Bible Study - Why (3) - Why Can't We Fix It? - Deuteronomy 5:32-33 and Galatians 3:10-12, 19a, 24-25 - June 17, 2018

Bible Study – Why (3) – Why Can’t We Fix It? – June 17, 2018

This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled “Why are we here?”

Our focus scripture is Deuteronomy 5:32-33 and Galatians 3:10-12, 19a, 24-25.

We are unable to live up to GOD’S holy standard.

Why did GOD give us the law and the Ten Commandments when we cannot keep them to the letter or spirit? Simply, we, as humans, needed something to give us a measure of how much we miss the mark of GOD’S standard for living upon earth in obedience to HIM. We, as humans, are unable to live up to GOD’S Holy Standard and we need to know that. GOD gave us HIS Standard in the law but there are two aspects of the law and commandments – the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. The letter of the law is step one and the spirit of the law is step two. Missing the mark is sin.

JESUS stated it best as recorded in Matthew 5:27-28:

27 "You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. 

28 But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 

Verse 27 reveals the letter of the law whereas in verse 28, JESUS addressed the spirit of the law. The “spirit” of the law reflects the heart or the very core of our being and it is our core that must be changed.  

JESUS spoke to this as recorded in Matthew 15:19:

19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.

The external will never change permanently the internal. The external can influence the internal by getting our attention. That is why GOD’S Masterful, ultimate plan came in a person – HIS Only SON, JESUS. JESUS came to earth to live as 100% human, yet 100% GOD. HE was tempted in every way as humans are tempted, yet without sin. HE lived a sinless life and gave HIS sinless life upon the cross to pay, in full, the penalty for sin.

GOD had stated to Adam in the Garden of Eden that anyone who ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would die. That meant the guilty person would die spiritually, eternally and ultimately physically unless the guilty person was redeemed.

GOD’S plan was to open the path between man and Himself by breaking the barrier of sin. Human effort, by keeping the law and commandments, was not adequate to reach GOD’S goal of perfection. Eve and Adam made a decision to disobey GOD. Thus, it takes a decision to restore that which disobedience originally took away. The Apostle Paul stated it best in 2 Corinthians 5:20:

21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we (All who place their faith in JESUS) might become the righteousness of God in Him.

GOD declared eternal death as the penalty for anyone eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. GOD is sovereign and just as HE imposed the eternal death sentence HE also had a plan to redeem humans from HIS imposed eternal death sentence. GOD’S redemptive plan of restoration cost the physical life of GOD’S only SON, JESUS. For JESUS to be fully qualified to give HIS life to redeem others, required that JESUS to be sinless. GOD is sovereign. HE chose for our sin to be fully and completely placed upon sinless JESUS, the perfect sacrifice, so that those who place their faith in HIM are declared sinless. Through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth those who place their faith in JESUS instantly become GOD’S Sons or Daughters. This is through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth or born-again. After the penalty for sin had been paid in full, JESUS ascended back into Heaven. JESUS took HIS seat at the right hand of GOD. Then as GOD had promised, HE sent the Holy Spirit to indwell every person who places his or her faith in JESUS. The indwelling Holy Spirit internalized HIS Spirit within every Christian. How do we know that?

1 Corinthians 3:16:

16 Don't you know that you are God's sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

Since the Holy Spirit lives within each Christian, why do we struggle and seek HIM when HE is already present within?

Could it be that we allow the physical to rule our lives? If so, how do we change that ruling relationship? It is faith. How much faith? JESUS made it clear to HIS disciples as recorded in Matthew 17:20:

20"Because of your little faith," He told them. "For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. 

At the instant a person asks JESUS to forgive him or her for his or her sins and for JESUS to come into his or her heart is the instant of salvation. That person becomes a born-again Christian and GOD is his or her Father.

We have been conceived by the Spirit of GOD and become a child of GOD. We are GOD’S Son or Daughter with all the rights and privileges as HIS child and nothing will ever change that fact. What did GOD tell us about HIS relationship with HIS Father, GOD?

