A Tragic Mistake

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under [a]the Law but under grace.  Romans 6:14 NASB Not under the Law – Martin Luther’s mistake cost all of us centuries of spiritual deprivation.  Luther read Paul’s words and concluded that the Law no longer applied to the faithful.  He did just what the translators of the…

Can’t You Just Speak Clearly?

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were put to death in regard to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.  Romans 7:4 NASB Raised from the dead – Just when we thought we’d finally…

Luther’s Law (1)

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under [a]the Law but under grace.  Romans 6:14  NASB But – There’s probably no more important verse for the Church than this line from Paul’s letter to the Romans.  In fact, as it is read in most English Bibles, it’s the ultimate justification for separating Christianity from Judaism. …

The Second Great Divide

Then you are to say to them, ‘It is because your forefathers have forsaken Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘and have followed other gods and served them and bowed down to them; but Me they have forsaken and have not kept My law.  Jeremiah 16:11 NASB Law – There are two unbridgeable chasms between Christianity and Judaism.  The first,…

Cancelbration (2)

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 NASB Law of sin and death – What is “the law of sin and death”? If you follow Martin Luther (and others), you might assume that Paul’s use of nomos…

Nine Ways from Sunday

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 NASB Law – Paul is a complex writer. He uses Greek vocabulary to its maximum. In fact, sometimes he just makes up words. So to imagine that Paul always means…

Inner Rebellion

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are…

Rules of Engagement

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 NASB Require – Has YHVH gotten your attention? Has His announcement riveted your interest? Do you really, truly want to know what…

A Rabbi Speaks

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:4 NASB End of the law – “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law…

A Case of Severe ‘yada

“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”  Matthew 7:23  NASB Never knew you – Rosh Hashanah is gone.  Yom Kippur is over.  The Feasts will wait for another year.  We have studied many words, examined many concepts, learned some theological truths.  There is a…