20/09/2021 - DANGEROUS DEVIATION

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 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?  Galatians 3:3

The beginning of our love for God was the work of the Holy Spirit, who came to convince us of our sins, leading us to sincere repentance. For this reason, we obtained the mercies of the Lord, who forgave our transgressions and granted us faith in Christ and all the blessings purchased by Him in His death. This act was so good and perfect that the Scriptures declare that no one can bring a charge against God’s elect (Romans 8.33).

The Lord promised that He would be with Solomon forever, provided he was faithful to His Word, persevering in doing according to the divine will: Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is this day (1 Chronicles 28.7). However, the wisest man on the face of the Earth disregarded this demand, and his kingdom was broken in the following generation, with his son Rehoboam. Mercy!

Jesus warned us of a danger that surrounds the saved, saying: Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved (Mark 13.13). We must be wise, for having begun by the Spirit, we cannot listen to the weak, who decide to interpret the Word, believing in those who use unbalanced readings to “improve” what already came perfect: salvation.

Paul warned the Galatians that they were in grave error. They were despising the Scriptures and believing the doctrines preached by those who didn’t fully know the New Covenant. Thus, they were returning to the practices of Judaism. The apostle wrote: Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5.1). Be careful not to return to the past!

When a person is converted to the Gospel, he is born again. This was not the case in the days of the Law, which was not God’s love in its totality. The Law was good for that time, but not for those who became part of the Body of Christ. We don’t have to practice anything to please God, except to take on ourselves as the righteousness of God in Christ. Now, the righteousness of the Lord doesn’t live in sin nor does it deny the revelations of the Bible.

It is foolish to let anyone guide you by the Law of Moses, for if it were sufficient, the Almighty would not have sent His Son. The Messiah came with the mission of delivering us from the devil and taking us to the Kingdom of Heaven. Now, if we are in His Kingdom already, we must go after what Christ clearly says: new wine is put into new wineskins (Mark 2.22). Wake up to the truth and refuse the weakness of those who have never tasted true salvation.

Do you know what happens to those who return to the rudiments of Judaism, despising divine grace? Paul explains: You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace  (Galatians 5.4). Do you desire this or will you ask forgiveness for your mistakes?

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares