In Christ We Magnify The Law And Make It Honorable

[Mr. M]

Matthew 5:

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has

committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Many who read these comments of Jesus think that He was changing the Law, but this is not the case. The Lord is defining the reaction of a righteous person to the Law. This is what the apostle Paul refers to as “the righteous requirements of the Law”.

Romans 8:

3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending

His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,

4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk

according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

What Paul is teaching is actually very simple.

Commandment: You shall not commit adultery.

Judgment: Anyone found guilty of adultery is put to death.

We see how the Law can inform us of sin, as well as ones that are unto death.

1 Timothy 1:

8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 

9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person,

but for the lawless and insubordinate…

On the other hand, if someone lived their life without ever committing adultery,

can they be declared righteous?  Absolutely not!

Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law,

then Christ died in vain.

So then what is the righteous requirement of the Law pertaining to adultery?

“Don’t even think about it!”

Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not!

For if there had been a law given which could have given life,

truly righteousness would have been by the law.

By living in righteousness, the righteous establish and magnify the Law and make it honorable unto God. 

Isaiah 42:21 The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honorable.

Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

[Vine Abider]

Indeed!  As I go on, it becomes more and more obvious that any outward effort really has no profit towards our transformation and the kingdom.  "Not by might nor by power . . . but by My Spirit!"  We cannot add even a hair or change our stature one iota, but by allowing His Spirit to operate in us can do wonderous things!

[Mr. M]

1 hour ago, Vine Abider said:

Indeed!  As I go on, it becomes more and more obvious that any outward effort really has no profit towards our transformation and the kingdom.  "Not by might nor by power . . . but by My Spirit!"  We cannot add even a hair or change our stature one iota, but by allowing His Spirit to operate in us can do wonderous things!

Sorry Teri,

I think you responded to the title of the OP without reading the post.

Good luck with the radio venture.

I hope threads on "in Christ" gives you some useful talking points.

P. S. "allowing His Spirit to operate in us" is an odd way of expressing obedience. Knowing the righteous requirements of the Law enables us to "magnify the Law and make it honorable."

Grace and hope in everything,

James

 

[Vine Abider]

3 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

Sorry Teri,

I think you responded to the title of the OP without reading the post.

Good luck with the radio venture.

I hope threads on "in Christ" gives you some useful talking points.

P. S. "allowing His Spirit to operate in us" is an odd way of expressing obedience. Knowing the righteous requirements of the Law enables us to "magnify the Law and make it honorable."

Grace and hope in everything,

James

 

I did read the post, albeit quickly . . .  So I see "allowing His Spirit to operate in us" as being obedient.  I believe we are called to walk in spirit and to align our selves and activities with the inner Anointing. Then we will allow Him to operate in and through us, and this will be reflected in our words and actions.  If we don't turn our hearts to Him, He will not have a free way to operate in and through us - we, of course, have that free will thing that He won't violate.  Therefore we won't obey Him and will not fulfill the righteous requirement of the law. (and try as we may, our flesh and it's efforts cannot be pleasing to God - no ability to do so)

And thanks for the well-wishes on the radio thing - I truly don't have a clear leading at this point, so . . .

[Mr. M]

21 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

I did read the post, albeit quickly . . .  So I see "allowing His Spirit to operate in us" as being obedient. 

 

On 1/27/2025 at 7:32 AM, Mr. M said:

Matthew 5:

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has

committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Many who read these comments of Jesus think that He was changing the Law, but this is not the case. The Lord is defining the reaction of a righteous person to the Law. This is what the apostle Paul refers to as “the righteous requirements of the Law”.

I would offer this as a second witness:

2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not [a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

I find this requires a significant diligence on our part. The role of the Holy Spirit operating in us is to speak to our conscience when we allow our minds to wander into "dark territory". This has never changed.

Hebrews 3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,
8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
In the day of trial in the wilderness,

In my personal experience, I have found greater victory as I "studied all scripture to show myself approved", and spent significant time in quiet listening for the Lord's Voice after studying a passage.

To magnify the Law and make it honorable, surely we must know God's Word, and with greater detail, the more the Holy Spirit has to work with in our hearts. This is our life's endeavor, and requires our diligence with fellowship, as we exhort one another toward the High Calling.

There is much to do, and much is being neglected among the Saints, while the Holy Spirit rests idly by, for He cannot make us commit to fellowship. And knowing His Voice becomes critical as we consider one other's views, listen to preaching/teaching, and read devotionals and posts on line. To hear with the ears and the heart simultaneously is a gift from God for the sake of the Truth.

Ezekiel 3:10 Moreover He said to me: “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. 

I can testify in Spirit and Truth the hundreds of times the Voice of the Spirit corrected the voice of a man or woman speaking (or writing) presumptuously.

I have heard things spoken from the pulpit that gave me a sweeping feeling of nausea in reaction. I soon learned this was the Spirit's reaction, and a red flag which could be verified and corrected with scriptures that were neglected in the teaching.

Honestly, I find "letting the Spirit operate" to be vague and inaccurate. We are taking part in a great endeavor, and requires our utmost diligence.

Ephesians 4:1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

I have followed your writing for over 2 years now and seen an evolution in you of learning to trust and walk in the Spirit. Much of your phraseology is rooted in devotionals you read and share.  

Grow in Grace and the knowledge of our Lord. I am only concerned for the edification of all the Saints, and my most consistent criticism has been to put too much emphasis on scripture without my own words.

I cannot comprehend such criticism, much less abide with it. I present several passages as witness to what the OP is presenting, and it is the Holy Spirit who gives the comprehension. Anyone who is not able to receive from the scriptures in this way is still learning to hear His Voice. 

Obedience requires a Saint to listen and obey.

Shema-the greatest commandment.

[Mr. M]

On 1/27/2025 at 7:32 AM, Mr. M said:

4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

Romans 2:

25 For circumcision is indeed profitable

if you keep the law;

but if you are a breaker of the law,

your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 

26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps

the righteous requirements of the law,

will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 

27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?