App
Will you love and obey God or the traditions and laws of men?
Fred R. Coulter—July 15, 2017
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[Transcript starts at 2:20 of audio]
Greetings, everyone! Welcome to Sabbath services.
How come Protestantism looks so good, sounds so good, millions belong to it, and that's not counting the Catholics. Even the Catholics read some parts of Scripture, but Protestants read quite a bit. It sounds very authentic, because when they read the Scriptures, if they read it correctly, it's correct.
- Why does it look so good?
- How can they be so wrong?
Last week it was brought up about the translations. Translations are key important things. How many times have we heard that the King James Version is the best translation, the most accurate translation of all? In key areas it is the worst, but most people don't know it. When theologians do things, they have a denominational theology that they must keep.
Sidebar: You'll read in The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, Appendix L:[transcriber's correction]: A Summary of Proofs That God Is Not a Trinity, how it's not a person. I quote from Daniel B. Wallace and he is the leading Greek expert and professor. I've got three of his books and I've got one grammar and it's really good.
God has always kept honest scholars so that the Word would not be lost. Wallace argues very clearly—and you can read it there in the appendix—that there is no Biblical grounds whatsoever to give personality to the Holy Spirit. You can't find it in the Greek and that is true. He was on the translating committee for the English Standard Version, one of the newest ones to come out. He could not persuade them to not make it a person! So, when you read Appendix L, you will see that he laments that the only grounds for a personality of the Holy Spirit is theological, meaning a denominational doctrine that is not found in the Greek. He couldn't persuade them.
Today we're going to examine another one that's very important to understand. We're going to refer to a little bit of Greek. We all know what Jesus said about the Law and the Prophets: 'He didn't come to abolish, He came to fulfill.' Fulfill means to complete or make whole. Doesn't mean to fulfill to do away. All of the priestly laws were elevated and are now in the person of Christ.
The priestly laws continue now with the higher level of fulfillment and use than it was when they had the priests in Jerusalem. Now you can reach your High Priest and God the Father anywhere you are on the earth, at any time you need to by getting on your knees and praying to them.
Why do they say that the Law has been done away? You know they don't believe that 100%, because they still don't want you dishonoring parents, murder, committing adultery or things like this.
- Why do they say that?
- Where in the Scriptures does it look like that is so?
Understand that the whole western world is based upon the philosophies of the Greeks. The writings of those philosophers, especially Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, they have two or three copies of those books in the Greek. Guess how many they have of the New Testament that they can refer to? Over 5,000! You can make some comparisons.
- What did Jesus say concerning the Law?
- How long was it to last? Until heaven and earth pass away!
- How can they say that the Law is done away with the heaven and earth still being here and they living on here?
- What else does it say about the Law? The Law is perfect (Psa. 19)!
If it's perfect, you can't improve on it or take away from it. If anything is changed, who must change it? God must!
Let me just tell you this. If you have a copy of The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, second edition, it has Appendix Z: Understanding Paul's Difficult Scriptures Concerning the Law and the Commandments of God—which covers all of Paul's difficult Scriptures to understand. Some are hard to understand.
What did Peter say? That those who are unlearned twist and distort the Scriptures that Paul wrote (2-Peter 3) and there are things hard to understand!
Rom. 10—I'm going to read to you from the King James Version a verse that looks like on the surface a declarative statement that sure enough the Law has been done away. You won't find it in the Greek and we'll explain it to you in Greek here in just a little bit.
Romans 10:4 (KJV): "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes". Theend of the law! The end comes from the Greek 'telos,' which means the end. So, they turn there and say, 'See, the Law has been done away. Paul wrote that Christ is the end of the Law and Paul has the most progressive revelation of all the apostles. So therefore, you don't have to keep them.'
Read the Bible, and all of 1-John, keeping the commandments, keeping the commandments, keeping the commandments,and so forth.
- How does that square with this?
- Did John have an inferior one?
- How do they explain it?
'Well, that's for the Jews because John was a Jewish apostle, so that's for the Jews, but that's not for Christians.' That's still down to this day.
Even one of the most noted Messianic ministers—Jonathan Cahn—says that the Sabbath is for the Jews and the first day of the week for Gentiles. So, you go to all the experts.
Rom. 3:31—here's an inherent contradiction, right within the Scriptures if it says that Jesus is the 'end of the Law.' Sure enough 'telos' means end; no dispute.
Romans 3:31 (KJV): "Do we then make void the Law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the Law."
