THE "BEMA"

I re-post below an article written by a friend of mine by the name of Tom Wriggle. I think that often times when we are taught the scripture we hear only the surface teaching of someone else’s study. This can cause us trouble in the long run if we do not do our own independent bible study and strive to be taught by the Spirit of God rather than the plethora of men who would teach us. I use Toms article for two reasons;

1. It is a bit provocative (that makes for interesting reading),

2. Tom sticks with the scripture for illustration and illumination and this will serve us all well as we strive to gain a foothold on the truth.

This is one of those "Paradigm" issues. I have been taught that Christians will gain or lose reward at the "Bema" for years. But when I endeavored to do an independent study I could not validate what I had heard from the pulpit, so I have changed my position and I think the bible gets more and more clear the more we allow the New Covenant to determine our frame of reference for our interpretation. I invite your comments both pro and con...I welcome the Berean and loving discussion of this and any of the issues that come up on this site. Enjoy.

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Returning to the Biblical Bema The Judgment Seat of Christ

There are two main ways in which erroneous teachings are introduced into Christianity:

A. Non-biblical evidence is used to support the novel concept.
B. The Biblical truth on the subject is suppressed or fragmented.

Dispensationalists have done both with this modern notion of the Bema seat award-judgment. The Biblical information on "Bema" (the Greek word) is suppressed. And appeal is made to non-biblical "evidence" to make the concept seem biblically valid. There is no such thing as the Bema award-judgment, as presented so often today in pulpits, books and web sites of today. There is a Bema judgment, but it is quite different from what is presented to us.

1. DISPENSATIONALISTS DEFINE "BEMA" AS...
"Thus, associated with this word ["bema"] are the ideas of prominence, dignity, authority, honor, and reward rather than the idea of justice and judgment" - Dwight Pentecost

“It cannot be too strongly emphasized that the judgment is unrelated to the problem of sin, that it is more for the bestowing of rewards than the rejection of failure.” - Lewis Sperry Chafer

“Paul was picturing the believer as a competitor in a spiritual contest. As the victorious Grecian athlete appeared before the Bema to receive his perishable award, so the Christian will appear before Christ’s Bema to receive his imperishable award. The judge at the Bema bestowed rewards to the victors. He did not whip the losers.” - Hoyt

"[The "bema"] was a seat or raised platform where a judge sat as he made his decision regarding a case." ..."This word was also used in connection with the platform on which the umpire or referee sat during the Olympic Games or the Isthmian games at Corinth. This was the place where the winners of the various events received their rewards." ...."The apostle Paul seems to have this idea of reward in mind as he speaks of the 'judgment seat of Christ.'" - Paul Benware

The "bema seat judgment" is an "investigative probe into a believer's lifetime of works..." "[E]very Christian must meet God for an investigative judgment of his entire life. This moment will be a time of jubilant victory for some." ... and "a time of weeping for others." "' Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men."" - Jack Van Impe

"Judgment Seat of Christ. The place or occasion for the divine evaluation of the faithfulness of Christians' lives resulting in the giving or withholding of rewards (2 Cor. 5:10)." - Paul Enns
Charles Ryrie says of this time of the Bema that "individual believers will be judged for their works done as Christians (1 Co 3:11- 15). Salvation with its assurance of heaven is not in question, only whether heaven will be entered with or without rewards." - Charles Ryrie

Notice these recurring themes in the above definitions:
A. It is for Christians only.
B. It is for rewards (or loss of rewards) only. There is no punishment.
C. It can be illustrated by sporting contests award ceremonies (as opposed to Bible cross-references).
D. The terror or shame involved here is merely that of disobedient or unproductive Christians.Now let us turn to the Bible to see if what the experts above say matches with scripture.

2. THE "BEMA" ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE (WITH COMMENTS)

Occurrences: Matt.27:19, John 19:13, Acts 7:5; Acts 12:21; Acts 18:12, 16, 17; Acts 25:6, 10, 17; Ro.14:10; 2Cor.5:10.

