Convinced, Convicted, and Consoled by His Law

Thesis: The Omnipresence, Omnipotence, and Omniscience of His Law, of this solitary fact, I am convinced, convicted, and consoled.

Clearly proving the carnal misdeeds of this life, His Law simultaneously makes provision for its remedy, thereby I am consoled. Convinced of the Law’s purity and efficaciousness and aware of man’s fallibility, Christ’s teaching in Matthew 5:17-20 (KJV):

[Mat 5:17-20 KJV] 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

and the entire first epistle of Saint John, the disciple whom Christ loved, simultaneously condemns and gives one comfort, in knowing that He whom was crucified for our sins says the Law is not mine enemy.

Uncleanliness was considered despicable among the Hebrew. None left a more isolated and shameful life than the “unclean”, especially the leper. “Uncleanliness” was seen as contagious and often associated with personal sin. And, if we are given a “Carte Blanche” on sin as some teach, why did Christ give the following command upon cleansing a leper?

[Mat 8:4 KJV] 4 And Jesus saith unto him, see thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

What the leper must do upon cleansing was outlined in Leviticus 14. This is one of the most extensive cleansing acts of the Old Testament. Yet, what shall and must we do in an era when Paul’s teaching concerning circumcision is taken out of context and it is taught that “salvation is by faith alone”. Did not Christ own brother in James teach:

[Jas 2:14-26 KJV] 14 What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

In this and the writings of Paul in Romans, one must have faith and works without boasting.

So, should not one ask the Lord what is required for his cleansing, and then repay sevenfold?

[Pro 6:30-31 KJV] 30 [Men] do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 31 But [if] he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

Many men’s sins these days are greater than the simple theft of bread. Infidelity only is one…

[Pro 6:32-35 KJV] 32 [But] whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he [that] doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy [is] the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

 Yet, the above teaching would be quite unpopular in modern churched in America and likely many other parts of the world.

One must be very careful when blindly accepting the mellifluous message that Salvation is free. Truly, we did not hang on that cross and, in humility and all grace, give many a sermon and teaching while dealing with the pain of a scourging. Yet, someone did. Does not He deserve ample respect. If you fall, the true shame exists in not paying a meet penance that any contrite heart gladly would.

[Psa 51:17 KJV] 17 The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

In this we find reconciliation with the Lord.

[Luk 7:37-38 KJV] 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that [Jesus] sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind [him] weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe [them] with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed [them] with the ointment.

[For, she had been forgiven much. So, tirelessly working for him she joyously would.]

If the Law did not reveal one’s flaws, we would erroneously believe in a “self-ordained” perfection. We are only perfected when measured by His Word. Read 1 John carefully and thoroughly. Ruminate over for a few days. It has some interesting scriptures in it.

[1Jo 2:1-6 KJV] 1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

[1Jo 2:15-17 KJV] 15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

[1Jo 3:3-9 KJV] 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

[1Jo 4:1-3 KJV] 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

[1Jo 4:7-14 KJV] 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.

[1Jo 3:1 KJV] 1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Do you know Him? Are you His friend? It is said that friends often are alike. Isaiah’s Messianic prophesy described Him as thus,

[Isa 53:3 KJV] 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

If you are looking for the easy button in life, it is concomitantly found and not found in Christianity.

Yes, His yoke is light and easy as He states in Matthew 11:30 (KJV); yet, this world and those in it, many who profess the faith, are cruel, aggressive, violent, and unforgiving. As such, if you do what Jesus would do, you likely will end up like Him. WWJD?