How can you establish it and at the same time end it? terminate it? That's like I brought out about the way the Protestants approach salvation: 'Believe in the Lord, you're saved. Everything's finished. You're just on a rocket plane going to heaven.'
- Wouldn't you say that's a contradiction?
- Wouldn't you say Paul was wrong?
- How could he write one and in the same book the other?
Romans 6:1(KJV): "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (vs 1-2).
What is he talking about? Let's begin to answer it this way, Mal. 2. {note our book, Judaism: A Revelation of Moses or a Religion of Men?} First thing you need to do is understand about Judaism. Judaism is not the keeping of the laws of the Old Testament.
Here is what they have always done. Let's see what happened. Remember what happened with Aaron, while Moses was up on the mountain and the people wanted to make gods, and they made the golden calf. Right when God was giving the commands, and He said that there is a separate covenant, which is the 'keeping of My Sabbaths is a perpetual covenant.'
If you don't read the Old Testament, you won't know anything about it. If you think the whole Old Testament has been fulfilled, or it's all for the Jews, it's not for the Christians, you're not bothered with it so you accept a mistranslation as true.
Malachi 2:5: "'My covenant with him… [that is Levi] …was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him for fear; that he might fear Me, and he was in awe before My name. The Law of Truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and turned away many from iniquity, for the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and the people should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But you have departed out of the way; you have caused many to stumble at the Law.… [isn't that what people do] …You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,' says the LORD of hosts. Therefore, I have also made you contemptible and base before all the people, just as you have not kept My ways but have been partial in the Law'" (vs 5-9).
What was it that they accepted for sacrifice? The blind and the maim (Mal. 1)! If you're partial in the Law, or use part of the Law, or show partiality to some people concerning the Law and not other people, or if you take privileges to yourself that God didn't give you, then you're partial in the Law.
Let's see how they partial and what does it do. That's why, if you don't have the book on Judaism, get it, we'll send it to you. There's a CD with it.
This had to do with hand-washing. Protestants read this that He declared all meats clean, so therefore, we can eat pork. But that's not what it says. We'll cover clean and unclean meats and cover that Scripture in Mark 7 later. Scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, 'Look here, Your disciples don't wash their hands when they eat. They have defiled hands. If you don't wash your hands before you eat, you're unclean.'
- Can you find that in the Old Testament?
- Is that a Law of God?
or
- Is that one of their traditions?
Mark 7:6: "And He answered and said to them, 'Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you hypocrites…'" You'll see all the wonderful, sweet relationships that Jesus had with the Pharisees (Matt. 23). I say that in jest, because He called them fools and hypocrites in every verse.
"'…as it is written, "This people honors Me with their lips… [that's what we see today with a lot of people] …but their hearts are far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men" For leaving the commandment of God, you hold fast the tradition of men, such as the washing of pots and cups; and you practice many other things like this.' Then He said to them, 'Full well do you reject the commandment of God, so that you may observe your own tradition'" (vs 6-9).
They had quite a good one here. People like money. They had a special one called 'corban': money that you could help your parents with, you can call 'corban' and give it to us and you're released from helping your parents. That's why they had the social security office back in the days of Jesus. I say that in jest.
What happens? You teach the commandments of men for your righteousness and you reject the commandments of God to keep them.
Romans 9:30: "What then shall we say?.… [he's talking about how God punished Israel and now the word came to the Gentles] …That the Gentiles, who did not follow after righteousness, have attained righteousness, even the righteousness that is by faith." We'll explain that a little bit later.
What does it say in Psa. 119:172? All Your commandments are righteousness!
Verse 31: "But Israel, although they followed after a law of righteousness… [not thelaw] …did not attain to a law of righteousness."
Verse 30 (KJV): "What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness, which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness…"
Not in the Greek. No definite article! The law of righteousness sounds like you're referring to the commandments in the Old Testament. It is properly translated in the Faithful Version:
Verse 31: "But Israel, although they followed after a law of righteousness… [not the law of righteousness] …did not attain to a law of righteousness." What law was their righteousness? God's? or Theirs?
Let's see what Jesus says about their law of righteousness. When you have commandments that go against God's, what do you have? Rejecting the commandments of God! If all of God's commandments are righteousness, the law of righteousness has to be God's. But that's not what the Greek actually says.
There is no definite article. That's critical in Greek. If there is no definite article, you don't put it there unless you put it in italics and you know that that is referring to something that needs a the. This is the thing that the King James Version has done all the way through.
