I continue to be amazed by how the Scriptures can suddenly open up something in such a way as to make you see something in a new light, and cause you to
realize your presumptions in the past were tainted by your own blindness.
Something I used to struggle with was Paul's argument of faith vs works.
Today, I was reading in Romans and realized he isn't actually making an argument against works, as in our actions.
He isn't saying it doesn't matter what your actions are, as long as you have faith.
He is specifically trying to show the Jews, and the Gentiles who are being "put upon" by legalistic Jews, that true faith in God trumps the works of the LAW.
He is specifically talking about doing the LAW of Moses, which the Jews had a hard time letting go of in spite of their belief in Jesus as their Messiah. They hadn't yet understand that what Christ did was to fulfill the law, and that faith in Christ had become the new law, and in Him the law has an end.
Here are some examples of why I say Paul isn't making a case against good deeds... but rather, against the works of the Law of Moses.
Romans 3:19-22
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. For by the law is the knowledge of sin; therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe
Here Paul is specifically referring to the Law of Moses.
Because there was a Law given, all became guilty, because the law revealed the sin of man.
But in and through faith in Christ, being "born again" and a new creature in Christ, the law is trumped by the grace of God through faith in Christ.
Romans 3:27-31
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith alone without the deeds of the law.
Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also;
Seeing that God will justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law.
Here Paul specifically points out that by what God did through His Son reveals that man has NOTHING to boast of, because it is not by their own works. For no one who supposes to have kept the Law, has.... but those with the religious spirit only, those who THINK they keep the law, and think to judge others, in reality, have broken the very heart of the Law. Even in the Law of Moses itself, there pointed, by the sacrifice of animals and blood atonement, the message that only by this grace of God can any man be freed from his sins and cleansed.
Notice that after Paul concludes that man is justified by faith "without the deeds of the law" that the he then says:
"Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also" and then speaks about circumcision. He is saying that these works of the law (like circumcision) will justify no man, but faith in Christ. Faith in Christ means you believe in Christ, in who He is, what he stands for, that you follow His teachings. And because of this God is the God of the Gentiles also... He isn't ONLY the God of the seed of Abraham.
Romans 4:2-4
For if Abraham were justified by the law of works, he hath to glory in himself; but not of God.
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Now to him who is justified by the law of works, is the reward reckoned, not of grace, but of debt.
Again - he is not seeking to diminish the value of Abraham's faithfulness in being obedient, but He is saying Abraham was a friend of God, not because he went through the motions of some religious code, but because He believed God, and thereby followed after Him in faith. And it wasn't because Abraham was perfect in all his actions. The Scriptures should make it plain to us that he had faults, and that he had sin. But his belief in God was counted unto Him as righteousness, even if he was not yet perfect in the flesh.
Paul is struggling with those Jews who want to hold the Law of Moses up as the means of Salvation.
Jesus speaks plainly about the Law in the BOM
3 Nephi 7:4-12
And he said unto them, Marvel not that I said unto you, that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.
Behold, I say unto you, that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses.
Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfill the law; therefore, it hath an end.
Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily, I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled.
And because I said unto you, that old things hath passed away, I do not destroy that which hath been spoken concerning things which are to come.
For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people, is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses, hath an end in me.
Behold, I am the law, and the light; look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live, for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.
Behold, I have given unto you the commandments; therefore keep my commandments.
And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly testified of me.
Something I used to struggle with was Paul's argument of faith vs works.
Today, I was reading in Romans and realized he isn't actually making an argument against works, as in our actions.
He isn't saying it doesn't matter what your actions are, as long as you have faith.
He is specifically trying to show the Jews, and the Gentiles who are being "put upon" by legalistic Jews, that true faith in God trumps the works of the LAW.
He is specifically talking about doing the LAW of Moses, which the Jews had a hard time letting go of in spite of their belief in Jesus as their Messiah. They hadn't yet understand that what Christ did was to fulfill the law, and that faith in Christ had become the new law, and in Him the law has an end.
Here are some examples of why I say Paul isn't making a case against good deeds... but rather, against the works of the Law of Moses.
Romans 3:19-22
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. For by the law is the knowledge of sin; therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe
Here Paul is specifically referring to the Law of Moses.
Because there was a Law given, all became guilty, because the law revealed the sin of man.
But in and through faith in Christ, being "born again" and a new creature in Christ, the law is trumped by the grace of God through faith in Christ.
Romans 3:27-31
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith alone without the deeds of the law.
Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also;
Seeing that God will justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law.
Here Paul specifically points out that by what God did through His Son reveals that man has NOTHING to boast of, because it is not by their own works. For no one who supposes to have kept the Law, has.... but those with the religious spirit only, those who THINK they keep the law, and think to judge others, in reality, have broken the very heart of the Law. Even in the Law of Moses itself, there pointed, by the sacrifice of animals and blood atonement, the message that only by this grace of God can any man be freed from his sins and cleansed.
Notice that after Paul concludes that man is justified by faith "without the deeds of the law" that the he then says:
"Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also" and then speaks about circumcision. He is saying that these works of the law (like circumcision) will justify no man, but faith in Christ. Faith in Christ means you believe in Christ, in who He is, what he stands for, that you follow His teachings. And because of this God is the God of the Gentiles also... He isn't ONLY the God of the seed of Abraham.
Romans 4:2-4
For if Abraham were justified by the law of works, he hath to glory in himself; but not of God.
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Now to him who is justified by the law of works, is the reward reckoned, not of grace, but of debt.
Again - he is not seeking to diminish the value of Abraham's faithfulness in being obedient, but He is saying Abraham was a friend of God, not because he went through the motions of some religious code, but because He believed God, and thereby followed after Him in faith. And it wasn't because Abraham was perfect in all his actions. The Scriptures should make it plain to us that he had faults, and that he had sin. But his belief in God was counted unto Him as righteousness, even if he was not yet perfect in the flesh.
Paul is struggling with those Jews who want to hold the Law of Moses up as the means of Salvation.
Jesus speaks plainly about the Law in the BOM
3 Nephi 7:4-12
And he said unto them, Marvel not that I said unto you, that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.
Behold, I say unto you, that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses.
Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfill the law; therefore, it hath an end.
Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily, I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled.
And because I said unto you, that old things hath passed away, I do not destroy that which hath been spoken concerning things which are to come.
For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people, is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses, hath an end in me.
Behold, I am the law, and the light; look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live, for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.
Behold, I have given unto you the commandments; therefore keep my commandments.
And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly testified of me.
