WHERE IS YOUR WEDDING GARMENT?

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“So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.” (Matthew 22:12 NKJV)

 

In the book of Matthew, chapter twenty-two, the Lord Jesus gives the parable of the Wedding Feast. This Parable features a certain King who prepared a marriage feast for his son and sent out his servants to call those invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come.  

Parables can be prophetic, most of the parables in Matthew 13,  have prophetic or Eschatological

 elements in them.

• The parables of the sower.
• The parables of the wheat and tears.
• The parables of the mustards seed.
• The parables of the leaven.
• The parables of the dragant.

What's parables, the Etymology placing one thing besides another. Popular , an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. 

Again, the King sent out other servants, saying, “Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”‘ (Matt. 22:4 NKJV).

But again, those invited made light of the King’s call and went their ways, one to his farm and another to his business. Sadly, not only did those invited to the King’s son’s wedding continually turn down the King’s invitation, but they also seized the King’s servants sent to them, treated them spitefully, and killed them (Matt. 22:5).

How did the King respond to their wickedness? 

Matthew 22:7 – NKJV

 7 “But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

Moreover, the King told his servants, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. ‘Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.” (Matt. 22:8-9 NKJV).

As instructed, the King’s servants went into the highways and gathered all they found, bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the King came in to see the guests, he saw a man among them who did not put on the wedding garment provided for him out of the King’s generosity and love.

Therefore, the King confronted him, asking, “Friend, how did you come in here without wearing the wedding clothes [that were provided for you]?” And the man was speechless and without excuse.” (Matt. 21:12 AMP).

Consequently, the King commanded his servants, saying, “Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 22:13 NKJV).

The Lord Jesus concluded the parable, saying, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matt. 22:14 NKJV).

What are the spiritual truths or lessons to learn from this Parable? Let us examine some of them.

First, God is the King in the Parable who prepared a marriage feast or wedding for His son. The Lord Jesus Christ is the King’s Son for whom the feast was prepared (Rev. 19:7).

Second, the wedding speaks of union, intimacy, or a relationship with Christ. The wedding invitation speaks of the Gospel of Christ. The wedding feast implies the blessings of the Gospel of Christ (salvation) (Romans. 1:14-16).

Third, the Jews (the nation of Israel as a whole) are those whom the King first invited to His Son’s feast but who continually declined the King’s invitation and seized, maltreated, and killed the King’s servants sent to them (Matt. 23:29-34, Luke 11:49).

Fourth, the King’s servants are the prophets and apostles of God sent to the children of Israel to preach and proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom of God and call them to repentance (Acts 7:51-52).

Fifth, the Gentiles (non-Jew nations) are the latter guests invited and brought to the wedding from the highways (Matt. 8:11-12, Mark 16:15).

Sixth, the wedding garment represents the righteousness of the saints (Isa. 61:10, Rev. 19:8).

What is the righteousness of the saints?

God’s righteousness imputed to them at the new birth!

That is the gracious bestowment of God on all those who put their faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, the Scripture refers to it as “the righteousness of faith” (Romans. 3:20-23, 9:30).

Sadly, like the guest who did not put on the wedding garment the King had graciously provided for all his guests but clung to his filthy rag, there are some religious folks in the world today who have rejected God’s gift of righteousness available to all men through faith in Jesus Christ are clinging to their self-righteousness (filthy rag) as a basis for having a right standing before God or relationship with God.

Based on the works of the law, our human or self-righteousness is insufficient and incapable of earning and securing for us a loving and intimate relationship with God, or right standing before God, or God’s favor and blessing.

 Why?Because it is imperfect, filthy, and stinking in God’s sight (Isa. 64:6)!

God’s righteousness (the wedding garment) is available to all men as a gift. It is received by pure faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work (2 Cor. 5:21, Ephesians. 2:8-9). Either you accept and cling to God’s righteousness (the wedding garment) by faith alone in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work, or you cling to your righteousness (filthy, stinking rag) by the works of the law.

You cannot stick to God’s presence and your relationship with God!

Today, some religious zealots do not have on the wedding garment, not because they don’t acknowledge the Lord Jesus and His finished redemptive work, but because they are unwilling to trust absolutely in the finished redemptive work of Jesus. Instead, they still strive to keep the law to obtain salvation, favor, or blessing from God (Romans. 10:1-4).

