CAN THE BIBLE
BE DIVIDED?   



THE LORD SAYS NO.  

BUT MAN STILL TRIES!

 

 2 Tim 2:15  Some men wrongly divide God’s word.
We are to be diligent to accurately
                                    handle the word of truth.

Jn 10:35     Scripture can not be broken.  

Dan 7:25    The Roman beast deceives men by                                         intending to change God’s Holy Times and Laws.

        

        There are many denominations of churches in the world.  We need the Holy Spirit of the Creator God to guide us and help us sift through the teachings to find the truth, as the Bereans (Acts 17:10-12).  The Holy Spirit shall take from mine (the scriptures) and disclose it to you (Jn 16:35 NASB).

        Use common sense, the Holy Spirit and the scripture (Prov 2:7, 3:21 NLT). The Lord is bound to deal with us by His covenant agreements just the same as we are to do (Ex 20-24, Heb 8:7-12).

We need to develop faith in God’s promise of atonement for our sins.  “Sins” are any transgressions against God’s covenant laws. Jesus’ blood sacrifice was accepted by God to appease His wrath against sin (i.e. the death decree against sinners (Gen 2:17, Ezek 18:4).

Jesus says, the reward for faith and obedience is eternal life in His heaven.

He says, the penalty for doubt and disobedience is destruction in the fires of hell with the devil, satan.

THE CHOICE IS OURS.

Believe Jesus’ promise of a “helper,” the Holy Spirit.  You have no need for anyone to teach you - you have the anointing which you received from Him - the Holy Spirit    (1 Jn 2:27).

God has not changed any of the physical laws in the natural world such as the speed of light, the force of gravity, the weight of each atomic element, the timing and separation of night and day, etc.  

Neither has God changed any of the spiritual laws - the Law of Moses, the death penalty for breaking God’s Law, or Jesus Christ’s blood sacrifice to cover the penalty for sin.

None of these laws can be divided (Dt 4:2, Jn 10:35, Rev 22:18-19). These laws of scripture cannot be added to or taken away from.  Rather, they must be rightly interpreted, not divided (2 Tim 2:15 NASB).

Paul warns us not to quarrel about individual church doctrines.  Remember we are “of Christ” (1 Cor 1:11-15). Persevere to be drawn to Jesus, the Light, that our deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God (Jn 3:18-21).

THERE IS ONE CHURCH

We know that through all time the Lord has always

had just one church,  because He never changes (Mal 3;6, Heb 13:8).  God’s church is one in unity - no divisions. This applies to us;

“All written in earlier times is for our instruction,” (Rom 15:4).

All that happened to Israel happened as examples for us, upon whom the end of the ages have come (1 Cor 10:1-11).

The only reason for any factions is that they mean that those who are approved may have become evident among you (1 Cor 11:19).

 He wants His followers to separate from all forms of idolatry.  This is the first idea of the “10 commandments” of His covenant with us (Ex 20:2-6).

He had Abram (Abraham) separate from idolatry that was in Ur of the Chaldeans (Gen 15:7).

Later, He led His people Israel out of idolatry in Egypt.

Paul tells us since we have God’s promises “let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2Cor 6:16 - 7:1).

At the end of scripture’s message of instructions to us about repentance, cleansing, purifying and worshiping the Lord, He commands us “to come out and separate from Babylon” (Rev 18:4). He wants us to live like redeemed people.

Beware, the devil disguises himself as an angel of light to deceive men (2 Cor 11:13-15).

Jesus told His disciples, “Take care what you listen to. Do you not understand (the parable of the sower)? How will you understand all the parables” ( Mk 4:13, 24).

We must pay attention to what the Lord says - there is no other god and no man who can give you salvation and eternal life in heaven (Ex 20:3-6, Mal 3:6, Acts 4:12, Heb 13:8)!

The devil, satan even pours forth water like a river out of his mouth so that he might cause the church to be swept away with the flood . Rivers symbolize teachings. Satan the devil flows his own teachings out to people as he did in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:1-6, Is 8:6-7, Rev 12:15).

