Is it faith alone??

[Boanerges]

One form of keeping the Law for self justification is the same as the next. If we love Jesus we will keep His commands; love, forgive, love.
Christ is my Sabbath rest- in Him I fellowship with God, serve God, dedicate my life to (live for) God, and rest from my own works. Only a priest could work on the Sabbath but I am a priest and king doing the works of my Father. In this the Sabbath (the foreshadowing of Christ) is fulfilled.

Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

 

[brakelite]

One form of keeping the Law for self justification is the same as the next.

I agree, it is difficult to imagine how anyone could think that by their own feeble effort their attempts to keep the commandments could in any way make up for past failures. Yet it happens. How many here have transgressed big time? Really stuffed up. I know I have. And what is our first reaction. "I've blown it! Sinned big time and now how can I approach God with this around my neck? ". So we back off somewhat from our religious walk, we cease to pray, we may not go to church for a while, and we may not even open our Bibles for shame, embarrassment. Then after a week or so our consciences aren't so acutely aware of that sin, and we begin to feel a little better about ourslelves. We may have even been completely faithful to the commandments, and been 'relatively' 'good'. So we read a few words from scripture, and think, 'that was ok'. We begin to say a few prayers again, and may venture across the threshold into the local church again, and eventually, we feel 'good enough' to seriously approach God and 'confess' our sins,. But wait, haven't we just been spending the last several weeks since our fall in relying on our own works to justify us? Allowing our performance to be the gauge of God's acceptance? This Boanerges is self justification also. Our relationship must be upon grace and mercy alone, nothing else. We are all the same, both Jew and gentile, free and bond, male and female. We are all saved by grace. To seek God on any other grounds is futile.

If we love Jesus we will keep His commands; love, forgive, love.

Indeed, and it is only His love implanted in our hearts that enables us to love as He loved. And forgive as He forgave. The more of Him the more we love.

Christ is my Sabbath rest- in Him I fellowship with God, serve God, dedicate my life to (live for) God, and rest from my own works.

Now there is the problem Boanerges. Yes, we are to rest in Christ. No argument. The thing is though that God did not make holy a rest, He did not not sanctify a rest. We can rest with anyone at anytime, even on Sundays, and will find no controversy with God, because God sanctified a day. What are you going to do with the day? Because there is nowhere in scripture that definitively states that God has altered that day to any other day. It is not that we all rest in Christ that is the answer. The day stands neglected. God made holy His Sabbath Day, and He hasn't made it unholy. We have by our neglect and trampling upon it with our use of it for secular purposes. And even if the early church had changed the day, which they didn't according to Acts and extra-biblical history, but if they did, it was too late. Once Christ died the New Testament was sealed with His blood. No changes or alterations could be made to it. The church didn't have the authority to run about making up rules as they went. Whatever stood at the time of the cross, stands the next day. The women who observed the Sabbath refusing to work by anointing Christ's body on the first day testify that Christ gave no instruction to change His fourth commandment. The day stood before His crucifixion, it stood afterward. It stands today.

Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

What is the above verse really referring to? Is it referring to God's Ten Commandments? How can an edict to not worship idols be a 'shadow of good things to come'? And certainly the fourth commandment could not be a shadow. The Sabbath was first instituted before sin made its ugly appearance. It could not be a shadow of redemption, becuaes redemption at that time wasn't necessary. Rather, the weekly Sabbath was a memorial of creation, just as the wording in the text allows. However, the annual sabbaths that were part and parcel of the yearly sanctuary service with all its feast days and sacrifies etc they indeed forwshadowed the cross, and it was those sabbaths spoken of in Collosians and elsewhere that no longer had any significane, apart from of course as evidence to the Jew that Christ is the true Messiah. The law the above verse speaks to is the law of Moses. It is essential that we ubderstand the difference between the law of Moses and the Law of God. The law of Moses was written in a book by Moses himself and placed on the side of the ark. This is that law which specifically detailed the sanctuary service routines and timetables and sacrficial requirements. All these Jesus met with His death. The Ten Commandments, written indelibly with God's own finger upon stone and placed inside the ark, (the earthly throne of God) stands eternal.