Let's read what Jesus said, after He said, Matthew 5:18: "…until the heaven and the earth shall pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the Law until everything has been fulfilled." Has everything been fulfilled? No!
Verse 19: "Therefore, whoever… [man or woman] …shall break one of these least commandments… [of God] …and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall practice and teach them, this one shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven."
How do you reconcile that with Rom. 10:4? Impossible! It's almost like saying, 'Here's a hunk of lead. It floats real well on the water.'
Verse 20: "For I say to you..." Who was Jesus? The Lawgiver! The One Who gave the Ten Commandments to ancient Israel! What is He doing here in Matt. 5, 6, 7? He's showing the spiritual application of the law. Is He not doing that? Yes, indeed!
Verse 20: "For I say to you, unless your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees…" What was their righteousness? Their traditions—Judaism! That's important to understand. Is that salvational or not?
"…there is no way that you shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven" (v 20)—if you don't have a righteousness that exceeds the scribes and the Pharisees, showing that their righteousness that they had meant nothing. Let's see how righteous they were. Let's see some of the things that they said:
Matthew 23:12: "And whoever will exalt himself shall be humbled; and whoever will humble himself shall be exalted. But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!.…" (vs 12-13). He didn't say for everybody pay attention to how righteous they are.
"…For you devour widows' houses, and as a pretext you offer prayers of great length. Because of this, you shall receive the greater judgment. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven before men…" (vs 13-14).
Stop and think about it now. If you follow Messianic Jews, how close to the Kingdom do you really get? They still bring in their traditions! You have to do this; you have to do that.
Verse 16: "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever shall swear by the temple, it is not binding; but whoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is obligated to fulfill his oath.' You fools and blind!.…" (vs 16-17). We're talking about a law of righteousness that is real sought after. How does Jesus describe it?
"…For which is greater, the gold, or the temple, which sanctifies the gold? And you say, 'Whoever shall swear by the altar, it is not binding; but whoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is obligated to fulfill his oath'" (vs 17-18).
Where does it say in the Bible, in the Law, that you swear by an offering, that you swear by the gold? Nowhere!
Verse 19: "You fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar, which sanctifies the gift? Therefore, the one who swears by the altar swears by it, and by all things that are upon it. And the one who swears by the temple swears by it, and by Him Who dwells in it. And the one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God, and by Him Who sits upon it" (vs 19-22).
Then He goes on with other woes to the scribes and Pharisees. If you don't know what kind of righteousness that Israel was seeking after—that applies to the Jews, but He talks of Israel. You read about the history of Israel. What were they always doing? Going after Baal and Ashtoreth! They thought that was their righteousness.
Romans 9:30: "What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not follow after righteousness, have attained righteousness, even the righteousness that is by faith. But Israel, although they followed after a law of righteousness… [their own] …did not attain to a law of righteousness" (vs 30-31).
Because true righteousness means you are in right standing with God! Did Jesus tell the scribes and Pharisees how wonderful they were and right standing with God? No!
Verse 32 (KJV): "Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law."
There's a double mistake, because the Greek does not have two definite articles there. There is no definite article before works and no definite article before law. It is 'by works of law.' That is a broad phrase, which means any law or any work that is not God's.
The only works of law that could apply to anything God had was as long as the temple stood, and they had the sacrifices, when they sinned they were to bring a sacrifice. When the sacrifice was done properly, according to the instructions of God, they were justified to the temple.
Nothing in the Old Testament with the sacrificial system of the priesthood had to do with eternal life. Everything just came to the temple. Then once a year on the Day of Atonement, God wiped the slate clean.
Now let's read it correctly, v 31: "But Israel, although they followed after a law of righteousness, did not attain to a law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but by works of law…" (vs 31-32).
Let's see a work of law in Gal. 2. Where Peter got caught up in the laws of Judaism again, he forgot that God sent him to Cornelius (Acts 10), an uncircumcised Gentile. The Jews had a law that you shall not associate with one of another nation or be with them because they're uncircumcised. That was a law of the Jews. Gal. 2 is very important; let's see what it is. This was so important that Paul had to correct Peter. That also proves he wasn't the first pope.
Galatians 2:11: "But when Peter came to Antioch… [that's where there was the greatest number of Gentile believers] …I withstood him to his face because he was to be condemned; for before certain ones came from James…" (vs 11-12).
