Hammered by the Law

What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come.Galatians 3:19
Although the law doesn't justify us, it's still useful and necessary. First, in society, it holds the lawless people in check. Second, it shows people that they are sinners guilty of death and worthy of eternal wrath.

Why does the hammer of the law smash us to pieces and crush us? Of what use is this humiliation? It shows us that the way of grace stands open to us. So the law is a servant and prepares us for grace. For God is a God of the humble, the miserable, the troubled, the oppressed, the despairing, and those who have become totally nothing. He lifts the lowly, feeds the hungry, heals the blind, comforts the miserable and troubled, justifies the sinner, raises the dead, and saves the despairing and the condemned. For he is the almighty Creator who makes everything from nothing. Most of all, he protects us from the most harmful corruption—presuming we're righteous. No one wants to be a sinner who is impure, miserable, and condemned. But everyone wants to be righteous and holy. So God uses this hammer of the law to break, crush, and annihilate this beast with its empty confidence, wisdom, righteousness, and power. As a result, it will learn through its misfortune that it is lost and condemned. When the conscience has been terrified in this way by the law, there's a place for the teaching of the gospel and of grace, which restores and comforts the conscience. This teaching says that Christ came into the world, not to break a bruised reed, not even to snuff out a smoldering wick (Isaiah 42:3), but "to preach good news to the poor. . . . bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners" (Isaiah 61:1).

This is the reply I got when I posted this: "Cool perspective on it man. Might be a bit heavy handed for some non-Christians if you lead with that, but that doesn't make it any less true. ;)"

My response was: Thanks. Yeah, it's like wow isn't that a little ruff. But like Paul said i had not known sin, but by the law. The law is a schoolmaster to lead sinners to Christ. I been told, 'dude you can't go around condemning people', but the Bible says... they are condemned already and I don't condemn I want to show people their state before a Holy God. We need to be light and salt. Why candy coat it. People need to know that there are ten great cannons pointing at them, that God's wrath abides on them. We try not to offend others by saying, "don't worry all have sinned," but if we add water to the medicine, we could rob it of it's curing properties. Too much of the church tries to reflect the world to draw people, but we as the body of Christ need to stand up and say there is a right and wrong. We should be less worried about offending sinners and reach to them knowing they face eternity in Hell. I want to take this message to the church and tell the bride of Christ not to ask the world if it looks appealing, but ask Jesus. There is some kind of manly stuff missing. So much is about beauty and allure, but what about the straight up grit of truth. The truth is not without love. If a farmer has to put down his prize winning, but ill horse, does he do it cause he is a man and suppose to just be cold and unfeeling? No, he loves his horse and wants what is best for it and doesn't want to see it in pain. Most of the world says "that is unfeeling. You have no heart." But wasn't his motivation love? Even though it seems ruff. It seems to me that it is unfeeling to be selfish in spite of the horses pain. The law makes grace make sense. Read Jude 1:22-23.

Hard to be still

"Be still, and know that I am God." -Psalm 46:10 Just sit back and let God be God! Oh, He is very good at being God!! Sometimes you can't just fix it. Most men (present company included) have trouble with that. We want to be the 'hero' the one our wives, but sometimes we can't fix it or it doesn't need to be 'fixed' at all. Only God has the tools for the trade. Sometimes you can't base it on a feeling. Faith dies if it is base on just a feeling. Ladies sometimes you won't be able to feel through your troubles. But God can. God is eager to do a work in and through you, just be still. Let God be God in your life.

Successful?

Jeremiah is known as “the weeping prophet,” for he loved his people and his heart was grieved over their rebellion and unrepentant sin against God. But don’t be fooled into thinking that because Jeremiah wept that he was in any way weak. Jeremiah knew the Lord was with him. He knew he was called by God to serve as one of His prophets. And although Jeremiah’s was a lonely existence, filled with trials and tribulations, he was courageous, patient, and showed great physical endurance and spiritual faithfulness.

The overall theme of the Book of Jeremiah is one of judgment against infidelity. Quite literally, Jeremiah was called by God to call His people to account for their sin of spiritual adultery. The nation of Israel was an idolatrous whore in the eyes of God. But while Israel broke covenant with God, God would never break covenant with them. Oh yes, they would be punished for their sin; but God is faithful, even when His people are faithless.

By today’s man-centered evangelistic standards, Jeremiah was an utter failure in ministry. For forty years, Jeremiah cried out like a lone voice in the wilderness, like a trumpet to deaf ears, only seeing two of his brethren repent and return to God—his scribe, Baruch and an Ethiopian eunuch named Ebed-melech who served King Zedekiah. Jeremiah saw only two converts in forty years.

But Jeremiah’s prophetic, open-air ministry was anything but a failure, for he was faithful to the call of God in his life. God gave him his marching orders and he stepped out in faith. He didn’t do it to please man, but to please his great God and King. He loved God and he loved people. And he preached as though lives depended on it, because the lives of his countrymen were weighing in the balance. So, the next time someone asks you for results—the next time someone asks you how effective you are when you hand out gospel tracts, or when you engage strangers in spiritual conversation, or when (if this applies to you) you herald the gospel on the streets—simply tell them that you are as successful as Jeremiah. For salvation is of the Lord and not a result of the efforts of man. And any effort to proclaim the gospel to the lost, so long as it is done biblically, is a successful effort, regardless of the response of the hearer.

Prayers for the Lost

Don't just pray for the lost, but give your prayers arms & legs & reach out to the lost! Have we stopped caring about people?! Yes we should get into the word, but don't forget what the word tells us to do! My Bible says Jesus came to seek & to save that which was lost. If we are to follow Christ & do what He has said to do, why do we sit in our comfort zone & not reach?! Tell someone why they need the Savior today!

Wretched: Nothing more than feelings.

Wretched: Killing Anger part 2

Wretched: The Biggest Question

Can we trust the Bible?

Someone at the Door

Scripture tells us that God tempts no one. Temptation always comes from the devil. God will test us & allow us to endure the temptation, but the devil does the tempting. How do we overcome it? Try this method. When the devil comes knocking at the door, send Jesus to the door. That is exactly the way to take care of it. God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. –Psalm 46:1

paul washer you are loved