Lastly, without putting on the wedding garment (God’s righteousness) received by faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work of redemption, you cannot stand before God or escape God’s judgment or wrath at the close of the ages.

According to the Parable of the Marriage Feast, the guest without the wedding garment was judged and condemned. There was no room for mercy. He received no second chance.

The King commanded, “Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt” 22:13 NKJV).

A severe judgment of God awaits all who refused or rejected God’s gift of righteousness through pure faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice (Hebrew. 10:28-29).

Beloved, today is your excuse for not receiving and putting on the wedding garment (God’s righteousness) that God has graciously made available for you through Jesus Christ.

You will be speechless, without any excuse, when you stand before the King of kings on the day of Judgement without putting on the King’s garment (God’s righteousness).

As seen in the Parable, it takes you having on your wedding garment (trusting in, holding unto, and walking in God’s righteousness) to dine, fellowship, and reign with the King in this life and eternity (Romans. 5:17).

      Today, some believers are not reigning in this life because they are not always wearing, putting on, or clinging to God’s righteousness, which they have received through faith in Jesus Christ.

You cannot enjoy God’s blessings constantly or incessantly in this life based on your performance, self-righteousness, or good works but only based on your faith in Jesus Christ and His perfect work of redemption.

Therefore, Apostle Paul’s pursuit in life was to be always found in Christ, “not having my righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” (Philp. 3:9 NKJV).

Friend, make it your resolution and pursuit today to be found in Christ, always having your wedding garment—the righteousness from God by faith.

The price you will pay in this life and eternity for not having the wedding garment (God’s righteousness) on you is too enormous.

If you die without receiving and putting on your wedding garment (God’s righteousness by faith alone in Jesus Christ), your judgment will be the same as the guest without the wedding garment in the Parable.

On the day of Judgement, the King will command, “Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt” 22:13 NKJV).  

 

Prayer:

My Heavenly Father, thank You for making the wedding garment (Your righteousness) available to me as a gift through the Lord Jesus Christ. I receive it by faith today, acknowledging and confessing Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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TRUE CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP

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“Now when they saw that Peter and John were without fear, though they were men of no education or learning, they were greatly surprised; and they took note of them that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13 BBE)

 

After His resurrection from the dead, the Lord Jesus charged His disciples with great responsibility, saying, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” (Matt. 28:19-20 NKJV).

That is the Great Commission of the Church. That is the Church’s primary calling, purpose, and mission. Unfortunately, today, the Church’s emphasis, goal, or pursuit is far from making disciples for Christ of all nations.

Today, the Church is into making several things of the people except making them true disciples of Christ. What an utter disregard for Jesus’ command!

We can never experience a true revival of Christianity in our generation unless we give “Great Attention and Commitment” to the Great Commission the Lord Jesus gave us.

What is true Christian Discipleship? 

First, Christian Discipleship is an Intimate Relationship with the Lord Jesus

Discipleship starts with putting your faith in the Lord Jesus and His finished work, confessing Him as your personal Lord and Saviour and surrendering your life to the Lord Jesus.

Discipleship is not a dormant relationship with the Lord Jesus but a loving, active, and dynamic relationship with Christ. It is not a one-time deal with the Lord but a lifelong or ongoing commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.

True Discipleship is being yoked together with Christ. It is yielding your neck voluntarily under the yoke of Christ, learning from Him, following Him, and walking in His footsteps. The Lord Jesus reveals this:

Matthew 11:28-30 – NKJV

 28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  

Having become born-again, you should voluntarily take the yoke of Christ upon you and commit yourself to learning from Him and walking in His footsteps.

Second, Christian Discipleship is a Process of Transformation into Christlikeness

God’s ultimate plan and purpose for all His children is “to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom. 8:29 NKJV).

While your recreated or born-again spirit is already fully conformed to the likeness of Christ at the New Birth, your soul (will, mind, and emotions) and body are yet to be conformed entirely to the image or likeness of Christ (Romans. 8:22-23, 1 John 3:1-3, Phil. 3:20-21, Jam. 1:21, 1 Pet. 1:9).

Discipleship is the process whereby “you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph. 4:22-24 NKJV).

This process is personal, specific, progressive, and cumulative. It is a process that will continue till you see the Lord Jesus face to face at His second coming (1 John 3:1-3, Col. 3:3-4).