In Jerusalem they still had the temple and the sacrifices so they still held to some of the laws of Judaism, which they should not have done (Acts 20).
Also, in Acts 20 when James said, 'Look at the thousands that believe. Now, Paul, you tell people they don't have to circumcise their children and you don't believe in the sacrificial laws. Why don't you do this: There are four men that we have that are finishing off their vows. Why don't you go with them and pay for it?' Paul made a mistake. He should have said, 'No, that's a political solution.' Political solutions never work!
(go to the next track)
The real key is that—you'll find this in Appendix Z—all of the Scriptures are listed where they insert the before law and works. If they italicized it you would know they inserted it, but they do not italicize it. Works of law is a general category of works; it's not the works of God.
Galatians 2:12: "For before certain ones came from James…" Good lesson here. Politics have no place in the Church!
Sidebar: You cannot solve spiritual problems by political means or by secular means, either one! You solve spiritual problems by spiritual means. If the law is spiritual, which it is, and repentance is spiritual, which it is, then you have deep spiritual repentance and you adhere to the Law spiritually.
Verse 12: "For before certain ones came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles… [against Judaism] …However, when they came, he drew back and separated himself from the Gentiles… ['We can't eat with those dirty Gentiles. We might get contaminated'] …being afraid of those of the circumcision party."
Word might get back that Peter is acting like a Gentile, when he was the first one God sent to the Gentiles. You talk about hypocritical.
Verse 13: "And the rest of the Jews… [it was Gentiles and Jews there] …joined him in this hypocritical act… ['Maybe the rabbis are right; maybe we shouldn't eat with them.'] …insomuch that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy."
- What is doing human tradition in place of obeying God called? Hypocrisy!
- Didn't Jesus call the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites?
- Why would He call them hypocrites if they were keeping the Laws of God? Wouldn't do it!
Verse 14: "But when I saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the Truth of the Gospel, I said to Peter in the presence of them all, 'If you, being a Jew, are living like the Gentiles, and not according to Judaism… [that's the translation it should be; that's what it is in the Greek] … why do you compel the Gentiles to Judaize? We who are Jews by nature—and not sinners of the Gentiles—knowing that a man is not justified by works of law…" (vs 14-16).
Why would they separate themselves from the Gentiles? Because they thought they would be in better standing with God if they didn't eat with them! 'We're better than they are.' To this very day they still have that very attitude.
Sidebar: The special vow on Atonement, you take vow which releases you from all of your sinful transactions against Gentiles in the future year. Hypocritical! 'Oh, we're righteous, we're God's chosen people.'
Verse 16: "Knowing that a man is not justified by works of law, but through the faith of Jesus Christ…" That is the, because it is in the possessive or accusative tense.
"…we also have believed in Christ Jesus in order that we might be justified by the faith of Christ…" (v 16). He died, gave Himself, and He died in faith for the sins of the whole world. Now what are we to practice once we do that? The will of the Father, the commandments of God!
"…and not by works of law; because by works of law shall no flesh be justified" (v 16).
Any other way of being justified before God will not work, be it Catholic, Jewish, Protestantism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, or be it anything else.
We all have to come to God God's way. God is the One Who does the calling (John 6:44). The Father draws us. We answer the call. Then we go through Jesus Christ. No one can come to the Father except through Him. So, all of these other things men do.
Sidebar: Have you ever watched American Pickers? Sometimes that's more entertaining and more informative than the news. That's on the History Channel.
They see some very unusual things. They saw this one particular motorcycle that this one man made. It was what they called a chopper. A chopper is taking the original manufacturing of the company who made it, and you make it stylized to what you want. He put in a small Volkswagen engine in this motorcycle. He stylized it the way he wanted. That's what human beings do with everything. Don't you do that with everything? You adjust it; you make it the way you want it.
God's laws and commandments are not that way. That's why I said to read through all of Psa. 119:
- the laws
- the commandments
- the statutes
- the judgments
- the thoughts
- the way
- everything
Twenty-two sections, according to the Hebrew alphabet of eight verses per section. If after reading that and studying that—preferably on your knees a couple sections each day when you begin your prayers—if you can say that the Laws of God are done away and you don't have to keep them or you can adjust them and improve on them, how can you improve on something that is perfect, that has come from a perfect God? You can't! Anymore than you can claim this motorcycle with a Volkswagen engine it is direct from the factory. It's not!
