Obedience to the Law or Obedience to faith? Which is it?

Obedience to the Law or Obedience to faith? Which is it?

Did Jesus call us to obey the Law?






I hear many believers who love God trying to please Him by obeying the Law of the old covenant.


I used to think that loving God means I have to obey every commandment of the Law of Moses.


I had a relationship with God through the old system of the law and I didn't even know it.






Was the Law of Moses given to man so they can fulfill every command of it?


We already see that Israel in their relationship with God could never keep the law. In fact, no human being on Earth can keep the high standard of the law. Even Jesus said it:






The Lord explained to us that He is the One who came to fulfill the law - this is salvation - because no man could fulfill it.






Why was the Law given then? To show man how sinful he is and how much he needs to be saved from his inability to fulfill the demands of the law.






The law was designed to get man to the end of themselves and realize "I can't do it!" and hence their need for a Savior.






Actually God Himself said that He gave the Israelites laws that were not good:






Eze 20:25 "I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live;"






The law is also not of faith….






Gal 3:11 "So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." 12 "However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM."








When Jesus was crucified He established peace. How was that peace established?






The Bible teaches us that peace was established by ABOLISHING in His body the enmity which is THE LAW WITH IT'S COMMANDMENTS:






Eph 2:14-16 NASB "For He Himself is our peace... and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, (15) by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, (16) and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.






If the enmity is the law with all it's commandments and it was put to death on the cross... why would you bring it back to life and try to have a relationship with God through obeying the law?






If Jesus abolished the law; why then would you want to live under it and obey the law?


If the law is no longer there for the believer; why would you want to live under a system that is no longer valid for you?








Rom 6:16-17 NLT "Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?






Obedience in the New Covenant is NOT obedience to the law of Moses, but to the form of teaching (which Paul preached - that is the Gospel called Good News).






Romans 1:5-6 NASB through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;






Under the old covenant man has to obey the law and everything it says. Jesus came to save us from what no man could do and became our obedience. He fulfilled the law for us.






Jesus came to take us out of the system of the law because He obeyed it and by His obedience He made us right with Him:






Rom 5:19 NASB For as through the one man's disobedience (Adam) the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One (Jesus) the many will be made righteous.










How will they be made right with God? By obeying the law? By being good? By doing this and that?


No! By believing that it's because of HIS OBEDIENCE, NOT OURS WE WERE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD.






You were saved because you believe (faith) and not by your performance (what you do and obedience to the law)






Luke 16:16 "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached..."






As far as I know; John, who was a voice, died more than 2000 years ago and he was the last prophet of the law. Since then, the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM is being preached. This means the Law is NOT the gospel of the Kingdom.










Which gospel was preached to you? The gospel of the law or the gospel of the Kingdom of God that brought good news to man. It's because of Jesus finished works, His righteousness and His obedience that man was made right with God.






Our part as human beings is to believe in the message of the gospel because the gospel IS the glory of Jesus. When you believe the gospel you also believe in Jesus.










Jesus Himself said “repent" (in the Greek it means: think differently, renew your mind). He said "repent and believe in the gospel”






Mar 1:14-15 NASB Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, (15) and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."










Why did He tell them to think differently (repent) and believe in the gospel?






Because they believed in the teachings of the law of works, and law of sin.


They followed a Torah (which means in Hebrew Life Philosophy) which focuses on man's works (performance) to please God and be right with God.


It's all about what MAN needs to do for God in order to be right with Him, be loved, be accepted or receive something.


“Well, maybe I will give up this and that, or do more of that… and then God will hear me”






God lives in you when you believed in His Son Jesus. He doesn’t answer you based on what YOU do. He answers and favors you because of what Jesus has done and who Christ is in you.






It's about how man needs to reconcile to God, how man needs to cleanse himself, keep himself pure and holy, take away his own sins, and love God with all his heart. (see my other post “Can you love God with all your Heart?")






Jesus knew we all need our minds to be renewed so we can believe in the gospel of the Kingdom. It's about how much God loved us and what He has done for weak, sick, deceived human beings who think they can offer God their own effort like Cain and be accepted or saved.






