Philippians 3:8-9

8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),

9 And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.

Through Christ all of the burden of having to do anything on our own to find favor with our Father is gone. He loves us irregardless of our shortcomings. 

Grace and spiritual blessing be to you and [soul] peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), Who gave (yielded) Himself up [to atone] for our sins [and to save and sanctify us], in order to rescue and deliver us from this present wicked age and world order, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father—Galatians 1:3-4

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

The glorious Truth is that our Father Himself keeps us in His favor and through Christ we are always counted righteous. All of our education, money, and works mean nothing, they count for nothing. The only thing that counts is Jesus and He is greater in us then anything that is in this world. The peace with this truth is awesome! There is so much freedom and joy in it. Our Father is responsible to make us right and He is faithful to do it. The burden is His and the victory is ours. We never removed from His mercy!

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

Philippians 3:4-7

4 Though for myself I have [at least grounds] to rely on the flesh. If any other man considers that he has or seems to have reason to rely on the flesh and his physical and outward advantages, I have still more!

5 Circumcised when I was eight days old, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [and the son] of Hebrews; as to the observance of the Law I was of [the party of] the Pharisees,

6 As to my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church, and by the Law’s standard of righteousness (supposed justice, uprightness, and right standing with God) I was proven to be blameless and no fault was found with me.

7 But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake.

If we think of this in todays terms, we would talk about how someone has a PHD in Divinity. Or that they have been recognized and lead a large church for a large denomination. Today many also glory in completing courses and being certified within our churches. The Holy Spirit has Paul write us that all of this stuff means nothing. 

But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do]. 1 John 2:27

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26

The Truth for us is that our Father will Himself teach us all things. He will teach us all Truth and He will cause us to act on His behalf in everything. Our Father will use the poor, the weak, the sick, and the uneducated. He will use the rich and successful as well. The way to know who is truly chosen and anointed to preach and who is a wolf in sheep’s clothing is to look at the fruit that they are producing. If a preacher wants to be called Doctor, or boasts about his or hers education, watch out. These kinds of things are the testimonies of wolves. To find Truth look for those who say that all of those things mean nothing. Look for those who always direct you towards our Father and His power and glory working through us. Look to those who speak the Truth that, Greater Is He That Is In Us!

Philippians 3:2

2 Look out for those dogs [Judaizers, legalists], look out for those mischief-makers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

People have always seemed to look towards their flesh to serve our Father. In Paul’s day it was all about being circumcised, which was a sign that you would follow the Law. Today it isn’t so much about circumcision, it is what denomination do you belong too, or do you tithe and if so how much? So many judge today by the clothes that we wear, what we eat, do we drink, dance, sing, or the way that we do our hair. All of these things rely on the flesh, beware of these things! According to the Word those who point towards these type of fleshly things are dogs and mischief makers. 

A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers. John 4:23

DO YOU not know, brethren--for I am speaking to men who are acquainted with the Law--that legal claims have power over a person only for as long as he is alive? For [instance] a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies, she is loosed and discharged from the law concerning her husband. Accordingly, she will be held an adulteress if she unites herself to another man while her husband lives. But if her husband dies, the marriage law no longer is binding on her [she is free from that law]; and if she unites herself to another man, she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. Romans 7:1-4

For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice], So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit]. Romans 8:3-4

Here is the glorious Truth, we are now fully controlled by the Holy Spirit. That means that I may be in one place in my spiritual life and you in an other, but both of us are fully and completely saved! The Law judged by what our flesh did, Grace judges by what Jesus did. So do not look at the flesh to see salvation, we look to the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, joy, meekness, long suffering, and faith. Many who drink have the evidence of this fruit. Many who wear their hair differently exhibit this fruit. Many who use words that seem wrong are being used to bare this fruit. 

Philippians 1:15-17

15 Some, it is true, [actually] preach Christ (the Messiah) [for no better reason than] out of envy and rivalry (party spirit), but others are doing so out of a loyal spirit and goodwill.

16 The latter [proclaim Christ] out of love, because they recognize and know that I am [providentially] put here for the defense of the good news (the Gospel).