The transformational process of the believers into Christlikeness is not automatic; it does not happen on its own. It involves the believer’s active participation, commitment, and cooperation with the Holy Spirit. It involves renewing your mind increasingly by constantly beholding the glory of Jesus Christ in the pages of the Bible and abiding in the teaching of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3:18, Romans. 12:1-2, James. 1:21-25).

Third, Christian Discipleship is a Daily and Lifelong Walk with the Lord Jesus

Discipleship is traveling daily with the Lord Jesus on the narrow path that leads to life (Matt. 7:13-14). It is a lifelong spiritual journey!

It is a daily commitment to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow the Lord Jesus. It is learning from the Lord daily and following His footsteps (John 14:1-10, 1 Pet. 2:21-24).

Although the discipleship journey with the Lord Jesus starts when you deliberately, consciously, and voluntarily accede or submit to the Lordship of Jesus, it is a lifelong journey that will culminate in reigning with the Lord Jesus when He comes back to set up His physical kingdom on the earth (Luke 22:28-30, John 8:30-32).

A true disciple of Christ never quits or stops learning from the Lord Jesus, denying himself, bearing his cross daily, and following the Lord Jesus (Lk. 9:23).

Fourth, Christian Discipleship is Christ Increasing and Self Decreasing in the Believers

Discipleship is journeying from a self-centered, self-focused, self-dependent, self-driven, or self-motivated lifestyle to a Christ-centered, Christ-focused, Christ-dependent, Christ-driven, or Christ-motivated lifestyle.

A disciple’s mindset, desire, goal, or pursuit is “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30 NKJV).

Lastly, Discipleship is Making Disciples for Christ:

Discipleship is raising or making disciples for Christ of all nations. That is the Lord’s command to His disciples (Matt. 28:16-20). Discipleship is bearing or producing fruit for Christ (John 15:16).

Discipleship is teaching others everything the Lord Jesus Christ has taught and commanded. It is supervising, helping, and encouraging other believers in their discipleship journey to Christlikeness (2 Tim. 2:1-2, Matt. 28:19-20, Col. 1:28-29).

While teaching and helping others become disciples of Christ, you must remember that Jesus Christ is the only true and ultimate Master. Paul, a great discipler, said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1 NKJV).

You are only permitted to follow others as they follow the Lord Jesus. It is also not wise to compare God’s dealings with you with that of other disciples, for God’s dealings with each disciple are personal, unique, and specific (John 21:20-22, 2 Corinthians. 10:12).

Beloved, the discipleship journey often involves rising and falling, making mistakes and learning from them, and learning from the mistakes of others, chastening, discipline, rebuke, and correction from other mature disciples chosen and appointed by God to supervise and help you in your spiritual journey, growth, and development into Christlikeness (Hebrew. 12:1-11, Gal. 4:1-2).

When you have made significant progress in your discipleship journey or relationship with the Lord Jesus, your speech, values, pursuits, mindsets, character, conduct, or lifestyle will undoubtedly show those around you that you have been with the Lord Jesus Christ.

When Peter and John were arrested, interviewed, and scrutinized by the great council members of the nation of Israel, it was apparent to the elders and rulers of Israel that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13 – BBE

13 Now when they saw that Peter and John were without fear, though they were men of no education or learning, they were greatly surprised; and they took note of them that they had been with Jesus.

 

Prayer:

Dear Holy Spirit, lead me into a discipleship relationship with those you have ordained to help me progress in my journey into Christlikeness, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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THE SPIRIT OF GRACE

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“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” (1 Corinthians 2:12 NKJV)

All believers have equal rights and access to the inexhaustible riches of grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans. 5:1-2). But while some believers today are exploring, appropriating, experiencing, and enjoying the riches of grace, many are still languishing and sinking in the mire of sin and poverty.

The variation or disparity is certainly not from God, “For there is no partiality with God.” (Romans. 2:11 NKJV). God has given every born-again believer the Spirit of grace, the Holy Spirit, to lead and guide us in exploring or discovering the riches of grace from our “grace-mine” (God’s Word).

1 Corinthians 2:12 – NKJV

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

However, any believer who is lazy in digging deep into the Word of God (the grace mine) will remain destitute of the riches of grace and dependent on diligent believers exploring and appropriating the means of grace (Proverbs. 13:4, 20:4).