Rom, 9—we're going to see this is talking about works of law. They had a law of righteousness, not God's law of righteousness, but a law.
Romans 9:32: "Why? Because they did not seek it by faith…" Faith is the noun for the verb to believe. If you believe God, and you believe His commandments, if you seek it by faith, doing the things that please God in keeping His commandments, then that is not your work of law, but God's work of law in you through His Spirit!
"…but by works of law…" (v 32). 'There are the Gentiles; I can't eat with them. I can't go into their home. They have plates to eat on, but they have meat and they put dairy products on the same plates. You can't eat them.'
When you read the Code of Jewish Law in the Judaism book, you will see there's a special prayer there. When you see a certain animal, you're to say a certain prayer. When you see a hunchback man you say a certain prayer, and so forth. You get our book on Judaism: A Revelation of Moses or a Religion of Men?
Ken reminded me we send the CD with the sermon series Scripturalism vs Judaism. That's why having series that you go through, and you actually study the Bible, then you learn something.
"…but by works of law: for they stumbled at the Stone of Stumbling… [that's Christ] … exactly as it is written: 'Behold, I place in Sion a Stone of Stumbling and a Rock of offense, but everyone who believes in Him shall not be ashamed'" (vs 32-33).
Romans 10:1: "Brethren, the earnest desire of my heart and my supplication to God for Israel is for salvation. For I testify of them that they have a zeal for God… [and they do. The Israelites and the Jews have a zeal for God] …but not according to knowledge" (vs 1-2). That means not according to God's knowledge.
The Jews have a zeal for God for their own traditions. Look it, they're doing everything they can to build that temple in Jerusalem. When that temple is built, 'the Messiah is going to come, and we're going to rule the world.' They're going to be really disappointed. Guess who is going to dedicate that? The beast! He's going to go and sit in the Holy of Holies and defy their god, because that's not the temple of the real God. That's the temple of the Jews and their version of God.
He's going to let them build it. He's going to let them learn the final lesson forever: you have to trust in God, not what you can do!
Verse 3: "For they, being ignorant of the righteous that comes from God…"
- through Christ
- through repentance
- through keeping the laws and commandments of God in the Spirit
"…and seeking to establish their own righteousness… [through works of law] …have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of works of law…" (vs 3-4).
Why did I translate it that way? Because all the way through works of law, works of law, works of law.The way that it is written is in ellipsis. So, the word 'nomu,' which means of law is referring back to their law.
Verse 4: "For Christ is the end of works of law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Cannot be doing away with the laws of God, because they endure forever. They are perfect. That can only mean works of law.
Verse 5 becomes another little problem verse, too: "For Moses wrote concerning the righteousness that comes through the Law… ['ho nomos'] …'The man who has practiced those things shall live by them.'"
- Was that not the righteousness that God required?
- Isn't that what Moses wrote? Yes!
- What did God say?
All letter of the Law!
Is the society better off with the letter of the Law than anarchy? Yes! That's why with even a majority of the Laws of God, is that society better than an anarchy society? I'm talking just letter of the Law. Yes!
Deuteronomy 28:1: "And it shall come to pass, if you shall hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD your God to observe and to do all His commandments which I command you today…"—that you shall become a curse, that you shall be rejected and hated and that God will kill every one of you.
That's what the Protestants imply, but it doesn't say that. Moses said you shall live by all the law. So that shows in Rom. 10:5 that Paul was not talking about the Law of Moses, but their traditions, their works of law.
Deuteronomy 28:1: "…the LORD your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you will obey the voice of the LORD your God" (vs 1-2). There it is twice within two verses: obey the voice of God!
Verse 3: "Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body…" (vs 3-4).
In every one of these things today, because we've rejected God, they're mostly curses.
"…and the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, the increase of your cattle, and the flocks of your sheep. Blessed shall be your basket and your store. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out" (vs 4-6).
Look at the society today. Jesus said that today many will be led into sin (Matt. 24), because they're not taught the Laws of God. Is that true? Yes!
I feel sorry for all of those college students graduating with empty heads and just programmed into hate. Terrible! I'll let you finish reading that yourself.
Romans 10:5: "For Moses wrote concerning the righteousness that comes through the Law, 'The man who has practiced those things shall live by them.'"
Christ coming, is that an improvement in the righteousness of God? Where are the laws and commandments to be written? In our hearts and in our minds (Heb. 10:16)! If they are there, is that better than on your wrist? or A plaque on the wall? You can have them there. One woman was talking about the commandments of God to her granddaughter and she said, 'What's that?' Doesn't even know!
