All posts by Alastair Tucker

Jesus Christ, Proofs Of Jesus Divinity: Omniscience

Proofs Of Jesus Divinity: Omniscience

PROOFS OF JESUS DIVINITY: OMNISCIENCE

1). INTRODUCTION

Amongst many other claims to divinity made by Jesus, He spoke of His Omnipresence (Matthew 18:20 & 28:20); He spoke of His Omnipotence – only God has the power to both hear and answer prayer (John 14:13-14) and He spoke with Omniscient power. This Post will focus on the 3rd of these Omni-abilities.

Now Muslims and other critics will attempt to short circuit discussion of this divine attribute of Jesus by leaping upon Mark 13:32 as a proof text that Jesus cannot be God because He is not all knowing.

“Now concerning that day or hour no one knows — neither the angels in heaven nor the Son — except the Father.” (Mark 13:32 HCSB – see also Matthew 24:36)

In one other instance Jesus defers to the Father in a similar vein:

“He told them, “You will indeed drink My cup. But to sit at My right and left is not Mine to give; instead, it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” (Matthew 20:23 HCSB)

We can note at the outset that Muslims and other critics do not deny the principle of testing Jesus according to His omniscient power, merely that this one verse is all sufficient proof that He doesn’t have it. But that premature conclusion is to ignore all the other weighty evidence that suggests a very different reality.

Before we engage with that evidence, first an explanation for why Jesus said He did not know the hour of His return.

2). JESUS THE MAN “EMPTIED HIMSELF”

Within the framework of the doctrine of the Trinity fits the fact that Jesus did not (arguably only because in His self imposed earthly human limitations He could not consciously access it, or more simply put, He simply had no need to know during His first Coming) the time of His return at the second Coming.

Jesus is both God and man. He has two natures. He was divine and human at the same time. This teaching is known as the hypostatic union, that is, the coming-together of two natures in one person. Hebrews 2:9 says Jesus was “…made for a LITTLE WHILE  lower than the angels…”  In Philippians 2:5-8 Paul says that Jesus “EMPTIED HIMSELF”, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men…”  Colossians 2:9 says, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” Jesus was both God and man at the same time.

But the fact that He “Emptied Himself” implied He gave up much of what He had previously possessed in glory, in order to become a man. He accepted self imposed limitations, another obvious example being, He was limited in time and place just as we are. He temporarily gave up His omnipresent capability.

As a man, Jesus cooperated with the limitations of being a man. That is why we have verses like Luke 2:52 that says: “Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Therefore, at this point in His ministry He could naturally and logically say He did not know the day nor hour of His return. It is not a denial of His being God but a confirmation of His being man. As a man you would expect there to be some limitations on the reach of His knowledge as for example things He simply did not need to know during His ministry. This was one of those.

3). MUSLIM LOGIC CUTS TWO WAYS

Now Muslims will have to agree that their logic that Jesus cannot be God because He does not know all things, cuts both ways. In other words, if we can find Scriptures where Jesus DOES know all things, including things that are beyond human power or capability then that would have to prove He was God, wouldn’t it? You simply cannot use only what supports your position and ignore that which does not.

What if we have one verse that says Jesus did not know all things and another single verse that says he did know all things, then isn’t that a contradiction?  No, it is not. In the first place as a matter of exegetical principle you cannot make or break a doctrine with a single verse. Scripture must harmonise. So we need to see where the weight or balance of evidence lies in the totality of Scripture. What do other verses on this matter say? Only when we have all relevant testimony assembled, can we then draw an informed conclusion.

As a matter of fact, the doctrine of the Trinity is not based upon single cherrypicked verses so neither can any attempt to dismantle or challenge it be.

4). JESUS KNEW THEIR THOUGHTS, COULD READ MINDS, KNOWS OUR PAST AND COULD PREDICT FAR AND NEAR FUTURE EVENTS

Since Muslims want to judge Jesus on His powers of knowledge, let them also judge Him on this evidence:

■ “When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “The man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” KNOWING THEIR THOUGHTS, He told them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.”
(Matthew 12:24-25, 28 HCSB)

□ Jesus was able to discern their thinking without them having spoken. Is mind reading a normal human capability?

■ “But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin.   Take it and give it to them for Me and you.” (Matthew 17:27 HCSB)

□ This is an example of both prophetic forthtelling and miracle.

■ “Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap Him by what He said. But PERCEIVING THEIR MALICE, Jesus said, “Why are you testing Me, hypocrites?” (Matthew 22:15, 18 HCSB)

□ Another example of Jesus mind reading ability

■ “Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight ALL OF YOU WILL RUN AWAY BECAUSE OF ME, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” (Matthew 26:31 HCSB)

□ An example of imminent prophetic forthtelling which in spite of their protests, was fulfilled almost immediately in:

“But all this has happened so that the prophetic Scriptures would be fulfilled.” THEN ALL THE DISCIPLES DESERTED HIM AND RAN AWAY.”
(Matthew 26:56 HCSB)

■ “But AFTER I HAVE BEEN RESURRECTED, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” (Matthew 26:32 HCSB)

□ Confirmed firstly by the angel:

“Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, HE IS GOING AHEAD OF YOU TO GALILEE; YOU WILL SEE HIM THERE.’ Listen, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:7 HCSB)

□ Secondly, as fulfilled in John 21:1-14.

■ “I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, YOU WILL DENY ME THREE TIMES! ” (Matthew 26:34 HCSB)

□ Imminent prophetic word fulfilled by …

“ … and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:75 HCSB)

■ “But some of the scribes were sitting there, thinking to themselves:  “Why does He speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” RIGHT AWAY JESUS UNDERSTOOD IN HIS SPIRIT THAT THEY WERE THINKING LIKE THIS WITHIN THEMSELVES and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things IN YOUR HEARTS?” (Mark 2:6-8 HCSB)

□ Another example of Jesus reading their thoughts.