YOU MUST CHOOSE A GROUP

There are only 2 groups of people in the world;  we choose which group we are in by our loyalty to one of the two sets of laws taught by their leaders (Ex 13:9).

Part of the Lord’s church which He was taking to be His wife became adulterous with other teachings and traditions of men, but not His commandments (Deut 6:20-25, Ex 32:26-35, Mark 7:6 - 8).

This is the group predestined to be cut-off from God.    They followed satan the devil down to everlasting death and destruction.

This first happened in heaven - the angels divided into two groups.  One group followed the Lord God. The other group followed the devil, Satan.  He was thrown down to the earth and his angels were thrown down with him (Rev 12:7, 9).  They made war with the woman, the Lord’s church (Rev 12:1, 5, 13 - 17).

Jesus taught His unbelieving followers, “You are from below (earth), I am from above (heaven).  You are of this world, I am not of this world (Jn 8:42-44, 16:18-19, 17:15).

The unbelieving group we will call group B.

Now look at the Lord’s group - call it group A.

Paul entreats all followers who are seeking to be disciples of the Lord to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Col 1:10).

These traits are fruits of the Holy Spirit which we produce when we allow Him to live in us and follow His guidance (Gal 5:22, Jn 16:13). We are to produce these summer fruits to be harvested during the Feast of Ingathering in the fall (Ex 23:14-16).

This group is made up of those who persevere under trial and “overcome satan" the devil. This group shall not see death (Rom 12:21, 1 Jn 5:4, Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, 21, 21:7). Adam and Eve sinned but then repented after the Lord called them back (Gen 3).

Paul taught, “He is a true Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter, and his praise is not from men, but from God” (Jn 16: 7-12, Rom 2:29, Jn 16:7-12).

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph 4:4-6).

There is not to be any division in His followers as we see in denominations today (1 Cor 1:10-13). We are to be “of Christ” - not just following the founder of a denomination or another man or woman.

If your pastor or church teaches anything different than God’s moral law (the law of Moses) - run from him and his idolatry (Jn 14:16-24, 16:7-15, 1Cor 10:14, Heb 10:26-29)!
  Have the Holy Spirit to guide you into and teach you all truth.

He is all you need (1 Jn 2:20,27).

Within His followers there will be a pure remnant of those who are approved by God who will be evident (1Cor 11:19, 2 Cor 7:1).

PURE  BIBLE STUDY IS LOGICAL.
Logic = common sense (Prov 2:7, 3:21, Jas 3:13 NLT).

See 7 foundational facts from the bible;

1 - God never changes. (Mal 3:6, Heb 13:8).

2 - The Word of God has never changed (His Law).  

We are to worship according to His regulations of divine worship in the New Covenant and the Old Covenant (Heb 9:1). It is the same in both covenants.

His laws describing His holy appointed times will teach us how Jesus takes away our sins and makes us a suitable abode for Him to live in (Lev 23:1-44, Lk 24:27, 44, Jn 1:29, 14:23, Rom 10:4).  This is the Plan of Salvation.

The Lord prophesied through Daniel that the devil would use his demons try to mislead God’s church.  A beast from the Roman empire would intend to change times and the law (see Pure Bible Study, paragraph “The Bible contains…” following).

God tells us that the law would never change (Mt 5:18, Luke 16:17).

During Roman dominance in 321 AD pagan holidays were interjected into to churches that hid God’s true Holy times that we were to observe in His church which teach God’s Plan of Salvation (Lev 23:1-4).

Also see link;

God’s Plan Of Salvation Seen In His 8 Festivals

Counterfeit worship began to be substituted instead of the Lord’s Holy annual feast Days and the appointed time of His weekly sabbath (Mk 7:6-8).

The devil, Satan wants to blind us from the true spiritual meaning of these holy times.  The Lord wants us to rest in all that Christ has done for us, and wants to finish and perfect His work in us (Heb 12:2).

