Welcome to BibleStudyMinistry.com an online Bible study supplement resource for Christians who are interested in learning more about the man Jesus within the pages of the Bible. This week’s Sabbath Bible study is titled God’s grace is sufficient.

This statement is used many times by Christians who are convinced the laws of God are no longer necessary because of His grace. With further study on the topic “grace” we hope to edify you that God’s grace is sufficient, and in addition to this, His laws are still required.

Many Christians, including you perhaps, have been held to believe that you are not under the law; but under grace. By this statement, you are saved by God’s grace. The book, chapter, and verse used to prove this point is more often than not, Romans 6:14, which states:

14, For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Usually when I encounter someone who reads and believes this, the conversation is over. This is because they have closed their ears to hearing anything else. However, this needs to be investigated and that is what we are going to do right now; by the grace of God (no pun intended).

Let’s look into Galatians chapter 3. In this book and chapter, the apostle Paul appears to be speaking about the law as in the Ten Commandments. When we investigate it thoroughly, we should find that Paul is speaking about another law, which the children of Akobe were commanded to keep.

Galatians 3:10,

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11, But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

12, And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Looking at verse 10 it says that those who have the works of the law are under the curse.  This would slam the argument for the law of God referring to the Ten Commandment for those who claim you must keep them. To keep them will put you under the curse, according to verse 10. But let’s keep investigating.

Still, it turns around and says ‘curse is every man that continues not in all things written in the book of the law to do them.’  That can be confusing.

No One Justified by the Law

As we keep reading it says that ‘no man is justified by the law in the sight of God.’ And to bring it all home, ‘Jesus’, the Anointed Son, has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written; cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree.’

You’d have to be a Bible and linguist scholar not to be scratching your head after these set of verses? To begin, we need to find out how a man gets himself on a tree to be cursed. Let’s do that and to do that we’ll read from Deuteronomy chapter 21.

Deuteronomy 21:22, And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: 23, His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

Do you understand that law written in the book of the law?

It stated that if a man committed a sin worthy of death, he should be put to death. His death coming by way of being hung up on a tree. Lightbulb moment! This is why the Anointed Son was sentenced to death and hung on the tree (cross made of a tree). The Anointed Son was accused of blasphemy, but the sin that really had Him sentenced to death were the sins of His people.

Jesus had no sins, He took on our sins that are worthy of death and He died for us.

This is why the Anointed Son needed to be taken off the cross before nightfall. It was so the land would not be defiled. “And he that is hung is accursed of God.”

In dying for us, Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law. What law? It’s pretty obvious, the law that states if someone commits a sin worthy of death, they should be killed. Do you see it?

We will clarify that in a moment. Right now we should find out what sin actually is. This way we know what sin there is out there that is worthy of death. According to 1^st John chapter 3 verse 4, sin is the breaking of the law. What law? The Ten Commandments!

God’s Grace is Sufficient!

Therefore, if you broke commandments like stealing something from your neighbor, in consequence, congratulations, you just broke one of God’s commandments. In the days of Moses, Samuel, and the Levitical order, you would have been ordered to sacrifice one of your animals. The bull or goat would have to die in your place.

In this, the animal represented the the Anointed Son dying for your sins. Does this make sense?

However, if you committed a trespass worthy of death, you were sentenced to death and hung up on a tree because you were cursed.  Now let’s throw a small wrinkle in…

Let us read Romans 5 and verses 12 & 13

Verse 12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13, (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Let us attempt to put those verses in modern engllish. Sin came into the world by one man, let’s say Adam, and death showed up right behind sin. Since man sinned, death was given to every man. Now verse 13 is the key; verse 13 tells us that there can be no sin if there is no law.

In other words; you cannot break a law that does not exist.  You can only break something that is enforced. You cannot be pulled over for speeding if there are no laws against speeding. If there is no law; then you cannot sin.

Let’s go back to Galatians 3 verse 17, And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18, For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abram by promise.

19, Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

The Anointed Son confirmed a covenant made with Abram. Please pay attention here.  The law came 430 years after this covenant and Abram’s covenant cannot be disannulled.  The question Christians should be asking is what law came 430 years after Abram?

Ten Commandments During the Days of Cain…

It is not the Ten Commandments because that came in the Garden of Eden (even before) – how do we know?  We know because when Cain killed Abel he didn’t say, “yes Father, I killed him, he is in the bushes.”

Instead, Cain lied about it because he knew he was not supposed to kill. When Abram feared the Egyptians would kill him because of his beautiful wife Sara; he told them she was his sister.

And when the king tried to take Sara to be his wife; God warned king Abimelech not to touch Sara because she was another man’s wife and that Abimelech should not sin against God. Sin is the breaking of the law (biblical definition).

This leaves the only other law to come 430 years after Abram. This law was part of the Levitical Order headed by the sons of Aaron. The major portion attached to the schoolmaster law of Levi was the Animal Sacrificial Law. Paul explained this law to certain men of Juda who were still practicing this law, that they did not need to perform this any longer. He taught they did not need this law because the Anointed Son had died and animal sacrifice was no longer needed.

Thus, we are now under the grace of God. 

Let’s take a look at this in Romans

Romans 7:7, What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Is the law sin? God forbid, or of course not. Paul wouldn’t have known what sin was if he didn’t know about the law. In other words he said he did not know what breaking the law was except for knowing there was a law to break. Again, we cannot know we are running a red light unless we are told, “When this light turns red, it is your turn to stop and allow the other side to go. That is the law.”

Until that is told to us, we would just run the red like we’d run anything else.

Paul wrote that he didn’t know he was lusting except the law pointed out ‘thou shall not covet.’ Cain, had he not known he was not supposed to kill; he would or should have responded, “Father, I killed Abel” and the Father would have said, “Cain, I should have told you that you are not suppose to kill.”

Cain would have apologized and asked for forgiveness. 

We’ll continue reading at Romans chapter 7:8, But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9, For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10, And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11, For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12, Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. (emphasis mine)

Paul was alive without the law; but when the Ten Commandments were introduced to him, so was sin, and thus Paul’s sinful lifestyle died. This means the old Paul died. The Paul that loved to lust, steal, cheat, and all the other stuff people without the law do, had to cease.

God’s Commandments Holy, Just, and Good

When we know better we do better (at least we supposed to). A womanizer who learns about the Ten Commandments, the old womanizing character dies, and the new responsible Christian character begins to live.

The commandments which are ordained to life, Paul found were unto death. This is because you have to stop doing all those ungodly things that lead to death. And in essence that part of your life dies. Therefore the law is holy, the commandment holy, and just and good.

Can anything holy, just, and good be done away with or be a curse? No. There are two sets of laws, a law that is ordained to life (the Ten Commandments) and a law ordained to death (Animal Sacrifice – Levitical Order).

The animal sacrifice was brought in because the people broke the Ten Commandments. Red lights are ran constantly by people and the results are car accidents, injuries, and death. People keep running red lights.

For this cause officials put in another law to stop the frequency of running red lights. This law will result in a fine of $175 or more. This law (fining and ticketing) was added because people were breaking the original law. This is supposed to help us stop running red lights or we will go hungry and broke paying tickets. We may get our license revolted or even have our car impounded.

Animal sacrificial law was added because of transgressing of the Ten Commandments.

Galatians 3:22-25 tells us the law (talking about animal sacrifice and the Levitical Order) is our school-master to bring us unto the teachings of the Anointed Son. This law shows us what is really taking place. When we sin; something or someone has to die.

The Anointed Son is the Sin Offering

The House of Jacob killed animals. When the Anointed Son came He died for and because of man. The animals represented the Anointed Son until His hour came. When the Anointed Son died; there was and is no more need for animal sacrifice because He is the ultimate sacrifice for sins. He is the sin offering.

