Law and not Relationship
Let us look at something that the Holy Spirit has prompted me to closely examine, and we will start with Matthew 19:16-25 “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and [thy] mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard [it], they were exceedingly amazed, saying, who then can be saved?”
Law and not relationship, or Churchianity and not Christianity, or as John recorded this for us in John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The foolish Bridesmaids thought that as long as they were with the Bridesmaids, then they were in, but no relationship kept them out. There is only one door in Heaven, and that is Jesus Christ, so I cannot get there by the door of my Denomination, as there is no such door, only Jesus Christ and him alone.
Matthew 23:23 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Here the Church was so into doting I’s and crossing T’s that there was no commitment to God or a relationship, you turned up to church, got your attendance card stamped as it were, so now you are free to live like anything for the rest of the week. There was no actually living the Christian life 24/7.
The Spiritual Law (10 Commandments) are just as critical as the actual stone written ones. Look/Lust = Adultery {Matt 5:28}, Hate=Murder {1 John 3:15}, Defile body Temple and get destroyed (2nd Table of the Law){1 Cor 3:17}, Foolish Bridesmaids (1st Table of the Law) locked out due to no Kingship by God nor a relationship; and so forth, “and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Matthew 23:23 as it is more about doing than believing. James has this point as found in James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” The Devils believe and tremble, but that does not save them as it is faith in word and action that is the evidence of real Salvation.
2 Peter 1:4-10 “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”
In Peter’s ladder of Character development and growth, it finishes on the platform of Love; Agape’ love, or the pure God Love. So in the end it is all about “Relationship” and “Reflect Jesus,” actually living the Christian life and not having a semblance of God.
Romans 2:28-29 “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God.” 1 John 5:7-9 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.”
Ephesians 4:10-13 “He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:”
How many today see Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, as He is! How few know Him! How few know the Father! Everyone that knows Christ has a knowledge of the Father. To see Christ as He is, is just one of the greatest blessings that can ever come to fallen humanity; the precious Saviour, to see Him as He is! How many have partial views of Jesus Christ. How many acknowledge Him as the world’s Redeemer, but they know Him not as a personal Saviour; and this is essential—the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ. . . {CTr 258}
