by John Carpenter | Feb 18, 2022 | Devotional
(2)“For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus – hath made me free from – the law of sin and death.(3)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. (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us – who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” [Ro.8:2-4]
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth – that shall he also reap! (8) For he that soweth to his flesh – shall of the flesh reap corruption – but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting!” [Gal.6:7-8]
To pick up where we left off last month – we are looking at what the “Law of sin and death” refers to. Once again – let’s look at how scripture interprets scripture. The Holy Spirit from 2Cor.3:7-8 says: “But if the Ministration of death – written and engraven in stones was glorious – so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which (glory) was to be done away: (8) How shall not the Ministration of the Spirit – exceed in glory!”
So, therefore, from the Ro.8:2-4 text the Holy Spirit of the Holy Word of God contrasts the “Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus” with that which He calls the “Law of sin and death”. And, from the 2Cor.3 text He is comparing the same two by calling the one “the Ministration of death” and the other “the Ministration of the Spirit”! These two different texts interpret and expand each other! Praise the Holy Spirit of the Holy Word of God!
It is obvious that the “Law of sin and death” refers to the “Holy, just and good Law of God” [see: Rom.7:12] that was delivered unto Moses on Mt. Sinai by God, Himself! Hence, does Gal.3:19 pose the question: “Wherefore then – the Law?” Or rather: For what purpose did our God give to us His Holy Law? Especially when we are plainly told from Ro.3:19: “Now we know (i.e. we know without a doubt) that what things soever the Law saith (or, whatsoever the Law literally means) it saith (or, it utters; or, it preaches; or, it declares) to them who are under the Law: (or, to them who have been born under, and in, the Law – which includes everybody in the history of fallen humanity) that every mouth may be stopped (or, that every language of every mouth of fallen-in-sin humanity may be silenced) and all the world may become guilty (or, condemned — by the curse of the Law) before God.”
This leads us right up to what is plainly put forth from Ro.3:20 which delivers God’s divine conclusion by saying: “Therefore, by the deeds of the Law – there shall no flesh be justified in His sight”. – Why?! – Because: “for by the Law is the (full) knowledge of sin.” So, you see, the scriptures from here declare the absolute weakness of the “Law of sin and death” to justify our fallen-in-sin flesh – or, to declare before Holy God – us, in our flesh, as being righteous in God’s sight. This is because by God’s Law we can only come to fully know and understand that we are hopeless and helpless sinners! We need God to be our Savior – from God – and ourselves – under “His Holy Just and Good Law”! In other words: We need the Lord Jesus Christ! He is the only Hope that we have of our ever being eternally saved! Praise His Holy Name!
The Lord willing – we shall continue to see how this plays out in our walk through this world.
by John Carpenter | Jan 21, 2022 | Devotional
(2)“For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus – hath made me free from – the law of sin and death.(3)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. (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us – who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” [Ro.8:2-4]
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth – that shall he also reap! (8) For he that soweth to his flesh – shall of the flesh reap corruption – but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting!” [Gal.6:7-8]
These two passages of holy scripture provide for us true children of 3xholy God — a wonderful New Year’s Resolution. In fact, they exhort us to pursue a resolution for a whole new life and walk through this sinful world. A resolution to follow – not the law – but the Spirit of Christ!
Rom.8:2 contrasts the freedom of “the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus” with the bondage of “the law of sin and death”. With the sound principle of studying the Word of God — that stands absolutely true when it tells us that — “scripture interprets scripture” – let’s examine what the whole context of Ro.8:2 is here saying.
First of all, let’s contemplate what God’s Word refers to when it says: “the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus”. Remember 1Co.15:45 that says: “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul – the last Adam (Christ Jesus) was made a quickening Spirit.”. And, from Jn.10:10 Jesus said in reference to those who are described as being His sheep (for whom He died) – He said, “I am come that they might have Life – and that they might have it more abundantly!” And then there is also Jn.5:21 from where our Lord Jesus declares: “For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them – even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.” All of which makes perfect sense! Jesus is – without a doubt — the incarnated eternal Son of God. This means that He is – One with God the Father and One with God the Holy Spirit – and they are One with Him. This means that the Lord Jesus Christ — He is God!