Verse 6: "But the righteousness that comes through faith speaks after this manner…" Then it says it's not going to be by works.
Rom. 3 has to do with the coming of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. That was planned before the foundation of the world and was sure from the foundation of the world: 'The Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world.' This is a prophecy of what would happen to Him.
Everything that God has done is based upon His righteousness, His goodness, and Christ coming to die for the sins of mankind! Everything, planned before the foundation of the world.
Then we have the re-creation of the earth by God (Gen. 1), creating of Adam and Eve. God put them in the Garden of Eden. He made Eve from a rib of Adam, brought her to Adam, married them, put them in the garden, a beautiful setting, No Satan, no traditions, no rabbis, no popes.
God had one simple thing. It's like we read in Deut. 28—obey My voice. What was it He said? 'Of all the trees in the garden you may freely eat except the one, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. You shall not eat of that one, for in the day that you do, in dying you shall surely die.' That's how God deals.
What did God say to the children of Israel after they finally got to Mount Sinai? He said, 'If you will obey My voice, I will make you a nation of priests.' That's before anything else was done.
When God makes a proposition, there's a whole lot more coming. But He wants to know the one thing: will you love Him and obey Him! Because they didn't obey Him and obeyed Satan, what was the first thing that God said? He gave the prophecy of His death!
With that established, could we not say that nothing can replace the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God manifested in the flesh, Who voluntarily laid His life down for the forgiveness of sin? Can anything replace that? No, because He was the Creator of the earth! There's nothing on the earth; there's nothing in man that he has that he didn't receive from God. He can't go to God and say, 'I've got a better way than Yours, God.' Can the created say to the creator, 'What are you making?' No!
Righteousness of God also is figured in the forgiveness of sin. Righteousness of God means right standing with God. Paul was saying there to Peter and the rest, 'You're not in better standing with God because you hate the Gentiles and you go across the aisle of the room and set up over here.'
Romans 3:19: "Now then, we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law… [Who is under the law? Every person in the world!] …so that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."
There's no other way to forgive sin. Micah 6 says, 'What shall I do to come before God? Shall I have 10,000 lambs, rivers of oil?' No, you approach God humbly with a repentant heart! That's what God wants.
Verses 20 and 21 I did not understand fully until I really understood the Greek. What do you do for years and years that there's a verse or two, or maybe more, that you read, that you don't understand? And it sounds like a contradiction. In the church we're told to keep the commandments, keep the commandments. That's true, but what is more important? Loving God!
If you love God, have His Spirit, you will keep the commandments. So, when I read this in Romans 3:30, especially when I first read it. I really didn't understand this. I started taking Greek in 1974, maybe late 1973. One of the first things we were taught by Dr. Dorothy was to never forget the definite article. I couldn't understand that until this.
Verse 20 (KJV): "Therefore by the deeds of the law…" You read that, that sounds like you're to keep the commandments. You think that's the commandments of God. The deeds, the law. You don't know how delighted I was when I found out in the Greek those two definite articles are not there. That opened the understanding to read the way it's translated in the Faithful Version.
Verse 20 (KJV): "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight… [What on earth am I doing trying to keep the commandments of God?] …for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God… [remember all My commandments are righteousness] …without the law is manifested…" (vs 20-21). How can that be?
The Protestants read that and say, 'See, you don't need the Law. You have the righteousness of God without the Law. What can that be?'
Then I go back and read 1-John and know that I'm going to keep the commandments. But I didn't understand that and I was baptized in 1960, graduated from Ambassador College in 1964, married in 1965, ordained in 1965, January and May. We went over and were pastoring in Boise. All the way through, all that time, all during the 60s, clear to the middle of the 70s I couldn't understand that, because I didn't know the Greek.
So you can see what a bad translation does. In doing the translation, when I finally got around to translating, I said to myself that God is Truth, His Word is Truth, and there isn't going to be anything that isn't going to agree with the Word of God and the Truth of God that's going to be in the English. It must agree with the Greek.
Let's read those two verses again in Faithful Version, v 20: "Therefore, by works of law…"—of Judaism. This clears up what that means:
Romans 2:13: "Because the hearers of the law are not just before God… [justified] …but the doers… [those who practice the Law] …shall be justified." Quite an interesting verse.
So, what does this tell you? Here's someone out there, doesn't know anything about God. He starts finding something about God and starts obeying some of the Word of God. God then begins to lead him.
