HOME MISSION
GRACE
THE LAW
The Scriptures make a clear distinction between LAW and GRACE," putting LAW in one dispensation and GRACE in another. The LAW was given by (through) Moses, but GRACE and TRUTH came (through) Jesus Christ." John 1.17 By the LAW" we understand the MOSAIC LAW" the law" given to Moses by God on mount Sinia. It was threefold (1). THE MORAL LAW. ex.20.1.17 The Ten Commandments.). (2). THE CIVIL LAW. Ex. 21.1....24.18. and (3). THE CEREMONIAL LAW. Ex. 25.1....40.38. We are not to understand that there was no LAW before Moses, or no GRACE before Jesus Christ, for SIN is the transgression of the LAW," ( 1 John 3.4), and Adam sin was the transgression of the LAW that God laid down as to the eating of the fruit of the Garden, and GRACE" was revealed and execrcised when Adam and Eve were spared the penalty of their sin.
In Rom. 2.12 the Apostle Paul speaks of those who was without the LAW" from Eden until Moses. He does not mean that they were not accountable for their conduct, for by their actions thy showed that there was an unwritten LAW." in their hearts that their conscience bore witness to. Rom. 2.14.15. What Paul meant was that there was no Written LAW," that is, there was no MOSAIC LAW," before the days of Moses. Let it be understood then in this discussion that by LAW" is meant the MOSAIC LAW," and GRACE in this or any other Dispensation.
(1)THE LAW" WAS NEVER GIVEN TO THE GENTILES
The Gentiles were never under or ever had any allegation to keep a Law that they were never given nor understood. When the Gentiles, WHICH HAVE NOT THE LAW do by nature the things contained in the Law, these, having NOT THE LAW, are a Law unto themselves," Rom. 2.14.
The Gentiles will be judge according to the Gospel. Roman 2-15, and according to Grace, for it is by grace that we are save and not by the law . Eph 2-8-9
The Law" was given to Isreal exclusively. For an illustration take the Law of the Sabbath," It was not given to the Gentiles. It was given as the SIGN" of the Mosaic Covenant" Ex. 31.13. Ex.20.12....19.21.the Sabbath Day" belong to the Jews alone and is not binding on the Gentiles (World), or on the Church (Christians), though Christians are expected to observe the Frist Day of the Week" for rest and worship.
Nowhere in the Bible do we find God finding fault with any nation or people, except the Jews, for not observing the Sabbath. As a Jewish ordinance it has never been abrogated, changed, or transfered to any other day of the week, or to any other people.
It is now in abedance as foretold in Hosea 2.11...3.4.5, it would be. It is to be resumed when the Jews are nationally restored to their own land. Isa. 66.23....Ez. 44.24...46.1.3.
(2) THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW
The Law" was not given to JUSTIFY men, for by the deeds of the LAW" shall no flesh be justified in God's sight. Rom. 3.20. Gal. 2.16. The Law was given that men might know what sin is, for by the Law is the KNOWLEDGE of sin," ( Rom. 3.20), for men would have not known that covetousness was sin, if the Law has not said, You shall not Covet," Rom.7.7.
The Law was given to stop men's mouths," and keep men from boasting of their own righteousness, and see themselves guilty before God. Rom. 3.19. the Law was given to be a Schoolmaster to lead men to Christ. this was the purpose fo the Law, and what the Law could not do, Christ did.
(1). THE GIFT OF GOD
By GRACE are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God ; not of works, lest any man should boast," Eph .2.8.9. From the scripture we see that GRACE" is a GIFT. If a man receive salvation in exchange for his works, then salvation is but another word for WAGES" or if Salvation is given in exchange for benefits betowed, thenit is simply a reward, Now if a man recieve Salvation as a wages or as a reward, then Salvation is not GIFT but something that he was entitled to, and therefore is not of GRACE. Grace is not UNDESERVED MERCY.
The source of Grace is GOD'S LOVE. for GOD SO LOVED the World, that He gsve His only begotten Son, that whosoever beleveth n Him should not perish, but have everlasting lilfe." John 3.16.
(2). THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LAW AND GRACE
(a). Under the Law the SHEEP died for the Shepherd
Under Grace the SHEPHERD died for the sheep
(b). Under Law, HOLINESS was demanded
Under Grace, HOLINESS was given
(c). The LAW says, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them
GRACE says, Blessed is the man whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sin is covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute iniquity.