Now what does the Word of God tell us concerning “the law of sin and death”? What exactly is this law? The Holy Spirit tells us from Ga.3:10-13> “For as many as are of the works of the law – are under the curse. For it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law – to do them. (11) But that no man is justified by [or lit. in] the law in the sight of God – it is evident! For “The just shall live by [or lit. out of] faith”. (12) And the law is not [out] of faith; but the man that doeth them [i.e. anyone that doeth — the works of the law] shall live in them.”
According to the Spirit, this scenario constitutes a fallen human effort in futility! Because, there is no approved and acceptable Justification before God that we can even hope to manufacture from our striving to live a righteous life out of the works of the law. But, Praise the Lord God our eternal Savior for vs.13 – which says: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law – being made a curse for us – for it is written: Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.” This is the truth of the Gospel of Christ’s glory only! He bore the consequences of our curse so we could be clothed with His perfect righteousness! We will look more deeply into this next time.
For Christ’s Glory Only! John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Dec 20, 2021 | Devotional
“We are of God – he that knoweth God – heareth us; he that is not of God – heareth not us. Hereby know we the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (7) Beloved, let us love one another for love is of God; and everyone that loveth – is born of God – and knoweth God! (8) He that loveth not, knoweth not God – for God is love! (9) In this was manifested the love of God – toward us – because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world – that we might live through Him. (10) Herein is love! Not that we loved God – but that He loved us – and sent His Son – a propitiation for our sins.” [1Jn.4:6-10]
At this time of year, from the last phrase of this passage of holy scripture, we see a descriptive announcement of God’s perfect purpose in His sending His only begotten Son into this lost, sinful and law-cursed world. This wonderful announcement plainly tells us that God loved us “and sent His Son – a propitiation for our sins”! In other words, God’s Son – was sent into this world to be the complete and total satisfaction of whatever divine requirements there are that need to be met for the perfect approval and acceptance of every chosen member of God’s eternal and heavenly household. This includes even the perfect Justice that God demands to be carried out where our sins are concerned. And, in Christ – and by Christ – this as been accomplished! This is the pure truth of the gospel of the holy glory, only, of our Lord Jesus Christ!
The question is – just exactly for whom has this great salvation been wrought – or totally worked out? And, from vs.6-9 John is inspired by the Holy Spirit to address this precise matter. These men and women – boys and girls – receive the announcement and presentation of the gospel of God’s grace and believe it! They “hear” by the presence and power of the Grace of the Holy Spirit – and they know that what they hear is the gospel truth of God. Furthermore – they “Love” what they hear because the love of Christ controls them and causes them to love the truth of the gospel of the glory, only, of Jesus Christ, this is what manifests that they are indeed the true children of God!
Before this – 1Jn.3:5 – states: “And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins – and in Him is no sin.” This text unfolds even more wonderful news! Not only has the incarnated eternal Son of God satisfied the total penalty and punishment that our sins deserve – but God has also used His Son to be all our perfect righteousness that makes us to be approved and accepted in God’s Holy Presence! “In Him is no sin”! In Christ is where God has created us (see: Eph.2:10)! “He has chosen us in Him – before the foundation of the world – that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (see: Eph.1:4)! The “Good News” just keeps getting better and better! God, Himself, fulfills that which He commands of us from Rom.13:14 which says: “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ – and make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
This then leads us into “seeing” the Saving Purpose of God’s sending His only-begotten Son into this sin filled world as stated in 1Jn.3:8> “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil.” And, vs.10 says: “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil.”
And, just who are these children of the devil? They are even as 1Jn.4:5 describes> “They are of the world – therefore speak they of the world and the world heareth them.” Pr.20:12 declares: “The hearing ear and the seeing eye – the Lord hath made even both of them!” Praise His Name! Jesus Christ really did come into this world this world – “to save sinners”! All glory to Him! Let’s all celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, into the world of fallen humanity (see Rom. 8:3-4).
