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The "schoolmaster" to teach us how to understand faith and "works" is the Old Testament (Galatians 3:24). (Remember that is all the apostles were taught from). The most complete example is found by looking at the whole picture of the Israelites as our example"I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, HAVING SAVED the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward DESTROYED THEM THAT BELIEVED NOT" -Jude 5. In 1 Corinthians chapter 10, the flight of the children of Israel out of Egypt is told with a little bit more detailv.1 "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2) And WERE ALL BAPTIZED unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3) And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5) But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6) NOW THESE THINGS WERE OUR EXAMPLES, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted." What I want to show here is how that the Exodus, done collectively, is the perfect example or shadow of the individual walk today (of faith and works together) in this dispensation. First- How the children of Israel came to be where they were, in relation to where we are at, before coming to GodDeuteronomy 4:25- "When thou... shall corrupt yourselves, and... shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger... 28) ye shall serve... the work of men's hands... 29) But IF from thence THOU SHALT SEEK THE LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, IF THOU SEEK HIM WITH ALL THY HEART AND WITH ALL THY SOUL. 30) ... even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; 31) (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them." -Deuteronomy 4:25. This correlates toRomans 6:16- "Know ye not, that TO WHOM YE YIELD YOURSELVES SERVANTS TO OBEY, HIS SERVANTS YE ARE to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Romans 7:24- "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Our first step then, is to realize we need to be saved. That we are in bondage to our sins, since we cannot overcome them of ourselves we, therefore, need God's intervention. We can no more overcome our sin of our own works, than the people of Israel could have marched right out of Egypt and established their own
country in the land of promise (For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of YOURSELVES" -Eph. 2:8). Nor did God whisk them away, and immediately establish them in the promise land without so much as a response or reaction from them ("faith without works is dead" -James 2:20).
Second- God sees the intents of the heart, God's people are brought to repentance by God. Exodus 3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, AND HAVE HEARD THEIR CRY by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows." Acts 17:24- "God that made... all things... 26 And hath made... men for to dwell on all the face of the earth... 27 THAT THEY SHOULD SEEK THE LORD, if haply they might FEEL AFTER HIM, AND FIND HIM, though he be not far from every one of us... 30 And... God... NOW COMMANDETH ALL MEN EVERY WHERE TO REPENT... 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead". This is not as if WE had originated the process, forJohn 6:44- "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day". Romans 2:4- "The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." The first major thing God required from the Israelites (before He would bring them out of bondage), was to sacrifice the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:3-12), which exemplified the death of Christ (1 Corinthians 5:7), who died for our sins. Could the Israelites have forced God to "pass-over" them by striking the blood of their lamb on the door posts on any given day of the week BY THEIR WORKS"? Is it not plain to see that they were, through faith, merely allowing themselves to become GOD'S workmanship? Today, repentance (dying out to our old nature) is how we are to obey and apply the blood (Passover) of ChristMark 8:34- "He said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." Romans 6:6- "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him." Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I LIVE; YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Colossians 3:3- "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God... 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to
another, SEEING THAT YE HAVE PUT OFF THE OLD MAN WITH HIS DEEDS." Why did Jesus have to die FOR us? It's because "The wages of sin is death" -Romans 6:23. 1 Corinthians 15:21- "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Sure, you can be like certain individuals have expressed, and redeem yourself from your sins. But, where will you be then? DEAD! Death means "destruction from the presence of the Lord" -2 Thessalonians 1:9. