The Law Shuts Up Faith
In Romans 8:1 it states, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." This past Monday afternoon as I had been praying this came up in my spirit. And as I went to read this, I noticed the 'therefore' which is referring to the previous chapter, which is talking about the law. And I was raised under the law, as most people are, and that is why I was condemned (judged) and guilty. And I was guilty before God - Romans 3:19. But thank God for the gospel and for being able to be led by the Spirit. Because the gospel is what deals with all guilt so that we can walk by faith (in the Spirit) in this earth - blameless before God. Who wouldn't want that?
I never knew, until coming to Water of Life Church and hearing the truth taught, that I was no longer to walk under the law because Jesus had done away with it, nailing it to the cross 2000 years ago. I could not read fifth grade writing very well, that's why! Plus religious spirits had bound me with lies by telling me we were to keep the ten commandments, etc. And trying to keep the ten commandments, as well as other laws, is what made me guilty. Because if you ever break one of them, you have had it. But when the Spirit of God started opening my eyes to see what the scripture had to say about the law being done away with, and specifically the ten commandments, it was a real eye opener and a real relief, to say the least. Because I had never met a person who did not have some set of rules, or laws to live by in this world. And there were certain ones, you better know, that I made sure I kept. The ones I was certain not to break, were ones I thought God would send you to hell for if you broke them. So I obviously thought that if you committed these certain ones, you would never be forgiven. (Not knowing that if you offend in one, you are guilty of all.) That is how self righteous I was, and still may be, but I will overcome whatever amount is there. In Isaiah it says that our righteousness is as filthy rags, which is not a pretty sight. But it says in Philippians 3:9 that we are to be found in him, not having our own righteousness, which is of the law, but the righteousness which is through the faith of Jesus Christ.
Once I learned to read, and God opened my eyes to see what His Word said about Christ being the end of the law, it was so clear and easy to see that it was in there. But it has not been so easy to get it out of my heart because I was raised under the law and was raised to be self righteous. And in the churches I attended I was taught the law by religious spirits. I was always being told what I could not do - never was told to obey God and be led by the Spirit. It did not matter whether it was at home or in church - I heard the same thing in both places. And what it all amounted to was trying to perfect the flesh. And you cannot perfect the flesh. I was raised in a home, and in churches where they try to make the outside of the cup and platter clean, but leave the inside filthy. That is what religion will do for you - make you appear righteous outwardly, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. This described me well, and may still. But one thing I know that this gospel started doing to me after coming to Water of Life, is working on the inside of me, so then that the outside could be clean also (Matthew 23).
There are numerous scriptures throughout many books of the New Testament on the law being done away with and being led by the Spirit. And only the Lord can reveal them to your spirit and give you understanding of them. But a few of the clearest verses to me were in I Timothy 1:8-10 where it says that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for ...... and it gives a whole list of who the law is for. The reason I walked under the law is because I did not know I was righteous and did not believe the gospel. And the righteousness it is speaking of is by faith and it is revealed in the gospel - in the death, burial and resurrection. Also in Romans 10:4 it says, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." What we are to believe is the power that raised Jesus from the dead. It is the gospel that will deal with everything in our lives that is contrary to the things of the Spirit. And I for sure was not raised to believe the gospel - I had never even heard what it was until after coming to Water of Life.
There were times years back when Doyle would pray for me, and even a group of us, and 'loose' me (us) from the law. My faith was so bound by the law in my heart, that it was hard to tell that I even had any faith. And after he would pray, I could always tell my faith would be 'loosened' enough that I could mix faith with the gospel and things would start working in my life. I even remember specific times when God has led me to pray (and He still does on occasion) that I am redeemed by the blood of Jesus from the law of Moses, including the ten commandments, and from all laws of men, all laws of this land. If you stop and think about it, there are laws that men have put on us for everything. It is really a wonder we could even breathe!
In Galatians 3:23 it says that the law shuts up faith. My faith was so bound by 'thou shalt not' and 'touch not, taste not, handle not'. Then God, by His Spirit, started leading me down righteous paths, and many of these paths were to deal with the law in my heart, and to expose all the self righteousness in me. But God's grace has, and always will be sufficient for me to overcome.
When you stop and think about it, it really is amazing how much we 'like' laws and rules. But Jesus made this so simple, and said if we walk in the Spirit we are not under the law, because we only do what He tells us to do. And there is no condemnation, or judgment when we walk in the Spirit. And what He says is above every law. We really have to be ignorant, or stupid, not to want to be led by the Spirit instead of having a whole list of rules and laws that most of the time we cannot keep anyway.
Galatians 5:18 tells us, "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." That is an incredible thing, but that is how God started leading me out from under the law - having me obey what the Spirit of God would tell me to do. And the Spirit of God will not lead you to sin. Whatsoever is not faith is sin. And whatever God leads you to do, He gives you the faith to perform what He tells you to do - otherwise He would be unjust. And God is not unjust - He is God. So I found there was a real liberty in the Spirit to know that we could walk in this world without any laws, if we were being led by the Spirit. Galatians 3:11-12 says that the just shall live by faith, and the law is not faith. That drives religious people crazy, but that is the truth. And I have had to lay down my 'religious' ways and ideas and decide that God's Word is true and that everything I had been taught was a lie. And He has had much mercy and grace on my life for me to be able to do this. It has taken humility to lay aside how I was raised and taught, to being able to walk in the Spirit and obey what God tells me to do. Because He will go against all your religious ways and concepts of what you think Christianity is. He is not religious - thank God!
There has been fear and unbelief, as well as other spirits manifest in me as God is leading me down these righteous paths, but I always overcome them by the grace of God and nothing else. And in the Epistle of John it says that perfect love casts out fear - and this is so true in my life. As I obey what the Lord tells me to do, walking in love, the fear does come out. And it is not real comfortable when it comes out, but I thank God that it does come out. And as a result, my faith and love are perfected every time. Because there have been times it would have been much easier to run, but God says, "No, you are going to stand and believe Me and I will lead you to overcome in this situation." So that is the purpose of these paths He has ordained for our lives - to deal with the bondage's in our hearts, so that we can overcome. Much prayer and fasting goes on in my life, and I do not do things until I know that I have the mind of Christ on what He wants for me. And there has been much correction to take place in my life. But He does say He leads in paths of correction.
Prior to hearing the gospel, and learning to trust in it and rely on it, I never overcame anything in my life. Not one thing. I just got deeper and deeper in bondage and bound with more and more spirits. And all these bondage's and spirits have been in my heart. And it is the light of the glorious gospel that shines on all that darkness that is in my heart to deliver me. I have had to learn not to regard the iniquity in my heart, because it can be overwhelming at times. But as it comes up, the gospel does set me free because it is the power (ability) of God to do so.
I thank God for this gospel and what it has produced in my life up to this point, and what it will continue to produce in me as I continue to trust in the Lord Jesus and believe the power that raised Him from the dead. I have not arrived by any means, but I do keep pressing towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. As I have said many times, this is a continual process of being conformed to the image of Jesus, and He will finish, or complete the work He has begun in me. He will do the same for you too, if you will believe this gospel - trust in it, rely on it and adhere to it in every situation in your life. Amen!