It is as you diligently and prayerfully embark on the spiritual discovery of the unlimited riches of grace that are available to you in Christ that the Holy Spirit will open or enlighten your eyes of understanding to see, discover, and appropriate all the things that God has freely given to you in Christ (Matthew. 7:8).

One of the primary missions of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers is to search and take what belongs to Christ and reveal it to the believers. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, you can’t understand and appropriate the things that have been freely given to you by God in Christ (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

Without the active engagement or assistance of the Holy Spirit in your study or digging deep into the Word of God, you may not receive any revelation, knowledge, or spiritual understanding from God’s Word.

Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:14-15 NKJV).

By the new birth, every believer has been divinely positioned in the abundant riches of Christ’s grace. However, you may still languish in poverty amidst abundance without hearing, recognizing, and obeying the voice of the Spirit of grace.

The Holy Spirit is your primary guide, teacher, partner, and helper in your walk of faith to discover, appropriate, experience, and enjoy every blessing God has freely given you in and through Christ.

Therefore, you must recognize, understand, and follow the leading of the Spirit of grace. That is the only sure way to live under grace and forestall sliding back under the law where Sin and Satan reign and operate unhindered. Paul writes, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Gal. 5:18 NKJV).

• How does the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of grace) lead and guide the believers into the depths and riches of grace?
• How can a believer recognize or understand the voice or leading of the Spirit of grace?

First, the Holy Spirit primarily speaks, leads, guides, or instructs believers through the Bible, God’s written and inspired Word (2 Tim 3:16-17).

The Holy Spirit will never contradict the written Word of God. The Holy Spirit will only reveal, remind, or confirm the truths of God’s Word to you.

The Bible is the infallible Word of God. The Bible is the supreme sourcebook of our knowledge of God. It is the textbook of divine truth. The Bible pages are the authoritative revelation of God’s nature, will, plans, and purposes in a written form (John 1:1, Heb. 4:12, Isa. 55:10-11).

God’s Word is the grace-mine! While digging deep into God’s Word, the Holy Spirit will open your mind to the inexhaustible riches of grace.

Second, the Holy Spirit speaks, leads, guides, directs, or instructs the believers through an audible voice, inner voice, prompting, and tugging in the believers’ born-again spirits.

The Holy Spirit is not a mere influence, power, or force of God. On the contrary, the Holy Spirit is a living and divine Person with intellect, knowledge, will, and emotions (John 16:13-15).

The Holy Spirit may speak quietly in your heart or audibly to you as though someone is talking to you by your side. The Holy Spirit may also employ other believers to speak with you and give you divine counsel.

While you cannot compel the Holy Spirit to speak to you in a certain way, you can position or make yourself ready to hear and obey His voice in whichever ways or means He chooses to talk to you.

One of the primary ways to position yourself to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit is to still or quieten your mind. Your mind is naturally boisterous or agitated. Therefore, it needs to be quietened for you to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit in your spirit.

The Scripture commands you to “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psa. 46:10 NKJV).

David said, “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (Psa. 131:2 NKJV).

You also need to do that if you want to hear, recognize, or know the voice of the Holy Spirit whenever He speaks to you by whatever means He chooses.

Beloved, if you fail to calm your soul or mind while seeking to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, you will only listen to the voice of your carnal or troubled mind.

How do you still or quieten your agitated or noisy mind?

You can calm or still your agitated or noisy mind simply by focusing or fixating on God His love, mercy, goodness, glory, and power. When your mind is set, focused, or fixated on God, the peace of God will flood your mind (Isa. 26:3-4).

Your mind is set, focused, or fixated on God as you spend quality time reading, studying, listening to, and meditating on God’s Word, praying, and worshipping God in the Spirit.

In the process, you may receive or experience a pure, intuitive, or divine spontaneous flow of thoughts, words, impressions, or visions in your heart (Hab. 2:1-3)

It is good always to write down all the spontaneous or intuitive thoughts, words, or impressions you receive in your heart while waiting upon the Lord to check them against God’s written Word.

The Bible is the spiritual standard or index for judging every word, thought, impression, voice, or vision you receive from God. The Holy Spirit will never speak contrary to any written word or teaching of Christ or His early apostles in the Bible.

Therefore, before you act upon any voice, thought, word, or impression, you must diligently search the Scripture to see that it perfectly conforms to the teaching of Christ and His early apostles.