(d). The LAW says You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your mind, and with all your strenght.
GRACE says, Herein is love: not that we love God, but that He love us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
(e). The LAW declares ,That as many as have sinned in the LAW, shall be judged by the Law
GRACE declares, That there is no condemnation(Judgement for Sin ) for those who are in Christ Jesus for they HAVE PASSED from death unto life. John 5.24.
(3). THE PURPOSE OF GRACE
The purpose of God's Grace is revealed n Eph. 2.7, as being that in the Ages to come' He might show EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE," God is gathering from every tribe, people and nation specimens fo His Grace," so that in the Ages to come" HE may exhibit these trophes of Grace as samples of what the Gospel can do, and the sweet thought of it is, that there are no duplicates.
The Scritures speaks of two REPRESENTATIVE MEN" The first is call ADAM," the secoan is called the LAST ADAM" ( 1Cor 15.45). or the SECOND ADAM," the Lord from Heaven," 1 Cor. 15. 47. This identifies Him with the Lord Jesus Christ. The frist Adam is charged with bringing sin into the world , this will explan the fact that while Satan was the first to sin, his sin ( SATAN'S SIN) had not yet enter into the world of man. For by one man sin( ADAM SIN) not SATAN;Sin entered into the world , and that death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned," Rom 5. 12.
The last ADAM came to reverse what the Frist ADAM did, and to put away sin," Heb. 9.26. for if by one man's offence death reigned by one: much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ," Rom. 5.17. to understand the work of these two REPRESENTATIVE Men" we must study their history.
(1). THE FIRST ADAM
After the earth had been restored from its formless and void condition, and the air, sea and earth been repopulated with bird, fish, and animal life, we read And God said, Let US make man in OUR IMAGE, after OUR LIKENESS: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Let us note that this Domain was limitted to the earth. So God created man in His own IMAGE, in the IMAGE of GOD created He him: male and female created He them," Gen. 1.26.27.
From this we understand the man is a created being. That he was made in the IMAGE of GOD," not in the image of an Ape," and was formed not from a brute, but of the dust of the earth,' There is an IMPASSABLE GULF between the lowest order of man and the highest type of beast that science has failed to bridge.
The mising link has never been found. That the whole human race is of ONE species" and had a commom origin ( Act.17.26) is clear from the fact that, when the different races of the earth's inhabitants intermarry, their offspring are not sterile but fertile. There is no contradition between the first and second chapters of Genesis as to the creation of man.
In Adam as originally created the soul" was such a perfect medium of communication between the body" and the Spirit" that there was no conflict between them. The three blended together in one harmonious whole. When man fell the Soul" became the Battlefield" of the Body and the Spirit," and the conflict began that Paul so grapically describes in Rom.7.7.24.
Eve was not fashoned in the same way as Adam. She was made later. The Lord God cause a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept; and He took one of his rips and closed up the flesh therof: and the rib," which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. and Adam said, this is now the bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh, she shall be called WOMAN, because she was taken out of man.
(2). THE LAST ADAM
The fall of the first Adam demanded the coming of the last Adam," It is self evident that a fallen creature cannot redeem itself. It must be redeemed by a power outside itself. Therefore no human being of the Adamic race could redeem the race.
Such a redemption demanded a Divine interposition. But the redeemer must have the same nature as the Adamic race. He must be a man. To this end he must be born into the human race and yet be free from the taint of sin." This was accomplished by the Virgin Birth.
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REV. A. WEBB
We hear a great deal about Faith" and Works" Some say we are saved by faith alone, others make a great deal of Works," Some say that both are necessary to Salvation for the same reason that a bird cannot fly without two wings, or that you cannot make progress in a boat without two oars.
One quotes Paul, Who says that aman is justified by FAITH, WITHOUT THE DEED OF THE LAW" (Rom. 3.28), the other quotes James, who says you see then how that by WORKS a man is justified, and not by faith only. James 2.24. but the Apostle James is not speaking of the Doctrine of JUSTIFICATION," but of a man justifying himself before men.
