Renewal of Your Mind

The Law is a Two Sided Coin

October 18, 2010 at 10:24 AM Leave a comment

By: Deryl S. Lampkin

Certain terms used by Paul in particular had dual meanings.  They are like two sided coins. One side of the coin relates to the Old Covenant and the other relates to the New Covenant.

As pertaining to the Law, one side of the coin deals with the legal side of the law; referred to as the law of sin and death or the Law of Moses. The other side of the law is the law of liberty also referred to as the Law of God. One meaning applies to the carnal application or context of the term and the other applies to the spiritual application or context of the term. The letter of the law brings death and destruction but the spirit of the law produces and protects life.

Under the Law of Moses, mankind was attempting to earn righteousness (right standing with God) by obeying every law. This was man’s attempt to produce the righteousness of God through human efforts. This was an impossible task for mankind because his nature is to sin. Then Jesus came born of the seed of God (not of man) that gave him the inborn nature of God. Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost was able to obey every law without sinning once. Through total obedience, he was justified by the law and legally obtained righteousness not for himself, but for mankind. Now through accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, we can be made righteous by faith. This method of obtaining righteousness is the result of being spiritually connected to the source of the righteousness. Therefore the righteousness flows from the divine vine source (which is Jesus) and flows to and through the branches connected to the vine (which are the believers in Christ)

Act 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses.

Under the Old Covenant, mankind did not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them to empower them to obey God’s law and neither was his laws written in their hearts. This is why it was impossible for them to consistently obey God. But we, who have received Christ, have also received the Holy Ghost, which is the same power that empowered Jesus to live righteously. Therefore, we are called to a higher standard to not only obey the laws and commandments of God but to exceed it. The law only required that you love your neighbor, but Jesus said not only your neighbor but your enemy also.

Under the New and Better Covenant, we have grace and mercy and the blood of Jesus to deal with our sin issues. There is no need for us to offer up the blood of animals for forgiveness or a covering of our sins. All we have to do is confess our sins to God and ask for forgiveness and he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

God wants us to grow in grace and strive daily toward becoming more and more like Christ. As we learn of him, we are to continuously shed the old nature and put on the new nature. Through the renewing of the mind, we will eventual possess the mind of Christ and when we truly have the mind of Christ, we will produce the works of Christ and behave ourselves accordingly in all things.

Scripture References:

The Two Faces of The Law

Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

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 8:7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Jam 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Luk 24:44 And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms, concerning me.

Jhn 7:23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

Act 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Love Fulfills the Law

Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.

Keeping God’s Commandments is a Requirement

Jhn 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

1Jo 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1Jo 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1Jo 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

Law & Order is designed and authorized By God

Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

The Law is for Our Good

Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Rom 13:5 Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

Rom 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

The Law is Holy and Good

Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law [is] holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

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