John 5:19:

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

So why do we, as Christians, not live in the power of the Holy Spirit? Let’s read on ----

Matthew 12:29:

29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

The strong man within every Christian is JESUS. It is JESUS, Who has defeated Satan, the demons and evil spirit world. So how do we allow the strong man of our house to be bound? It is unbelief, greed, fear, addictions, doubt, failure to nourish our spiritual nature with GOD’S Word, or communicate with GOD through prayer and the list goes on. Christians, including me, allow the things of earth to build our mindset and influence our focus on the things that aren’t important to GOD. It is time for house cleaning and cast out, verbally, the things that prevent us from obediently serving GOD. We must rely upon HIS power and HIS presence within each of us not to look at what is impossible with man but what is possible with GOD. What is possible with GOD? All things are possible with GOD!

Caution. When we see the power of GOD working through us, our ego can move in. Again, our flesh wants to rule. We must keep in mind that it is GOD’S power according to HIS plan and purpose at work through us.

Our lesson focuses on “Why can’t we fix it” by our own efforts.

Let’s explore!

Let’s read Deuteronomy 5:32-33:

32 "Be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or the left. 

It is easy for the issues we encounter in life to get us to turn our minds from GOD’S activity and ability to the solutions the world offers. We, as humans, often desire a quick fix to the issues we encounter along life’s journey.

33 Follow the whole instruction the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live, prosper, and have a long life in the land you will possess.

GOD was preparing the Israelites to enter the Promise Land. In the land there would be bounty but there would be things that could turn their heads away from GOD. They were going to enter a land of plenty physically and spiritually.

If our purpose in obediently serving GOD is for our prosperity, we are allowing our flesh to get in the way and lead us. So what is the whole instruction which the LORD GOD has commanded? It is trust and faith. It is to obey the letter and the Spirit of the law and commandments. Our sinful nature must be changed, which we control. We must decide who controls our lives, our flesh or GOD.

Ephesians 4:22-24:

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 

24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 

The Apostle Paul was painting a word picture of a person taking off his or her old clothes and putting on his or her new Spiritual clothes of righteousness. Even though Christians are born-again, they still have to make decisions regarding their lives. Their old nature is often comfortable but they must give up the things that are contrary to the things that prevent them from growing Spiritually and obediently serving GOD. It is the process of sanctification, which is being made “Saint like” or being set aside to be used by GOD for HIS purpose. Yes, you can be a sanctified plumber, nurse, mother, father, pastor, teacher, solider, policeman, business person or many other callings to obediently serve GOD.

Let’s read Galatians 3:10-12:

Law and Promise

10 For all who [rely on] the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law. 

11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith. 

The Bible is very clear that GOD honored faith as righteousness before GOD gave the law and commandments as recorded in Genesis 15:6:

6 Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

Faith comes from the heart and is internal, whereas keeping the law and commandments comes from personal ability and is external. Those under the law are judged externally by their conscience, whereas those of faith are accountable to GOD.

What is the end-point of the law and commandments? Is it judgment? What is the end-point of faith? It is GOD’S Grace! Would you rather live under GOD’S judgment or GOD’S Grace? I personally choose GOD’S Grace through faith in HIS Only SON, JESUS.

Yes, GOD credited Abram’s faith to him as righteousness. We must realize that Abraham was not perfect. He had issues throughout his life but he also had great faith. To me, when GOD told him to sacrifice his son Isaac, that was huge. Yet, Abraham had such faith in GOD, if he had sacrificed Isaac, which meant slaughtering Isaac, burning him and reducing him to ashes that GOD would resurrect him from the ashes. GOD would restore Isaac back to his former self. How do we know that? It is recorded in Genesis 22:5:

5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we'll come back to you." 

The law has no power, it takes an enforcer. The highway patrol stops you when you exceed the speed limit or run a stop sign. But the enforcer has to catch you. Faith is internal and self-policing.

12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.

The Law is based upon a person’s ability and will to be obedient to the Law. Faith is based upon a person’s genuine love of GOD and a genuine relationship with GOD to continuously build upon that loving, caring relationship. Love of The One True GOD is the motivator. Once you have found that relationship, nothing can separate you from HIM. The law begs a relationship with it but not GOD.

13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. 

14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 

There were two paths to salvation one was through the Law before JESUS came to earth, which was a place holder for that which was to come. And the other was through faith, which is immediate and present. Since the passion of JESUS there is only one path to GOD and that is through JESUS. JESUS said it best as recorded in John 14:6:

6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

15 Brothers, I'm using a human illustration. No one sets aside even a human covenant that has been ratified, or makes additions to it. 