Here is why animal sacrifices needed to be replaced.

Hebrews 10:1, For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

It had a shadow of good things to come; remember it was our school master. But it didn’t have the ability to take away sin. That is, it could not make the situation perfect.

Why?

4, For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

All the animals in the world sacrificed unto God could not take away one sin. So it was an exercise in futility. It was all academic.

8, Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

Animal sacrifices were offered by the law. It was a law you had to do if you sinned. And when the Anointed Son offered Himself as a sacrifice; He did the sacrifice once and for all.

14, For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 18, Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Now once the Anointed Son died for us; nothing else can bail us out. Animals cannot remove our sin; the Anointed Son will only die for us once. He ended animal sacrifice and the Levitical Order, we should be under the Order of Melchizedek.

To verify this we will read in

Romans 10:4, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Christ was the end of the law for everyone that believed. What law? The law of animal sacrifices. Once He died, we no longer have to kill animals for forgiveness of sins. The Anointed Son became the end of that Law to those that believe in Him.

Let’s wind this down

Ephesians 2:5, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved 😉

We were dead; but God our Eternal Father has made us alive through His Anointed Son (the Christ) and by His grace we are saved.

8, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

By grace we are saved through faith; not of yourself; but a gift of God. By the grace of God; you are saved through your faith in God (and all that He commanded). And this grace is a free gift from God.

We are saved because the Savior, the Anointed Son, paid the bail, we still will not be officially saved until the end when we have been fully exonerated by becoming immortal beings in His kingdom. In Romans chapter 6 Paul informs us that we should keep the commandments.

Here it is:

1, What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2, God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Shall we continue in sin because we are in the grace of God? God FORBID!

14, For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15, What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Sin (the breaking of the law), shall not dominate you because you are not under the laws of animal sacrifice; but you are under grace. So should you sin because you are not under the laws of animal sacrifice? God forbid.

23, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ our Lord.

The payment for breaking the law is death; but the gift of the grace of God is eternal life through the Messiah our Master. You must continue to keep the Ten Commandments. The laws of animal sacrifice are done away with and you are under the grace of God.

His grace is sufficient, and His laws are still required.

In man’s laws and terms; if you were arrested for strong arm robbery, and were bailed out and pardoned, you were given grace by the judicial system. You must continue to now be a LAW abiding citizen to maintain that grace.

If you rob again and are caught you will return to jail with a very vicious sentence. Hebrews chapter 10 tells us about that vicious sentence:

26, For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

If you go back and commit armed robbery willfully there remains no more bail for you. After you know better and have been bailed out and pardoned, you are on your own. All you have to look forward to is cell block 8. 

In the Almighty’s terms it’s called the lake of fire.

In Moses day, they stoned you to death; but the Anointed Son will throw you in fire and you will burn forever.

Verse 31, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

To conclude we turn to Romans chapter 3

Verse 28, Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

And from this, we do conclude that a man is justified by his faith without the deeds of the law of animal sacrifice. We finished the sentenced that was taken out of Paul’s writings.

Verse 31, Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Yet, do we make void the law (Ten Commandments) through faith. We all know people say they just have faith in God; they believe in God, “it’s all about your relationship with God; and you don’t have to keep His commandments.”

Paul says, God forbid that type of talk. Through our faith we are to establish the law, His Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are exemplified in “Doing unto your neighbor as you would he do unto you.”

Love your neighbor as you love yourself.

I hope this study helped edify your understanding by the grace of God and that you understand that grace is simply a free gift from our Father to give us access again to the tree of Life, which is His Word.

Grace, peace, and more understanding be given to you in the name of the Anointed Son.

 

Elder Koko Ishe

BibleStudyMinistry.com

If you have questions or comments, please leave us an email. Also feel free to distribute this article with friends and family, and peers. That is part of spreading the gospel…

You can join our newsletter free, put your name and best email address!

 

pOWer be with you