"When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him." (Matt. 27:19)

If the Bema was only a place for rewards, as the Dispensationalists insist, we would expect Pilate to answer back to his wife, "Silly woman, don't you know that I am seated at the Bema? Giving out punishment is the farthest thing from my mind."
But what did Pilate actually do at this Bema?

He released Barabbas - and gave over the Prince of Life to be crucified!
See also the next verse."When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha." (John 19:13)

Hoyt insists that "the judge at the Bema bestowed rewards to the victors. He did not whip the losers.” Tell that to Pilate, Mr. Hoyt. He not only whipped the "Loser", he had Him crucified! Why, oh why, do people blindly follow the experts in defining scriptural terms when the Bible is quite clear in defining many of it's own terms?

The Bema is clearly a place of awesome judgment, and not a mere award ceremony.

"And he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on : yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child." (Acts 7:5)

"Set his foot on" is the translation here for "bema", an idiomatic rendering. At any rate, there are no rewards here.

"And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne ["bema"], and made an oration unto them." (Acts 18:12)


"And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat" (Acts 18:12)

"And he drove them from the judgment seat." (Verse 16)

"Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things." (Verse 17)

"And when he had waited among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought." (Acts 25:6)

"Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as you very well know." (Verse 10)

"Therefore, when they came here, without any delay the next day I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth." (Verse 17)

Each one of these "Bema" passages from Acts involves a civil magistrate making a judicial decision, some involving matters of life or death. There are no rewards spoken of here. No Olympic games or any such thing.

- Romans 14:10. "But why do you judge you brother? or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."

At first glance this might be used to hold up the modern notion of Christians only being present at the Bema - only you read on to verse 11, and read the cross-references of Isaiah 45:23 and Phil. 2:9- 11. Clearly this is the time when ALL of creation will be present, "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father."

Every knee will bow at this Bema. Everyone will be there, Christians as well as every unsaved person. The fact that Romans 14:15 connects the Bema with Phil. 2:9- 11 makes this absolutely certain. Who do we believe then, the inspired Apostle Paul or these modern writers and their imagined scenario of athletic awards? Shouldn't the biblical evidence be given first consideration?

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad." (2nd Cor. 5:10.) Once again, this is a convocation of everyone who exists or has existed, saved and unsaved. Don't take my word for it. Read the verse in context and you will see, if you are willing to let the Word explain itself, that the passage speaks of Christians as well as unsaved.

3. THE BEMA IS THE GREAT WHITE THRONE.

Part of the method of faulty expositors of the Word of God is to assign non-cooperating puzzle pieces to another part of the puzzle. This is what is done with the Great White Throne Judgment. Does it make sense to you that something as awesome as this would only be mentioned once in scripture?

No. In fact it is mentioned several times in scripture. Many of these other occurrences were covered earlier in this article. We should allow the Bible to use different terms for the same concept. For instance, in Revelation there is no mention of "justification", "sanctification", etc.

Yet we do read of the ones whose "robes are washed in the blood of the lamb", of the "over comers" and of those who "follow the Lamb wherever He goes". It is the same with the Bema (Judgment Seat of Christ) and the Great White Throne. The latter is a poetical, symbolic description in a poetical, symbolic book.

4. EVERYONE GETS REWARDS AT THE BEMA, BUT....

Jesus promised (Rev. 22:12) "I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work." Everyone will get rewards. But look at the wider context (verses 11- 15 The unsaved will get their reward - judgment and eternal doom!).

Consider these verses:"

And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time." (2nd Peter 2:13)

"Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core." (Jude 11)

"Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she has filled fill to her double." (Rev. 18:6)

5. RETHINKING THE BEMA

It is certainly hard to unlearn something we have been taught. The idea of being rewarded for our righteous acts (works, actually) goes contrary to the Gospel itself.

If it is not right that any flesh glories before God, how is it possible that we should be rewarded over against other Christians for accomplishments that we have no right to claim credit for? Or do we not believe that it is Christ who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure? (Phil. 2) And why would He reward us for something that was really His doing?

