Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?" He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the Commandment of GOD, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the Commandment of GOD, that ye may keep your own tradition. (Mar 7:5-9)
All the rules and directives which the Pharisees had instituted to ensure that people kept the Law they couldn't keep, and the Pharisees didn't keep it either, had made such a mess of GOD'S Law that they were actually breaking both the letter and the spirit of the Law through their "law around the law". Their unbelieving lip-service to GOD while ignoring the intent of the Law to show them their need of GOD for Salvation, while also ignoring the true righteousness of GOD which the Law could never give, was true hypocrisy and Jesus rightfully spoke to the heart of the issue. Their hearts were not right, for without faith in GOD they looked to themselves and their religion for salvation, worshiped a god of their own making, and pridefully held to their own ideas of what the Law was for and to grant them their own righteousness.
Self righteousness will not get anybody anywhere with a Holy and righteous GOD who demands, and He has every right to as our Creator, His people to come to Him on His terms and not their own. But, knowing that in our sin we cannot measure up, no matter how careful we are to the Laws and Statutes of GOD, He has given us the only sacrifice that will truly pay for our sin. He has provided Himself, when He humbled Himself and took our place on that cruel Roman cross that we might have life, His righteousness, and be reconciled to GOD through repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. The Law by itself cannot save or make any one righteous, but Christ has fulfilled the Law, and He who is our rest, makes us righteous in the eyes of GOD, new creatures in Christ, dead to the Law, to sIn, and to ourselves, to live in Him the life we are meant to live.
As His righteous servants, not in our own righteousness which is as filthy rags, but through the washing of the Word of GOD, we minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they might see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. As His righteous people, the Church of GOD, holy and without blemish by the blood of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are to love one another as members in particular, and disciple one another in the Word of GOD that we might grow thereby. As His righteous army, not with weapons of this world or of the flesh, but with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the armour of GOD, we go where the Holy Spirit which is within us sends us, and as we go, we proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
Self righteousness will not get anybody anywhere with a Holy and righteous GOD who demands, and He has every right to as our Creator, His people to come to Him on His terms and not their own. But, knowing that in our sin we cannot measure up, no matter how careful we are to the Laws and Statutes of GOD, He has given us the only sacrifice that will truly pay for our sin. He has provided Himself, when He humbled Himself and took our place on that cruel Roman cross that we might have life, His righteousness, and be reconciled to GOD through repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. The Law by itself cannot save or make any one righteous, but Christ has fulfilled the Law, and He who is our rest, makes us righteous in the eyes of GOD, new creatures in Christ, dead to the Law, to sIn, and to ourselves, to live in Him the life we are meant to live.
As His righteous servants, not in our own righteousness which is as filthy rags, but through the washing of the Word of GOD, we minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they might see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. As His righteous people, the Church of GOD, holy and without blemish by the blood of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are to love one another as members in particular, and disciple one another in the Word of GOD that we might grow thereby. As His righteous army, not with weapons of this world or of the flesh, but with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the armour of GOD, we go where the Holy Spirit which is within us sends us, and as we go, we proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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