It is also wise to seek godly counsel from your pastor or a mature believer in Christ before you act upon any voice, spontaneous thought, word, or impression that comes to your heart while waiting upon God for divine leading, guidance, or direction on sensitive matters.

 

Prayer:

My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me to quieten my agitated mind daily so that I may hear, know, and recognize Your inner or audible voice, prompting, leading, or guidance, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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LIVING UNDER GRACE

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“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.” (Galatians 5:1 NLT)

One of the greatest privileges of being a New Testament believer is living under grace and not under the law. By His sinless life and sacrificial death on the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the law, thereby bringing the dispensation of the law to a complete end.

Therefore, believers in Christ are no longer under the law but under grace (Matt. 5:17, Romans. 10:4).

Paul clearly states this truth.

Romans 6:14 – NLT

14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Living under grace implies having a personal, intimate, and loving relationship with God, not based on your self-righteousness, performance, or good works, but purely based on faith in the person of Jesus Christ and His finished work.

Living under grace speaks of receiving God’s righteousness as a gift by faith in Christ Jesus and continuing to live and walk in this righteousness consciousness.

Philippians 3:8-9 – NKJV

 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.

Living under grace is standing firm in the liberty by which Christ has made you free from the yoke of the law. It is serving God in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. It is walking in the Spirit or living by the Spirit of God!

Paul aptly explains this truth in his epistles.

Galatians 5:1 – NLT

1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Romans 7:6 – NLT

6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:18 – NLT

18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

Living under grace is to let Christ live in you, work in you, and manifest Himself through you. It is living by faith in Christ alone (Gal. 2:20).

The believers living under grace are those who are living the Christian life only by faith in Christ. We came into grace by faith in Christ alone and can only continue in grace by faith in Christ alone (Col. 2:6).

However, living under grace does not imply freedom to sin or violate God’s commandments. Although Jesus Christ has completely fulfilled the Mosaic Law and set us free from the demands and the curse of breaking God’s law, He has given us a new commandment.

Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34 NKJV). “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12 NKJV).

Unlike the Mosaic Law, Jesus’ commandments are not burdensome, and the believers have been empowered to obey them.

1 John 5:3 – NKJV

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

The born-again believers now share the same life, nature, and Spirit with Christ, who fulfilled the law and pleased God.

1 John 3:9 – RSV

9 No one born of God commits sin; for God’s nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God.

2 Peter 1:3 – NLT

3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvellous glory and excellence. (NLT). Hallelujah!

The same Jesus Christ who lived a sinless life and fulfilled all the law demands now lives in every true believer by the Holy Spirit. Christ lives in the believers by His Spirit to lead, teach, and strengthen us to do the will of God.

The Scripture amply affirms this truth.

1 John 4:13 – NKJV

13 By this, we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.   

Galatians 4:6 – NKJV

6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!  

Romans 8:9 – NKJV

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Therefore, believers can obey God’s Word and live godly by acknowledging, appropriating, and depending upon the power of the Spirit of Christ living in them (Phil. 2:12-13, Col. 1:28-29).

Beloved, living under grace starts with you coming to God through faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work. Only by faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work can you have a loving and intimate relationship with God and thus have unlimited access to the inexhaustible riches of grace (Rom. 5:1-2, John 14:6).

Friend, having become born again, you now have the Spirit of grace, the Holy Spirit, to establish you in grace. When you let the Holy Spirit rule, control, lead, guide, and direct you, you will be established in grace and never return to bondage under the law.

Galatians 5:1 – NLT

1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Galatians 5:18 – NKJV

 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 

 

Prayer:

My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of grace, to establish me in grace. Teach and help me hear, listen to, obey, and follow Your Spirit daily so I will not slide back to living under the law and its bondage, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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LIVING UNDER THE LAW

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“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:14-15 NKJV)

 

The Lord Jesus Christ did not come to destroy, abolish, or make void the Law or the Prophets but to complete or fulfill it. Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” (Matt. 5:17 NKJV).

Through Moses, the law God gave to His people found complete and perfect fulfillment in Christ. Jesus Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Romans 10:4 – AMP

4 For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him.

• How did Christ fulfill or complete the law?
• By His sinless life and sacrificial death on the cross!

First, Jesus Christ was the only man who ever kept the whole of God’s law perfectly and completely fulfilled all its demands without stumbling at one point at any time.