How can we expect rewards for our obedience, seeing that even if we obey perfectly in everything we are still unprofitable servants? (Luke 17:10)

The modern notion of the Bema award-judgment is a concept that is foreign to Scripture. It is foreign to the Biblical use of the word. And it is foreign to the Biblical definition of the Gospel and to what we know of God.

THE BODY-THE BUILDING-THE BRIDE-THE WIFE-THE CITY-THE TEMPLE-AND-THE CHURCH...DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES

“The Body”, “The Building”, “The Bride”, “The Wife” “The City”, “The Temple” and “The Church” are all one and the same organism. I have posted a few passages of scripture and hope that the highlighted portions help make clear the emphasis in this regard. I know that this is not exhaustive, but it is a start that can be used for further study of other New Testament passages that deal with the topic.
Ephesians 2:14-3:6
14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath 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 in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one BODY by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Paul declares One body defined as Jew and gentile together
17. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
You get the idea.
Paul continues in the same context showing that that one body is also the building that is now the habitation of God.
Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
1 Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Cor 12:12-13

Paul here is declaring that we are “One Body” consisting of Jew and Gentile, Bond and Free. Where is the mystery here, plain declaration in unambiguous language of one body consisting of Jew and Gentile…not two bodies.

Ephesians 2:14-3:6
14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath 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 in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one BODY by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Paul declares One body defined as Jew and gentile together.

17. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

You get the idea.
Paul continues in the same context showing that that one body is also the building that is now the habitation of God.

Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1 Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Cor 12:12-13

Paul here is declaring that we are “One Body” consisting of Jew and Gentile, Bond and Free. Where is the mystery here, plain declaration in unambiguous language of one body consisting of Jew and Gentile…not two bodies.

Ephesians 3
1. For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2. If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3. How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4. Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5. Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6. That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Here again, Jews and gentiles are recognized as part of the same body, not two distinct entities at all. It is through the Gospel that they have become one. Where is the passage that declares that they have been separated again. And why would God go through the trouble of all the he did in his son at the cross to bring them together, to then have them separated again…he made ONE body, not two. The body is comprised of Jew and Gentile AFTER the wall of partition was taken out of the way.

1 Cor 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

The writer of Hebrews seems to be using the imagery of a city and the heavenly Jerusalem interchangeably.

Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Here in Revelation 3 John is telling us that those who overcome (another name for believers) will be made into pillars in the temple, which he then describes as New Jerusalem coming out of heaven.

Revelation 21
1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
(The city here is described as a bride adorned for her husband.)

3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
9. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
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What is it that the angel tells John that he is about to show him?
“I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.”
Verse ten he goes on to show him.
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10. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Take note…the angel is describing for John a city, coming down from heaven.
But wait, Mr. Angel, you said you were going to show John “The Bride, the Lambs Wife”.
In fact that is exactly what the angel is doing, for in the imagery of biblical language the bride and the city are one and the same. The church and the body are one, the body and the Bride (or Wife), the city and the bride, the building and the bride are one. All of the different pictures are different ways of describing one and the same thing. Paul in Ephesians tells us that the body is made up of Jew and Gentile together. Then he tells us that the body is also the building, the habitation of God. Here John later in Rev 21 shows that this city which is also the bride is the habitation or dwelling place of God.
Jesus made this clear about the comforter who will be IN US.
In John 14:16-29 we see that Jesus prays to the Father to send the comforter so “that he may abide with you forever”. This is the Spirit of truth who (verse 17) “Dwelleth with you and shall be IN YOU”. Jesus Promises that he will not leave us comfortless, but will “COME TO YOU”. And in verse 20 we see Jesus declaring that HE is IN the Father and Jesus is IN us.
What a glorious privileged, we not only have the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have the “Fullness of the God head”. We are partakers of the divine nature, according to Peter, It appears (to me at least) that we are indwelt by The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. We have the fullness of God dwelling in us. If this is incorrect, please show me, I do not want to be mistaken in this regard.
If indeed it is true that we have each member, of the Godhead dwelling in us and we are the habitation of God, the city not made with hands that Abraham was looking for by faith, then wherever God dwells – we are. (And being the son’s of Abraham “BY FAITH”, and “heirs of the world” with Abraham, then we have indeed been made partakers of that same city not made with hands in the heavenlies). “That where I am you may be also.” It is very apparent to me (and I could go on) that The Body, The Bride, The Building, The City, are all the church and are all one and the same and are all comprised of both (believing) Jew and gentile (remember it is all by faith). There are many other passages that illustrate this multiple use of different images to describe the same thing, but you would not read them all if I posted too many.