17 But the former preach Christ out of a party spirit, insincerely [out of no pure motive, but thinking to annoy me], supposing they are making my bondage more bitter and my chains more galling.

The Truth is that many preachers and religious leaders are false. 

Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves. Matthew 7:15

BUT THE [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach, Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized), Who forbid people to marry and [teach them] to abstain from [certain kinds of] foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and have [an increasingly clear] knowledge of the truth. For everything God has created is good, and nothing is to be thrown away or refused if it is received with thanksgiving. For it is hallowed and consecrated by the Word of God and by prayer. 1 Timothy 4:1-5

So how do we know who is truly called to preach the Truth and who is a false prophet? We will know them by the fruit that our Father uses them to produce. 

But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. Galatians 5:22-23

Fruit is not a huge church building or earthly wealth. Fruit is exactly what our Father tells us that it is. Fruit is love. Fruit is patience, even when being persecuted. Fruit is being gentle while we intercede for the forgiveness of those who do not know what the Truth is. Fruit is running off religious bullies from a notable sinner and then not condemning them for their actions. You want to know who is truly called, look at how our Father has them act and treat the especially wicked. If they treat them as Jesus did, then they are truly preachers of the Gospel. If they treat them with harsh criticism, threats of Hell, and anger, then they are not true preachers of the Gospel. It is just that simple! 

Galatians 6:12-13

12 Those who want to make a good impression and a fine show in the flesh would try to compel you to receive circumcision, simply so that they may escape being persecuted for allegiance to the cross of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

13 For even the circumcised [Jews] themselves do not [really] keep the Law, but they want to have you circumcised in order that they may glory in your flesh (your subjection to external rites).

The same thing holds true today with so many. I know a lot of preachers and I see how they really live. They do not even begin to live by the burdens that they preach from the pulpit.  

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes one [a proselyte], you make him doubly as much a child of hell (Gehenna) as you are. Matthew 23:15

But He said to them, Excellently and truly [so that there will be no room for blame] did Isaiah prophesy of you, the pretenders and hypocrites, as it stands written: These people [constantly] honor Me with their lips, but their hearts hold off and are far distant from Me. Mark 7:6

Beware of supposed religious leaders who are constantly preaching and teaching what we must do. Beware of fire and brimstone preachers who so easily talk of people being sent to Hell. Beware of preachers who use the Old Testament as the basis for their sermons, to show how we must serve. They are pretenders and hypocrites, who place all of the burden on man and not on Jesus where it truly is.

For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]. 2 Timothy 3:5

Galatians 5:11-12

11 But, brethren, if I still preach circumcision [as some accuse me of doing, as necessary to salvation], why am I still suffering persecution? In that case the cross has ceased to be a stumbling block and is made meaningless (done away).

    

12 I wish those who unsettle and confuse you would [go all the way and] cut themselves off!

    

Amen! But the real question for me has always been why does our Father not just drive these people away from us? 

And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted. Three times I called upon the Lord and besought [Him] about this and begged that it might depart from me; But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

When our Father enlightens us with the glorious Truth that it is all His power all of the time, which is Christ, controlling our entire lives, then He will allow us to be persecuted by false prophets for it, John 15:20. Our Father allows this so that His love will come through even when we are attacked and the world will see it and desire what He has given us. The world will see our Father’s Grace abounding when it shouldn’t be abounding. They will see our Father’s hope flowing from us when they believe that it shouldn’t be. The world will see us being happy and satisfied even though they think that we shouldn’t and they will want the Grace that we have been given. It will also allow us to know that greater is He that is in us, then we who are in this world, 1 John 4:4. 

Jesus was attacked and yet our Father empowered Him to love. Paul, Peter, John, and Stephen were all attacked and the Holy Spirit caused them to love and serve those who were doing it. The persecution that these men endured caused our Father’s power to show itself complete within them. The Truth shined in the darkness and the Truth is what set’s people free, John 8:32. 

I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. John 17:15

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12

Galatians 5:10

10 [For my part] I have confidence [toward you] in the Lord that you will take no contrary view of the matter but will come to think with me. But he who is unsettling you, whoever he is, will have to bear the penalty.