He is the one who made you righteous. He built you as a Temple. He reconciled you to Himself. He leads you to repentance, not you - y renewing your mind about who He is and who you are in Him. He cleansed you once and for all. He purified you. He sanctified you. He perfected you by His blood. He made you complete. He did it ALL and it's not of yourself or by the works of your hands.






Rom 11:33-36 NASB Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! (34) For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? (35) Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? (36) For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.






We cannot carve our own image of God in our mind and believe this is who God is. We follow His nature – He is Love and we ask Him to reveal to us who He really is. We cannot trust our own understanding. It’s by a revelation that we get to see who He really is.






Act 17:24-29 NASB "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; (25) nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; (26) and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, … (27) that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; (28) for in Him we live and move and exist,… (29) "Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like … an image formed by the … thought of man.










No man can boast before God for their works and say "Look God how good I am; look how obedient to the law I am; look how much I do this and that - and this is why I am right with You". What happens when you fail in your performance? Do you believe that you are not right with God? If this is what you believe it means you believe that your righteousness DEPENDS ON YOU. Self righteousness is actually an abomination before God. It is like a filthy rag before Him and it stinks.






We are called to be obedient to the FAITH - meaning BELIEVE and not obedient to the law of works which says WORK, PERFORM, DO in order to be right with God, be accepted, loved or receive anything.






The only boasting we can do is to boast at what Jesus has done for us - for all His works - His goodness, His obedience; His faithfulness, His sacrifice; His giving and offering His life; He is the one who built you complete. It's not by our own works and effort that we complete ourselves. We've already been made complete in Christ.






Isn't His works good enough? Is His blood enough to finish the works and build you a complete Temple not made by man’s hands?






Col 2:9-10 NASB "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, (10) and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;"










His blood which was shed for us has perfected us before God. Isn't His blood good enough or do we need to try and perfect ourselves because we don’t know we HAVE BEEN perfected by His blood? Does our own behavior modification perfect us before God?






Heb 10:14 NLT "For by that one offering He forever made perfect those who are being made holy."






You might say... well, I'm not holy yet and therefore I am not perfect before God.


Let me show you that we actually have already been made holy by His blood sacrifice:






Heb 10:10 NIV "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."






It does not say 'we will be made holy' and it does not say 'we will be made perfect or will be complete'. It says we HAVE BEEN. It's a finished works. THANK YOU JESUS for what You have done by Your works.






God does not need our help to build ourselves, perfect ourselves, complete ourselves, or make ourselves holy - as the people in the old covenant were required to do (works). It's not by our own hands that we were built as a Temple of the Holy Spirit. It's by God's hands. Who can boast before God and say "Look God how good I am, how better my behavior is, how I gave up this and that for You; and how much I pray and study Your word". Is God pleased with us based on what WE do (works)?






No! Don’t ask “Is God pleased with me?” Ask: “Is God pleased with Jesus?”


The answer is YES! He is pleased with His beloved Son. And since you are in Christ, and it’s no longer you who lives; God is very much pleased with you.






On the same token, do not ask “Am I obedient, faithful, holy, pure, righteous before God?” Ask: “Is Jesus obedient, faithful, holy, pure, righteous before God?”


It’s by His obedience, His faithfulness, His holiness and righteousness, and His purity and by His one act of righteousness that you were made right with God. Not by your obedience to the law.


Put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His performance (works), not in your SELF (flesh) and your works.










God built Eve who is a type of the Lord's bride and after He was done he said "and it was VERY GOOD" this means God was more than pleased with His own works. The Accuser the snake was not pleased and came to show her how much SHE is NOT in the image of God. Don't eat the lie that you are NOT in God's image. You ARE Christlike even if by sight you don’t manifest it yet. As you behold (see) Christ you will be transformed into who He has made you – His glory.






You already HAVE His glory because Jesus said He has given us His glory:






Joh 17:22 NASB "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;










You ARE and you were made beautiful, complete, perfect, holy, and righteous. As a new creation in Christ the Messiah there is NOTHING wrong with you because you are a complete spirit being and a new Temple of God. God meant it when He said you are complete in His Son.