John 14:16-20
16. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Note further in revelation that the angel continues to describe a city, stones, gates, walls, foundations. He measures the city, the gates are described, and the types of precious stones are named. And yet he NEVER in this text describes anything that would resemble a bride or a wife. Did the angel err? Was the angel confused or addled? I think not, I believe that the angel was intentional in declaring that I will show you the bride the lambs’ wife and then intentionally described the city, the New Jerusalem, the “City Foursquare”. Again I believe that this illustrates that they are all one and the same.

Back to Revelation 21:
11. Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12. And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13. On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
18. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20. The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.
25. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
27. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

This same angel later spoke to John in Revelation 22:10, commanding “And he said unto me, SEAL NOT the sayings of this prophecy of this book, for the TIME IS AT HAND.”

In Daniel this angel declared similarly, in 12:4 “But thou o Daniel, shut up the words, and SEAL THE BOOK, even unto the time of the end… (note, it is my opinion that the time of the end is the end of the old covenant age, not the end of the world, this is due to the time frame references of the prophecy beginning in chapter 9, “70 Weeks are determined upon THY PEOPLE (which people? Daniels People-Israel), and the Holy city (Which city? Jerusalem). )

If you will take note, the angel told Daniel to SEAL THE BOOK, why? Because the time was not yet, it was far off, and that was the prophecy of the 70 weeks or 490 years. But this same angel tells John SEAL NOT the sayings of the prophecy of THIS BOOK (revelation), and the “hyper-dispensationalist wants to make its fulfillment 2000+ years. Again I ask, is the angel confused, lying or is this some secret hermeneutic that only special people are privy to.

Take a good look at all the passages in the New Testament that talk about the Body, Building, Bride, Wife, City, Church of the living God. I think you will find that all of these pictures overlap again and again and again

THE RULE OF FAITH VS. THE RULE OF LAW

I personally have tried to live under law, and it has brought to my life nothing but destruction and defeat. But in recent years, I have been trying to wean myself off of law and live a life based on faith. It is with that in mind that I have tried to look at the scripture and answer the question; how do I; Jeff Rogers, live by faith. If you have found a way to live by law, you are a better man (or woman) than I. But as for me, I must stick closely to faith for that is where the scripture drives me.

THE RULE OF FAITH VS. THE RULE OF LAW

We are to tread in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised, Romans 4:9-12.
“The promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to him, or to his seed, through the law," Rom. 6:12, 13, and yet affirms, that as many as are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
And this promised blessing, and heirship, was given to Abraham, and to his seed-four hundred and thirty years before the law was given.
What rule did these pilgrims in the walk by being without the law? Who obtained so good a report (or so good a testimony) from God? How did they know what was sin and what was not sin since they lived four hundred and thirty years before the law?
---We are told that Abel offered to God, and obtained witness that he was
righteous by faith-then faith was his rule of worship. Heb 11:4, 12:24
---Enoch walked with God by faith-then faith was his rule of walk. Heb 11:5
---Noah condemned the world by faith-then faith was his rule of judgment. Heb 11:7
---"By faith Abraham, when he was called, went out not knowing whither he went"-then faith was the rule by which he took his journey, though he knew not whither, and his obedience was the obedience of faith. Heb 11:8-17
But if he had been living under the law as his only rule of life, he would have known where he was going, and he would not have gone in ignorance, and his obedience would have been the obedience of the law instead of faith.
---But Paul will have it that all Abraham's children are in the same condition that their father, Abraham was-for they walk by faith, not by sight. Rom 4:12-16
---But if the letter of the law is the only rule that the believer is to walk and live by, then he walks by sight, not by faith. Gal 3:2, 3:5, 5:18 2 Cor 5:7
---He looks at the things that are seen, not at the things which are unseen. Heb 11:1, 7
---It is by faith that Moses saw him who is invisible, and by faith we must look at the things that are not seen,
which are eternal. Heb 11:27

