LLM Question for 1-6-2012, and, THE LLM STUDY OF THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS, CHAPTER 4, PART 1 of 3

First the Question: To be religious is the same as it is to be spiritual. True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 1-4-2012

Question: The Galatians, like many Christians today, seemed to prefer to be servants, under The Law, than sons under Grace. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! While still other Christians desire to live part under Grace, and part under the law, like the Baptists. But, regardless, either part under the law, or wholly under the law, is ALTOGETHER displeasing to the LORD. Now, out of the 747 responses we received to this question, an amazing 100% of you got it right. Praise the LORD! Therefore, now, let us take a look at,

THE LLM STUDY OF THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS, CHAPTER 4, PART 1 of 3

In our study of Galatians 4, we will learn the difference between a servant under the reign of law and the son of God under the reign of Grace. So, it would behoove you to study with Galatians 4:1-9, Romans 8:14-17, which we quote, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit Itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the Children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.”

The Galatians, like many Christians today, seemed to prefer to be servants, under the law, than sons under Grace. While still other Christians desire to live part under Grace, and part under the law, like the Baptists. But, regardless, either part under the law, or wholly under the law, is ALTOGETHER displeasing to the LORD. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to believers. Note the words of the Holy Spirit, in Romans 7:4, the believ­er, dead to the law, is joined to Another.

And according to Romans 7:3, the Christian who is joined to both Christ and Moses is guilty of spiritual adultery.

Galatians 4:4-5 gives us very interesting and instructive information, “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adop­tion of sons.” God’s fullness of time for the coming of Christ was 4000 years after the prophecy of Genesis 3:14-15, concerning the Seed of the woman who was to come as the Divine Re­deemer.

It was about 1492 years from the time Moses was on Mount Sinai until Mary gave birth to the holy Child Jesus, in Bethlehem. We say the world waited 4,000 years to celebrate the birth of Christ for the first time. During those 4,000 years the Spirit of Christ was in the prophets testifying beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. 1 Peter 1:11. John the Baptist asked concerning Christ, “art thou He that should come?” Luke 7:19. Note the statement, “He that should come.” In Hebrews 10:37 we read concerning Christ, “He that shall come.” So the Bible is the account of “He that should come,” and “He that shall come.”

In Genesis 3:14-15 the Seed of the woman is to come. This is the third chapter of the first Book in the Bible. In the third chapter of the last Book of the Old Testament Scriptures we read that the LORD shall suddenly come to His holy temple. Malachi 3:1. The coming Redeemer was to be the Seed of the woman, and the LORD. We quote Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the LORD Him shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” There we have the statement that He is to be both the Seed of the woman, and God. This truth is also contained in the Prophecy of Isaiah 9:6-7, which we quote, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the govern­ment shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” When the fullness of time was come God’s Son was sent from heaven. Truly, He was made under the law and He lived under the law. But Grace and Truth CAME by Jesus Christ.

While the Son of God, as Jesus of Nazareth, ministered to Israel under the law, He manifested Grace, BUT the REIGN of Grace did not begin until He, by the Grace of God, tasted death for every man. There is quite a difference between the message of repentance, preached by John the Baptist, in Matthew 3, and the Dispensation of the Grace of God committed unto the Apostle Paul, according to Ephesians 3.

If we carefully study Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we will learn that Jesus Christ was made UNDER the law. Read carefully the second chapter of Luke: how He was circumcised and presented according to the law. Then turn to Luke 4:16, where we read that He went into the synagogue on Israel’s Sabbath, as had been His custom. Then read Matthew 8:1-5. Now note these words of Christ, recorded in Matthew 5:17, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Then read Matthew 23:1-3, “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to His disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.” Here we note that scribes and Pharisees were in the seat or “kathedra” (where we get our word Cathedral), of Moses. Therefore, the disciples were to recognize their authority. Christ did not unseat those who sat in the seat of Moses, until AFTER His death and resurrection.

Now for the statement that Christ came to redeem those that were under the law. All to whom Peter and the Eleven preached, during the first 7 or 8 years following Pentecost, were religious Jews, under the law. According to Acts 5:30, God exalted Christ to be a Prince and a Savior to Israel, to give repentance and forgiveness. Several years later the Apostle Peter was instructed by the LORD to preach to Cornelius, and then he uttered these significant words, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.” Acts 10:34. Several years after this utterance, the Apostle Paul declared the truth contained in Romans 10:12, “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same LORD over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.” The Holy Spirit had revealed the wonderful truth that both those who had been under the law and those who had not been under the law were all one in Christ; all the children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus. Today, every child of God can say with John the Apostle, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2.

Now we want to point out, that like many Christians today, the foolish Galatians wanted to be in bondage and observe days, and months, and times, and years. The Apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Colossians, sets forth the Christian’s spiritual attitude toward feast days, the Lenten season, religious holy days, and here it is:

Colossians 2:13:17, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together WITH Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 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; And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. LET NO MAN THEREFORE JUDGE YOU IN MEAT, OR IN DRINK, OR IN RESPECT OF AN HOLYDAY, OR OF THE NEW MOON, OR OF THE SABBATH DAYS: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the Body is of Christ.”

“Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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