Counterfeit worship means we are sinning against God’s Law - “worshipping in vain” - wasting our time and money on the wrong god! (see Mark 7:6-8).

Israel’s surrounding nations taught counterfeit laws to God’s people because they had decided to remain “foreign” and not join with God’s people Israel to be grafted into God’s cultivated olive tree Israel (Num 15:14-15, 33:56-57, Josh 24:15, 20-23, Rom 11:17-24). They would not assimilate.

A repenting sinner may begin following Jesus when he hears the Gospel.  If we feel heavy laden with problems in life and guilt of sin; we should to come to Him and learn from Him, to find rest for your soul. The Lord teaches us to learn of Him  (Matt 11:28-30).

The intended changes of this cover-up of the devil through a beast from  Rome, the fourth world kingdom in Bible history were prophesied by Daniel the prophet (Dan 7:19-25).

The Bible contains this historic sequence about this prophecy of the use of kingdoms by the devil satan.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a dream about a statue made of four metals. These represent the four world powers (Dan 2:31-38).

Later, Belshazzar king of Babylon had a dream of four beasts. These represent four kings which rose from the earth - world powers (Dan 7:1-25).

metals in statue      tied to                   beasts are nations

gold reps          Babylon 605-562 BC sea beast like lion

silver reps   Medo-Persia 562-560 BC sea beast like bear

bronze reps      Greece 560-556 BC  sea beast “ leopard

iron reps            Rome 556-539 BC teeth iron devours

The GOOD NEWS appears in Dan 2:34-35 and 44-45 where the kingdom of God crushes these kingdoms as a great stone that will endure forever.

3 - All written in earlier times (before Paul in 70 AD) is for our instruction (New Testament written before 70 A.D. has no mention of destruction of temple by Rome,  Rom 15:4).

4 - Israel’s history is an example for all nations, including the world today (1 Cor 11:6, 11).

5 - All scripture is profitable (2 Tim 3:16) for our growth.  Do not divide only a portion of the Bible to use as a disciple or for worship (Dt 4:2, 12:32, Prov 30:6, Rev 22:18-19).  The Old Testament and the New Testament must be included (Jn 5:46-47, Lk 24:27, 44-47).

6 - The church of God has never changed

All people faithful to His covenants = the faithful remnant of His people = “Israel” = believers in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob = the heirs of eternal life in heaven according to the promise (Gal 3:29).

Other pagan religions claim Abraham as their father are descended through Ishmael, not Isaac (Gen 16:11-12).

Some churches worship differently than during Moses’ times and the early church.  What changed?

              God didn’t!

7- He wants His church people to separate from all forms of idolatry and pagan worship. (Abraham Gen 12:1, Elijah 1Kin18:20-, Hezekiah 2 Chron 30:13-31:20, Josiah 2 Kin 23:21, 2 Cor 6:16-7:1).

The Lord wants No traditions of man or idolatry in your life (Mk 7:6-8, Rom 1:25, 2 Cor 6:16 - 7:1, Col 2:8-11).

Make sure your beliefs are from the Bible and glorify Jesus’ works for our salvation. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into Our Lord's Covenant laws, not laws from the world of man. This is New Covenant circumcision (Rom 2:28-29, Col 2:8-11).

CULTIVATE THE GARDEN

The Lord created all men from the dust of the earth. He put man into His Garden of Eden to “till” the soil from

which he was taken (Genesis 2:15 KLV).

“Till” means to cultivate, till, work, be a worshipper, serve, be a slave, be wrought (Strong’s #H5647).

CULTIVATE YOUR HEART

The Bible is all about how to have a right spirit and a right heart.  Jesus taught that the garden we are to tend is our heart (compare Gen 2:15, Mt 13:18, Lk 8:12, 15) in the parable of the sower.

  

Today, men too easily get puffed up with pride and our self-worth and importance to God!   Jesus wants us to be humble and loving to Him first, and then to man (Mt 22:36-40).