- What has to happen before baptism?
- What's one of the questions that you were probably asked for baptism?
- Have you started keeping the Sabbath? No, I've been going to church every Sunday.
Well, you can't be baptized!
I was asked, because I was keeping the Sabbath by that time, 'Do you still eat unclean meats?' I said yes, I do! I was a cook at Sandy's Kitchen. When I would go down I'd make myself a sandwich before I even started working and I had my own righteous way of doing bacon. I fried it very, very crisp. I made bacon and tomato sandwiches with crisp, tasty bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise and lots of bacon.
They said, 'Well, you can't be baptized.' So, I went back, I gave up bacon. I quit burping through the shift I was working on, because I would eat the pork and I would burp. I didn't know. That's an example of the doers of the Law—once you know about a law you are to do it.
The doers of the Law shall be justified. Now even after we understanding keeping the Law, do we still sin? Yes, we do! Do we need to be justified? Yes, we do! That comes through the sacrifice of Christ, but we have to repent. That's the simplicity of Christ.
Romans 3:20: "Therefore, by works of law there shall no flesh be justified before Him…"
So, everything the Jews do, everything the Catholics do, everything the Protestants do that are contrary to the Word of God, but they think are righteousness to them, doesn't make them right with God!
"…for through the Law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God that is separate from law…" (vs 20-21).
Verse 21 (KJV): "But now the righteousness of God without the law…" That's different, isn't it? Without means the absence of. So, there again it looks like the Law is done away. It's separate from.
Dolores and I are married. God says we're to be one flesh, but we're still two separate people. Separate from does not mean the absence of law, or no law. That means it's a different operation than Law-keeping. Is the sacrifice of Christ a different operation than Law-keeping? Yes, indeed! That's what it means: separate from.
Verse 21 (FV): "But now, the righteousness of God…" Righteousness here means the righteousness that comes through the sacrifice of Christ, by the forgiveness of sins and His shed blood. Wipes away all your sins. Now you are essentially righteous because you don't have sin imputed to you. But then you must begin walking in the way of Truth.
Everything clear up to this point? If you have any questions, raise your hands because this is very complicated. I'm trying to make it simple. Remember, it took me 14 years to come to understand these verses.
Verse 21: "But now the righteousness of God that is separate from law has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets." That's another thing.
- How can it be without law, no law at all, if it's witnessed to by the Law and the Prophets?
- How can that be?
- Where is it in the Bible that the Law witnesses itself that it's going to go away? No place!
So, the King James Version can be a mighty misleading version.
Verse 22: "Even the righteousness of God that is through the faith of Jesus Christ, toward all and upon all those who believe… [and repent. Isn't that what he talks about in chapter two, repentance?] …for there is no difference. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; but are being justified freely by His grace…" (vs 22-24).
In other words, the work of repentance is an act of grace, given to you by God. He gives repentance.
"…by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (v 24).
- not in the Code of Jewish Law
- not in the catechism of the Roman Catholic Church
- not in the teachings of the Protestants that are contrary to the Bible
- not in Islam
- not in Buddhism
- not in Hinduism
- not in any other religion
but Jesus Christ, Who was slain before the foundation of the world and was prophesied at the first sin with Adam and Eve, came in His due time at the set time He came (Rom. 5:7).
Verse 24: "But are being justified… [put in right standing with God. You're no longer hostile to God. You love God; you're put in right standing with Him] …freely…" He didn't say, 'Run down to the slot machine and put in $40.' Freely!
"…by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; Whom God has openly manifested to be a propitiation through faith in His blood…" (vs 24-25). Is there any work greater than the blood of Christ? any animal? any work? NO!
"…in order to demonstrate His righteousness… [justification] …in respect to the remission of sins that are past" (v 25).
Here's something we need to also remember. You don't go to God and say, 'God, now I saw this ad on Las Vegas and they say everything you do here stays here. I'm going to go there and I want you to forgive me ahead of time, because I know that I'm going to get involved. I don't know what it will be, but I want You to forgive me ahead of time and all that I do in Las Vegas let it remain in Las Vegas.'
But it won't, because it will be written in your heart and mind. The popes do that with indulgences. You make a pilgrimage to Rome to go to St. Peter's Basilica, Satan's den of idolatry and demonism. Yes, you do get a feeling walking through St. Peter's Basilica. I've never been there but people say you really feel it. Those are not the feelings coming from God! Wherever there is a massive influx of idols, there are demons everywhere.