■ “And He told them: “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God KNOWS YOUR HEARTS. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight.” (Luke 16:15 HCSB)

□ Here Jesus just confirmed His reading of the hearts of the Pharisees in Mark 2:6-8, is a Divine function of God.

■ “Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said about him, “Here is a true Israelite; no deceit is in him.” “How do you know me? ” Nathanael asked. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered.” (John 1:47-48 HCSB)

□ Jesus knew who Nathaniel was and saw him from afar.

■ “Jesus answered, “Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it up in three days.”  But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body.  So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. And they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made.” (John 2:19, 21-22 HCSB)

□ Just one of dozens of occasions when Jesus predicted His death and resurrection see the whole list here:

http://www.o-bible.com/BiblicalInformation/index.html#!JESUS-PREDICTS-HIS-OWN-DEATH-AND-RESURRECTION]

■ “Jesus, however, would not entrust Himself to them, since HE KNEW THEM ALL and because He did not need anyone to testify about man; for HE HIMSELF KNEW WHAT WAS IN MAN.” (John 2:24-25 HCSB)

■ “Go call your husband,” He told her, “and come back here.” “I don’t have a husband,” she answered. “You have correctly said, ‘I don’t have a husband,’ ” Jesus said. “FOR YOU’VE HAD FIVE HUSBANDS, AND THE MAN YOU NOW HAVE IS NOT YOUR HUSBAND. WHAT YOU HAVE SAID IS TRUE.” Then the woman left her water jar, went into town, and told the men, “Come, SEE A MAN WHO TOLD ME EVERYTHING I EVER! Could this be the Messiah? ” (John 4:16-18, 28-29 HCSB)

□ An example of Jesus knowing and accurately stating this stranger’s sordid past life.

■ “Therefore, when many of His disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard! Who can accept it? ” Jesus, KNOWING IN HIMSELF THAT HIS DISCIPLES WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS, asked them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? The Spirit is the One who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING THOSE WHO WOULD NOT BELIEVE AND THE ONE WHO WOULD BETRAY HIM.) (John 6:60-64 HCSB)

□ Another example of Jesus omniscient ability to read minds and foresee future events.

■ “For He KNEW WHO WOULD BETRAY HIM. This is why He said, “You are not all clean.”
(John 13:11 HCSB)

■ “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit — the Father will send Him in My name — will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” (John 14:26 HCSB)

And

“While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” He said, “is what  you heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:4-5, 8 HCSB)

□ Fulfilled a few days later by:

“When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.” (Acts 2:1-4 HCSB)

… and by the rest of the New Testament and 2000 years of witness testimonies to this day.

■ “When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore. However, the disciples did not know it was Jesus. “Men,”  Jesus called to them, “YOU DON’T HAVE ANY FISH, DO YOU? ” “No,” they answered. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” He told them, “and YOU’LL FIND SOME.” So they did, and THEY WERE UNABLE TO HAUL IT IN BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF FISH. (John 21:4-6 HCSB)

□ Another example of omniscience and immediate miraculous prophetic fulfilment.

5). DISCUSSION

Now Muslims must explain how Jesus on numerous occasions knew what only God knows? Who alone knows us from afar, can read our very thoughts and from whom we can hide nothing of our past?

There is NOTHING we can hide from God – including and most especially our worship of foreign gods:

“If we had forgotten the name of our God and spread out our hands to a foreign god, wouldn’t God have found this out, since HE KNOWS THE SECRETS OF THE HEART?” (Psalms 44:20-21 HCSB)

“HE REVEALS THE DEEP AND HIDDEN THINGS; HE KNOWS WHAT IS IN THE DARKNESS, and light dwells with Him.” (Daniel 2:22 HCSB)

“For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and come to light.” (Luke 8:17 HCSB)

Muslims how is your prejudicial reading of the single cherrypicked verse of Mark 13:32 looking now?

Even in His lowly incarnate unglorified form, Jesus had phenomenal superhuman powers of knowledge and prediction. But there is still more.

6). JESUS AFTER THE RESURRECTION

It was before Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection when He said the Father alone knew the day and hour of His return. It wasn’t until after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection that divine omniscience could be fully restored to Jesus. 

As we’ve already established, Jesus was co-operating with the limitations of being a man to complete His ministry on this earth. He was then glorified in His resurrection. Yet, He was still a man (cf. Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5). There are noticeable changes in Jesus after His resurrection.

After Jesus’ resurrection, He was able to appear and disappear at will. (Luke 24:31; John 20:19 & 26)

This is not the normal ability of a man; it is, apparently, the normal ability of a resurrected and glorified man. Jesus was different after the resurrection. There had been another change. He was still a man, and yet now He knew all things.

Another Post Resurrection example from John:

“He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, YOU KNOW ALL THINGS; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep,” (John 21:17).

Notice Jesus did not correct Peter and say, “Hold on Peter, I do not know all things.” He let Peter continue on with his statement that Jesus knew all things. He accepted the accolade. Therefore, it must be true. In the same way as He received worship and never rejected what belongs to God alone.

Then again, just before His ascension the disciples asked Jesus:

“So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:6-8 HCSB)

Notice how Jesus replied. He did not say I do not know or cannot tell you. His answer then implied that He could have told them but the reason given is because “it’s not for them to know times or periods, set by the Father”. In other words, it was they who now had no need to know, in the same way as Jesus Himself had no need to know during the ministry of His first coming.