 

[Boanerges]

Well. it is okay if we don't agree on everything. If you do not recognize the typology of Christ in the Sabbath you may not see Him as the Tree of Life in the Garden, the Lamb of sacrifice in the Law, the Pattern of the entire Tabernacle of Moses and etc)- none of this would affect your salvation so it is of lessor importance. To me enter the rest of Christ is no waste of time, the priesthood (believers) can and do work: God fore-ordained works for us but they are His works not ours - like Jesus in His earth walk this is how we are to operate only at the Holy Spirit's leading, only the Father's will and Words, and only in the Holy Spirit's power. One who walks in the Spirit is led of the Spirit and needs no written instruction in pleasing God or walking righteously as the Holy Spirit leads us in all truth.
As far as the commandments- we could never keep them in true spirit or motive and keeping them otherwise was no more than filthy rags and Pharaseeism . As far as redemption- it was always desperately needed and the Law was given to show man's inability to please God. The Law was in fact given to show man his utter helplessness and his total need for salvation. The came and sin was imputed to man:
Rom 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

If one recognizes his desperate state (inability to please God in his own strength and effort) then he will lean all the more on the Spirit of God . While there are multiple scriptures that declare a believer (born again son of God) to be free from the Law there is not one saying he should break the Law. The one and only difference is this: those who try to walk the Law will fail, those who by faith walk in the Spirit will not seek to fulfill the lusts of the flesh and will always walk in a way pleasing to God. That way is love against which there is no law (or Law) and love does not transgress. Only Christ in us, only the power of the Holy Spirit of God can lead us in true righteousness.

(red emphasis mine)
Rom 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Rom 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Rom 7:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Rom 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Rom 7:10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
Rom 7:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
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.

Gal 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

As far as the insistence of some on separation of Ceremonial Law and the Ten Commandment given Moses : There is no more direct biblical support or verse(s) to substantiate a lack of Christ giving us freedom from trying to fulfill the commandments on our own than there is for us to still slay goats in sacrifice.
Note in the following scriptures are not addressing Ceremonial Law but moral thought and actions which are clearly related to the Ten Commandments of the Law of Moses:
Red Emphasis Mine
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Anyway, we many never agree on everything but I enjoy a good discussion on the Word my friend. As iron sharpens iron let us continue to provoke one another to a (Spirit led) study of the Word.

Much love in Christ,
your brother Larry.

 

[David777]

Hello all.

2 Corinthians 3 (NASB)

...2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

3 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but

with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

("tablets of stone" = ten commandments)

("written not with ink" = written Mosaic Law)

4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.

5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves,

but our adequacy is from God,

6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the

Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

("servants of a new covenant" = the old has passed away)

("the letter kills" = written law)

7 But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the

sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face,

fading as it was,

("ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones" = ten commandments)


8 how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?

9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of

righteousness abound in glory.

("ministry of condemnation" = Mosaic Law)

10 For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it.

("what had glory" = Old Covenant)

("glory that surpasses it" = Jesus Christ)

11 For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

("that which fades" = old covenant)

 

[bgsda]

Who wrote the book of 1 corinthians. If its the same writter as the book of 2corinthians i guess there seems to be a great contradiction. Read 1 Cor.7:19. Lets reason together. God bless

 

[David777]

Who wrote the book of 1 corinthians. If its the same writter as the book of 2corinthians i guess there seems to be a great contradiction. Read 1 Cor.7:19. Lets reason together. God bless

[h=3]1 Corinthians 7:19 (NKJV)[/h]
19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

Hello bgsda.

The contradiction is caused by the faulty interpretation of "commandments".

Commandments does not mean the "ten commandments" written on stone
by God. The commandments are the commandments that God gave us
in the new covenant.