There are a ton of preachers and religious people who try and make us believe in ourselves. They teach and demand that we must first accept, or that we must first believe, through our own free will’s, to have our Father then act in our lives. So what does the power of Christ have us do to these false prophets?

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against) our debtors. Matthew 6:12

Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times? Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven! Matthew 18:21-22

We are actively used by the Holy Spirit to intercede for these preachers and teachers of anti-christ and we are empowered by the love of Jesus to forgive them, John 20:23. We are one with Jesus and He ever lives to intercede for them, Hebrews 7:25, even though they are actively waring against Him. So how can we do anything but the same thing when we are one with Jesus? 

These false prophets will be allowed to come against us. They will be permitted to attack us. They will damn us and yet none of them will be thrown into the Lake of Fire for what they do to us. They will one day, either in this world, or the world to come, learn that what we are being used to say to them and the world is the Truth.

Take note! I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and learn and acknowledge that I have loved you. Revelation 3:9

The Holy Spirit will cause us to bless the wolves as they curse us. He will cause us to pray for the preachers of anti-christ as they despise us. We will be blessed to feed the enemies of the Gospel and one day they will come to know the same Truth that we do and they will be set free. 

Galatians 5:2-4

2 Notice, it is I, Paul, who tells you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no profit (advantage, avail) to you [for if you distrust Him, you can gain nothing from Him].

    

3 I once more protest and testify to every man who receives circumcision that he is under obligation and bound to practice the whole of the Law and its ordinances.

What we are being told here is that if we trust in any Law, even the Ten Commandments, to save us or to keep our favor with God, Christ is of no profit to us. I for one want Jesus to be of profit for me. Jesus got the people off who murdering Him, Luke 23:54. Jesus got an adulterous woman free from the death penalty, John 8:10-11. I never really see the Ten Commandments working for anyone? But I do see Jesus being very successful. 

    

4 If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have fallen away from grace (from God's gracious favor and unmerited blessing).

If someone tells you what you have to do to have God do something in your life, then what they are telling you is that you are separated from Christ. If you believe that you have to worship on a certain day, then you have no part in Christ. If you believe that you have to give money so that God can provide for you, then you have no part in Christ. If you believe that you have to wear certain clothes or have a certain hair style, then you are separated from Christ. If you believe that any work will give you favor with our Father, then you have no grace and you are separated from Christ. 

All of these kind of works sound so religious and right, but they all drive the focus and attention towards our flesh and not towards Jesus and therefore they are anti-christ. In Christ we will work, but we will work because it is our Father within us doing His works, John 14:10. Our Father will use us to do great and wonderful things like raise the dead, heal the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the widows and orphans, prophesy, perform miracles, love, forgive, intercede, and cast out demons, John 14:12. Yet these works are not the focus, Jesus is the focus, love is the focus. Works do not justify us or empower us, Jesus does. These things are just works. We marvel not at the works that our Father does through us, we marvel at our Father’s grace, Luke 10:20. 

I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. John 15:5

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. Philippians 4:13

Galatians 4:24-26

24 Now all this is an allegory; these [two women] represent two covenants. One covenant originated from Mount Sinai [where the Law was given] and bears [children destined] for slavery; this is Hagar.

If someone tells you that we are still bound to Laws, laws like the the Ten Commandments, and bound to works, then what they are actually telling you is that you are still a slave to the flesh. They are saying that Jesus did not set us free. They are saying Grace has no effect on us. They are telling you the message of the anti-christ and their message will only lead to failure and defeat. It is not the Truth and it will not set anyone free!   

    

25 Now Hagar is (stands for) Mount Sinai in Arabia and she corresponds to and belongs in the same category with the present Jerusalem, for she is in bondage together with her children.

If a person believes in keeping religious laws to find favor with our Father then they are in bondage. 