And saving the best for last, if Jesus is not God because the critics claim He did not know something, then that poses a problem for God. Check out this verse.

Revelation 19:12–13, “His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which NO ONE KNOWS EXCEPT HIMSELF. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.”

So, if Jesus is the only one who knows this name – which means God the Father doesn’t – then God the Father, can’t be God. So much for the logic of Muslim and other critics. A single verse proves nothing except confirm the adage “a verse without a context is a pretext”.

I guarantee that you will NEVER see any of the above verses, or those quoted at length In Section 4 affirming Jesus omniscience, mentioned  by Muslims. Not only do they not bring them they will deny them and imagine they are an invention of anonymous gospel authors. Or they will resort to the Pharisaic accusation that Jesus was doing His signs by the power of Satan. (In fact that is precisely what they do: they claim Jesus only worked miracles by Allah’s leave).

In doing so they prove they are not interested in who Jesus proved Himself to be, they simply want to selectively twist verses to fit their narrative and preconceived prejudices. In doing so they are rejecting the truth of God’s word, dishonouring Jesus and discrediting His divine omniscience.

7). CONCLUSIONS

Within the hierarchical framework of the Trinity fits the fact that Jesus did not (arguably only because in His self imposed earthly human limitations He could not consciously access it and in any event did not need it), have the knowledge of the time of His return.

Some may prefer to think that Jesus does not know these details even in His glory. Fine. Whichever way you take it, this knowledge fits within the rank of Father to Son to Spirit within the Triune Godhead. The doctrine of the Triune godhead survives detailed examination; as does the divine omniscience of Jesus of the thoughts and hearts of men, and His omnipotence in foreseeing predicting and fulfilling prophecy such as only God is able to do.

Now who shall we believe?

□ God alone knows all our innermost thoughts.

■ So does Jesus. (See verses quoted above)

□ Only God can predict the future far and near and fulfill it with 100% accuracy.

■ So did Jesus. (See verses quoted above)

□ God alone hears and answers all prayers and has divine omnipresence wherever spoken in a gathering, and divine omnipotence to bring them about.

■ So does Jesus. (See Matthew 18:20; John 14:13-14)

MAKE NO MISTAKE: #JESUS_is_GOD

Comment:

Even Mark.13:32 can be beautifully explained..
The rapture can be explained being a parallel of a Jewish wedding. Jesus is the BRIDEGROOM returning for his BRIDE…..the Church (or the Body of Christ) 
In a Jewish wedding the woman is betrothed to a man. Then she has to wait a considerable time before her BRIDEGROOM comes to take her back to his home. During that time the groom works with his father on their home to make extra rooms for the married couple to live in. It is the father’s prerogative to finish the house and then pronounce to the prospective groom when the time is ready for him to go and collect his BRIDE. Meanwhile the prospective BRIDE has to keep herself ready at all times because she doesn’t know the day nor the hour when the groom will come and they will be married. The groom also doesn’t know….only the father knows. When the rooms are finished the Father tells his Son and they all go in procession (usually at night) to get the BRIDE, marry her and take her to his home.
It is a beautiful parallel of Jesus and the saints who are promised to Jesus as His bride!
So to anyone who mocks the fact that Jesus doesn’t know the time nor hour, explain this amazing Jewish wedding to them.

Muslim Challenges, Prove Christians Are Wrong To Include Jesus In Our Worship When Jesus Always Received Worship

Prove Christians Are Wrong To Include Jesus In Our Worship When Jesus Always Received Worship

TODAYS MUSLIM CHALLENGE: PROVE CHRISTIANS ARE WRONG TO INCLUDE JESUS IN OUR WORSHIP WHEN JESUS ALWAYS RECEIVED WORSHIP

If a Muslim wishes is to prove that Christians are wrong to worship Jesus, and are engaging in idolatrous worship of multiple Gods in doing so, then they have an insurmountable obstacle to overcome, in explaining away why Jesus always accepted and never rejected worship of Himself. 

■ JESUS GAVE THE BASIS FOR INCLUDING HIM IN WORSHIP IN JOHN 5:23

Here Jesus claims equal status and equal honour (which includes worship) as God the Father:

“that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” (John 5:23)

Of the many facets of Jesus’ deity, always the biggest clincher of all is that He demanded received and never rebuked worship of Himself. And His own words in John 5:23 are ALONE sufficient warrant for doing so.

We worship Jesus because He is truly God. Jesus came to earth as a humble servant (Philippians  2:7-8). He came to serve, not to be served and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). His mission on earth was to die for the redemption of sinners, for this reason, God became flesh. Hence, it was not His primary role on earth to demand His creatures worship Him — believers did this naturally, responding to His first loving us.

However, in John 5:22-23, Jesus states that the purpose of the Father giving all judgment to Him was for the result of all honouring the Son in the same way (kathos) they would honour the Father. The honour that is given to the Father is clearly divine honour — namely, reverential worship. Therefore, Jesus asserts His essential equality with God by expressing that the worship/honour given to the Father is to be given to the Son and if one does not worship/honour the Son, he or she “does not honour the Father who sent Him.” Further, we find many examples in both the OT and NT where Jesus was worshipped in a religious context and He accepted it (Daniel 7:14; Matthew 14:33; Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 5:13-14)

Worship means “reverence paid to a divine being.” If Jesus was offered and accepted worship, then by doing so He was confirming His divinity. This is important because there are those who deny the deity of Christ, relegating Him instead to a lesser position than God. Yes, Jesus accepted worship. As the second Person of the Trinity, He was and still is worshipped. Without His inclusion it is impossible to please or worship God. The Bible could not be clearer.