(1). (FAITH)
The Bible definition of FAITH" is that FAITH is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seen. ( Heb. 11.1), and in the remaining verses of the chapter the Apostles illutrates his definition by conduct of the Old Testament worthies that he names. I hold in my hand a check, it is the substance( on paper) of the money I hope to get when I cash it, and the evidence ( black and white) of the money that I have not as yet seen.
(2). WORKS
While a Christian is not saved by WORKS," he is to be rewarded for his works," For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father , with His angels ; and then He shall reward every man ACCORDING to His WORKS," Matt. 16.27. Believers will be rewardede at the judgement seat of Christ," For we (believers) must all appear before the JUDGMENT seat of Christ; that every one may recieve the things done in his body( that is while he was alive), according to that he have done, whether it be good or bad," 2 Cor. 5.10.
The character of thesae works must be Christian For other foundation can no man laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation (with) gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day of judgment shall declareit, because it shall be revealed BY FIRE; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he have built thereupon, he shall recieve a reward. if any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be SAVED; yet so as by fire," 1 Cor 3.11.15..
THE TWO NATURES
(1). THE NATURAL MAN
It is very importing that every Christian Believer should understand what the Scriptures teach as to the TWO NATURES," Because of a lack of knowledge of the Dual Nature of the new born" Soul many a new convert, after rejoicing for a while in his new found hope and then suddenly awakening to the fact that his old fleshly inclimnations are not dead, is led to believe that he was never converted, and disheartened and discouraged he begins to drift and finally backslides.
Of the Natural Man" the Scriptures say, That his understanding is darkened," Eph. 4.18. That he cannot reveive (perceive) the things of the Spirit of God, For they can only be Spiritually discerned. 1Cor. 2.14. that he is a child of wrath, Eph. 2.3. That he is at enmity with God, and cannot please Him. Rom. 8.7.7. That his heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jer. 17.9), and out of it proceedeth evil thoughs, adulteries, fornacation, murder, thefts, covetousness, deceit, Lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphmy, pride and foolishness" Mark. 7.21.22.
That he is spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. Eph. 2.2. That as the Ethiopean cannot change his skin, or the Leopard his spots, so the Nature Man" without supernatural help cannot change his character. Jer. 13.23.
(2). THE SPIRITUAL MAN
While the Natural " has a human parentage, the Spiritual Man" has a Divine parentage. All life must come from PRE-EXISTING LIFE." There is no such thing as Spontaneous Generation" of life. No life can come without parentage. There must be a Father and a Mother.
In the Spiritual World" the Holy Spirit is the FATHER, and the Human Heart" is the WOMB ( Mother) into which SEED" of the Word of God" is dropped.1 Peter. 1.23.
If seed in the Natural World is lifeless no plant will spring from it, and if the SEED OF THE WORD" is not VITALIZED by the Holy Spirit" when it fallsinto the human heart there will be no NEW LIFE," This explains how men and women can read and study the Sciptures and not be converted.
This new Birth imparts a NEW NATURE" This Nature is SPIRITUAL. that which is born of the Spirit ( Holy Spirit ) is SPIRIT," John 3.6. This new Nature cannot sin; For Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His Seed (life) remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is BORN OF GOD," 1John 3.9.
This new Spiritual Nature is called Christ in you" ( Cor. 1.27), and imparts eternal life. He that have the Son have life." 1 John 5.11.12. This life is HID with Christ in God. Therefore we cannot lose it, and when Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in GLORY," Col.3.3.4. here we understand that our life once we are converted is no more our own, but is Hid with Christ, meaning our life is now with God, that is , our Spirit which is the souls of men. This we called the New Nature or the new man that is BORN OF GOD who cannot sin.
This new Spiritual Nature is called Christ in you, is the new man in you that was not there before conversion. ( Cor. !.27. and imparts ETERNAL LIFE," He that has the Son Has life.( Christ in you ) 1 John. 5,11.12.
When Christ our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in Glory," The fruit of the Spiritual life is love, joy, peace, long suffering,: Gal. 5.22.23. the Spirit Man is SPIRITUALLY ENLIGHTENED. Eye have not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man ( the natural man ) the things which God have prepared for them that love Him. But God have revealed them unto us by His SPIRIT searcheth all, yea, the deep things of God." 1 Cor. 2.9.10.
REV.A. WEBB
THE TWO ADAMS