So what's missing or lacking in His works? Nothing! Is there something His blood did not accomplish? Is His blood which sanctified, perfected, redeemed, justified, cleansed once and for all and made complete not good enough? Is it like the blood of animals which could never perfect the worshippers (Heb 10:1)?






Jesus did a perfect work making you a new creation in Him. Now find out what that new identity you have means. Don't live your life from a place where you are not complete and now your walk is to work on yourself to become Christ-like. You are ALREADY Christ-like, your walk is to find out your new identity in Him.






Your part is to believe the good news of what Christ our Messiah has done for you and who He has already made you. We're saved by FAITH - by believing, not by our performance (works).










Tit 3:5-7 NLT "He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. (6) He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. (7) Because of His grace He declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life."










Thank God obedience in the New Covenant is obedience to faith - meaning 'believe" and we're not under the old covenant.










Gal 3:10 NASB For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM."










Be free from trying to obey the law and be obedient to faith - meaning believe the gospel that says you were saved by faith and made right with God by faith through grace - not by your performance (works, good deeds).










Love and grace,










Elana

Work Out Your Salvation - Is Salvation by Works?

Work Out Your Salvation

Is Salvation by Works?

Php 2:12-13 NASB So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (13) for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

The Bible speaks about working out our salvation with fear and trembling. One of the questions I had for the Lord about this scripture is:
"Lord, my salvation is by faith, so why did You say that I need to work out my salvation?
Is salvation by works and dependant on my performance and obedience to the law?
And, why did You mention fear and trembling when You also said we can worship You without fear? (Romans 8:15, Luke 1:74). Lord, fear comes from the fear of punishment for wrong and your perfect love casts out ALL fear in me.

I wanted to know what that scripture means because I knew the Bible does not teach salvation by works, but by faith.

Let's build first a foundation for understanding our salvation through the scriptures, so we can see what our salvation is founded on.

How were we saved?


Ephesians 2:8-10 "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. (Why is it not from myself and not from works?) For (because) we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them." –

We see that salvation is by grace,
It is through faith,
It is not of ourselves,
It is the gift of God,
It is not of works so that no man can boast before God about his performance and how self righteous he is.

Why is salvation not of myself and not of works?
Because I am God's workmanship;
Therefore salvation is all from God and completely not from anything I have done right. It's not me working, but God who is working in my life. I am His workmanship.


Therefore, we were saved by grace, through faith as a gift from God.
Do you work for a gift? Do you pay for a gift? No! A gift is given freely from love.

His "workmanship" means in the Greek: the work of God, that which has been made as the result of work; what is produced; not the act of making.
The focus is on the doing itself and not what is made.

But why is it not of ourselves and not a result of our works? "Because we are His workmanship"; Meaning:

• We are saved by grace through faith because we are what He has made,
• We are saved by grace through faith because we are the result of His work,
• We are saved by grace through faith because we are what He produced,
• We are saved by grace through faith because we are His doing,

Therefore, working out our salvation CANNOT be something we DO or PERFORM by our own doing or works. In God's Kingdom we don't work for His gift or pay for it. We freely receive all things from Him.
If we received the Most Precious of all (Messiah) freely, how can it be that God asks for a price or works to receive Him?

It's God who provided a Lamb sacrifice when we think we need to sacrifice of our most precious to God. Abraham had such mindset and thought God needed his son. No, God provided His own beloved Son who is sinless and blameless.
It's God who built us a Temple in three days when we think we need to build ourselves by our own hands.
It's God who gave us gifts when we think God needs anything from men.
God did everything and when He finished His works, He rested. He wants His children to find rest as well in His finished works.

The direction for us to take in understanding this scripture is the direction of FAITH; of believing what Jesus has done and His finished works, because we were saved by faith and not by work and not of ourselves.

Salvation is through sanctification (being set apart) by the Spirit (not of our own) and through faith in the truth.