The Lord said, “I will give you a new heart and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. I will save you from all of your uncleanness. Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good. I am not doing this for your sake, let it be known to you.  Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel” (Ezekiel 36:22 - 32)!

BY GOD’S GRACE WE CAN BE    

                 INCLUDED IN HIS PEOPLE

The Bible is about How to be God’s people.  These are the  ones who incline their hearts and discipline their lives to follow Him (Josh 24:23, Lk 8:9-10).  

We are to persevere through tests and trials and separate from the ‘world’ of other gods, man’s traditions, and idolatry.  We must strive to overcome all the deceit of the devil, satan (Mark 4:13-20, 2Cor 4:4, 11:13-15, 1 Pet 5:8, Thes 2:7-12, Rev 2:10, 13, 3:9).

The Lord wants us to show our faith in His covenants like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus did.

They showed loyalty, devotion and faith.

We are to discipline our lives to His teachings - His statutes, His ordinances and His commandments (Dt 30:15-16), not to a covenant of half truths of the devil like Adam and Eve (Gen 3:1-6, Jn 5:46-47).

Note - this teaching is constant and unchanging through the Bible.

Pay attention to The Lord’s teaching.

Do not exchange the truth of God for a lie (Rom 1:18-25).

Instead of serving idols, or church denominations of men, He has always wanted His people to serve Him to show that we are His people with our testimony (Gen 17:7-8, Ex 19:5-6, Dt 32:36, 41).

Jesus was the unleavened bread which came down from heaven (1Cor 5:6-8).  Unleavened teaching words - “I am the bread which came down from heaven” (Jn 6:35).  Jesus had no sin (2 Cor 5:21, 1 Pet 2:22). He was humble, not puffed up (Phil 2:5-11).  

That is why His Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Lord’s Supper use unleavened bread to remember His death - unleavened bread is not puffed-up.

He has always had a remnant of a few of His people that remained faithful servants to His covenants and therefore make up His one church ( Ex 13:9, Heb 12:1-)

Jesus says the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life , and few are those who find it (Mt 7:13-14).

This remnant group was predestined from the beginning, as when part of the angels remained faithful to the Lord instead of following the devil’s teachings (Jn 8:37-47).

This group was predestined to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself (Eph 1:5).

We will call this group A.

The Bible teaches the church is His wife (Eph 5:22-23).  It also teaches a part of His church, will be adulterous with other teachings and even a mixture of scripture and traditions of men rather than His commandments (Mark 7:6-8).

This is the “other group” predestined to be cut-off from His people and because they followed Satan, the devil down to everlasting death and destruction ( Rev 2:20, 12:9).        We will call this group B.

This group followed “half truths” like Eve and Adam did in Eden (Gen 3:1-6).  These ‘half truths’ could be half hidden by satan, or only half learned by the bible student and then they turned away from the Holy Spirit teaching because of ‘cares of the world” (Mt 13:22).

SEEK THE LIGHT

Jesus, is the Light of the world (Jn 1:4-9). He gives us a picture of the two groups A and B as He describes the judgment of who comes to Him and who does not.

Jesus said; Men are judged because they loved darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil.  “For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God,” (John 3:19-21).

All people are predestined to go

            into group A, or group B.

Jesus told about the two basic responses to His teaching in Luke 10:38-42.  Some people listen to the Lord’s word (Mary) = group A.  There are some are distracted with much ‘service’ (Martha) = group B.  

Jesus taught; “love God first,” then “love others.” This means to love others while living “within the framework of God’s Law to show you love Him first (Mt 22:36-40, Jn 14:15, Rom 2:12, 3:19 CJB translation, Rom Ch 6, Col 2:16).
     

Jesus wants us to live within the framework of His Law - for the best health physically and spiritually.  But if we do this we will be hated by the world, and even “the church.” This will bring on the tribulation scripture says we will experience  (Jn 16:33, Rom 7:7-12, 1 Jn 2:15-17, Rev 1:9).

