12/3/23
Can We Be Justified By Our Own Works?
The author of our faith opened his commission claiming the law was unalterable, having no accommodating ends, and will stand forever in front of the gospel.
Galatians 3:12, “The law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them (the law) shall live in them.”
If any person can appeal to the standards of the law; can look at them with an uncovered, undaunted presence, and challenge the strictest scrutiny over his every thought, every word, and action, then that person’s righteousness can be by the law.
Galatians 3:21, “If there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.” But,
Galatians 3:22, “The Scripture hath concluded all under sin;” Therefore,
Romans 3:20, “By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His (God’s) sight.”
In this, the Sermon on the Mount, and the moral system of the Jewish lawgiver (Moses) in the wilderness, were designed to act as,
Galatians 3:24, “Our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.”
Romans 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
So, how does this account for righteousness stand between your conscience and God?
In the hour, when our Lord Jesus Christ will,
Isaiah 28:17, Lay “Judgment — to the line, and righteousness to the plummet,” and we have no better righteousness than our own to trust in; no Surety to stand in for us; no mediator to plead our cause; what will occur is a judgment more awful than that which is observed in,
Daniel 5:6, (Belshazzar,) the king, the “Joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote (knocked) one against another.” And like Belshazzar, we also,
Daniel 5:27, shall be, “Weighed in the balances, and found wanting.”
These are hard word; how can any man be just with God? Hopefully your conscience speaks loud and clear to you concerning the impossibility of the opening question?
King of the Jews.
Pilate wrote an inscription and put it on the cross above our Lords head.
John 19:19, “Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.”
John 19:20, “The place where Jesus was crucified was near to the city: (Jerusalem) and the inscription was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.”
Hebrew was the language of the country, Greek was the then spoken language, and Latin was the official language. Therefore many Jews, and Gentiles read the inscription, and none will be held guiltless.
Verse 21, “But said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he (Jesus) said, I am King of the Jews.”
The chief priest wanted to altar the inscription Pilate had written. What Pilate wrote came from the will of God Himself, what irony. Why? What Pilate had written secured the identity of Jesus Christ forever in the Gospels. What the chief priest wanted was to change the inscription in order to hid Jesus true identity.
Pilate said, “What I have written, I have written.” The Father in heaven wanted His Son to die with this proclamation. Pilate played his part, and he being a Gentile would be judged accordingly by the King of the Jews.
Caiaphas the high priest also new exactly who Jesus was, well before the crucifixion took place.
John 11:51-52, The Pharisees had gathered with the chief priests at council. The Pharisees said, what shall we do, for this man Jesus does many miracles. If we leave him alone many will believe him and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
Caiaphas said to them, “Ye know nothing at all, not consider (you) that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation.”
A prophesy of doom for the people and the nation. Physical death coming from the hands of the Romans would have been much better for them. But they choose death from God who can destroy both body and soul.
From the very place where the Lord gave His precious life, nailed above his head, came the truth. The inscription spoke to all mankind, for all time.
“Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.” Or, “Jehovah our Saviour, from Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Can you understand why Caiaphas wanted the inscription changed?
All those who read, saw a clear proclamation. And the truth will set us free.
Phil Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com