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What God wants from you. Simply this:
He wants you to believe Him, that He’s justified you without obligation, through Christ.
That was not enough in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, you had to do the works of the law. Every single one. All the time. Every day. This was considered a curse by God Himself.
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written (in Deuteronomy 27:26), Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.
But even if a man did do every single work of the law, all the time, every day, he still was not justified before God. His life was still not okay in the eyes of God.
Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident; for, The just shall live by faith (a quote from Habbakuk 2:4 in the OT).
“Justified” means perfectly balanced. If you buy a saw to cut wood, and then you cut wood with the saw, your purchase is justified. A car driving down the right lane of a road is justified. An e-mail that arrives at the inbox of the intended recipient is justified. A job that results in expected income is justified. A life lived under the works of the law is not justified. It’s not balanced. So…..how does one become justified?
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His (God’s) sight; for by the law is the knowledge (epignosis – intimate experiential knowing) of sin. But now the righteousness (result of being justified) of God apart from the law is manifested (made openly known), being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all those who believe; for there is no difference (between Jew (those who kept the religious law) & Gentile (those who lived freely in the lust of their flesh and worshipped false gods).
Any person “living by faith” will not be living by the works of the law, because the law is not of faith.
Galatians 3:12 And the law is not of faith; but, The man that does them shall live in them.
Again, how does one receive this justification from God, if not by obeying the commandments of God contained in the law?
Romans 3:24, 26 Being justified freely by His grace (generosity) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; To declare at this time His righteousness; that He might be just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.
It seems that God has restored perfect balance to our lives, by means of Jesus Christ, and not by anything we can do. It is up to us to believe it, and walk in that belief.
Romans 16:25, 26 Now to Him who is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and (which is) the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began. But now is being made manifest and by the writings of the (present day) prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith;
Living by faith, and not by works of the flesh, is what God wants from you. He has done the work, through His son, Jesus Christ. He wants you to believe it, not try and work for it! When you believe it, your mind will begin tracking in a Godly fashion. Your logic will flow from out of your justified thinking, influenced by the Holy Spirit of God Himself. You will learn to walk as a Godly being, a true son of God.
In conclusion, I present an accurate translation of Romans 10:12-14, as well as a good understanding of verse 17.
Romans 10:12-14, 17 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all who call upon him. (Whether coming out of religious discipline to a law of bondage, or from simply pursuing pleasurable lustful feelings….God wants to richly save you). For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (have a full, rich, balanced life). How then shall they call on him (“in” not in the text) whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe (“in” not in the text) him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? So then faith comes by hearing and “getting it,” which comes by hearing God speak to you.
As it is written, the just shall live by faith!
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See related studies:
The Law vs. Faith
What Pleases God
The Faith of Christ has Come!
The Need To Be Right.