For Christ’s Glory Only! -John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Nov 8, 2021 | Devotional
(13) “But Now – in Christ Jesus – ye who sometimes [or, once were] far off – (lit.) have been made nigh – by [or, in] the blood Christ.(14) For He is our Peace – who hath made both one – and (lit.) having broken down the middle wall of partition {between us}; (15) having abolished in His flesh the enmity, {even} the law of commandments {contained} in ordinances; for to make [or, to create] in Himself {of} twain (lit.) into One New Man – {so} making Peace! (16) And {that} He might Reconcile both unto God in One body – (lit.) through the cross – having slain the enmity thereby: [or, found therein] (17) And (lit) having come – He preached Peace to you which {were} afar off – and to them that {were} nigh. (18) For through Him – we both have access (lit.) in one Spirit unto the Father. (19) Now therefore – ye are no more strangers and (lit.) sojourners – but fellow-citizens with the saints – and of the household of God!” [Eph.2:13-19]
The main subject of this particular context of descriptive scripture is the blessed and wonderful pure truth of the gospel of the glory of God’s grace concerning the Reconciliation between Holy God and all His chosen sinner/children (whom He authoritatively includes in the phrase “with the saints”). For them — this has been accomplished — and is presently being maintained – through the person and work of – the Prince of Peace, Himself — the Lord Jesus Christ. For the Word of God explicitly declares from 1Jn.4:17: “Herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as He is – so are we – in this world!” This is the pristeen, sin-cleaned standing that we now – by the grace of the faith of Jesus Christ – can right now realize that we have! This is Reconciliation with God – through the eternal accomplishment of our Redemption by Christ Jesus. Through Him – we have been exalted from the dunghill of this sinful world – into the glory of His wonderful grace. Praise the Savior!
You see, in order for there to be no violation of God’s Holiness – there are certain Godly legal requirements that must be met as far as His sinner/children are concerned before we could be truly Reconciled – with God. If these requirements of God’s law are not met – then our standing before the Lord God – our verdict before His Holy Court – would eternally be guilty! And, our souls would necessarily be lost in our eternal condemnation.
This is precisely why we need a Sovereign Savior Substitute! This is why the eternal Son of God was sent by the Divine three in One – to be incarnated — into the “likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. So that – (lit.) “The righteous requirements of the Law might be fulfilled in us – who walk not after the flesh – but after the Spirit.” [Rom.8:3-4] This is why Rom.8:1 announces the pure gospel truth: “There is therefore – Now – no condemnation to them which are – in Christ Jesus – who walk not after the flesh – but after the Spirit.” It is because – as Eph.1:4 tells us: “According as He hath chosen us – in Him (i.e. in Christ Jesus) – before the foundation of the world…that we should be Holy – and without blame – before Him in love.”
This means that yet another grand blessing of God’s grace must come to us through the person and work of Christ, our Substitute – and that is our Justification! We cannot be accepted and approved in our Eternal Reconciliation with God – before we are Eternally Justified. 2Co.5:21 must be completely fulfilled as a righteous requirement as well. God made Jesus to be our Substitute! He made Him to become our sin and take our eternal punishment for it. This is the only way for us to be clothed in His eternal perfect righteousness – and be able thereby to be eternally Reconciled with God – (and with all of His Holy Household)! Praise His Eternal Savior Son of God!
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Oct 25, 2021 | Devotional
(13) “But Now – in Christ Jesus – ye who sometimes [or, once were] far off – (lit.) have been made nigh – by [or, in] the blood Christ.(14) For He is our Peace – who hath made both one – and (lit.) having broken down the middle wall of partition {between us}; (15) having abolished in His flesh the enmity, {even} the law of commandments {contained} in ordinances; for to make [or, to create] in Himself {of} twain (lit.) into One New Man – {so} making Peace! (16) And {that} He might Reconcile both unto God in One body – (lit.) through the cross – having slain the enmity thereby: [or, found therein] (17) And (lit) having come – He preached Peace to you which {were} afar off – and to them that {were} nigh. (18) For through Him – we both have access (lit.) in one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore – ye are no more strangers and (lit.) sojourners – but fellow-citizens with the saints – and of the household of God! (19) Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God”! [Eph.2:13-19]
The doctrine of Reconciliation between a chosen sinner/child and their Holy Father God is foundational to the establishment of an eternal relationship of Perfect Peace with God! From within the context of this particular section of scripture — this truth is clearly explained and declared.