(2Th 2:13 NASB+) But we should^G3784 always^G3842 give^G2168 thanks^G2168 to God^G2316 for you, brethren^G80 beloved^G25 by the Lord^G2962, because^G3754 God^G2316 has chosen^G138 you from the beginning^G746 for salvation^G4991 through^G1722 sanctification^G38 by the Spirit^G4151 and faith^G4102 in the truth^G225.

Therefore our salvation is through faith in the truth – by believing the truth of the gospel (good news).

(Eph 1:13 NIV) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,


Since salvation is by faith in the truth which is the gospel, we see in the Bible that salvation is the outcome of believing.
The fruit (outcome) of our faith (in the truth of the gospel) IS the salvation of our souls.

(1Pe 1:9 NASB+) obtaining^G2865 as the outcome^G5056 of your faith^G4102 the salvation^G4991 of your souls^G5590.

Meaning our salvation is a result of believing the truth of the gospel.
This suggests to us that our part in bearing this fruit of salvation is to have faith, to believe the truth of the gospel.
So, we need to grow in faith in order to obtain as outcome the salvation of our souls.


In 1 Peter 2:2-3 Peter speaks about growing in our salvation and he explains to us HOW we can grow. He explains to us that the way to grow in our salvation is by tasting the kindness of the Lord. Meaning growing in knowing how much He loves us and cares for us and believing it.

1 Peter 2:2-5 NASB like newborn babies, long for the pure (sincere, true) milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, (3) (how can you grow in salvation?) if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. (4) And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, (5) you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

This means that salvation is not just a state of our being before God. We also need to GROW in our salvation. Therefore our salvation as we also saw in 1Peter 1:9 is an outcome – a fruit that grows by tasting the kindness of the Lord.

Peter explains: We are to desire the sincere milk of the Word so we can grow in our salvation by tasting the kindness of the Lord – not His harshness.

The fact that we grow in our salvation by tasting the kindness of the Lord shows us that the works which is related to our salvation is GROWING in knowing and experiencing the kindness of the Lord.

Peter explains what tasting the kindness of the Lord has to do with: "coming to Him knowing that He Himself was rejected by men, so He understands you. But also knowing that even though men rejected Him; He is precious in God's sight. Therefore, you are to come to Him as living stones and let Him build you up. How? By Tasting His kindness".

How do we know that He builds us up as we taste His kindness?

Peter speaks about tasting the kindness of the Lord and then mentions experiences of rejection and coming to Him to be built up.
The building up is related to the rejection and the way to be built up by Him is to taste the kindness of the Lord. No more the harshness through the old covenant.

• This shows us that our salvation is founded on how much God loves us and we are being built up on His kindness, and His nature of love towards us.
• It shows us that growing in our salvation means growing in faith because faith is all about having a good opinion of God; it's believing God that He is kind, He loves you and cares for you.
• Therefore, being saved by faith through grace means being saved by believing in Jesus who wants you to be built up on His kindness.
• The kindness of God leads us to repentance (to think differently) about God's love for us and believing Him that He loves us.

This is why the disciples wrote:

1Jn 4:16 NASB We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love,

Who would write that now he believes and knows that God has love for him?
Only someone who did not know love would write something like that. That's the Bride. She doesn't know or believe that God loves her.
Coming out of the law (harsh nanny) all she knows is harshness, demands, obey, perform, work and work some more to meet the demands of the law. The law demands righteousness from man.

Isn't it how Jesus built Peter after he was sifted?
He revealed to Peter how much He loves Him God's love (Agapao) and made sure Peter knows he can only love Him human love (Phileo).

Peter was founded on the law and how much He loves God with all his heart. He thought he would die for Jesus.
However, Jesus revealed truth to him after allowing him to fail in his performance; to show Peter "it's not how much you love Me and die for Me; it's how much I love you and gave My life and My all for you".
When Peter got it that he cannot love God the way God loves him, Jesus chose him to feed His sheep on that revelation of truth. Jesus could have chosen John the beloved to feed His sheep; but He chose messed up Peter who had truth revealed to him through his failures.
No, God doesn't design our failures and pits. He knows the enemy will trap us and He uses it to reveal truth to us so we can be set free, and then go and set others free.