Neither man nor Satan could find fault in Christ even though they tempted Him many times and examined Him thoroughly (Matt. 26:59-31, Luke 23:1-5).

Second, Jesus Christ fulfilled the law by His substitutionary or sacrificial death on the cross for our sins, thereby satisfying the righteous demand or justice of the law to punish the transgressors of the law.

Christ’s death has ultimately, perfectly, and eternally paid for man’s violation of God’s law (Heb. 9:11-14). Praise God!

According to Jesus, the least among the believers under the New Covenant is greater than John the Baptist, who was the greatest of all the prophets under the Old Covenant (Matt. 11:11).

Therefore, it is simply sheer ignorance for any New Testament believers in Christ to wish or strive to be like or operate like any Old Testament saints or prophets.

The dispensation of the law was that of the letter, condemnation, and death. On the contrary, the believers in Christ are now under a new and better Covenant or dispensation of grace, which is that of the Spirit and not of the letter, that of life and not of death, and that of justification and not of condemnation (2 Cor. 3:5-9). Praise God!

Living under the Mosaic Law we have the 

• moral law.
• ceremonial Law.
• dietary, or civil law.

All these implies striving to keep the whole or part of the law God gave the Jews through Moses to have a right standing with God or to earn God’s love, acceptance, approval, favor, or blessing.

Living under the law means seeking to relate with God or have a loving relationship with God based on your self-righteousness, performance, or good works. People living under the law seek to be justified by the works of the law, either by keeping the whole or part of the Mosaic Law (Rom. 3:10. 23, Gal. 2:16).

Any believer today who still wants to live under the law by seeking to approach and relate with God based on his merit, performance, or self-righteousness must be ready to keep the whole law perfectly, completely, and constantly and never stumble at any point. Why?

Because if you keep the whole law but fail, stumble, or slip at one point at any time, you are guilty of all and will come under the curse of the law!

James 2:10-11 – NKJV

10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now, if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.”

Galatians 3:10 – NKJV

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

Although the law demands moral perfection from us, it does not give us the power or ability to meet this demand. Your best performance under the law or self-righteousness is nothing but a filthy rag in the sight of God (Isa. 64:6).

What are the implications of choosing to live under the law?

First, Living under the law implies living under the dominion or tyranny of sin.

Under the law, sin has power, strength, or dominion to exert over men because the Scripture states, “…it is the Law that gives sin its power.” (1 Cor. 15:56 TCNT).

Therefore, anyone living under the law seeking to attain righteousness through the works of the law can never be free from the yoke, bondage, or slavery of sin.

Seeking or striving to keep the law to earn God’s love, acceptance, approval, favor, or blessing confines you under the law where sin reigns as the king or master. Only under grace can sin not exert any power over you.

Romans 4:14 – NKJV

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Second, Living under the law implies living under the curse of the law.

When a man violates God’s laws, he becomes a transgressor of the law, thus guilty of the whole law (Jam. 2:10-11). Consequently, he comes under the curse of the law and faces the penalty of the law, which ultimately is death.

The Scripture amply attests to this truth.

Romans 6:23 – NKJV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Third, Living under the law implies living under the dominion of Satan.

Anyone who rejects the grace of Christ but chooses to strive to please God or earn God’s salvation based on his merit or performance is vulnerable to Satan’s attack. Why?

Because living under the law is living under the dominion of sin and thus under the control of Satan! Why?

1 John 3:8 – NKJV 

8 He who practices sin is of the Devil, for the Devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed, that He might undo the works of the Devil.

Beloved, you don’t want to live under the law, for that is the devil’s territory, domain, or realm where he operates, oppresses, afflicts, steals, and kills unhindered.

Why would you live under the law—under the yoke of sin, under the curse of the law, and the dominion of Satan – when Christ has fully paid for you to live under grace?

You begin to operate and live under grace the moment you put your faith in the person of Jesus Christ and His finished redemptive work, confessing Him as your Saviour and Lord.

After the new birth, you must also see that you continue to operate and live under grace by living and walking by faith alone in Jesus Christ and His finished work.

Paul admonishes you, “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” (Col. 2:6 NKJV).

 

Prayer:

My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for setting me free from the law of sin, condemnation, and death. Henceforth, I shall walk in the newness of life by faith alone in my Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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