From this section of holy scripture we see that it begins and ends with two significant descriptive declarations that compliment one another in more than one beautiful way. First of all, they both describe something that is spiritually significant in that they are describing a spiritual reality in every true believer that is current, even though they are still a part of this fallen and sinful world! And, this section of the Word of God plainly declares how – the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ has – by Himself – fully accomplished this everlasting gospel reality of there being peace – between us and God through our everlasting Reconciliation with Him! Here we are – nothing but completely hopeless sinners – but, through the eternally accomplished and perfect atonement by the Lord Jesus Christ – we have been brought intimately near to holy God! We have been made pristine clean in the precious blood of Christ Jesus.
Why is that the certain reality between the most Holy Lord God and us? Even because the Lord Jesus – the incarnated eternal Son of God – is exactly as vs.14 says: “For He is our Peace”! Our Perfect Peace with the Triune God – eternal and forever! How did He accomplish our Peace with holy, holy, holy God? The answer is – He did it all as our Sovereign Savior Substitute! He has made both – God and us (His chosen sinner/children) – both of us — One in Him! This is what God secured from eternity when He placed us — in His beloved – and only-begotten — Son – “before the foundation of the world”. And, in conjunction with this eternal act of His everlasting love and grace – He has “broken down the middle wall of partition between us” which has separated us from being able to be completely compatible with one another. You see – if we were not made righteous and holy just like God – then there is no way that we can be accepted and approved in His Holy and Righteous presence. But, what Christ is descriptively declared to have done – here in Eph.3:13-19 – has remedied this whole matter!
This fulfilled what is wonderfully being described in He.10:19-20 which says:“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into [lit.] the Holy of Holies – in the blood of Jesus, (20) by a new and living way which He consecrated for us [or, which He made holy for us] through the veil – that is His flesh.”
This we will endeavor to explain next time.\
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Sep 26, 2021 | Devotional
“And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3.“Blessed — the poor in spirit – for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
4.Blessed — they that mourn – for they shall be comforted.
5.Blessed — the meek – for they shall inherit the earth.
6.Blessed — they that hunger and thirst after righteousness – for they shall be filled.
7.Blessed — the merciful – for they shall obtain mercy.
8.Blessed — the pure in heart – for they shall see God.
9.Blessed — the peacemakers – for they shall be called the children of God.” [Mt.5:2-9]
“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee – that he may dwell in thy courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house – even of thy Holy Temple.” [Ps.65:4]
Having commented on the subject matter of Mt.5:2-9 – we are now ready to see the connection between this and Ps.65:4. This one verse in this Prophetic Psalm of David is a perfect summary of the seven Blessings Mt.5:3-9. Which Blessings are bestowed by God upon all whom He has chosen and caused to come unto Christ as His eternally saved ones.
This is a truth that is told to us throughout the Bible! Eph.1:3-4 plainly says: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us – with all spiritual blessings – in heavenly places in Christ (4) according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world – that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…”. The eternal Son of God – by virtue of the Covenant that was cut within the divine and determinate Counsel of the Triune (of which He is one of the holy Three) was sent into this fallen-in-sin world to be incarnated into being the eternal Person of our ever present Kinsman-Redeemer! This means that the eternal Son of God was chosen and sent into this world to be the Lamb of God and to accomplish the eternal atonement for the sins of all those whom the Great Triumvirate has chosen and placed in Christ to be eternally saved. Praise His Holy and Wonderful Name!
This means that Ps,65:4 is an everlasting – pure Gospel statement – that refers to both: Christ Jesus the Lord – and all whom the Heavenly Father has given unto Him (Jesus) to eternally save!
Our Lord declared from Jn.6:37 “All that the Father giveth to me – shall come to me. And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”. Also, vs.38-39 go further to say: “For I came down from heaven not to do my will – but the will of Him who sent me. (39) And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me – that of all which He hath given me – I should lose nothing but should raise it (all of them) up again at the last day.”
This statement – as well as all that we have been talking about for the last several months (including everything that has been said concerning Mt.5:2-9) – falls under the all-governing sovereignty of God Almighty. He is in complete control – and He always has been! Knowing this and realizing this truth — will lead us directly into the Rest that remains for the people of God. In fact, the only ones that have not – nor cannot – enter into the Rest that resides in Christ – are all the unbelievers [see: He.4:1-11].
Jesus said, “Ye have not chosen me – but I have chosen you” [Jn.15:16]. Amen.
For Christ’s Glory Only! -John Carpenter