Paul lays it out in the New Testament: (and other passages).
---"He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him;" Heb 11:6
Then faith must be the rule of his coming.
---"We have access, by faith into this grace wherein we stand," Rom. 5:2
Then faith is the rule of our approach to God.
---"The just shall live by his faith," Hab. 2:4
Then faith is the just man's rule of life.
---"We walk by faith, not by sight," 2 Cor. 5:7
Then faith is our rule of walk.
---"Thou standest by faith," says Paul, Rom. 11:20
Then faith is the rule of a believer's standing.
---"Whatever ye shall ask believing, ye shall receive," says Christ. Matt 21:22
Then faith is the rule of the branch of worship involving prayer.
---"By faith Enoch had this testimony, that he pleased God; but without faith it is impossible to please him," Heb. 11:5, 6
Then faith is a rule that God approves of, and is pleased with. (Nowhere in scripture do we find one who pleased God
following the rule of law),
---"Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” Rom 14:23
Then faith is a perfect rule of holiness.
---"He that believes is justified from all things, from which he could not by the law of Moses". Acts 13:39
Then faith is our rule of righteousness.
---It is by faith that we overcome the world. To lay hold on eternal life, is to fight the good fight of faith, according to Paul; "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" 1 Jo 5:41, Tim 6:12, 2 Tim 4:7
Then faith was the rule of his warfare, and the rule of his race; and it was the grace of God
that made Paul obedient to that rule.
---"We have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith," Rom. 1:5,
That is, by Christ we have received grace to save our souls, and apostleship to be of use to the church, not as a reward of our obedience, but to furnish us with power, to make us obedient to the faith, among all nations for his name, Rom. 1:5
Then faith is the rule of apostolic obedience; for it cannot be called receiving grace for obedience to the faith, if faith be not the gracious man's rule of obedience.
---Paul counts all things but dung that he may win Christ, and he found in him; not having his own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, and tells us to" walk by the same rule, and mind the same thing," Phil 3:8
Pauls whole point in Phil 3:8 is that our walk is by the rule of faith NOT the rule of Law.
---If you take this rule of Paul's to be his pressing forward, or any of his attainments, it is answered, by faith he pressed forward, and by faith he attained; for else his pressing and attaining had been nothing but sin; for whatsoever is not of faith, according to Paul's doctrine, is sin. 1 Tim 4:6
If it is not of faith it is sin…to live a life ruled by law is not living a life ruled by faith, so by Pauls own rule, living under law is living in sin.
---By faith Christ dwells in our hearts, and by faith we dwell in him; and in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature, which is Christ formed within us: "and as many as walk according to this rule, (the rule of faith—NOT law) peace be on them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God," Gal. 6:15, 16.
---Faith is the rule of life according to the revealed will of God in Christ Jesus; "and this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day," John, 6:40.
---Thus faith appears to be the believer's rule of life; according to the will of God in Christ Jesus; and the letter of the law is the bond-children's rule of life-"he that doth these things shall live in them."
---Let him do according to this rule and he shall live.
---The law is not the rule of believing, but of doing; "the law is not of faith, but of works, and the man that doth them shall live in them," Gal. 3:12.
---If to see the Son, and believe on him, entitles us to everlasting life according to God's will. John 6:40
Then faith must be the rule of that life; and one would think that, if he that liveth and believeth shall never die, faith must be a safe rule to live by.
---It is by faith that we apprehend Christ. Phil 3:12-13
---It is by faith we lay hold of him, as the hope set before us, Heb. 6:18.
---It is by Christ that we believe in God, 1 Peter 1:21, and "we receive the promise of the Spirit through faith," Gal. 3:14.
---By this rule we come to a saving knowledge of the Trinity; for the eye of faith is a light by which we see what is the fellowship of the mystery, Eph. 3:9.
---Without the assurance of understanding, there will be no true acknowledgment of the mystery of God [the Holy Ghost], and of the Father, and of Christ, Col. 2:2.
Romans 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Romans 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was NOT to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Romans 10:4 For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.

