“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.”

How this verse is misused:

This verse is used by some in trying to prove that the law has been abolished, or at least that we don’t have to keep the law, since we are justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

True explanation:

• Remember that although people say you don’t have to keep the law, they really don’t mean that literally. Do they mean you can murder or steal? Most people would agree that nine of the Ten Commandments should be kept. What they mean is that you can break the Sabbath, and not keep the Holy Days. Instead of God being our guide for behavior, it allows us to pick and choose what we wish to obey. Remember this when you explain such verses so, if need be, you can point out this inconsistent and hypocritical stance toward the law.
• The verse does not say the “deeds of the law” are not necessary. The subject under discussion is “justification” and whether the “deeds of the law” can “justify” a person. Being justified in the biblical sense means being made just or right before God, which means having your sins forgiven and completely blotted out. The question being settled is not “should we keep the law” but, rather, “Does present obedience to the law somehow bring a person into a right standing before God and make up for his past sins?”
• If a man commits a crime, his obedience to the law in the future does not make him any less guilty of his past offense. This is also true of us spiritually. Paul showed in verse 20 that the “deeds of the law” do not justify anyone, and he went on to explain in verses 24-27 that justification (forgiveness of sins that are past—verse 25) can only come by grace, through Jesus’ sacrifice. Also in Romans 7:7 Paul tells us that we wouldn’t even know what sin is without there being a law.
• The conclusion to the meaning of this verse (28) is that we are justified (made right) by faith without the deeds of the law. “Without” in the Authorized Version could be more clearly translated “apart from” or “outside of.”
• Jesus died so our sins could be forgiven when we truly repent. Without His sacrifice we would all be under the penalty (death) of the law. No where in scripture do we find a license to sin in the future. We are to walk in the footsteps of Jesus who was sinless. (I Peter 2:21). Whenever we falter in that endeavor we can go to God in true repentance and get back on the right track.

“Eph 2:8-9 NIV For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– (9) not by works, so that no one can boast.”

How this verse is misused:

People sometimes use this verse to say we don’t need works, because we are saved by grace through faith and not by works. By “works” a person might mean the law in general; or just the Sabbath and the Holy Days; or good works of charity in general.

True explanation:

• Remember that although people say you don’t have to keep the law, they really don’t mean that literally. Do they mean you can murder or steal? No, or course not. What they mean is that you can break the Sabbath, and not keep the Holy Days. Remember this when you explain such verses so, if need be, you can point out this inconsistent and hypocritical stance toward the law.

• This scripture shows we are saved by faith not works, but it does not in any way show that works are not needed. In fact, verse ten shows that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus “unto good works.” That is the purpose for which we are alive.

• Salvation comes as a gift from God. We could never earn salvation in a million lifetimes of perfect obedience, but many scriptures prove that obedience is a condition we must meet before God will give us, as a free gift, salvation. “If thou wilt enter into life,” said Jesus, “keep the commandments” (Mat. 19:17). God gives His Holy Spirit only to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32). If any man says he knows God and doesn’t keep His commandments, he is a liar (I John 2:4).

• Faith and works go together. Faith without works is dead, and faith is perfected by our works (James 2:20-22).

I use myself and works just fine.

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People sometimes use this verse to say we can keep any day we wish for the Sabbath. So, it doesn’t matter if we keep the Sabbath on the first day of the week instead of the seventh.

True explanation:

1. The context of this chapter is addressing brethren who are new to the truth of God. The first verse tells us it is to brethren “weak in the faith.”

1. The word Sabbath is nowhere mentioned in this verse or chapter. If fact, the word Sabbath or reference to Sabbath-keeping are not found anywhere in this epistle. The reference here is simply to “days’ not the Sabbath or any other days of rest and worship commanded by God.

1. The days mentioned here are obviously connected with avoidance of meat, indicating that they are Roman or other observances and not any days of worship commanded by God.

1. These converts had come out of pagan beliefs involving idol worship. They had been mired into superstitious beliefs that certain days were better than others. As many as one third of the days of the old Roman calendar were marked as “unlawful for judicial and political business. The state expected the citizens to abstain, as far as possible, from their private business and labor.

1. These days were consecrated to deities of the state religious cults and were unlucky because of the influence of the gods. These Christians no longer observed these days but they still regarded or judged some days to be above others as though the day had natural qualities or good or bad about it. It was a common superstition of the time, hard for new Christians to root out. Many religious people still have similar beliefs today, such as “unlucky” Friday the 13^th.

1. In verse five Paul is discussing the pagan days, but he says let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. Under no circumstance are we to transgress our conscience. Paul says in verses 11-12. But as Christians we are also told to search the scriptures to find out what God wants us to do (II Tim 2:15 and Rom. 14:11-12).

by Dr. Alfred Harrell

“For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”

People sometimes use this verse to say that we don’t have to keep the law, or that it has been done away. Therefore, we are not required to keep the laws of God because Jesus did it for us.

The True Explanation:

1. Remember that although people say that you don’t have to keep the law, they really don’t mean that literally. Do they mean that you can murder and steal? No, of course not. What they mean is that you can break the Sabbath, and not keep the Holy Days. Remember this when you explain such verses so, if need be, you can point out this inconsistent and hypocritical stance toward the law.
2. This scripture does not say we don’t have to obey the law. It does say we are under the law, but under grace. The term “under the law”, refers to be under the penalty of the law. Our past sins will not be held over our head,
3. When we sin there is a breaking of God’s law (1 John 3:4). This results in a claim over our lives (Romans 6:23). We are then under the penalty of the law that we have broken. It is the sinner who is under the law. But, when we repent and receive God’s grace, made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are pardoned and the penalty of death is taken away. Then we are no longer “under the law”. The penalty of death for sin is taken away from us through true repentance.
4. Does this gives us free license to sin (break the law) because we are under grace and not under law? Paul asks this very question in verse 15 and answers by saying “God forbid.” It is like a condemned murderer on death row waiting for the execution. At the last minute the governor grants him pardon. He is now a free man, but that does not mean that he is at liberty to murder again. His pardon covers only the past offense not future crimes.
5. If grace did away with the law, there would be no sin, because there is no law, there is no sin (Romans 4:15). The fact that sin exists and that there is a need for grace to remove the penalty of sin shows that a law is being broken and therefore that the law is still in effect today.

- Dr. Alfred Harrell

We were joined by Fred Porter and his wife Jean who came from Hot Springs just to participate. We all dressed our 10 Commandments Shirts and had lots of fun bowling. We took some pictures and we’ll be posting here some of them. The rest will go to our online photoalbum.

Let’s plan for next time. We would like to hear from you. Please leave some comments of what other things we can do together as a group!

Lat night we talked about:

• Tithing
• The 144,000
• Serving God
• Satan’s being set free at the end of the Millennium – What happens and for how long.
• Fasting – How to fast and the purpose.
• Demonic activity

We really enjoyed the Bible study Wednesday night and invite all to come and participate.

Visit www.e-sword.net for more!

Screenshots:

The place is “Sherwood Bowling Center” located at 119 Country Club Rd, North Little Rock. The phone is: (501) 835-0800.

Don’t forget your 10 Commandments T-Shirts!

For more info contact Wendell or Theresa Benevides @ 519-2208.

Or send us an email classembly1…at…gmail.com