Christians And The Law13 (Freedom Under The Law Of the Holy Spirit) [1 Tim 1:8-11] / Anne's Faith Column

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Christians

And The Law13

/ Freedom Under

the Law Of The

Holy Spirit

[1 Tim 1:8-11]

/ Anne's Faith Column 

 

 

/ By Priscilla

 

 

The value and the role

of the law depend on

the attitude of the

person who uses it.

 

 

In the same manner,

according to how well

God's law is used

by Christians,

 

 

its value and role are

 properly determined.

 

 

Indeed, Christians

must be able to rest

freely and peacefully.

under the law.

 

 

But in reality,

there are too many

Christians bound by

 the law without

freedom.

 

 

That's because

the law is difficult

  to keep.

 

 

The law is good,

and it's not God's will

for us to be bound to

be bound  by the law.

 

 

But, there are times

when we are bound

by the fact that we

 have broken the law.

 

 

The problem is not the 

law but our attitude and

our view of the law.

 

 

As an example,

the religious rituals

of Israelites are

difficult to keep,

 

 

because, there are too

many difficult procedures

in the law.

 

 

Originally in the Old

Testament, God let

them have the

     Ten Commandments.

 

 

But, in order

to please God,

with the additional

rituals of the law,

 

 

they have become

slaves to the law that

can't be kept at all

as a human.

 

 

So they've been

trapped in the law,

and they can no longer

enjoy their lives.

 

 

In the New Testament,

the Ten Commandments

are abbreviated

 

 

to two things by the

teaching of Jesus:

 

 

'Love the Lord your God

with all your heart

and with all your soul

  and with all your mind.'

 

 

And  'Love your

neighbor as yourself.'

 

 

This looks so simple

but it's as good as

the abbreviated

 Ten Commandments. 

 

 

However, it's still

a controversial issue

to place a priority

 

 

between the Mosaic

Law of the Old

Testament

 

 

and the grace of Christ

 of the New Testament.

 

 

Therefore we can't say

which comes first,

the law or His grace.

 

 

We can enjoy the freedom

under the law only when

these are balanced

and harmonized.

 

 

1. Then how should we

  understand the law?

 

 

1) Enforcing the law,

we must not condemn

 or judge others.

 

 

2) If the law makes us

uncomfortable

or burdened

 

 

with something

in our faith life,

 

 

we must check it and

get a solution from the

problem we are in.

 

 

3) The law and God's grace

must be in parallel.

 

 

They must be in harmony

and balance with each other.

 

 

Therefore, they

should not be biased

to either one. 

 

 

We are easy to judge

or speak against others

by the rational standard

without grace.

 

 

The law without grace

is like an egg without yolk.

 

 

Like this, those who

are biased only by

God's law

 

 

have no compassion

and are cold so they

cannot experience

God's work.

 

 

On the contrary,

those who are biased

only by God's grace

are being ill-mannered

and loose in their faith life,

 

 

and get to think little

of the value of God's grace.

 

 

As a result,

in terms of fearing of God,

they are likely to become

self - centered believers.

 

 

Although they sin,

without repentance,

they are too generous

to themselves.

 

 

Those who go against

God's law may eventually

be rejected by God.

 

 

So like the front

and back of a coin

or like light and

 shadow, 

 

 

both the law and

God's grace must be

in parallel, balancing 

without clashing

each other.

 

 

The Bible says like this:

 

 

 "Be strong and

very courageous.

Be careful to obey

all the law my servant

 

 

Moses gave you;

do not turn from it

to the right or

to the left,

 

 

that you may be

successful wherever

 you go.

 

 

Do not let this

Book of the Law

depart from your

mouth;

 

 

meditate on it

day and night, so that

you may be careful

to do everything

written in it.

 

 

Then you will be

prosperous and

successful. "

(Jos 1:7-8)

             

 

2. So how should

we treat the law?

 

 

1) Do not be bound

  by the law!

 

 

If we are overly

conscious of the law,

 

 

it is easy for us

to lead a life of faith

 

 

that is never free

by relying on the law

and its form.

 

 

Therefore,

besides the law

taught by the Lord,

by being entangled

in man's secondary

law

 

 

we must not miss

tne essence of the law

taught by the Lord.

 

 

As David confesses

before God in Psalm 119,

'Christians have the law

but are not subject

to this at all.

 

 

I love God so I'm

willing to obey his word

 and follow the law.

 

 

'This made God

pleased and David

was called 'a man

  after His own heart'.

 

 

We can see why God

showed His specia

l love to David.

 

 

2) The law guides us

to the right way.

 

 

Just as we look

in the mirror to make

ourselves correct,

 

 

the law acts as a  tutor

teaching us what is

right and what

is wrong,

 

 

or what is true

and what is sinful,

and eventually leads

us to Christ.

 

 

Therefore we must

never forget that the law

is God's consideration

for human beings,

 

 

and it is the standard

 or the measure of life.

 

 

According to

  Psalm 19:7-10,

 

 

"The law of the

 LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul.

 

 

The statutes

of the LORD are

trustworthy,

making wise

the simple.

 

 

The precepts

of the LORD are right,

giving joy to the heart.

 

 

The commands

of the LORD are

radiant, giving light

to the eyes.

 

 

The fear of the LORD

is pure, enduring

forever.

 

 

The ordinances

of the LORD are sure

and altogether

righteous.

 

 

They are more

precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

 

 

they are sweeter

than honey, than

honey from the comb."

      (Psalm 19:7-10)

 

 

3) We under the law

can get freedom only

by the Holy Spirit,

 

 

not by our strength

or our ability. 

 

 

The apostle Paul says:

 

 

'If you are led

by the Spirit, you

 are not under law.'

   (Gal 5:18)

 

 

Therefore, we

saints must always

pray for being filled

with the Holy Spirit,

 

 

and with all our hearts

we must acknowledge,

welcome,

 

 

and accept the Holy Spirit

who has personality.

 

 

The Bible says,

 

 

when the Holy Spirit,

who is the Spirit of truth,

comes, we'll be able to

gain freedom in

the Holy Spirit.

 

 

Therefore, in Christ

the law is the

 true doctrine.

 

 

If we follow the

glorious gospel of the

blessed God, we will

soon come to a state

where there is a law,

 

 

but we are

 never bound.

 

 

'Because through

Christ Jesus the law

of the Spirit of life

 

 

set us free from

the law of sin

and death.'

 

 

In addition,

while enjoying

 true freedom,

 

 

the law is what enriches

our lives and saves life,

 

 

 and it will be the

measure of life.

 

 

Therefore, as a Christian

we are no longer

bound under the law,

 

 

Only under the

'law of the Spirit'

 

 

I hope we will all

be able to gain true

 freedom.

 

 

Prayer

 

 

Lord!

The Holy Spirit,

the Spirit of truth!

 

 

Please come!

Split the earth

and come!

 

 

We are no longer

oppressed by the law.

 

 

Help us to gain true

freedom under the law

of the Holy Spirit.

 

 

Amen

 

 

 

 2015/01/30

 

 

 / By Priscilla