  “In the world you have tribulation,” “Everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven,” “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called the Christ,” (Mt 10:32, Jn 16:33, Mt 27:22).

This is a test of our love of the Truth that all must go

through (2 Thes 2:7-12).  Friendship with the world is hostility toward God (James 4:4).

Don’t cut-off teachings you don’t like, or which your church denomination doesn’t use.  We must be of Christ (1Cor1:10-13, Eph 1:1-14).

SEEK LIGHT

The Pilgrims came to America to separate from religious persecution from the Roman Catholic Church in 1621.  Their pastor, John Robinson encouraged them;

“Follow me no further than I have followed Christ. If God should reveal to you by another instrument of his, be as ready to receive it as ever you were to receive any truth of my ministry; for I am very confident the Lord hath more truth and light yet to break forth out of His holy word.

For my part cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed churches, who are come to a period of religion, and will go at present no farther than the instruments of their reformation.  The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw; and the Calvinists..stick fast where they were left by that great man of God who yet saw not all things. …. [these men] penetrated not into the whole counsel of God, but were they now living, would be as willing to embrace further light as that which they first received.”

(Neal, D, History of the Puritans, Vol. 1. pg.269).

You will find many denominations who follow only their founder.  We should see that each has a part of the truth - but none has all.  We must follow the Holy Spirit into all truth (Jn 14:13-14).

       

Listen to the Lord. Ask Him to guide you according to scripture.  The Bible reminds us to beware of the devil and his demons who are deluding influences (Mt 4:24, 13:19, Lk 8:18, 11:9-13, 2 Cor 4:4, 11:12-15, 2 Thes 2:7-12, 1 Pet 5:8).                                              

ASSIMILATE  -                  

        INTO GOD’S SPIRITUAL CHURCH

The name of “God’s people” through Bible is “Israel.”

The nations are to JOIN God’s people Israel. This is a theme throughout the Bible. The group of people who travelled on the exodus with God’s people was a mixed multitude (Ex 12:38, 48-49).

Notice that we are all part of the nations which came from Jacob - i.e. sons of Jacob (Gen 35:11).

However, in the New Testament Paul teaches that we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God,...not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Cor 2:12-14).

The original Law given on Mt. Sinai by the Lord was to the assembly of the Sons of Israel and to any alien who sojourned with them. This is a perpetual statute throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the alien be before the Lord (Num 15:14-16);

“There is to be one law and one ordinance for you (Israel) and for the alien who sojourns with you.”

After the people of Israel became disobedient to the Lord and had been sent to Babylon into captivity - and then returned home, Nehemiah describes that they obediently separated from any foreign teachings or influences to return to the Lord’s law which was given through Moses (Neh 10:28-30).

We are witnesses with the Holy Spirit God has given to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32).

Finally, Jesus tells us to “go and make disciples of all nations….teaching them to observe all that I commanded yoU" (Mt 28:19-20, Lk 6:40).

If we are to be His people we will take His yoke upon ourselves and learn of Him (Mt 11:29).  We are to be willing to be led into all truth by the Holy Spirit the Lord sends to us (Jn 16:7-12).  His ways must be in our testimony (Ex 12:9).

If we belong to Christ then we are Abraham’s offspring, descended through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Gen 35:12, Gal 3:26-29).

If we turn back -  we have fallen away and commit acts of contempt, we cannot be renewed to repentance again (Neh 9:18, Mt 12:32, Mk 3:29, Heb 6:4-6).  

                                                          

We are “Predestined” to be in

   group A, or group B, that is,

        God’s people or satan’s people.

Beware of the devil’s mixture of half-truths and cover-ups are blocking out God’s will.  The devil is devoted to your destruction as seen in the Parable of the Sower

(Mt 13:1-23).  
     

YOU CHOOSE !      God gives us grace to choose, as Joshua challenged all of Israel (Josh 24:15), “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve,”

“Incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel” (Josh 24:23).  