    

26 But the Jerusalem above (the Messianic kingdom of Christ) is free, and she is our mother.

In Christ we are now free, our works no longer keep us in Christ or remove us from Him, Romans 11:29. This freedom now allows us to be used by our Father to do the works that He did through Jesus and this freedom allows Him to use us to do even greater works, John 14:12. In Christ we now are the instruments of our Father’s righteousness. Jesus will now use us to show the world that they are loved and that He is Lord, John 17:21-23. Our Father will now use us to do His works of forgiveness, healing, love, prophecy, faith, and miracles. In Christ there is now no more condemnation, Romans 8:1. In Christ there is freedom from the law of sin and death, Romans 8:2. In Christ the fear of messing up is removed, 1 John 4:18. In Christ we have eternal life and our life is just as Jesus’ is, an eternal life of serving others. 

People who want to tell us that we are just human, that our flesh is weak, that we have a free will that is separate from our Father’s will have no revelation of the Truth that has set us free. These people still trust in themselves and in the flesh, so they trust in works that they believe will find them favor with God. This is all anti-christ. This faith slaps what Jesus came and gave to us right in the face, because it says that we control our Father’s Grace. It teaches that all of what Jesus has is available to us if we just do things to get it, thus placing us in charge of our destiny. What sheep is in charge of its destiny? What body part, separate from the head, acts with its own free will?

Galatians 4:14-17

14 And [yet] although my physical condition was [such] a trial to you, you did not regard it with contempt, or scorn and loathe and reject me; but you received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus [Himself]!

    

15 What has become of that blessed enjoyment and satisfaction and self-congratulation that once was yours [in what I taught you and in your regard for me]? For I bear you witness that you would have torn out your own eyes and have given them to me [to replace mine], if that were possible.

    

16 Have I then become your enemy by telling the truth to you and dealing sincerely with you?

    

17 These men [the Judaizing teachers] are zealously trying to dazzle you [paying court to you, making much of you], but their purpose is not honorable or worthy or for any good. What they want to do is to isolate you [from us who oppose them], so that they may win you over to their side and get you to court their favor.

Works sound right and it is easy for people to follow after them. Works seem to make more sense to us then Grace does. But works and laws actually take away from the glory of God. When people place their faith in trust in their works, what they did for God and not what our Father did through them, they are preaching anti-christ. It is a very humbling attitude that proclaims that we initiate nothing on our own. This attitude of humility has to be given to us from our Father, because it goes so contrary to man and ego. Wolves in sheep’s clothing will come into fellowships and they will sound so religious and they will sound so right. These wolves will say that our love for God makes us want to wear these clothes, not eat these types of food, make this graven image to show respect, and worship this certain way on this certain day. But the primary focus of their message will always be on human effort and not on Christ, the power of our Father working through us. 

The glorious Truth is that the Holy Spirit will cause us to love as God loves, John 17:26. He will cause us to forgive and lay hands on the sick and they will recover. The Holy Spirit will cause us to believe as Jesus believes and serve as Jesus serves, 1 John 4:17. Our works will not limit or empower our Father for one second. As Paul wrote, our Father will actually work more powerfully through us when we are weak, Galatians 4:12-13. The only thing that empowers the Holy Spirit for us is Grace, and Grace is free and it is unmerited, Ephesians 1:6. When the Holy Spirit is given to a man, works will come, but the works are a byproduct of salvation. Our works  do not bring salvation, keep salvation, or strengthen salvation. It is amazing how relevant the message that God gave to the Galatians is for us today. 

Galatians 4:8-10

8 But at that previous time, when you had not come to be acquainted with and understand and know the true God, you [Gentiles] were in bondage to gods who by their very nature could not be gods at all [gods that really did not exist].

9 Now, however, that you have come to be acquainted with and understand and know [the true] God, or rather to be understood and known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly and worthless elementary things [of all religions before Christ came], whose slaves you once more want to become?