Back to our original scripture:

Php 2:12-13 NASB So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, (obedience in the NT is obedience to faith = believing, not obedience to the law) not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (13) (Why with fear and trembling?) for (because) it is God who is at work in you, (meaning, not you working in you) both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Just as you have always obeyed (believed); work out (accomplish, bring about), your salvation with fear and trembling.
Why do they need to accomplish their salvation with fear and trembling?
Because it is God who is at work in them. This shows us they didn't know it is God (and Him alone) who is at work in them. According to the Greek it means: He is the one who is active in them, efficient in them, effectual in them, mighty in them, who shows forth Himself in them.

Meaning they believed THEY ARE THE ONES who are at work in themselves; they are the ones who are active, efficient, effectual, and mighty and show forth their self (effort).

We know their righteousness was from the law and by works because Paul writes to them in chapter 3 not to put confidence in the flesh (Php 3:3) and to count everything they think they are as loss. Then he tells them that right standing with God is not of our own from the law; but through faith in Christ.

Php 3:9 NASB and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,


Trusting their own works and not the works of the Lord made Paul be concerned about their faith and this is why he told them to have the attitude Christ had. He tells them not to regard themselves equal with God.

Php 2:5-6 NASB Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, (6) who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, (to be seized, robbed, retained)

Since they trusted their own works for their right standing with God they had no regard for the works of the Lord. They regarded themselves equal with God as if they were the ones doing the works. Meaning their right standing with God depended on their performance. This is why the fear and trembling – because trusting our own performance and self righteousness is as a filthy rag before God and pride.

This is why when the Lord mentions the wicked, He says they show no regard for the works of the Lord (Psa 28:3,5)

Job 37:7-8 MKJV He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work. 8 Then the beast goes into its lair, and it remains in its dens.

There is no way they could have grown in their salvation through faith; because the law of works is not of faith (Gal 3:12). Remember, the outcome (fruit, result) of our FAITH is the salvation of our souls.

Therefore, believing that their salvation is by their own performance through the law which is not of faith put them in a place where they better fear and tremble.
Since the outcome of our faith is salvation, having no faith because they were under law of works meant having no outcome of salvation.

Paul did not want them to think they are saved by their performance; but to know that it is God who is at work, active efficient and effectual in them.

The church in Philippi trusted their works and therefore did not need grace because "if it's of works it is no longer of grace" (Rom 11:6).

Those who are righteous by the works of the law have fallen from grace:

Gal 5:4 NASB You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

God says to His people that their righteousness and deeds will not profit them.

Isa 57:12 NASB "I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, But they will not profit you.

Paul wanted them to grow in their salvation by growing in faith – believing it is the works of the Lord, not their own.

Therefore, the working out of their salvation has to do with right believing – faith - that God is the One who works, active, efficient, effectual and shows Himself forth in them; not of themselves.


Jeremiah 32:30 NASB "Indeed the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah have been doing only evil in My sight from their youth; for the sons of Israel have been only provoking Me to anger by the work of their hands," declares the LORD.

Psalms 9:15-19 MKJV The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made; their foot is caught in the net which they hid. 16 Jehovah is known. He has executed judgment; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. A meditation. Selah.

This is why Noah, who is the type of the Messiah, was born to give us rest from the works of our own hands.

Genesis 5:29 NASB Now he called his name Noah, saying, "This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed."

Psalms 92:4-6 MKJV For You, Jehovah, have made Me glad with Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands. 5 O Jehovah, how great are Your works; Your purposes are very deep. 6 A beastly man does not know; nor does a fool understand this.

Psa 71:15-16 NIV My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. (16) I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. 17 O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.

Psa 77:11-12 NASB I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. (12) I will meditate on all Your work And muse on Your deeds.

Know the truth of the gospel which is the glory of Jesus, and grow in faith as you believe the gospel and know the kindness and the love of the Lord for yourself.

Much love and grace,

Elana