      

      When you are shown a discrepancy in Bible teachings - you must decide who you believe is right - -

                 your preacher or Jesus!

The Lord’s Truths quietly stand alone through all time.    Joshua reminded God’s people he was adding a condition to the Lord’s covenant before they crossed into the Promised land. He set up a stone to be a witness against them, “lest they deny your God,” (Joshua 24:25-27).

       

Some of the Mega churches today are actually counselling rebellion against the Lord God’s law to seduce you from “the way” in which the Lord commanded you to walk (Dt 13:1-5, Acts 19:9, 2 Cor 11:13-14, 2 Thes 2:7-12, 1 Pet 5:8).

Some preachers and evangelists are charismatic speakers and can draw people to them through their personality.  Satan, the serpent in the Garden of Eden is an example of this.

They are wolves in sheep's clothing. Top quality suits - distinguished gray hair - smooth speaking - dignified.

A  poem by Max Ehrman, in 1927 originally called “Go Placidly amid the noise and haste”  states an important principle when it says “avoid loud and vexing spirits.”

This warns us today to avoid the typical Mega churches and the divided scriptural messages which require hard-sell marketing by the devil.

How do you tell true Bible teaching?  Start like the Bereans in Acts 17:10-11.  The Bible description of Jesus’ New Covenant church tells us - “Examine the scriptures daily to see if what a teacher or preacher says is true.”

     
 The Berean church was a small church. Originally, the Lord used a small family, Kish, of the smallest tribe, Benjamin, of the smallest nation, Israel, to be His people (1 Sam 9:1, 21).                   

He did not use a Mega-church!

And you will know them by their fruits.  Some appear to teach Bible law but do not keep it themselves!

See if they keep God’s Law themselves (Jn 5:46-47).

Paul’s warning; “You who teach another, do you not teach yourself” (Rom 2:21-23)?
One popular pastor at a Mega Church had a sermon "Staying On The Right Track." It was very accurate about how to use God's Law to find the Lord and to honor Him - but it was preached from a regular Sunday keeping church service. The preacher's testimony did not match his words that he was teaching!

The Lord redeemed us from the house of slavery and sin at Passover approximately 3500 years ago. The Bible teaches that He is the unleavened bread which came down from heaven (Jn 6:51, 2Cor 5:11, Phil 2:5-11).  Jesus says He is the one who made atonement with the Lord, cleansed sin from the holy sanctuary, and bore our sins away.  He wants to make His tabernacle in you to live there.

We must believe in Him and His Ways.  He came about 2000 years ago as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29).  This is what the Lord’s appointed times, or holy convocations teach.  

They are called feasts of the Lord because if we eat of these we will see all the ways that the Lord worked out our salvation according to the Law.  We are to worship His holy ways - not rabbits, witches and Santa Claus.

Remember the Garden of Eden;

Partial truths = the tree of knowledge of “good” and “evil.”  This tree symbolizes the devil - satan (Gen 2:17, 3:1-5, Deut 30:15 KJV).

The devil was the first to divide

 God’s Law which the Lord God had         

    commanded Adam (Gen 3:1-6).

      The purpose of the law is to test God’s people (Ex 20:20, 15:25, Dt 13:1-3).

The Lord separates those who follow the devil from those who follow His Laws (Mt 7:21-23, Mt 25:31-32, Jn 5:28-29, 2 Thes 2:7-12).

Remember, we are saved by Grace through Faith (Eph 2:8). The law is our tutor to lead us to Christ, our Redeemer (Gal 3:22-29).

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise (Gen 15:4-6).

Abram (Abraham) believed the Lord’s promise first - then turned from man’s ways to God’s laws to be set apart and marked with the sign of the covenant, that is circumcision (Ex 13:9, Jn 5:46-47).