10 You observe [particular] days and months and seasons and years!

    

I wonder why so many Christians want to be bound by weak and beggarly things like go to church on Sunday because it is the Lord’s day? When the Truth is, every day is the Lords, ! Why do we think that what we eat matters in us finding favor with our Father? So many get so caught up with things like don’t eat certain things during the weeks leading up to Easter? Where in the New Testament is this found? Where in the Bible is it found to make an image of a saint and pray to it? Or make an image of the cross and trust in it to keep you faithful? Where can it be found to pray to our brothers and sisters in the Lord? Is there anywhere in the Word where we are told that we have to wear a tie or suite or a dress when we get together to fellowship? All of these things, and so many more, are worthless things that cause men to look to works and not towards Christ. All of these types of things are anti-christ and they destroy those who practice such beggarly things. 

11 I am alarmed [about you], lest I have labored among and over you to no purpose and in vain.

   

This is the attitude that I pray that we all gain: we should be alarmed when people try to tell us how works make us holy. If the conversation ever brings the attention towards us and what we have to do to get our Father’s favor or respect we should immediately sound the alarm. Works for the Bride of Christ do not bring grace, they do not bring salvation, and they do not stop wrath. The only thing that brings all of these things is Jesus, our Groom. The Holy Spirit will cause those who are truly saved to keep the conversation towards the Truth and the Truth will set the world free!

Galatians 3:7-10

7 Know and understand that it is [really] the people [who live] by faith who are [the true] sons of Abraham.

    

8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify (declare righteous, put in right standing with Himself) the Gentiles in consequence of faith, proclaimed the Gospel [foretelling the glad tidings of a Savior long beforehand] to Abraham in the promise, saying, In you shall all the nations [of the earth] be blessed.

    

9 So then, those who are people of faith are blessed and made happy and favored by God [as partners in fellowship] with the believing and trusting Abraham.

    

What the Holy Spirit is telling us here is that all who are empowered to have Jesus’ faith to accept and believe working in them, just as Abraham had our Lord’s faith working in him, are blessed and have eternal life. Our Father chose Abraham and He chose us. It is all grace and it is all undeserved. Our Father has the right to do what He wants with what He Alone created. 

10 And all who depend on the Law [who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals] are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and destruction, for it is written in the Scriptures, Cursed (accursed, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment) be everyone who does not continue to abide (live and remain) by all the precepts and commands written in the Book of the Law and to practice them.

  

All who depend on the Law, so all who depend on the Ten Commandments and works, are doomed to disappointment and destruction! Wow, go tell that to most churches and see what you get? What our Father is telling us here is to rejoice, we have Jesus, not works, to save us. Regardless of what Covenant our Father has had people live under, He has always chosen certain ones of us to be empowered with Himself to believe and serve. 

Galatians is such a great Book of Truth to destroy the lies of those who want to put us under bondage to works and laws. These wolves will try to steal all joy and peace from us by demanding that we do things on our own. When in all actuality what they teach will actually stop man from being used to do great and wonderful things. The only way that we will ever truly be used by our Father to work is when we stop looking to works. When we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to stop looking to things like what we wear, what we eat, when we eat it, what we think, what we say, where we worship, and how we worship, then we will truly be used by our Father to serve the Kingdom and the world! Only then will we be used by our Father to heal the sick, raise the dead, prophesy, forgive, love, teach, and preach the Truth that will set the captives free. 

I know the Ten Commandments sound like what we have to do, they sound religious and they sound like a good idea, but the Truth is they only lead to destruction when they are looked upon as the power that allows our Father to be in our life’s. When anything other than Jesus, even the Law and the Ten Commandments, is placed as the tool that we use to get to our Father and His favor and His grace, it is destruction! Jesus is jealous, it has to all be Him. He has to be in control of us or we can have no part of Him. He has to wash our feet and He has to serve us, or we can no part of Him, John 13:5-14. 

Galatians 3:3

3 Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh?

