come for tomorrow and nothing catches him by surprise. For we do not know what is to come for tomorrow, but the Holy Spirit is God, and he knows. By praying in tongues, we are allowing the Holy Spirit to intercede to the Father on our behalf.
Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Conclusion:
For a Christian, the final stop for maturity is Grace. The law is just a stepping stone to the final stop. Without the law, we will not know our helplessness for salvation and how much Jesus has love and given to us. From the Law to Grace, it is like from infancy to adulthood.
1 Timothy 1: 8-9 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers
Law and Grace cannot be mixed. They represent different stages of Christian growth and maturity.
Romans 11:6 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.
Without the knowledge of the law, we do not know what the flesh and sin is.
To operate in the flesh does NOT mean to sin. Operating in the flesh is like a TWO-edged sword. One side is following the desires of your flesh which will lead to sin. The other side is to use your flesh (will-power, determination, perseverance and other good traits in human) to do good deeds or obey the law. When you think you are doing well, pride arose, and you will eventually end up failing and falling flat on the ground.
Peter was a very good example of a disciple of Jesus who depended on the flesh to follow Jesus. Before Jesus was capture, he was telling Jesus that he will not deny him and will die with him.
Matthew 26:35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.
But fearing death, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times.
Everyone is who not born again, is living in the flesh. The flesh sometimes does good works. But God does not accept everything that is from the flesh. Everyone who tries to earn their own salvation through the flesh is condemn.
Romans 8:13 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.
If good works from the flesh alone can earn salvation apart from the work of Christ, then Jesus died in vain!
New or immature Christian will try to combat sin by obeying the law with their flesh. Since we have been living in the flesh since birth and that is the only way we know and operate.
The first step to Christian maturity is knowing what the flesh is, and sin comes from the flesh.
The law empowers the flesh to act. From the flesh spring forth sin and no good thing.
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
After endless cycle of obeying and failing which is like a refining process to remove dependence on self (flesh).
The second step to Christian maturity is to know our helplessness. The more we depend on ourselves (flesh), the more we fail.
Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
The third step to Christian maturity not to be law and sin conscious. To do that, we must know what Jesus did for us and as us on the cross.
Hebrews 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins
Jesus has fulfilled the law on our behalf so that we are no longer under law. The law demanded that all sinners be put to death. When Jesus went to the cross, he went to the cross representing us. We have been put to death with Jesus and the payment for all our sins have been paid. With all our payment paid, the law is done with us, and we are no longer under it.
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
The fourth step is focus on Jesus and remind yourself of what he has given and did for you. It will help you to be humble and grounded. When you encounter a problem, you will pray before doing.
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God
The fifth step is to learn how to walk in the Spirit. The Lord knows all things including our beginning and our end. He knows what is to come for tomorrow and nothing catches him by surprise. For we do not know what is to come for tomorrow, but the Holy Spirit is God, and he knows. By praying in tongues, we are allowing the Holy Spirit to intercede to the Father on our behalf.
Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Conclusion:
For a Christian, the final stop for maturity is Grace. The law is just a stepping stone to the final stop. Without the law, we will not know our helplessness for salvation and how much Jesus has love and given to us. From the Law to Grace, it is like from infancy to adulthood.
1 Timothy 1: 8-9 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers
Law and Grace cannot be mixed. They represent different stages of Christian growth and maturity.
Romans 11:6 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.