16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say "and to seeds," as though referring to many, but and to your seed, referring to one, who is Christ. 

17 And I say this: the law, which came 430 years later, does not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God, so as to cancel the promise. 

18 For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

The promise of full and complete redemption came through “the seed of Abraham,” JESUS.

Remember Genesis 3:15 - 15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. 

The offspring of Eve, even though thousands of years later, her seed, JESUS would crush Satan’s head. Do you recall what GOD did to make certain that HIS plan was done according to HIS plan as recorded in 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 - 7 On the contrary, we speak God's hidden wisdom in a mystery, which God predestined before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age knew it, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

If GOD honors faith why did HE give us the Law? Let’s read on ---

The Purpose of the Law

19 Why the law then? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. [The law] was ordered through angels by means of a mediator. 

The law was given as a place holder until The Promised Seed, JESUS, was born, as a human, yet GOD, upon earth. JESUS had to fulfill the law and the prophets. HE had to give HIS physical life by the shedding of HIS blood to pay in full the penalty for sin. GOD raised HIM from the physically dead to reveal to all the world then and now that JESUS is the Promised Messiah. When GOD resurrected JESUS, HE resurrected HIM in HIS Glorified body to show all who place their faith in JESUS the type of Glorified body they will receive at the return of JESUS to earth at HIS second coming.

The Seed is JESUS and HE is our mediator before GOD for our sin. Satan accuses us before GOD each time we sin. JESUS is The mediator, personally and individually, for all who place their faith in HIM. When we accept JESUS as our Savior, it is personal. JESUS is not only our Savior but our advocate when Satan accuses us for our sins. Our sins are blotted out by the precious shed blood of JESUS. Only the shed blood of JESUS has the power to blot out sin.

In 1 John 1:7-10 we read: (Note verse 9)

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Yes, Christians sin and we must confess our sins. We have sins of commission and sins of omission. Sin breaks our fellowship with GOD but never breaks our born-again relationship as HIS Son or Daughter. Sin impacts our obedience to respond to GOD’S will and purpose for each of us. So confess any unconfessed sin and ask GOD to restore your fellowship with HIM and to help you continue to build the right relationship with HIM through obedience.

20 Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one. 

There is one GOD. JESUS is One but HE gave HIS life for all who place their faith in HIM. Have you come to JESUS and asked HIM to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your heart? If not, now is that opportunity. It is not saying the right words. It is the attitude of your heart. Do you desire salvation through faith in JESUS? If your answer is yes, then tell HIM.

21 Is the law therefore contrary to God's promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. 

If obeying the law could make a person righteous then JESUS would have not needed to come to earth to give HIS sinless life to redeem mankind.

22 But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin's power, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 

GOD in HIS wisdom bundled all sin together and when JESUS gave HIS life upon the cross, HE paid the price for sin, all sin, in full. What must a person do? JESUS, being One, gave HIS life for all. JESUS is the Savior for all who place their faith in HIM. It is the act of faith that activates the “Promise.”

23 Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. 

24 The law, then, was our guardian described such a slave. This slave was not a teacher until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith.

25 But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, described such a slave. This slave was not a teacher. 

26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Notice the word “guardian.” A guardian in the Roman culture was a slave assigned the task of helping or training a young child to become a responsible adult. The “guardian” offered around the clock supervision and protection to one under his or her care. Now that faith has come in the person of JESUS, the law is no longer the guardian. A Christian’s guardian is the indwelling Holy Spirit.

What does this mean to you? Let’s read what JESUS has to say as recorded in John 5:24:

24 "I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life. 

The instant a person places his or her faith in JESUS, he or she has eternal life and will not come under judgment because when JESUS died and took sin captive, HE paid the penalty for all sin. Therefore, the person who places his or her faith in JESUS has passed from eternal death to eternal life. What mankind lost due to the original sin was regained by JESUS for all who place their faith in HIM.

WOW! Freedom from the Law and filled with GOD’S Grace that is what it means to be a born-again Christian. Do you know this freedom? May you experience it now! May GOD fill your hearts with HIS love, which can only come through faith in HIS One and Only Son, JESUS! Shout with JESUS “IT IS FINISHED!” Blessings!!!