    

The exact same thing can be said of so many of us today. Far too many of us look to works: wear this and don’t wear that, pray this way, go here, but don’t go there, keep this day holy, say these things over communion, tithe this and offer that, and so many other things of the flesh to better our relationship with our Father. These things and all of the other works sound very religious, but the attention and power of these rules all draw us towards man and not towards Jesus. We act as if by us doing these things, Jesus will become closer to us. Here is the Truth: the Head is one with the body, it can never get any closer than that! Perfection is not obtained by works, perfection is just a gift, it is given to us when the Holy Spirit births us, just as He birthed Jesus. Jesus was perfect when He was born. He was perfect because He was born from the Holy Spirit. No work made Jesus perfect, He was just born that way and through Christ so are we. Perfection is all because of the power of the Holy Spirit and we all have the same Holy Spirit as Jesus. We were born of a woman and of the Holy Spirit just as Jesus was. Don’t be foolish, silly, and thoughtless, we are only perfect because our Father birthed us again that way. We are perfect because we are now one with and perfectly united with our Father through Jesus, John 17:21-23, that is the only reason. 

If a preacher is continually harping on works, my advice to you is to get away from their teaching. I have honestly never met a happy person who is consumed with works. These people are generally very angry and want to know the specifics of what you are doing and they are usually very quick to judge. Their focus is always directed towards the flesh and what we are doing. They will throw Jesus in here and there to tickle our ears, but what is in the abundance of their hearts, is wanting to know what are we doing? I’d far rather hang out with people that bring all of the attention towards Jesus and what He is doing. 

Also, if someone wants to tell you how much they love Jesus by the works that they do, beware. Think of it, what would we think of a child that had to tell us how much they loved their father by the works that they did for him? That would be creepy and we would probably get Children Services involved. Look for fellowship that directs the attention towards the power of our Father that is in us, the works that He will use us to do, the glory that He has, and how He is greater in us than anything that is in this world. The Apostle John always said that he was the disciple that Jesus loved, not that he loved Jesus. There is so much Truth in what John wrote, our glory and power is our Lord’s love for us, not our love for Him, even tough we do live Him.

For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances-- Philippians 3:3

Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honor God but serve only to indulge the flesh.] Colossians 2:23

Galatians 2:17-18

17 But if, in our desire and endeavor to be justified in Christ [to be declared righteous and put in right standing with God wholly and solely through Christ], we have shown ourselves sinners also and convicted of sin, does that make Christ a minister (a party and contributor) to our sin? Banish the thought! [Of course not!]

18 For if I [or any others who have taught that the observance of the Law of Moses is not essential to being justified by God should now by word or practice teach or intimate that it is essential to] build up again what I tore down, I prove myself a transgressor.

Paul was actively used by the Holy Spirit to tear down the belief that the Law of Moses, or the Ten Commandments, was essential for us to be justified with our Father. Ask yourself: how many teach this way today? Most will actually attempt to teach us that the Ten Commandments are absolutely essential for us to be justified. This false teaching takes away everything from Christ and places it all back on us. This way of teaching is the teaching of anti-christ. There Truth is that there absolute freedom and liberty in Christ. Why would anyone want to go back to laws that man could not keep or perform? The simplest commandment was to keep one day Holy and man couldn’t even do that. Our Father knew that we couldn’t do any of it, because our flesh was weak, so He sent Jesus to set us free from all of the law.

For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [ the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [ subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice], Romans 8:3

Our Father knew of our weakness because He created us to be weak. We were created to be able to accomplish nothing on our own. 

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

Our Father gave us the gift of freedom from sin, it is called grace. It is all free and it is all undeserved. The Truth is that as soon as the Holy Spirit empowers us to live in this freedom, the things that so many try to not do with their own strength, will actually stop. Our fruitless acts will finally stop when we are empowered to understand that we aren’t responsible to keep ourselves. These acts will stop, because it is Jesus causing them to stop. In Christ we look away from everything, including ourselves, and when we are empowered to do this, freedom and maturity are the results.

Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11

Do you consider yourself to be dead to sin? 

Galatians 2:13-16

13 And the rest of the Jews along with him also concealed their true convictions and acted insincerely, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy (their example of insincerity and pretense).

14 But as soon as I saw that they were not straightforward and were not living up to the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas (Peter) before everybody present, If you, though born a Jew, can live [as you have been living] like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how do you dare now to urge and practically force the Gentiles to [comply with the ritual of Judaism and] live like Jews?