You have a particular issue with 2 Corinthians 3, it states "written on tablets of stone".
Paul leaves no doubt in the readers mind bgsda.

 

[bgsda]

So in your perspective what are the Commandments of God reffering to? And correct me if im wrong but if you was to read alot of the replies some of you in one reply say the Commandments are doje away with, then switch and say that commandments mean something else. Is that not some more contradiction? God bless you all.

Are the Commandments done away with or still abiding?

 

[jiggyfly]

So in your perspective what are the Commandments of God reffering to? And correct me if im wrong but if you was to read alot of the replies some of you in one reply say the Commandments are doje away with, then switch and say that commandments mean something else. Is that not some more contradiction? God bless you all.

Are the Commandments done away with or still abiding?

Have you read 2Cor. 3:7-11 and Rom. 3:19?

 

[caprice09]

The Commandments change with the testament!

<TBODY>
[TD="class: vn"][/TD]
[TD="class: v en"]If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10

The commandments changed based on who we look to for salvation. If we look to the testament of the law, then a perfect performance of righteousness must be maintained at all times to be worthy of a relationship with God (which everyone and everything inevitably fails), if then we admit our sins and thus the need for a savior, then only He who maintains such a perfect performance of righteousness can redeem us of our sins, hence the gospel and testament of grace {Gal 5:2, Rom 10:2-15}. Christ did not add to the law saying to love one another, he encompasses the law in the sincere nature in which "works" ought to be done. For Christ commonly rebukes the Pharisees for having a false phasade of righteousness yet being perverse within. Therefore the focus changed through the Messiah having fulfilled the law to the intents of the heart behind works. For it is possible for one to appear a sinner and indeed be righteous (even as Christ), and one appear righteous and indeed be wicked ("Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.").

To say that no works of any kind are to be done would make the commandment, example, commission, and promise of the coming Spirit moot {Matt 21:28-32, Rom 2:11-29, 7:1-6, 8:1-5, Gal 3:1-5, 5:1-6+13-25, }! It is the faith in Christ and the transformation through our baptism in Him {Rom ch 6-8+12} that compels toward the accomplishment of this testament, not based on mere works but the intents of the heart (following the example by which we received it of God)!

To not truly and sincerely forgive is to not be truly and sincerely forgiven!
To not obey the commandment to love, is to fail to abide in the love of God!
To not truly believe in the sacrificial nature of the Son of God, is to suggest that you are worthy of a relationship with God based on merit (to not accept the offering of Christ is to be in competition with Christ)! {"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." Means if we could have done it ourselves then God should not have had to!}

[/TD]

</TBODY>

 

[David777]

Hello bgsda.

In answer to your question.

7 But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the
sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face,
fading as it was. (2 Cor 3)

(Moses gave the law, the ministry of death engraved on stones)

10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result
in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment,
deceived me and through it (law) killed me. (Romans 7)

The 10 commandments are the "ministry of death" they are "engraved on stones".
This "ministry of death" (ten commandments) condemned Paul to death (Rom 7).

Are the Commandments done away with or still abiding?

Heaven forbid bgsda, the 10 commandments, the ministry of death,
condemn the world bgsda. The 10 commandments may never be annulled,
they stand forever and sentence all to death. When handled correctly
the law (sin and death) allows a person to see their wretched state.
Law and our failure introduce Christ (reconciliation).

In one hand we carry the reconciliation of Christ and in the other
the ministry of death. A person naturally justifies their own
behavior, when the law is stated a person is not able to escape.
A verdict of death is pronounced for a breach of the law.
It is the ministry of condemnation and death (law).
Jesus Christ, the New Covenant is life and peace, the good
news.

