First the Question: The mixture of the Law and the Grace of God unto Salvation is an abomination in the sight of the LORD. An ABOMINATION! Like other ABOMINATIONS. 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 1-6-2012
Question: To be religious is the same as it is to be spiritual. True or False?
Answer: FALSE! RELIGIOUS Christians have always been the enemies of spiritual “Grace” Christians. The devil is the relentless enemy of the message and messengers of Grace. And so are those who are religious. Remember, it is one thing to be religious; and something entirely different to be spiritual. The Galatian saints became enemies of the Apostle Paul when they ceased to be spiritual and became religious. Now, out of the 687 responses we received to this question, 94.1% 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 2 of 3
“I AM AFRAID OF YOU, LEST I HAVE BESTOWED UPON YOU LABOUR IN VAIN.” Galatians 4:11.
In 2 Cor. 11:23-33, the Apostle Paul lists some of his persecutions, sufferings and afflictions. In 2 Cor. 11:28 he said, “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” “The care of all the churches.” What a responsibility! Paul’s warning to Ephesus applied to every other church. “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” Acts 20:29-30. This is what had taken place throughout Galatia since the days Paul, through the infirmity of the flesh, had preached the Gospel by which they were saved. Note how the Galatians appreciated Paul and his glorious Gospel of the blessed God. (1 Timothy 1:11). They received the Apostle Paul not only as the duly authorized representative of Christ, but as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. But the grievous wolves had done their work. The Galatians were the children mentioned in Ephesians 4:14, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”
Look around us today, thousands are being drawn into every imaginable religious vagary propagated in the name of Christ and the Bible. “Jehovah’s Witnesses”, “The Seventh Day Adventists”, “The Anglo Israelites”, “Pentecostalism”, “Christian Science”, and scores of others including all the fanatical healing movements, and the offshoots of the messianic movement. The wolves have not spared the flock. But the Christian is responsible and without excuse. “These things have I written unto you concerning THEM THAT SEDUCE YOU. But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth IN you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.” 1 John 2:26-27.
“Where is then the blessedness ye spake of?” “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” Galatians 4:15-16
RELIGIOUS Christians have always been the enemies of spiritual “Grace” Christians. The devil is the relentless enemy of the message and messengers of Grace. And so are those who are religious. Remember, it is one thing to be religious; and something entirely different to be spiritual. The Galatian saints became enemies of the Apostle Paul when they ceased to be spiritual and became religious. How few members of the Body of Christ meet the qualifications mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” There are many servants of the LORD who know the message of Grace, but they either keep silent or compromise with their message to keep in good standing in certain religious or semireligious denominations and circles. The recovery of God’s spiritual program is much hindered by God’s servants because of the fear or favor of men. Remember Paul’s words in Galatians 1:10, “If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
THE ALLEGORY: “THESE ARE THE TWO COVENANTS.” Galatians 4:24
This allegory is for those who desire to be under the law. There are many with this same desire at today! “For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.” Galatians 4:22-23. “Nevertheless what saith the Scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.” Galatians 4:30-31.
Let us get the story straight from Genesis
“So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him, and Lot went with him; and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran” Genesis 12:4. “And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed; and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the Word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.” Genesis 15:3-4. “And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness” Genesis 15:6.
“And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing; I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai” Genesis 16:2. “And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes” Genesis 16:4
“And Abram was fourscore and six years old when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram” Genesis 16:16. “And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac; and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him” Genesis 17:18-19. “And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me” Genesis 21:6.
“For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.” Genesis 21:2-3.
“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham; Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.” Genesis 21:9-10.
Abram was 75 years old when God promised him a son. Sometime later the son had not been born, and Abram suggested that the son of Eliezer might be considered his heir, because he was born in his household. Not so, the son would be the seed of Abram. When Abram was about 85, Sarai persuaded him to marry her bondwoman Hagar, inasmuch as Sarai was barren. Abram obeyed; Ishmael was born. Ishmael was born after the flesh. This man of Faith, in his unbelief, was trying to HELP the omnipotent God accomplish His own Divine purpose. God appeared to Abram when Ishmael was about 13 years old, and told him that Sarai’s name would be “Sarah,” and his own name would be “Abraham”; and that he was to be circumcised BEFORE Isaac was to be born of Sarah. Abraham and Sarah knew that Isaac’s birth was humanly impossible. His birth was both natural and supernatural. But until Abraham could see the miracle performed he wanted Ishmael to live.
If it is true that Mohammed and the Mohammedans came from Ishmael, we can see something of the fruit of the unbelief of Sarah and Abraham. The bondwoman’s son (Ishmael) mocked. “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.” Genesis 21:10. “For this Hagar is Mount Sinai.” Galatians 4:25. The law was given at Mount Sinai. That law proved to be a yoke of bondage to the people of God. “The law entered that the offence might abound.” Romans 5:20. “But sin, taking occasion by the commandment (Law), wrought in me all manner of concupiscence.” Romans 7:8.
The law was added 430 years after God made His promise to Abram. Galatians 3:17. God preached the Gospel to Abram 430 years before the law was added till Christ, the Seed, should come. The law covenant has been abolished; it has been made old. Hebrews 8:13.
“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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