John 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For while the Law was given by Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
Jesus was the Perfect Sacrifice that removed sin and death (spiritual death and separation from God, Who is Life) for mankind. Grace and Spiritual Blessings could once again come upon God's people with His Sacrifice. The Holy Spirit was limited in how He could move in the earth, as long as the people were still dead in sin and trespass. The Holy Spirit was sent from Heaven on Pentecost, to bring forth the Spirit part of God's Blessing and union with man.
God could now deal with His people through the Holy Spirit from the inside (the new creation spirit), instead of from the outside (the flesh and the Law). God's Word, which is Spirit, could now become Alive in man's new creation spirit. God wouldn't need to correct, guide and discipline His people by the sinful flesh any longer. He could once again deal with them by His Word and His Spirit.
We've failed to understand what happened when the sin no longer placed a barrier between God and His people. Isaiah 59:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened at all, that it cannot save, nor His ear dull with deafness, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His Face from you, so that He will not hear."
God has not changed, but the sin that came in the Garden has caused the separation between us and Him. God never said that He didn't want to hear or save, but that, "Sin had separated us from Him." It was always God's will to be one with His children. Adam, not God, caused the separation. Jesus paid the Price and dealt with the sin that brought death, so that God's Grace and mercy could once again move upon His family from the spirit of man that has been given new creation Life through Jesus.
Psalm 119:9-11 (Amplified) says, "How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and keeping watch on himself according to Your Word, conforming his life to it. With my whole heart have I sought You, inquiring for and of You and earning for You; Oh, let met not wander or step aside either in willfulness or ignorance from Your commandments. Your Word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You."
2Timothy 3:16 (Amplified) says, "Every scripture is God-breathed (given by His Inspiration) and is profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin (for correction of error and discipline in obedience), and for training in righteousness (in Holy living in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action)." Paul tells us why this is so important in our lives in Verse 17, saying, "So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
2Timothy 2:20-21 (Amplified) says, "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also utensils of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable and noble use, and some for menial and ignoble use. So whosoever cleanses himself from contact with contaminating and corrupt influences will then himself be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any use."
Psalm 119:9 questions, "How shall a young man cleanse his ways?" The answer is given, "By taking heed according to Thy Word." The Father expects us to cleanse ourselves by the washing of water by the Word and to disciple and correct our ways, by His Word and His Spirit. We don't do this with the traditions or rituals of the flesh, nor by the outward bonds of the religious rules that man has created. We do so by honoring and respecting the One Who saves us and by responding to God's Word, as children of the Father. God's Word cleanses us, not threats of discipline by sickness and demonic disease. The reason for removing sin from our lives, was that it separated man from God's Spirit of Life and God was left dealing with only the carnal man. Now, it's a matter of God's children submitting to His Word out of respect, love and honor and using His Word to cleanse ourselves, during our daily walk.
When Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into the Father's Presence on our behalf, He brought total cleansing and restored mankind back to the Spirit and Presence of our Father. We could now, once again, hear the Voice of the Father and have His Presence living in our joint spirits with Him again. We're supposed to now, be like Jesus was and "Only go where the Father tells us and only say what the Father says and do only what the Father does." We are to become as one with Him. We're to obey Him out of love and discipline and correct ourselves by His Word. We're to be the ones who are led by the Spirit. It's available through Grace, for all those "that have ears to hear."
Man's religious ideas have placed rules, laws and traditions of God's people, in order to keep them in line. For some reason, man feels like he's not wise enough to discipline or correct himself by the Word and the Spirit. Man will tell us that "You must dress a certain way," in order to conform to his perception of God's Word. God isn't concerned about whether you wear make-up, jewelry, long dresses or suits and ties. He looks upon the hidden man of the heart.
If there are areas of your natural man that are out of line with the new man, then you're to correct it by God's Word and bring your flesh into obedience to God's will and His purpose. God never instructed us to wait until those things destroy you. He instructed us to use His Word to correct it. 2Timothy 3:16 says that, "God Word was for reproof and conviction of sin." Why would anyone who love the Lord, wait until whatever was wrong in them to break them? Especially when they had the Word and the Holy Spirit to reprove and convict them before it was too late? Proverbs 17:10 (Amplified) tells us, "A reproof enters deeper into a man of understanding, than a hundred lashes into a self-confident fool." Don't wait for the world to reprove you, because it never will. We must apply the Word in our lives, before the world brings destruction on us in the carnal realm.
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