 

[Boanerges]

If I may- it was only when the Blood of the Lamb was applied to the Mercy Seat which covered the Ark containing the tablets of Moses (The Ten Commandments)- only when God's mercy overshadowed that moral Law that the High Priest could enter the presence of God. Man could not enter the presence of God by other means than this which was a perfect type of Christ's redeeming work and an exact replica of Heaven's own Tabernacle. Any other way was fatal- even if one could keep the letter of the Law ( Specifically dealt with here is the moral Law or Ten Commandments) one would always have wrong motivations, intentions, or selfish motives.
We are no longer under the Law as it was covered by the Blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ, but we do follow (are led of ) the Holy Spirit who leads us in all truth and in every way pleasing to God. What a step up: From written rules to walking directly with God- Hallelujah!!!!!!!

Also, let us not forget this:

The day the Ten Commandments were given 3,000 people died.
The day grace was preached 3,000 people were saved.
A new type of never before seen man was first seen on the day of Pentecost when the disciples received the Spirit of God and this new man walked with God's Holy Spirit personally.

Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
Heb 12:20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Heb 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
Heb 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

We are not come to Mount Sinai (the place of the giving of the Law) but are come to Mount Sion (Zion) which is plainly a foreshadowing of the church. We have come to God through Christ, the mediator of a new and better Covenant.

 

[bgsda]

Hi Boan! Thats great that you brought up the Sanctuary. What did God expect His people to learn from the sanctuary? Psalm 77:13 "Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; who is so great a God as our God? God's way, or plan of salvation, is revealed in the earthly sanctuary. The Bible teaches that everything in the sanctuary or connected with its service was a symbol of something Jesus would do in saving us. This means we cannot fully comprehend the plan of salvation until we understand the symbolism connected with the sanctuary. Thus, the importance f the sanctuary can hardly be overstated.

What was inside the ark in the most holy?
As you stated Boan the Ten Commandments, which God wrote on tablets of stone with His own finger, and which His people will ALWAYS obey (Rev.14:12), were inside the ark(Deut.10:4,5). But the mercy seat was above them, which signified that as long as God's people confessed and forsook sin(Proverbs 28:13), mercy would be extended to them through the blood which was sprinkled on the mercy seat by the priest (Levi. 16:15,16). The blood of the animal represents Jesus blood that was shed for us to bring us forgiveness of sin (Matt.26:28; Hebrews 9:22). How awesome is that!!.

Now knowing and reading this it should shed some light as to how important is God's Law. We als see that the old sactuary was a "copy" and "shadow" of the HEAVENLY SANCTUARY not erected by man but by our Lord (Hebrews 8:1,2,4,5). These were just blueprints. This leads me to this question

In Rev.11:19 what did John see opened in heaven and what was seen and where was it seen?

 

[bgsda]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I see that the Law of God( Ten commandments) are not done away with and that its only there to have us run and i mean run to Jesus our Savior if we break them or sin. Is that what yyou said in this reply. If it is I totally agree with you. That is what James said pretty much in his whole epistle. Not just James but all the Disciples.

I also have something else to say to those that keep stating that now there is only 2 commandments and that Jesus changed it. First of all they are not new. They were already in effect and Jesus was just quoting the old testament. Read Deut. 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. Sorry to write this here David this does not include you unless you believe they were new. GOD BLESS YOU ALL

 

[bgsda]

Reply 223 was written to Davids reply earlier

 

[jiggyfly]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I see that the Law of God( Ten commandments) are not done away with and that its only there to have us run and i mean run to Jesus our Savior if we break them or sin.

Read 2Cor. 3:7-11

7 The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away.8 Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life?9 If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God!10 In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way.11 So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever!
2 Cor 3:7-11 (NLT)

 

[David777]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I see that the Law of God( Ten commandments) are not done away with and that its only there to have us run and i mean run to Jesus our Savior if we break them or sin. Is that what yyou said in this reply. If it is I totally agree with you. That is what James said pretty much in his whole epistle. Not just James but all the Disciples.

I also have something else to say to those that keep stating that now there is only 2 commandments and that Jesus changed it. First of all they are not new. They were already in effect and Jesus was just quoting the old testament. Read Deut. 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. Sorry to write this here David this does not include you unless you believe they were new. GOD BLESS YOU ALL

Hello bgsda.