Romans 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (I will not be coerced into living by a rule—law—that makes the death of Christ to be in vain).

Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for IF there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. (The key word is “IF” the conclusion here is that there is no law that could provide this righteousness. So living by the rule of law must be abandoned in favor of living by the rule of Faith, which is the only rule that can bring about life).

Philippians 3:9 And being found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

FREEDOM!!!

Is there a law in the New Covenant? Indeed there is, but will a New Covenant saint ever be put under the authority of Old Covenant law?

So then are there “Two laws of God”? I would suggest that there are not in active authority more than one law at a time. The Old Covenant law was only in authority when the Old Covenant was active. Once the New Covenant became active and the Old Covenant faded during the first century, then the only law that remains is the New Covenant law. How then do we live under this New Covenant law?

What I believe the scripture to teach is that the Old Covenant law as it was in force in the OLD COVENANT has been abolished because the covenant that it came with has been abolished. Read the passage in Hebrews 7:12”For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.” Here again God says that if the priesthood changed, then the law also must change. There is only one law at a time. The problem most people have is with the scripture that clearly and plainly teaches that the New Covenant law has replaced the Old Covenant law.

Romans 14 says that “Whatsoever is NOT of FAITH IT IS SIN”. The New Covenant definition, given by the apostle Paul under inspiration of the Spirit of God is that sin is defined by what is not of FAITH. Sin is not a violation of Mosaic Law. We must recognize the supremacy of Faith over law in the New Covenant.

I am not advocating sanctification by keeping the old law. There is no sanctification in the performance of any law. Unless that performance is the performance of Christ and the credit for that performance is imputed or accounted to our credit.

Let me cite you the words of Jesus where he seems to be teaching that the moral precepts that he (Jesus) brought into the New Covenant are superior to what Moses left the nation of Israel in the Old Covenant.

--Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, (Moses) Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

--But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

--Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, (Moses) Thou shalt not commit adultery:

--But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

--It hath been said, (by Moses) Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

--But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

--Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, (Moses) Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Ye have heard that it hath been said, (by Moses) An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

--But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

--And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

--And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

--Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

--Ye have heard that it hath been said, (by Moses, do you see the pattern here?)

--Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

--But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

--That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

--For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

--And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

"You have heard it said by them of old"... (MOSES)"...BUT I SAY UNTO YOU".

This is the language of super cession or of contradiction. Jesus is clearly saying that what Moses said was fine…but I am giving you something BETTER…remember that in the new covenant we have a BETTER high priest, a BETTER king, we also have a BETTER law giver, mediator, prophet. These are the roles that Moses fulfilled in the Old Covenant that Jesus is the fulfillment of the type that Moses was intending. WE HAVE A GREATER THAN MOSES in Jesus Christ. The law that came through the mediator of a BETTER covenant is a BETTER law established on BETTER promises. This concept is clearly taught in Hebrews, and here in the Sermon on the Mount Matthew chapter 7 Jesus is illustrating the principle with no apology. Here is what Moses said…BUT I SAY UNTO YOU…! Jesus changed the law from Mount Sinai and gave a greater law from The sermon on the MOUNT.

Some people claim that God's moral precepts have always been the same before the law, during the law and after the Law of Moses”. This is simply WRONG!!! I have just shown the words of Christ which clearly and “Simply” show that the opposite is true.

Are Murder and adultery still murder and adultery? Absolutely! But I do not refrain from them because I am under the Ten Commandments. The bible says that he who violated Moses law would die the death. The punishment under the old covenant for murder and adultery was being stoned to death. This does not apply in the New Covenant. There is no command enjoined on the New Covenant church to STONE adulterers, murderers, Sabbath breakers etc. When you remove the penalty of a law, that law is NO LONGER IN FORCE.

---So then why would I not murder?
---Why would I refrain from Adultery?

VERY GOOD QUESTIONS…I am glad you asked.

