Memorise; And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of
these is charity. 1st Corinthians 13:13
Read: 1st Corinthians 13:8-13, 8 Charity
never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;
whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge,
it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When
I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought
as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For
now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know
in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Bible in one year: 2nd Kings 17:24-19:7, Proverbs 24:8-20
MESSAGE
The
Bible says Christ is the end of the law (Romans 10:4), and it is
entirely correct in every respect. Christ is the object of the law, the
reason why the law was given; He is the fulfilment of the law, the
conclusion of the law, the finality of the law, and the termination of
the law. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. There is no
righteousness of any kind (justifying righteousness or sanctifying
righteousness) to be attained by our personal obedience to the law
because it is written, “for if righteousness by the law, then Christ is
dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21). However, Christ is not the end of the
law for everyone. He did not fulfil the demands of the law for everyone.
He is only the end of the law for the elects of God and all those who
shall trust in His saving power. Christ is therefore the end of the law
for righteousness to everyone that believes in Him.
“Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”
Romans 10:4
When
Apostle Paul declared the Christ is the end of the law, he was not
telling us that the law is evil. Writing by divine inspiration, the
apostle meant that those apostate religious leaders who try to mix law
and grace, who try to put believers under the yoke of bondage, desiring
to be teachers of the law, do not know what they are talking about,
“understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.” The law
was never intended, in any sense, for those who are righteous before
God.
The law was given for the unrighteous. The law is not evil. It is holy,
just, and good. It would be well if all men lived in conformity to the
law’s commands, both in outward practice and inward principle. Indeed,
it is ordained of God and used by all civil governments to protect
society from those who would otherwise disregard all respect for the
rights, property, and lives of others.
This
passage should not be used to legalise immorality and corruption as
many are doing. Jesus did not come to invalidate the commandments of God
in anyway. He was a law abiding person while He lived here on earth.
Jesus teaches liberty and freedom from the binding effect of sin in that
the letters of sin enslaves in a very powerful way. Yet, man has a
strange infatuation with the law. Like the gnat that is drawn to the
candle that will destroy it, man by nature is drawn to the law for
righteousness, when all the law can give is destruction. The law can do
nothing else but reveal sin and pronounce condemnation on the sinner
(Romans 3:19-20).
Still,
we cannot get men to flee from the law. They are so enamoured with
their own self-righteousness and their own self-worth that they will
cling to the law with a death-grip, though there is really nothing to
cling to. They prefer Sinai to Calvary, though Sinai offers them nothing
but death. Listen to the Word of God. If the opinions of men or your
own opinions contradict the Word of God, “Let God be true and every man a
liar.”
Prayer Point
Father, please give me the grace to live by Your righteousness and not my works