In reply to #233.

No one said there was only two commandments.

There are I think 38 commandments that Jesus gave.

John 12:48
He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him;
the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.

Here is a "saying" of Jesus that far surpasses the law.

Matthew 5:22
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty
before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘ You good-for-nothing,’
shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’
shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

Love is the goal of the Christian instruction bgsda.

Love does not kill, steal or call someone a fool.

Love is initiated and powered by the Holy Spirit.

You do not obtain Love by meditating on the law,
it is a gift. All is from above!

When a Christian expresses love to all, perfection has been attained.

I like to simplify and summarize bgsda, hence I just quote the two.

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, the servant of all” (Mark 9:35).

“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:15).

“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20). Thou shall not steal???

 

[Boanerges]

Hi Boan! Thats great that you brought up the Sanctuary. What did God expect His people to learn from the sanctuary? Psalm 77:13 "Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; who is so great a God as our God? God's way, or plan of salvation, is revealed in the earthly sanctuary. The Bible teaches that everything in the sanctuary or connected with its service was a symbol of something Jesus would do in saving us. This means we cannot fully comprehend the plan of salvation until we understand the symbolism connected with the sanctuary. Thus, the importance f the sanctuary can hardly be overstated.

What was inside the ark in the most holy?
As you stated Boan the Ten Commandments, which God wrote on tablets of stone with His own finger, and which His people will ALWAYS obey (Rev.14:12), were inside the ark(Deut.10:4,5). But the mercy seat was above them, which signified that as long as God's people confessed and forsook sin(Proverbs 28:13), mercy would be extended to them through the blood which was sprinkled on the mercy seat by the priest (Levi. 16:15,16). The blood of the animal represents Jesus blood that was shed for us to bring us forgiveness of sin (Matt.26:28; Hebrews 9:22). How awesome is that!!.

Now knowing and reading this it should shed some light as to how important is God's Law. We als see that the old sactuary was a "copy" and "shadow" of the HEAVENLY SANCTUARY not erected by man but by our Lord (Hebrews 8:1,2,4,5). These were just blueprints. This leads me to this question

In Rev.11:19 what did John see opened in heaven and what was seen and where was it seen?

Did you fail to see the significance of this: unless the Blood of the Lamb covers the Law man dies when he comes into the presence of God. Jesus simply did not die to cover our ceremonial shortcomings but instead died to cover the moral corruption of sin.

 

[caprice09]

Jiggyfly beat me to my answer, so I will just add:
Hebrews Chapter 8: "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away."
<o> </o>
Galatians 3:21-29: "Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

Romans 7 "...Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God..."

Colossians 2 "...Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross..."

 

[WordinTruth]

1 John 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:

Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Amen, it is not our works but the grace of God working in us, praise the LORD!

 

[Christ4Ever]

I like what you've said WordinTruth. I'll go a little further with that thought if I may.

One must ask oneself "What is sin?", "Am I still capable of sin even as a believer?"

1 John 2:1 implies this is the case, does one "Who Professes" to know Christ as their Savior, sins but does not repent. Is their belief in their own salvation well founded in truth?

So one must be knowledgeable of the Word of God, so that pride does not over take us into believing that we as believers are incapable of sinning. We struggle, yes, because we are not yet perfect. The war has been one, but the battle between flesh & spirit continues within us.

I would not tie my hat to works alone, because there in lies pride and the law which saves no one.

I also, would not tie my hat to faith without works, because therein lies "chaff", or a fruitless tree worthy of nothing, and giving no honor or glory to God.

So is Salvation faith alone? Yes, because only by faith would one go to the Lord for forgiveness, and He is the only one who can forgive them. One would only go to Him for this forgiveness if one believed Him to be who He says He is, and is capable of doing what He says He can do. Forgive!

YBIC
C4E