The answer is very simple and Jesus gave it in the sermon on the mount, it is because I have a NEW HEART. The law of the Spirit of God, the law of liberty is written on my heart. If the Holy Spirit would lead and guide a person to commit adultery…then well and good…but such would be impossible. The Holy Spirit would never lead me to do such things, and since I am led by God’s Spirit, I need no law to tell me “NO”. I am restrained by LOVE is what Paul teaches. “The love of Christ constrains me”.

If I know of a brother in the Lord who is committing adultery on his wife, I will never pull out the Law of Moses and hit them over the head with it…since it has NO AUTHORITY. I would simply in love go to my brother and ask him…”Brother is this what God through his Spirit is convicting you is right to do?” They have two options at that point, yield to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and repent, for all of God’s children who have the Spirit will be convicted by that same Spirit. If they say…”yes, this lifestyle of fornication is what I want and I am going to continue in my adultery”. Then I have the authority of scripture to declare that this man is not in Christ, is not a believer and has no inheritance in the kingdom of God. The bible is very clear about this teaching. This is why we have the church discipline procedures outlined for us in Matthew 18 and Galatians 6, and Hebrews 12-13. Repentance is evidence of salvation, rejection of biblical admonition is evidence of the fact that the Spirit of God is not dwelling in him, and if he has not the Spirit of God, he is none of His.

Re-read Matthew 7, I am not commanded not to murder, not to commit adultery…I am commanded and led by the Spirit to not look on a woman to lust. I am commanded to not hate my brother. If I obey through the Spirit the admonition of Christ to NOT HATE MY BROTHER…will I ever kill him?

If I love my brother, thoughts of murder can never take hold in me, and I will never commit murder…and I can achieve that without the mosaic commandment.

Same with adultery, if in my heart, I refrain from lust, then with what motivation do I lay with other woman than my wife. It is inconceivable that a law could better restrain me than the Spirit dwelling in me convincing and convicting me.

Why would I ever go back to living under a system (outward commands and law) that could never deliver me from sin, when I have the living God living in me to deliver me from all manner of sin and evil?

I pity any who think that by keeping commands that they are somehow pleasing God…they are NOT. I pity any who think that they can overcome the world the flesh or sin in any of its forms, by law keeping and duty. The New Testament clearly teaches that this way of thinking is ridiculous and futile. Please cite for me a passage of scripture that elevates law over the ministry of God’s Spirit and I will go back under law today. But you had BETTER give me a passage of scripture for me to make that decision. If not, you will not get me within 10 miles of a life led by law.

Do not worry about my freedom. No individual has the power to violate it. Paul in Galatians 5 tells me that I am to STAND in the liberty wherein Christ has made me free and not to be entangled again in the yoke of bondage. No one can take it from me no one can violate it without my consent. It is my inheritance in Christ and I will keep a good hold on it. It is for anyone to take, but it is mine to surrender. But be assured I am nowhere near the place where I would surrender it. Unless someone can show me something better…which I am very suspicious that they cannot.

This doctrine of liberty is for all believers in the New Covenant. First of all it is Christ’s doctrine taught by Him and His Apostles, I did not originate it. Secondly, I am not out to prove it, I am out to live it. I need not prove anything to anyone. But God by His Spirit has called me to live this life of freedom. I also feel compelled to offer it to those who are still in bondage to the Old Covenant way of living, and to those I offer it, I do not seek to prove it to them either. For if the Spirit of God does not give them a taste for freedom and a desire to be free from bondage, then I am not going to try to overpower God’s Spirit. But if they truly have the Spirit of God, they will yearn for this freedom and wild horses will not keep them from it.

So I offer it, and many eat…and yet many scoff. I am not responsible for the scoffers, nor do I take credit for those who are liberated…but I do get to walk with those who are liberated as true brothers.

I believe that we ought to reason from the scripture. If there is a scriptural principle I am missing, help me out, point it out. But if I were to have it my way, (the way of my flesh) I would still be where I was 15 years ago, under bondage to the Old Covenant with only a trail of destroyed relationships and a futile life behind me. Having it my way…I hope not…I hope to have it God’s way as His Holy Spirit leads and guides. For there is really NO OTHER WAY.