15 [I went on to say] Although we ourselves (you and I) are Jews by birth and not Gentile (heathen) sinners,

16 Yet we know that a man is justified or reckoned righteous and in right standing with God not by works of the Law, but [only] through faith and [absolute] reliance on and adherence to and trust in Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). [Therefore] even we [ourselves] have believed on Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law [for we cannot be justified by any observance of the ritual of the Law given by Moses], because by keeping legal rituals and by works no human being can ever be justified (declared righteous and put in right standing with God).

Thank You Father: We are not justified by the Ten Commandments. We are justified only by faith and this faith is not our own, it is Jesus’ faith which is active and alive within us. 

And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith. Philippians 3:9

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

We are not justified or used by our Father by us first keeping any laws. It doesn’t matter what our church attendance is or isn’t. It doesn’t matter how we wear our hair or what clothes we wear. It doesn’t matter if we can quote verses of scripture or we can’t. We are justified by Jesus and we are ever being led by Him. He never leaves us and He never forsakes us. Fake religion hates this freedom that Jesus has delivered to us. 

[My precaution was] because of false brethren who had been secretly smuggled in [to the Christian brotherhood]; they had slipped in to spy on our liberty and the freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might again bring us into bondage [under the Law of Moses]. Galatians 2:4

The circumcision party hated the freedom that Christ brought to us. They wanted our relationship with our Father to be based on our own works. The same hatred exists today in many churches for our freedom. But through Christ we are free at last, free at last, thank God through Christ we are free at last! 

Galatians 2:11-12

11 But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I protested and opposed him to his face [concerning his conduct there], for he was blamable and stood condemned.

12 For up to the time that certain persons came from James, he ate his meals with the Gentile [converts]; but when the men [from Jerusalem] arrived, he withdrew and held himself aloof from the Gentiles and [ate] separately for fear of those of the circumcision [party].

    

Here we are shown the problem that Paul had with the leadership of the Jerusalem church. James sends people to Antioch who are of the circumcision party. James sends people that believe in the law and works over Grace. They have a belief that mixes in the old with the new. They try and have it both ways and Paul absolutely puts the lie down. This is not the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Holy Spirit will not allow Paul to tolerate it for one minute, even from Peter, who Paul knows that our Father is using. James as a leader is allowing a false Gospel to be taught and he sends his people to places around the region to try and enforce it. James, by allowing a party to exist in the church that requires circumcision, supports a gospel that is not the Gospel of the Kingdom. Then for him to send these people to check up on Paul, really shows us where his heart was. 

This is the same thing that happens so often today. People try to live their life’s by laws: wear this, do this, don’t do that, make this day holy, keep these rules, try to live the Ten Commandments, and keep these other man made laws. It all sounds very religious, but it all brings the attention and power to man. It is a false Gospel, it is carnally minded and it is death.

And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions, Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross. [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross]. Colossians 2:13-15

Through Christ all of the old laws have been completely cleared away from us. No one is being saved by the Ten Commandments or any other laws. We are only sanctified by Jesus, not by us keeping or not keeping laws. It is all Christ within us. He is our power and He is our only strength. Jesus is our perfection. If we are mature or not mature in no way limits our Father’s ability to use us. If we are young and seem to be making mistakes, it doesn’t mean that we are not perfectly united with our Father, it just means that we are young and immature. It just means that Jesus hasn’t brought us to where we are going to be, yet we still are every bit as saved as someone who He has been brought to a mature state by Christ. In Christ we live in eternal liberty, that is the law of freedom that our Savior gave to us.

DO YOU not know, brethren--for I am speaking to men who are acquainted with the Law--that legal claims have power over a person only for as long as he is alive? For [instance] a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies, she is loosed and discharged from the law concerning her husband. Accordingly, she will be held an adulteress if she unites herself to another man while her husband lives. But if her husband dies, the marriage law no longer is binding on her [she is free from that law]; and if she unites herself to another man, she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. Romans 7:1-4

For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice], So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit]. Romans 8:3-4

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). 2 Corinthians 3:17

Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?] Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh? Galatians 3:2-3

Beware of teachers and doctrines that tell us what we have to do. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we welcome the Gospel of the Kingdom which proclaims what Jesus has to do through us.