Think, Say, Believe, Change Part 3

Last time we said –

God lays out principles in his word and if you follow those principles you can know (heart think) you will get the results God says. It does not matter if you are lost or saved, if you follow God’s principles you will get what God says. The rain falls on the just and the unjust God says.

And Jesus mentions these principles  in Luke 16. See if you can find where Jesus mentions this in Luke chapter 16 and we will look at that.

So let’s explore this. Luke chapter 16 opens with a story, not a parable, but a story about a steward handling his master’s goods. Who is listening to Jesus tell this story? Yes, the people but who is in the group of people? Pharisees. Who are Pharisees? The “super” religious people. Pharisees claim to know and live by the word of God.

So after Jesus tells this story in Luke 16 notice verses 14 on.
Luke 16:14 “And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
15. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”

The story was about a steward – what is going on here?

Then Jesus explains the key.

” 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
16. The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
17. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.”

Question – Jesus is speaking to Pharisees, are these Pharisees lost or saved? Lost.

Here is a key. Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were (past tense meaning not any more) so Jesus tells them, the law and the prophets were until John (John the Baptist ). Since that time, the kingdom of God is preached.

The context of the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees is justification. Jesus tells us this in verse 15.

14. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
15. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
16. The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
17. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

Clearly we see Jesus pointing out a change happened from the Old Testament of the law and the prophets unto Jesus setting up the kingdom. I have said many times before, Jesus came to present himself to the Jews as their long awaited Messiah. The religious Jews (Pharisees) rejected him so Jesus turns to the Gentiles and if Gentiles believed on him, they were saved.

But for the context of this post, look at what Jesus said about the law.

16. The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
17. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

Now, the kingdom of God is preached, not the law for justification. John chapter 3 tells us how to get into this kingdom, the new birth, being born again. And Luke explains where this kingdom of God is – Luke 17: 20, 21

20. And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21. Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

This Pharisees did not understand that, they were looking for a physical earthly kingdom, Luke 19:10, 11

10. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
11. And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

So believers today are in the kingdom of God. We are justified by the blood of Jesus Christ at the cross and we entered the kingdom of God by faith and the new birth, being born again.

But don’t forget, Jesus said in Luke 16: 17. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

Notice Jesus did not say for salvation. We know Jesus was referring to living in this world in the flesh because the very next verse (Luke 16: 18) Jesus explains marriage and divorce.

The point here is the principles of the law, God’s law, will not fail. It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail. So lost or saved, if you follow the principles of the law what the law says will happen, will happen for the lost and the saved in this world in the flesh, not for salvation, but for results in this world, in the flesh. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. But only the just go to heaven.

Question – Can true believers apply the principles of the Old Testament law to life in this world?

So we see the context is the kingdom of God and believers are the ones in the kingdom of God. But God’s ordained law from the Old Testament unto John the Baptist will work in this earthly realm for believers and non-believers. The difference is the believers are saved, just, redeemed, justified and in Christ.

Paul put it this way in Colossians 1: 13 – 22

13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20. And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”

Notice how people are alienated from God? In their mind, not God’s mind. And who deceives the mind? The great deceiver of course 

We will pick it up from here next time Lord willing. Until next time.

Perception
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