Something Dead - Gal 2:16-21
November 21, 2021
Be prepared for opposition if you embrace NC. Many will think it’s foolishness, or some may go even farther and say it’s blasphemous.
1Cor 1:18-31… “message of cross is
Learning a new revelation almost always requires that you unlearn an old one. To love learning is to also embrace the process of unlearning. —Ted Dekker
How do we simplify OC vs NC? OC is your effort; NC is God’s effort. It’s I got this compared to You got this. It’s demand of law vs supply of grace. Something old is now new and better… it’s also something dead.
Exo 20… “you shall… you shall not… you shall… you shall not…”
Jer 31… “days are coming when I will make NC… I will, I will, I will…”
It’s difficult to believe we’re not under requirements of law anymore. We’ve been deceived into believing the law is good for us.
2Cor 11:3… “fear, as serpent deceived Eve… led astray from simplicity in Christ…”
Col 2… “saying this so no one will deceive you… He erased certificate of debt with its
The weapon the devil had was the law. Jesus took it away. The law was against you and opposed to you. The obligation to it has been erased - nailed to the cross.
John 19:30… “it is
teleo… bring to close; finish, accomplish, fulfill; perform last act to complete a promise…
Remember, there is still good in OC, but NC overflows with goodness. The veil is removed when you start to see that this is about Jesus and not about you. It’s His effort, not yours.
2Cor 3:5-18… “enabled us to be ministers of NC… not of written laws, but of the Spirit… OC brings
Self was the root of our American idols. Self gets us in trouble. Self-esteem… self-love.. self-sufficient… self-direction… self-starter… doesn’t bring success.
Psa 127… “unless the Lord builds a house… the work of the builders is wasted…”
Matt 19:26… “impossible with man… with God, all things are possible…”
2Cor 3:5… “no lasting value on our own… only power and success from
Before law, even when people sinned, God responded with grace. Then, they asked to be judged by their behavior, and everything changed.
Exo 12-17… “You saved… You will lead… You have redeemed… You provided…”
Exo 19… “we’ll do all the Lord has spoken… don’t come near mountain or die…”
One reason we don’t see more of God’s promises is because self gets in the way. Then faith becomes useless… promises cancelled… Christ of no effect.
Rom 4:14… “if promise is for those who obey law… faith useless… promise
Gal 5:4… “trying to be right with God thru law… Christ of
katargeo… render useless; deprive of force, influence, power; no further efficiency…
Rom 8:4-13… “the flesh cannot please God… live according to flesh and die…”
Heb 11:6… “it is impossible to please God without faith…”
“C’mon… We’ve got to be under just a little bit of the law, aren’t we?” You decide.
Rom 3:19-20… “the law applies to those who are under the law… its purpose is to keep people from having excuses… show entire world is guilty before God…”
Rom 7:1-6… “you are dead to the
Rom 10:3-4… “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness…”
Gal 2:16-21… “we have died to the law… do not set aside the grace of God…”
Gal 3:19-26… “we no longer need the law as our guardian and teacher… is the law contrary to God’s promises… certainly not… for if a law had been given which was able to impart life… then righteousness would indeed have been based on law…”
Gal 4:21-31… “you who want to live under law… do you really know what it says…”
Gal 5:18-23… “when directed by HS… not under obligation to law of Moses…
1Tim 1:8-11… “the law is not meant for the righteous… but the ungodly…”
nomos… anything established, anything received by usage or custom; a law or command; of any law whatsoever; law or rule producing a state approved by God; Mosaic law, it’s context, volume and contents; the entire collection of the sacred books of the OT…
Many think no law, no direction. Nope - underneath much better direction of HS.
John 16:13… “the Holy Spirit will
Rom 8:14… “all those being led by the Spirit… those are the sons of God…”
Gal 5:24-26… “since we live by HS… let us follow His direction in every area…”
Mixing covenants is actually more dangerous than pure law. It waters it down so you think you can handle it. Pure law points us to Jesus.
Lev 19:19… “do not crossbreed two kinds of livestock… seeds… fabrics… “
Luke 5:33-39… “no one puts new wine into old wineskins… burst and lose both…”
Gal 5:24… “the law brings us to
The first thing we need to establish is that, as believers, we do not live under the Old Covenant. Even more importantly, we don’t simultaneously live under the OC and the NC. This is one of the biggest frustrations in Christianity today. Any person who tries to live life under both covenants is double-minded and unstable and won’t be able to receive anything from either covenant (Mar 2; Jam 1). —Arthur Meintjes
All scripture is inspired by God, but that doesn’t mean all is for you to live by. You must know which covenant you’re under. God found fault with the old one - not you. As you start to know and believe NC, you’ll start to see more blessings.
Exo 21:23-24… “injured… must give life for life… eye for eye… tooth for tooth…”
Mark 9:42-50… “if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off… pluck out your eye…”
2Tim 3:16… “all inspired… teach, train, rebuke, correct… in righteousness…”
Heb 8… “far
1John 4:16… “we have come to know and believe God’s love for us…”