■ EXAMPLES WHERE JESUS RECEIVES WORSHIP

# The wise men worshipped Him from the moment He was born. “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” (Matthew 2:10-12)

# The leper worshipped Him at his healing: “And behold, a leper came to Him, and bowed down to Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” (Matthew 8:2)

# The synagogue ruler worshipped Him: “While He was saying these things to them, behold, there came a synagogue official, and bowed down before Him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.” (Matthew 9:18-19)

# The disciples worshipped him in the boat. “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:32-33)

# The Canaanite woman worshipped Him. “But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” (Matthew 15:25-26)

# The mother of James and John worshipped Him. “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Him with her sons, bowing down, and making a request of Him.” (Matthew 20:20-21)

# The blind man worshipped Him at his healing. “Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshipped him.” (John 9:35-38)

# The women worshipped Him at the empty tomb. “So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.” (Matthew 28:8-10)

# The disciples worshipped Him at the Ascension. “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him” (Matthew 28:16-17)

# Thomas worshipped the risen Jesus with the acclamation of “my Lord and my God” upon seeing His crucifixion scars. Note in all these instances Jesus never once rejected worship. Indeed in the last mentioned case, not only did Jesus not rebuke Thomas for worshipping Him explicitly AS HIS GOD, He adopted His confession as the foundation for a blessing to all who similarly believe even without seeing, but by faith. 

“Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.”  Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed.Those who believe without seeing are blessed.” (John 20:27-29)

All these acts of worship were in obedience to:  “that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” (John 5:23)

No we do not worship Jesus in vain or in error we do so in OBEDIENCE adopting the command of Jesus Himself and the example of His disciples and followers.  

■ JESUS GIVES SATAN A UNIQUE REBUKE

Satan opposed Jesus. When Satan tried to get Jesus to throw Himself down, Jesus rebuked him with “do not test the Lord your God” (Matthew 4:7)

When Satan tried to get Jesus to worship Him, Jesus told him no one is to be worshipped but God:

“Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.” (Matthew 4:10)

In both responses Jesus declared His divinity. Muslims will reject them both but when read in conjunction with other Scripture it should be obvious. Matthew 4:7 is self explanatory. As for Matthew 4:10, since Jesus response to Satan here is used nowhere else by Jesus, He has reserved that right to be worshipped to include Himself. 

The significance of Matthew 4:10 cannot be overstated. Jesus ONLY used this rebuke for Satan. He never used it again; had He not included Himself within the scope of Matthew 4:10 He would have rebuked all those who worshipped Him in similar terms. The fact that He did not employ this same rebuke on any of the other occasions to those worshipping Him is profound and determinative. I have yet to see any Antichrist explain this away. 

There is other easy ways to confirm the correctness of this view. What happened when others were worshipped? There are several examples of others who people tried to worship but their worship was rejected.

■ MEN OF GOD REFUSED WORSHIP

Peter refused Cornelius’ worship:

“When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him. But Peter helped him up and said, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.” (Acts 10:25-26)

Paul and  Barnabus refused worship when the crowds tried to make them gods:

“When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the form of men!”  And they started to call Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the main speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought oxen and garlands to the gates. He, with the crowds, intended to offer sacrifice. The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting:  “Men! Why are you doing these things? We are men also, with the same nature as you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.” (Acts 14:11-15) c.f. Acts 12:21-23

■ ANGELS REFUSE WORSHIP*

Angels refuse to accept worship:

“At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’” (Revelation 19.10; cf. 22:8-9).

Angels are not to be worshipped. That includes fallen angels. Back to the original text of Matthew 4:10. See also Colossians 2:18.

* The Old Testament exception is The Angel of the Lord who did receive worship. The Angel of the Lord is the pre incarnate Jesus. It’s another affirmation of His deity and unique right to receive worship.

■ QURAN DILEMMA

Muslims not only have an insurmountable challenge in proving Christians wrong for including Jesus in our worship of the One True God, they have another conundrum. The Quran says that IF GOD HAD A SON HE WOULD BE WORTHY OF WORSHIP!

Sura 43:81 “Say: “If (God) Most Gracious had a son, I would be the first to worship.”

So the Quran endorses worship of the Son of God. Let that sink in Muslims.  That is a double whammy for Muslims. The challenge just doubled in difficulty. Now they must first prove that Jesus is not the Son of God, as well as that its wrong to worship Him, IN SPITE of the Quran saying He should be with that qualification.

Muhammad'S Paranoia Is Sure Proof Of A False Prophet

MUHAMMAD’S PARANOIA IS SURE PROOF OF A FALSE PROPHET

Muhammad’s contemporaries thought that Satan, or an evil spirit, had taken control of Muhammad. Some examples of which include:

Narrated Jundub bin Sufyan:

“Once Allah’s Apostle became sick and could not offer his night prayer (Tahajjud) for two or three nights. Then a lady (the wife of Abu Lahab) came and said, “O Muhammad! I think that YOUR SATAN HAS FORSAKEN YOU, for I have not seen him with you for two or three nights!” On that Allah revealed: ‘By the fore-noon, and by the night when it darkens, your Lord (O Muhammad) has neither forsaken you, nor hated you.’ (93.1-3) (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 475)

One of the Meccan Chiefs told Muhammad that:

… ‘I will make some suggestions, and perhaps you will be able to accept one of them.’ The apostle agreed, and he went on, ‘If what you want is money, we will gather for you of our property so that you may be the richest of us; if want honour, we will make you our chief so that no one can decide anything apart from you; if you want sovereignty, we will make you king, and if this ghost which comes to you, which you see, is such that you cannot get rid of him, we will find a physician for you, and exhaust our means in getting you cured, for OFTEN a familiar spirit gets possession of a man until he can be cured of it,’ or words to that effect…

