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Commentary on "In the Loom of Heaven"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 6: Thursday, March 31, 2011 - Cheap Grace and Legalism

 

Overview

Today’s lesson focuses on two opposite schools of thought related to our salvation. The first is that salvation can be had without including obedience. Legalism, the other extreme, can be thought of earning salvation by adhering to a set of rules such as the Mosaic Law embodied in what is commonly referred to as ‘The Ten Commandments’. As is pointed out in the lesson, both concepts are false.

The suggested reading for today is Philippians 3:3-16 and asks us to explore the meaning of ‘salvation by faith’. To do so it is best that we include the verses that precede this passage.

 

Observations

First we will consider the words of the Apostle Peter who is addressing Christian Jews who are dispersed throughout the Roman Empire:

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (1 Peter 1:1-2 ESV)

What was true of these early Jewish Christians is true of all those who have joined the kingdom of God.

  1. Christians are elected according to the foreknowledge of God.
  2. The Holy Spirit sanctifies Christians for obedience to Jesus Christ.
  3. Christians are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ, the source of their salvation.

Now we will turn to the Philippian text referred to in today’s lesson.

Verse 1: While is has a much wider application for all Christians, Paul is specifically writing these words for the protection of the Philippian saints.

Verse 2: He sets the theme of this chapter by warning them of the “dogs” who would mutilate the “flesh”.

Verse 3: The true “circumcision” are those who serve (obey) according to the Holy Spirit instead of things that are of the “flesh”.

Verse 4: Paul no longer has any confidence in things of the “flesh”.

Verse 5 and 6: Paul outlines the things of the flesh that were a part of his former life such as circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless. These things of the “flesh” are of the Mosaic Law and are what mutilate the “flesh”.

But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ —the righteousness from God based on faith. (Phil 3:7-9 HCSB)

Paul considers all the things that identified who he was under the Mosaic Law as filth when compared with what he now has in Jesus Christ. This revolutionary difference in his life was righteousness from God based on faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Summary

  1. There is no such thing as grace without our attendant obedience to our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
  2. Our salvation was an elected act of God. God foreknew who would be in his kingdom long before our very existence. There is no such thing as an Investigative Judgment because God already knows who will be in his kingdom.
  3. Paul declares that he once was “regarding the law, a Pharisee” but now considers it filth as compared to knowing Jesus Christ.
  4. Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Romans 8:1-2 HCSB)
  5. The ‘Law of sin and death’ is what we have been set free of when we place our faith solely upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
  6. Paul testifies to the things of his former life and supposed righteousness as nothing more than “filth”.
  7. Justification by faith means that obedience to Jesus Christ has nothing to do with observing the requirements embodied in the Mosaic Law.
  8. Those who place their ‘confidence in the flesh’ are the ones who practice the requirements of the Mosaic Law and believe this will gain them favor in the sight of God. Those who advocate such things are the dogs Paul is warning us about in Phil. 3:2.

 

GO TO DAY 7

 

Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised March 22, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

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