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What the Law Could Not Do, God Did

Reve' M. Pete, D. T. S.

We are living in a time when men are relying on the arm of the flesh to establish righteousness. This is clearly seen in the political arena. Men are relying on the law in order to establish righteousness. Righteousness cannot be achieved through law. To become righteous, one must have Jesus Christ.

In Romans 8:3, the Apostle Paul speaks of the Law of Moses as follows, “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh”.

The Law of Moses had three parts: 1) moral law 2) ceremonial law 3) judicial law. In Galatians 3:19-25, Apostle Paul states why God gave the Law to Moses. It was given to be a teacher (or tutor) to bring men to Christ. The Law of Moses was a disciplinarian and an administrator, commanding and forbidding.

Although it achieved a certain amount of discipline, the Law of Moses could not change the hearts of men because it was “weak through the flesh”. This means it was powerless to bring about a change in human nature. The Law of Moses was given to men who were not born again. They had the same sinful nature they inherited from Adam. Therefore, they broke the Law.

God’s remedy for this was foretold by the prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 36:26,27, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” God accomplished His remedy through Jesus Christ.

The Law of Moses told men what God wanted, but they were powerless to achieve it until Jesus came and paid the price at Calvary. Jesus was born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Ghost. Jesus came here holy and condemned sin in the flesh by living a holy life. When He went to the cross, He became sin (taking on the sin of mankind). Then God raised Him from the dead because He had done no sin. Death has no power over Jesus, and because of His sacrifice and victory, sin has no power over men who receive Him as Savior and Lord.

When men receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, they receive a new nature. Their spirits are recreated (this is being born again) and they become capable of keeping God’s statutes and judgments. The righteous requirement of the Law is fulfilled in born again men when they follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:4) This is the fulfillment of Ezekiel 36:26,27. Therefore, what the Law of Moses could not do, God did through Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, men are not relying on what Jesus did at Calvary to establish righteousness. They are relying on politics – an arm of the flesh. Jeremiah said when men put their trust in flesh they are under a curse. (Jeremiah 17:5) That is why there is so much political anger. Men are relying on the flesh (politics) and the flesh is coming up short. When it does, they become frustrated.

It is time to get back to basics. There is no way to establish righteousness except through Jesus Christ. That means men must be born again. Men become born again through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Preachers cannot preach the Gospel without the anointing of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 10:14,15) Rather than relying on political means to establish righteousness, Holy Ghost filled preachers who are preaching the Word of God, pure and unadulterated are needed.

References

Hayford, Jack W., ed. Spirit-Filled Life Bible. New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991.

Zodhaites, Spiros, ed. The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible. King James Version. Red Letter Edition. World Bible Publishers.

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