And:

“… No Arab had ever treated his tribe as Muhammad had treated them, and they repeated the charges which have been mentioned on several occasions, If it was money he wanted, they would make him the richest of them all; if it was honour, he should be their prince; if it was sovereignty, they would make him king; if it was a spirit which had got possession of him (they used to call the familiar spirit of the jinn ra’iy), they would exhaust their means in finding medicine to cure him. The Apostle replied he had no such intention…” (Alfred Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad [Oxford University Press, Karachi, tenth impression 1995], pp. 132, 133-134;

The attestation to Muhammad by his first wife’s cousin Waraqa, is that he was deceived by a fallen angel:

“I am afraid it may be someone other than Gabriel, for certain devils imitate him and by so doing can mislead and corrupt some men. This can result in a man becoming confused and even crazy whereas before he had been of sound mind.’” (Ibn Kathir, The Life of the Prophet Muhammad [Al-Sira al-Nabawiyya], Volume I)

Choking, gasping, spasmodic movements, delirium, and whispering are signs of possession, sorcery and Satanic influence. (See: Guillaume, ‘The Life of Muhammad’, pp 135-6; for other source references: https://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/possessed.htm)

Surah 2:97: Say, “whoever is an enemy to gabriel – it is [none but] he who has brought the qur’an down upon your heart, [O Muhammad], by permission of Allah , confirming that which was before it and as guidance and good tidings for the believers.”

The Quran claims Gabriel as the angel and messenger who brought down the Quran unto Muhammad’s heart. In the Hadith, however, the angel is described as PRESSING and STRANGLING Muhammad upon the giving of the revelation. Something we NEVER find Gabriel doing in the Bible. 

WHY FEAR PREVENTS OUR HEARING FROM GOD

There is a categorical difference between a healthy fear, as in being in awe of Holy God, and being afraid or scared which is the leading edge of a spirit of terror. 

Biblical visitations by angels were always accompanied by greetings of “fear not” or “do not be afraid”. (e.g. Luke 1:11 & 1:30).

These were not merely platitudinous greetings to their startled audience. They had a greater significance and express a Biblical truth which is often overlooked. Firstly, it is impossible to hear from, receive from, or even be in God’s presence in a state of fear. So when God wanted His angels to bring messages of importance it was essential that the recipients be calm or their testimony would be compromised. Similarly when we want to align ourselves spiritually with God’s will there is no room for fear. A classic example was when the disciples see Jesus walking on the water. 

“Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  “Lord, if it’s You,” Peter answered Him, “command me to come to You on the water.” “Come! ” He said. And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me! ” (Matthew 14:27-30 HCSB)

As long as he kept calm Peter was able to step out of the boat in obedience without sinking and stayed upheld by his faith approaching his Lord. But as soon as he was distracted by his surroundings and became fearful he started to sink. Moral of story: we cannot stay in the presence of God and/or expect to communicate with or hear from him or His angels in a fearful state.

Secondly, a state of fear would be a sure sign that the source of visitation was not divine but demonic. God’s angels greeting with “do not be afraid” were effectively a form of calling card affirming and authenticating their origin, and this is entirely reflective of God’s character; for His perfect love leaves no room for fear:

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

(I John 4:18 NKJV)

CONCLUSIONS

These fundamental truths alone are proof that whatever asaulted Muhammad in a dark cave was not from God and his scared state made it impossible that he received anything with a divine origin. 

But it gets worse for Muslims. Following his encounter, Muhammad thought he was demon possessed. This according to Sahih Bukhari 9:111 where it states that he was twitching with terror, asking what was wrong with him whilst demanding to be covered, fearing that something BAD may happen to him.

Also from Ibn Ishaq’s “Sirat Rasul Allah” Muhammad didn’t think this was Gabriel at first, but that he was demon possessed. (pp. 106-107). It was only until people convinced him that he was met by an angel of the Lord that he slowly came to believe that he was called to prophethood.

As a matter of fact, even people during Muhammad’s time believed that he was demon possessed and was met, NOT by Gabriel, but by a demon. How embarrassing that the Quran even had to issue denials on his behalf :

Surah 81:22-25: “No, your compatriot [Muhammad] is not mad. He saw him [Gabriel] on the clear horizon. He does not grudge the secrets of the unseen, nor is this the utterance of an accursed devil.”

Surah 69:41, 42: “It [the Quran] is no poet’s speech: scant is your faith! It is no soothsayer’s divination: how little you reflect! It is revelation from the Lord of the Universe.” 


Christians are not surprised that Muhammad displayed demonic signs. Paul warns of false apostles:

“For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 HCSB)

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him!  As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!” (Galatians 1:8-9 HCSB)

Justified By Faith Alone In Christ Alone

Justified By Faith Alone In Christ Alone

Muslims love to wrongly apply Matthew 5:17-20 as justification for living by and subject to the Law as if Jesus makes that the sole object and the Law the only thing that gets us saved. They could not be more wrong as this Post will demonstrate.

Firstly let’s set out the passage:

“Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17‭-‬20 HCSB)

Jesus is speaking to the crowd in response to the Pharisees’ accusation that Jesus was trying to abolish the Law of God. Jesus refuted this accusation, saying that His purpose in appearing before men was not to abolish anything. Rather, Jesus came to fulfill the Law. The word fulfill in Greek is ‘pleroo’, (Strongs G4137) which is also translated “to complete.” In other words, Jesus came to complete or accomplish the entire Law.

