Robert Posted July 23, 2016 Posted July 23, 2016 Ellen White described justification by faith as "the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself." How does God place the glory of man in the dust? Answer: He gives them the law - not the letter - but rather the spirit of the law. Take for example Saul the Pharisee: Before Saul's conversion he smugly viewed his law performance as blameless (see Phil 3:6), but after conversion he viewed himself as "the chief of sinners" (see 1 Tim 1:15) and his righteousness as mere "dung" (see Phil 3:8 KJV). How did God humble this self-righteous, legalistic Pharisee? How did God placed the glory of Saul in the dust? Answer: Through the spirit of the law! I have Ellen White to back me up: Quote Paul says that as "touching the righteousness which is in the law"--as far as outward acts were concerned --he was "blameless" (Philippians 3:6); but when the spiritual character of the law was discerned, he saw himself a sinner. Judged by the letter of the law as men apply it to the outward life, he had abstained from sin; but when he looked into the depths of its holy precepts, and saw himself as God saw him, he bowed in humiliation and confessed his guilt. He says, "I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." Romans 7:9. When he saw the spiritual nature of the law, sin appeared in its true hideousness, and his self-esteem was gone. SC 29,30 What does this have to do with Matthew chapter 5? Everything. Quote
Robert Posted July 23, 2016 Author Posted July 23, 2016 I would like you to consider Matt 5:1 and Matt 7:28,29. Christ begins His sermon: Matt 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying.... Christ ends His sermon: Matt 7:28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the multitudes were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Quote
Robert Posted July 23, 2016 Author Posted July 23, 2016 On 7/22/2016 at 8:15 PM, Robert said: I would like you to consider Matt 5:1 and Matt 7:28,29. Christ begins His sermon: Matt 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying.... Christ ends His sermon: Matt 7:28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the multitudes were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Who was Christ addressing? Answer: The Jews. The Jews were taught by their spiritual leaders, namely the Scribes and Pharisees. What did they teach? They taught that in order for a Jew to make it to heaven he must keep the law - that is, salvation came by the keeping of the law. How did Christ reach a people (the Jews) who were spiritually proud and in need of nothing? Answer: He gave them the spirit of the law. Let's examine Matthew chapter 5 with this in mind. Quote
Robert Posted July 23, 2016 Author Posted July 23, 2016 On 7/22/2016 at 8:36 PM, Robert said: How did Christ reach a people (the Jews) who were spiritually proud and in need of nothing? Answer: He gave them the spirit of the law. Let's examine Matthew chapter 5 with this in mind. Let's drop down to verse 17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. The law here is "the book of the law"- the Pentateuch, which included the moral law. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Quote
Robert Posted July 23, 2016 Author Posted July 23, 2016 22 minutes ago, Robert said: 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. What is Christ stating? Unless you Jews produce a righteousness that exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees you will never enter heaven - i.e., too bad for you! Keep in mind that the scribes and Pharisees were full-time law keepers.... What was Christ doing? To answer this I must ask another question: Why did God gave the law? Roman 5:20 "The Law came in so that the transgression would increase". The law was never given as a means of salvation. The law was given to make ignorant sinners, transgressors. The law was given to make matters worse. Gal 3:19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions... In other words it was added to turn sin into transgression. Furthermore it was given to make the fallen, human race guilty of transgression before God: Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the works of the law (i.e., one's attempt at earning heaven) there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. With this in mind let's continue with Matt chapter 5. Quote
Robert Posted July 23, 2016 Author Posted July 23, 2016 Before I quote Christ on the spirituality of the law, let me give you His conclusion: 48 Therefore you are to be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect Keep in mind what Christ stated: "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." How righteous did Christ require these multitudes (Jews) to be? Answer: As righteous as God! Do you see what Christ is attempting? He is using the law, especially the spirit, in an effort to place the pride and glory of the Jews of His time in the dust of the ground. In order to destroy all confidence in the flesh...in order to destroy the Jews' confidence in their law keeping, Christ had to prove to them that they weren't as perfect as God is perfect. And He did this by giving them the spirituality of the law. Quote
Robert Posted July 23, 2016 Author Posted July 23, 2016 2 hours ago, Robert said: In order to destroy all confidence in the flesh...in order to destroy the Jews' confidence in their law keeping, Christ had to prove to them that they weren't as perfect as God is perfect. And He did this by giving them the spirituality of the law. Matt 5:21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court.... To the Jew murder was an outward, physical act. That's what I call "the letter of the law". But spiritually speaking murder is a cherished thought or desire. So the spirituality of the law demanded perfect thoughts and motives.... 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart (i.e., mind - the seat of emotions). Again the spirituality of the law demands that one's thoughts are to be perfect. Quote
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