The law shows the will of God as to our behavior, what he requires of us. The law shows us our sins, our falling short of the perfect will of God. We must choose and often we choose wrong. This was the problem with Eve and her firstborn son Cain who chose to rebel and sin against God's commands. Cain was told what to do for an offering to God; blood sacrifice was required, pointing to the blood of Jesus who would be our sacrifice for sins. God does not always reveal the final purpose of his commands. We are to obey him, because he does know the future and the purpose for our lives. God who spoke to him warned Cain.
Gen 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Gen 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Cain ignored God. The result of disobedience is that we open the door to the devil. The result is some evil will come from this. The devil is a thief, a liar and a killer. Cain killed his brother Abel and tried to cover up his sin with lies. The result is that he would be cursed. Sin is a curse and it brings death.
Gen 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
Gen 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Gen 4:11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
Gen 4:12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Jesus paid for sins and removed the curses, on the cross of Calvary.
Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Gal 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one thathangeth on a tree:
The law points out our sin, but does not save us from them. The blood of Jesus on the cross of Calvary was the atonement for our sins. Through his sacrifice and our faith in him, we receive atonement, we are at one with God. We are once again brought back to fellowship with God our Father. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life eternal.
Salvation through faith in Jesus
How do we know if some one has faith? Some may say words, but not truly have faith. The faith must be in Jesus Christ our savior. Then the power of God must be at work, to make you a child of God. Now that is a big step from being a sinner to a child of God. But this is the grace of God. He gives to us what we did not earn, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
We are not saved by laws, but by the favor of God towards us because of our faith in Jesus. There is more evidence.
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Belief in Jesus is required, but that must be together with the call of God and the power of God to change you.
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Water baptism is a command of God. It shows that we are obedient to him. It is the sign of the New Covenant.
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
John the Baptist spoke of Jesus who would baptize us in the Holy Spirit. This is the baptism of Jesus. We obey God in faith and he does his part, the power of God baptizes us in his Spirit. Our obedience and faith results in God's power and grace in our life. We must have both. If we act alone, the power of God is not there.
Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Obedient faith results in the move of God, the favor and power of God in our life. We are made new. There should be evidence of a new life. We repent from sins and by faith receive Jesus as Lord, followed by baptism. We should then continue in faith, becoming a person after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. What occurs at salvation?
Justified
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.
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Being justified is the act of our Holy God declaring us not guilty of sin and calling us just. In Christ Jesus we are become just and righteous, through the cleansing power of his blood that was shed for our sins.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Redemption
Being redeemed, bought back from satan who had us captive by paying a price. The price was the blood of our righteous sinless savior, Jesus Christ the Son of God.
1 Pet 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1 Pet 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1 Pet 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1 Pet 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Sanctified
Being set apart for the service of God, being holy.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Rom 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
John 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
We are sanctified by the power of God and through His word. We need to hide is word in our hearts.
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
2 Tim 2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Sons and heirs of God
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
It is a wonder to be forgiven of sins and to be called the adopted sons of God. How great is our God and how amazing is his grace towards us.
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