He goes on to say that heaven and earth will not pass away until the entire Law of God has been accomplished. Jesus is the One Who accomplishes God’s Law by keeping the entire Law perfectly. Jesus never sinned during His earthly life, and so as He went to His death on the cross, He had accomplished or completed all the requirements of God’s Law. Jesus was referring to His completing of the Law when on the cross He said, “It is finished.”

The Pharisees were accusing Jesus of setting the Law aside, while they endeavored to keep it in their own strength. Jesus condemned the Pharisees and anyone else who tried to follow their example by saying that unless they could keep the Law even better than the Pharisees kept it, they could not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This was a daunting challenge, because the Pharisees were scrupulous followers of the Law. They were the ultimate of human endeavour to reach God. If the Pharisees didn’t have enough righteousness on their own to enter Heaven, then who could?

Obviously, Jesus was alluding to that answer. No one can earn their way into Heaven, because no one is righteous enough to make it through works. This is precisely why Jesus came to fulfill the Law on our behalf, so that His perfect work could be credited to us on the basis of faith.

Now that the Law has been completed by Jesus on our behalf, we are no longer obligated to keep it ourselves. That is not to suggest that the Law itself has gone away, but only that our obligations to keep it is gone, because Jesus has already kept (i.e., fulfilled, completed, accomplished) it for us. Likewise, anyone who discounts the importance of God’s Word will suffer loss.

Jesus is the One Who kept and taught the Law, and as a result, Jesus will be the One Who is called great in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:19). We should not teach believers to follow the Law out of obligation, but neither should we teach that the Law is no longer in force. Rather, we teach that the Law has been fulfilled by Christ’s work, and we rest in His perfect accomplishment of the Law rather than in our own futile efforts to keep it.

Further on at the conclusion of chapter 5 we find this even more daunting challenge by Jesus to round off all He has just said:

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48 HCSB)

The word “teleios” (Strongs G5046) that is translated “perfect” literally means “be complete.” So often, the New Testament and the Old Testament will describe people as being upright and righteous—not in the sense that they have achieved total moral perfection, but rather that they have reached a singular level of maturity in their growth in terms of spiritual integrity. However, in this statement, it’s certainly legitimate to translate it using the English word perfect. For example, “Be ye complete as your heavenly Father is complete.” Now remember that your heavenly Father is perfectly complete! So if we are to mirror God in that way, we are to mirror him in his moral excellence as well as in other ways. In fact, the basic call to a person in this world is to be a reflection of the character of God. That’s what it means to be created in the image of God. Long before the Sermon on the Mount, God required the people of Israel to reflect his character when he said to them, “Be ye holy even as I am holy.” He set them apart to be holy ones. The New Testament word for that is saints.

Can you attain the moral perfection of a Holy God by good works Muslims?

No you cannot. For us to be sanctified we need the shed blood of Jesus to wash us clean.

And this is another reason why not the least stroke of a pen will vanish. The Law now serves only to condemn us. It can NEVER I repeat NEVER justify us.

Many in Israel died precisely because they did not know the reason why the law was given. You can’t make the most of it unless you know what it is there for. If you don’t know why the traffic light is red, you may get smashed in the intersection.

In many areas of life yours is to reason why lest you do and die. And that includes the law of God. If we don’t understand why it was given, we can kill ourselves with it. Paul said in Romans 9:32 that the reason Israel stumbled into destruction was not that they didn’t pursue the law, but that they pursued it in the wrong way: from works and not from faith; in the effort of the flesh instead of the power of the Spirit. In other words, moral effort can be a mortal sin.

Satan clothes himself as an angel of light and makes the very commandments of God his base of operations. Hey presto we have Islam. And the human heart is so inveterately proud and unsubmissive that it often uses religion and morality to express its rebellion. This is why Islam appeals to the pride of men who want to attain their own salvation.

As Romans 10:3 says, “In seeking to establish their own righteousness, they would not submit to the righteousness of God.” The pursuit of righteousness can lead to perdition. So Galatians admonishes us:

“Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator. Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one. Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin’s power, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:19‭-‬26 HCSB)

Muslims now understand why the law was given and don’t be bewitched into pursuing it in a way that leads to death, but only in a way that leads to life.

■ The Law is Impotent to save us

A seminal text is Romans 8:1-4:

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. [3] For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, [4] so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1-4)

“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh” has four statements in it:

(i) God condemned sin in the flesh.

(i) He did this by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin.

(iii) The law was not able to do this.

(iv) The reason the law could not do this was because of our flesh.

Let’s focus on the last two to answer two questions:

  1. What was it that the law could not do? And,
  2. Why couldn’t it do it?

The reason this is such a vital message is that the two things that the law could not do are things that are absolutely necessary for us to experience if we are to have eternal life, and, even though the law could not and cannot do them, people still turn to the law to get them done. In other words, it is tremendously relevant to your life Abrahim Abdulhamid to know what the law cannot do for you, lest you labour in vain there for the help you can only get from Jesus Christ.

The Law Could not Justify or Sanctify Us

First, then, what is it that the law could not do? The answer is given twice in Romans 8:1-4, once in verses 1-2 and once in verses 3-4. Verse 1 says, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This is what we call justification – if we are in Christ Jesus – that is, if we are united to Jesus by faith in him – our condemnation from God because of our sin is taken away. God acquits us. Counts us righteous. Justifies us. He does not look upon us any longer as guilty and condemned, but as forgiven and righteous because of what Jesus did for us.

Then comes verse 2: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” This is what we call ‘sanctification’. After we are justified, and because we are justified, the Spirit of God is poured out in our lives and begins to free us from the dominion of sin and death. This means that Christians are not only “counted” righteous in justification, but actually transformed by the Spirit of God into more and more actually righteous, loving, holy people. This is the practical evidence that we have trusted Christ and are united to him and are justified in him.