Sins that are past; all sin is past. How can that be this way? You do something that is wrong that's a sin, the next instant it's already past. You can't say, 'God, I'm going down to the grocery store and I'm going to buy this. I know this stupid clerk is always bad, so I'm going to cuss him out. Forgive me before I go.' No!
Whenever you sin, it's immediately past. That's why God wants you to begin controlling your mind so that you're not involved in sinning; that's why. A pure heart, a pure mind by God's Spirit!
All of it God gives freely, because He loves you and you love Him. How many times a day is a person to be forgiven? Seven times seventy! In other words, you're going to live longer than 490 days, so you're going to need more forgiveness than 490.
Verse 25: "Whom God has openly manifested… [He made it known, prophesied, well known and put it in a time of history that all of the historical things can be verified. That's important] …through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness… [justification] …in respect to the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; yes, to publicly declare His righteousness in the present time, that He might be just, and the One Who justifies the one who is of the faith of Jesus" (vs 25-26).
You repent to God, only God can forgive. It's only through Jesus Christ!
The Protestants like to take these sections and apply them, but they misuse them because they don't keep the Sabbath. They don't keep the Holy Days. They keep Sunday; they keep the holidays; they believe in going to heaven or believe in going to hell. All of that's part of the mystery of Protestantism that's a little lower level than the mystery of Babylon the Great, but still part of it.
Verse 27: "Therefore, where is boasting?.…" What did the Jews do with their phylacteries? Like the Boy Scouts and their little merit badges.
I remember when I joined the Scouts, I forget what age it was, that was really something. I got all the way up to scout first class, third level. When I got older I found out they have the same thing with Masons. You become a Mason, in order for you to continue on, you have to make the first three levels. So it's patterned after the Masons.
"…It is excluded. Through what law? The law of works? By no means! Rather, it is through a law of faith" (v 27). What is that law of faith? Repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit!
Verse 28: "Consequently, we reckon that a man is justified by faith, separate from works of law."
Remember Rom. 2:13, you have to be practicing. You can't go to God and say, 'God, I've been keeping the Sabbath all My life and you have to forgive me.' No! You have to repent! It doesn't matter if you kept the Sabbath all your life. God expects that.
Bill Cosby before he got all caught up in everything, remember his record on Noah? Here he's working away and hears, 'Noah!' Who's that? 'It's the Lord.' I've been good!
Verse 29: "Is He the God of the Jews only?…." Peter (Gal 2), that's what that separatism means.
"…Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? YES! He is also God of the Gentiles since it is indeed one God Who will justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith. Are we, then, abolishing the Law through faith? MAY IT NEVER BE! Rather, we are establishing the Law" (vs 29-31).
Because through repentance and forgiveness and the desire to love and obey God, you keep it and God writes it in your mind!
Isn't it amazing, they have all of this in the Bible and they can't figure it out. Why? Because they don't keep the commandments of God!
Psalm 111:10: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments…."
All Scriptures from The Holy Bible In Its Original Order, A Faithful Version (except where noted)
Scriptures Referenced:
- Romans 10:4
- Romans 3:31
- Romans 6:1-2
- Malachi 2:5-9
- Mark 7:6-9
- Romans 9:30-31
- Matthew 5:18-20
- Matthew 23:12-14, 16-22
- Romans 9:30-32
- Galatians 2:11-16
- Romans 9:32-33
- Romans 10:1-5
- Deuteronomy 28:1-6
- Romans 10:5-6
- Romans 3:19-21
- Romans 2:13
- Romans 3:20-31
- Psalm 111:10
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Psalm 19
- 2-Peter 3
- Malachi 1
- Psalm 119:172
- Matthew 6; 7
- Acts 10, 20
- John 6:44
- Matthew 24
- Hebrews 10:16
- Genesis 1
- Micah 6
- Romans 5:7
Also referenced:
From The Holy Bible in Its Original Order:
- Appendix L: A Summary of Proofs That God is Not a Trinity
- Appendix Z: Understanding Paul's Difficult Scriptures Concerning the Law and the Commandments of God
Books:
- Judaism: A Revelation of Moses or a Religion of Men? by Philip Neal
- Code of Jewish Law by Ganzfried and Goldin
Sermon Series: Scripturalism vs Judaism
FRC:lp
Transcribed: 7-27-17
Formatted: bo—7/28/17
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