This was a symbol that he was separating (cutting-off) the world of the flesh as we are taught to do in the New Covenant of Jesus Christ (Rom 7:14-25, 8:12-13, Col 2:11, Js 4:4, 1Jn2:15-16).

This is when we have the law of the Lord in our mouth. this is “the mark of the Lord” (Gen 12:1-4, 15:6, 17:1-10, 26:1-5, Ex 13:9,16, Col 2:11).

 The testimony of God’s law makes the difference - not a law of the devil's false mixture of teachings, or teachings of a man.

The Lord said His promise to Abraham would be  extended to Isaac, Abraham’s son, “Because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws” (Gen 17:1-2, 26:5).

Abraham is an example for us (Rom 15:4, 1 Cor 10:1-11, Gal 3:29). Have faith in the Lord’s promises first. Repent to His premises (law) second.

We can see evidence of God’s law and grace way back in Abraham’s life.  He had faith in the Lord’s promises to him.  He showed trust grounded obedience (“obedience of faith” - Rom 1:5).

He showed his loyalty as “faith grounded obedience” to the Lord’s laws (Rom 1:5, 16:26).  We learn this because the Lord extended His covenant to Isaac (Gen 26:5) because Abraham kept the Lord’s laws (Rom 4:13-16).

He showed “trust grounded obedience;”
Our works must be the fruit of our faith - not the root.

The promises given to Abraham, and the Law of Moses given to God’s people Israel are
for all the nations and for all time and for us today (Num 15:14-15, Deut 32:11, 43, Rom 2:17-29, 11:111-24).

-  Abram’s name was changed to Abraham because     

  the Lord was going to make him the “father of a

  multitude of nations” (Gen 17:4-6).

-  Only a portion of God’s people are called Jews (one

  tribe of 12). Collectively they are Hebrews as a

  people - Isrealites.  They are God’s people (Num

  15:2, 14-15).

-  There has always been only one statute for the

   sons of Israel and the alien who sojourns with them

   (Num 15:16).

-  Study the growth of “God’s people” from the first

  covenant with Adam and Eve in Eden on through the

  four covenants of Noah, Abraham, Moses, and   

  Jesus (Gen 2:16-17, Hos 6:7, Gen 6:8-9, 18, 22,   

  Gen 17:10, Ex 24:4-8, Lk 22:20, 1 Cor 11:25, Heb

  10:16).

-  Jesus said; “Teach all nations all that I commanded

    you (Mt 28:19-20, Lk 24:44-48 ).

Read this thread of scripture references through the entire bible. Don’t get cut off from God’s people because of a rebellious, stiff-necked attitude like many of the Israelites (Jer Ch 1-11).

Jesus said,”I was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” (Mt 15:24).

Jesus said,”I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall become one flock with one shepherd (Jn 10:16).

Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice and they follow Me” (Jn 10:27).

              

      Jesus’ invitation is for all people;

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul.  For My yoke is easy, and My load is light,” (Mt 11:28).

Don’t follow the devil’s teachings - he is proud and arrogant and wants you to worship him and to go be

devoured in the lake of fire with him!

Remember we are saved by Grace through Faith (Eph 2). However, the Law is our tutor to lead us to Christ (Gal 3:24).

If you are in bondage to sin, the law shows us the penalty is death - this is the bad news (Gen 2:17, Ezek 18:4-9).

The Law also leads us to Jesus as our substitute sacrifice for our sins - this is the good news - “the gospel” (1 Cor 15:1-4).

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise (Gen 15:4-6, Gal 3:29).

We can see evidence of Law and Grace in Abraham’s life. He had faith in the Lord’s promises to him.  Then he showed his loyalty, and faith grounded obedience to the Lord’s Laws.

We learn this because the Lord extended His covenant to Isaac (Gen 26: 5).

                          

Paul emphasized;

“For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.  

For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise nullified; for the law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring  -- not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (Rom 4:13-16 ESV).   

Key Words;

Repent      

Law        

Obey  

Bloodshed       

Faith

Flesh vs. Spirit

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