Now my answer to our question is that these two things are what the law could not do. The law could not justify us and the law could not sanctify us. It was powerless to do both of these things. The first sign of this is that verse 3 begins with “for.” You could read it like this: Justification is “in Christ” (verse 1), and sanctification is “in Christ” (verse 2), for the law could not do these things, only Christ could, and so God sent his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.

That’s the first answer to the question from verses 1 and 2. Justification and sanctification come to us by union with Christ Jesus (“in Christ”) for the law could not make them happen.

Now the same answer comes in verses 3 and 4 as well. Verse 3 says that what the law could not do is condemn sin in the flesh, that is, it could not deal with sin, absorb its punishment, remove our condemnation. So God did this by sending Jesus into the world to die for us: “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh.”

So here we have the same point as verse 1: There is no condemnation because God executed the condemnation for our sin on his Son. That is the basis of our justification. That is what the law could not do. It could not remove the condemnation for our sin. It could identify it and name it and point away from it and stir it up and rub it in. But it could not remove our punishment. God did that in Jesus’ death. So again we see that justification is something the law could not do.

Now verse 4, like verse 2, says that this justification leads to sanctification, which was also something the law could not do – since it could not justify us. Notice verse 4 begins with “so that.” This is a purpose of God’s condemning sin in the flesh. God put our condemnation on Jesus and provided the basis for our justification “so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Walking according to the Spirit is what we mean by sanctification. So what we see here again, as in verses 1 and 2, is that sanctification is the result or the effect of justification. And that means that both justification and sanctification are what the law could not do.

You can see it most easily if you just say verses 3 and 4 like this: What the law could not do God did, namely two things: he condemned sin by sending his Son to die for us, and because of thisbasis for justification he enables us to fulfill the essence of the law by giving us the Holy Spirit. That is what the law could not do: justify us and sanctify us. It could not remove our condemnation or bring about our transformation. And yet both of these are absolutely necessary if we are going to be saved in the last day and have eternal life.

■ The Law Could not Justify Us Because We Were of Flesh

So we need to ask now: Why could the law not do these two things? Because if we can see the reason for this weakness clearly, we will be protected from the deadly mistake of counting on the law for justification and sanctification. And, even better, we will know where to look for the declaration that we are right with God and for the transformation that follows.

And that is so crucial for us all. You may be wondering how these Christians think about salvation and about how to get right with God and have eternal life. Well we think about it the same way Biblical Christians have thought about it for centuries: this is historic Christianity. The law – the ten commandments and the other rules that Moses gave the people of Israel – cannot make you right with God and cannot transform you into the kind of righteous and loving persons you want to be.

Why not? Verse 3 answers: “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did.” The problem with the law is not that its commandments are evil (Romans 7:12), but that we are evil (Romans 7:14). The word “flesh” does not mean skin, in Paul’s vocabulary. It means our old fallen nature. We will see this next week in the following verses where he contrasts the mind of the flesh and the mind of the Spirit. The flesh is what we are and what life is without God and his gracious, saving work by the Spirit. That is what the law encounters when it comes to us.

So what is the weakness of the law? The weakness of the law is that it was not designed to redeem fallen, condemned, rebellious, selfish people like us.

Think about this first in relation to justification. The reason we need to be justified is that we stand under the condemnation of God because we are fallen. Remember Romans 5:18, “Through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men.” Flesh is what we are by human nature, and what we are by human nature is under condemnation. What is the remedy for condemnation? If you are guilty of a capital offense and under the condemnation of a death sentence from God, what will save you?

I’ll tell you what will not save you. Commandments will not save you when your problem is guilt and condemnation. What happens when commandments come? Paul tells us in Romans 7:9, “When the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.” The commandments don’t bring about redemption, they bring about wrath. Romans 4:15, “The law brings wrath.” A man who is guilty and under legal condemnation will not be saved by commandments; he will be saved by acquittal. He needs a judge to pardon and forgive. He needs justification by faith and not by works of the law. That’s why Paul comes to the end of his long indictment of the human race in Romans 1-3 by saying, “By works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).

So the law could not do what absolutely has to be done if we are to be rescued from our guilt and condemnation: it could not justify us. It could not set us right with God. It could not take away our guilt. It could not absorb our condemnation. What it did was show us our guilt (Romans 3:20; 7:7) and to make us even more sinful by stirring up the rebellion of our flesh (5:20; 7:5). “Through the commandment sin [becomes] utterly sinful” (Romans 7:13).

Trust Jesus, not Law-Keeping

So if you want to be set right with God, don’t look to the law. If you want to be acquitted and justified, don’t depend on law-keeping. No amount of law-keeping can turn the verdict of guilty to not-guilty. One thing can change that verdict that hangs over your head: the perfect Son of God living and dying in your place. For his sake alone God counts you to be righteous when you trust him.

Hence Romans 3:28, “We maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” Trust Jesus, not law-keeping.
So the law cannot justify us because we are in the flesh, meaning we are fallen and condemned. And commandments of the law cannot remove guilt and condemnation. Only Christ can.

■ Why Is It that the Law Could not Sanctify Us?

Now we turn to sanctification. Why can’t the law sanctify us? Why can’t it make us holy and righteous and loving people?

It is a burning issue today how Christians can live in love and righteousness in the fragile world we have just moved into where fear and anger lie just beneath the surface of our lives. Fear of anthrax and bombs and the collapse of life-sustaining infrastructures we have always taken for granted. And anger at someone or some people and we are not even sure who.