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US." -Romans 5:8 If we had to pay for our sins through OUR workmanship, we would be dead, and that would be that. But, if we obey Him " through the faith of the operation of God" (Col. 2:12), then we are saved by BOTH faith and works. But NOT OUR OWN PERSONAL WORKS. Romans 8:12- "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye THROUGH THE SPIRIT DO MORTIFY THE DEEDS OF THE BODY, ye shall live. 14 For AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THEY ARE THE SONS OF GOD." Now then, we have reached the point where we have died out to our sins- the ways of our old nature, through repentance. Romans 6:1- "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Third, therefore, must be to remove the "power" of sin over us. This is exemplified in Exodus chapter 14 when God destroyed Pharaoh's hosts in the Red Sea (Exod. 15:4). Remember Romans 6:16- "Know ye not, that TO WHOM YE YIELD YOURSELVES SERVANTS TO OBEY, HIS SERVANTS YE ARE to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Pharaoh's armies represent the oppressor to the freedom of God's people to worship God. Egypt represented the power of bondage over people because of sin. The people could no more have shed this power of their own might, than mankind can overcome all his sin's without the help, strength, and guidance of God. Now, 1 Corinthians 10 says- v. 1 "...All our fathers... 2... WERE ALL BAPTIZED unto Moses in the cloud and IN THE SEA;... 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." It was not of their own works that God led the children out of Egypt, it was a free gift that God led them out and opened the Red Sea at just the right time. It wasn't THEIR strength, or THEIR abilities, or THEIR timing... "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM." -Ephesians 2:8-10. It is the same with baptism today in this dispensation. "The like figure whereunto even BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, BUT THE ANSWER OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" -1 Peter 3:21. Actually, this verse was referring to the flood- "When once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like
figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" -1 Peter 3:20-21. But in both instances, a response was required- a step of faith was to be made, in response to the commandment of God. It was not Noah's works that brought the rains from heaven that destroyed the world of sin. It was not Moses' works that destroyed Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea. It was faith in the operation of God, through His workmanship. Just as Ephesians said- "by grace are ye saved through faith; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the gift of God." And yet, that Sea did not part until Moses stretched out his hand. He had to make a step of faith at the bidding of God. And this is exactly how "baptism doth also now save us" -1 Peter 3:21. Who could possibly wash away the sins of their soul by being immersed in water? And yet, God has commanded in His word"Repent, and BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE of you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." -Acts 2:38 Fourth then, we are almost to the promised land. But first Israel had to receive the law written by the hand of God. And to the New Testament promise- the gift of the Holy Ghost. As I have written thoroughly in the thread to Daniel, the law written at mount Sinai represents the law being written on our hearts in the form of the Holy Ghost. 2 Corinthians 3:3- "Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart... 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?" They did not receive the law without waiting for the law. Exodus 24:12-14- "And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount... and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written... 14 And (Moses) said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again..." Just the same, Jesus told us- "WAIT FOR THE PROMISE of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For... YE SHALL BE BAPTIZED with the Holy Ghost NOT MANY DAYS HENCE." -Acts 1:4-5. We do not earn the Holy Ghost by "waiting," anymore than they "earned" receiving the law of God written at His own hand. But they, as we, without contradiciton, are required to make steps of faith (works of His workmanship) in order to receive the promiseJohn 14:15 "If ye love me, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS. 16 And I will pray the Father, and HE SHALL GIVE YOU... 17 Even THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." And finally, they entered into the promised land, just as we who wait on the promise, do still receive the promise of the Holy Ghost. And yet, just as Israel had to continue to purge the promised land (but only as God went led them), there is STILL overcoming to do. Hebrews 11:32- "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who THROUGH FAITH... WROUGHT RIGHTEOUSNESS... 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
So what is the GIFT of God? Even thisJohn 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them GAVE he POWER TO BECOME the sons of God." Giving someone "POWER TO BECOME" is different than giving that which they are to become. Acts 1:7-8 "And he said unto them... YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." Just like the Israelites, He hasn't whisked us away into heaven immediately upon acknowledging Him. Neither can we "earn" our way into life everlasting through our own means. It is a combination of grace and His workmanship in us. Or, as John 3:21 so aptly puts it- "He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that HIS DEEDS MAY BE MADE MANIFEST, THAT THEY ARE WROUGHT IN GOD." Therefore, Paul saysPhilippians 3:7- "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, NOT HAVING MINE OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is of the law, BUT THAT WHICH IS THROUGH THE FAITH OF CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF GOD BY FAITH: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED (Saved): but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."