Laws. by Dean Gotcher

Laws.

by
Dean Gotcher

If the law of God can only expose and condemn the law of the flesh (lasciviousness), if man can not even save himself by trying to fulfill or satisfy the law of God himself (legalism), which he can not do, then the only law which can save man from condemnation, from the law of the flesh (from "human nature"), is the law of faith (liberty from the flesh and condemnation by faith in Christ Jesus) alone. Romans 7:14-25

Dialectic 'reasoning,' i.e. Genesis 3:1-6, is man 'justifying the law of the flesh (lasciviousness) as well as 'justifying' his ability to fulfill or satisfy the law of God (legalism), which is the law of sin, over and against the law of faith in Christ Jesus alone (which is righteousness imputed). Lasciviousness (the law of the flesh) and legalism (man trying to fulfill the law of God) can not be equal to righteousness (to the law of faith in Christ Jesus), since both make man 'righteous' in his own eyes, 'justified' in the flesh and/or 'justified' in works, leaving him subject to the law of sin and death.

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:" "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:3, 2

It is impossible to please God (our Heavenly Father, who is perfect and demands perfection, i.e. who chastens us that we might partake in His Holiness, Hebrews 12:5-11), without faith in Christ Jesus, the only begotten son of God, alone. Obedience to the Father and faith in Christ Jesus go hand in hand

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6

By man making either the law of the flesh the law of the land (lasciviousness) or the law of God the law of the land (legalism) over and against the law of faith (where righteousness can only be imputed by God to those of faith in Christ Jesus alone), faith is negated in the thoughts and actions of men. All of today's personal and social problems begin and end here, i.e. in man choosing the law of the flesh or the law of God as his salvation instead of the law of faith in Christ Jesus. In fact Jesus himself stated: "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8

Which law are you living by?