Do you have the resources in you to be confident and fearless and courageous and patient and kind and fair and loving and sacrificial, not returning evil for evil, but blessing those who curse you and praying for those who persecute you (Romans 12:17; Matthew 5:44)? Where will you look for this? Will you look to the law?

It won’t work. Look to Christ. The living, divine, loving, omnipotent Lord who died for you and rose again and promises to be with you and help you and satisfy your longings in life and death. Look to him. The law cannot sanctify you, but Christ can.

If you need to get right with God as we enter 2019, look to Christ, not the law. And if you need help being a loving and righteous person as we enter a new year – and who doesn’t – look to Christ, not the law

■ The Law Cannot Conquer the Flesh

But there is a vital reason why the law cannot sanctify or transform: It cannot conquer the flesh. That is, it cannot change us at the root of our nature: our fallenness and rebellion against God. It cannot take away our reluctance to love God and our treasonous preference for God’s gifts above God (Romans 1:23). On the contrary, Paul teaches us that the law aggravates our sin and stirs up our rebellion.

Let’s review a few of those places where Paul says this, so that we arm ourselves from thinking that the law can get anywhere with our deep rebellion, which Paul calls our “flesh” in Romans 8:3 – “what the law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh.”

■ The Law Came to Increase Transgressions

Let’s look at Romans 5:19-21. Paul closes his contrast of Adam and Christ like this: “For as through the one man’s [Adam’s] disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One [Christ] the many will be made righteous.” Now this raises the question: “Well, if righteousness comes to us through the obedience of Christ, and not through our own obedience, then why the law? Isn’t the law given to provide righteousness?” Paul answers in verse 20, “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase.”

In other words the law is not the remedy for our condemnation or our rebellion. In fact, it is given to turn our inner rebellion into more blatant and visible transgressions. We see this again in Romans 7:5:

“While we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.”

In other words, the law does not conquer the flesh, it rouses the flesh. The law plays into the hands of our own sinful passions and stirs them up.

We see the same thing in Romans 7:8:

“But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind.”

The law does not conquer the flesh, on the contrary, it gives the flesh another base of operation. Another place to show its rebellion.

So Paul asks in Romans 7:13: “Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me?” He answers, “May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good [the law!], so that through the commandments sin would become utterly sinful.”

So the function of the law is to make sin more visible in transgressions, more blatant and prevalent in rousing the flesh, and more manifestly vicious in its use of what is good to do its ugly work.

This message is repeated again in Galatians 3. Paul contrasts the inheritance of life promised to Abraham by faith with the idea that it could be secured by law. He says in verse 18:

“For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. (19) Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made.”

Transgressions Increased to Display More Grace and More Glory

So we ask, Why? Why would God design redemptive history like that? Why would he add the law to increase the trespass? Back to Romans 5:20. Verse 20 begins, “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase.” Then, to show where God is really going in his purpose, Paul immediately adds: “But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”

God’s purpose to increase the transgression by introducing the law was not an end in itself. It was an occasion for displaying more grace.

And the ultimate purpose is seen in verse 21:

“So that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The ultimate aim is to make sure that Jesus Christ gets the glory for the triumph of righteousness in the world – both in justification and sanctification.

That leads us to the last reason the law can’t sanctify us. But before we turn there, make sure you see this second point: the law can’t remedy our rebellious reluctance to treasure God because it stirs it up. Our sinful love of independence and control and self-exaltation simply makes the law into a new theater for revolt. The law gets taken captive by the flesh and made a servant of sin. If we turn to the law to fix our rebellion and the our adulterous indifference to God, it will not work. We will only become worse.

■ The Law Couldn’t Give the Son the Glory for Justification & Sanctification

The last reason the law cannot sanctify we just saw at the end of Romans 5: God’s purpose is to sanctify us in a way that the credit and the glory for our liberation and transformation go to Jesus Christ, not to ourselves and not to the law. Therefore God calls us not to turn to the law for transformation – for love and holiness and Christ-likeness – but to turn to the living Christ, who worked for us in history and works in us now by his Spirit.

The law cannot magnify the Son of God as more glorious and more valuable and more desirable than the pleasures of sin. Only when Christ himself wins our affections over all contestants will he get the glory God means for him to have. Even if you did turn to the law and experience some measure of success in becoming a law-abiding person (as the Pharisees certainly did, including Saul of Tarsus) Christ would get no honor from that. But God’s whole purpose in the plan of redemption is that his Son get the glory not only for our justification, but also for our sanctification. And this the law could not do.

■ The Key to Sanctification: Walking by the Spirit

What then is the key to sanctification – holiness, love, Christlikeness? Verse 4 says the key is to walk by the Spirit. “God condemned sin in the flesh (4) so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” I’m going to argue in the weeks to come (from Romans 13:8 and Galatians 5:14) that the “fulfillment of the law” is a life of Christ-exalting love. But for now just focus on the means appointed by God to get there: “Walking by the Spirit.”

Whose Spirit? Romans 8:9-10 tells us:

“However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.”

The “Spirit of God” and the “Spirit of Christ” and “Christ” appear to be inseparable and almost interchangeable ways of describing the life-changing presence of God in the life of the believer.

■ Conclusions

The concluding points to make are these:

□ it is not by turning to the law that we fulfill the law and lead lives of love, it is by turning to the living Christ.

□ The power of sanctification is not the law, but the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ.

□ And the instrument of our appropriation of this power is not to turn to the law but to fix our gaze and our faith on the glory of Christ crucified and risen, reigning and indwelling.

□ The key is Christ, seen and savoured above all things. That is the power that sanctifies. And this is the method of holiness that glorifies him, not the law and not us. Amen.

Primary Source: https://www.desiringgod.org