“Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them” (John 9:16, KJV).
Because they kept the commandments of men, because they were living self-righteously, and because they were wise in their own eyes, they were confused, they were lost, they were not saved by the sacrifice of Christ.
They kept the commandments of men. Therefore, they could not discern the Messiah who was living right before them. He, the Word, who spoke the Word, which stood fast; He, the Word, who was put in the womb of a woman by the Holy Ghost; He, the Word, who was born to fulfill the law of love; He, the Word, through whom we understand that with God all things are possible: This Messiah could not be discerned by those who should have been foremost in proclaiming Him to the world.
This Messiah came and daily lived the law of love. Daily Christ gave us the perfect example of living the Word—from Genesis to Revelation. Even more. He came to live within us to personally give us victory over sin, to give us His salvation, to personally be our deliverance from sin. But the leaders, bowing to men, rather than God, missed the Messiah. Let that sink in.
But spiritual things are spiritually discerned.
If a man or woman keeps the word of man, trusts the word of man, or trusts self above God, the Spirit of God will not and cannot dwell within that person. Therefore, they have no faith, and they do not know, nor do they have the power of God, or the love of God written in their hearts. Rather, they choose to live against God’s law of love contained in God’s Ten Commandments. In reality, they literally reject God, and they reject God’s gift of salvation.
It has been said God’s law was done away, even nailed to the cross with Christ. The only law done away with at the death of Y’shua (Jes’us Christ) on the cross is the law of commandments contained in ordinances. Those laws pertaining to days, times, places set holy LIKE the sabbaths involving sacrifices for the atonement for sin were nailed to the cross. They showed faith in the Messiah—the Lamb—that would be sacrificed once for all time. Christ became that Lamb. There was no more need for these ordinances.
Abolished are the holy days pertaining to the sacrificial ceremonies, “even the law of commandments contained in ordinances” (Ephesians 2:15 KJV). After Christ’s atonement, there was and is to be no more killing of animals or any other representation as an atonement for sin.
All God’s Ten Commandments remain unchanged. They pertain to living in Him by our faith and by His grace (His power). Obedience to them are still required of God.
His laws of lifestyle, health and hygiene; and His commandments requiring His people to depart from evil, to forsake sin, to forsake all for Him: All are a part of His law of love expressed in His Ten Commandments. It is His law of love. On two (loving God fully and loving one’s neighbor as oneself) hang all ten. Let that sink in.
These laws guide us that we may be restored unto His image. If we are truly His, and if we are truly saved, these laws have been written in us, on the table of our hearts. They are the standard of our lives and will so testify by the fruit of the Spirit.
There is no law against the fruit of the Spirit. Those of us saved of God are not in bondage. Sinners who choose to hold on to a life of sin remain in sin. Those are under the law, because they are in bondage to sin and Satan.
Are any like the scribes and pharisees today? Yes! Many run to a pastor or some other one (maybe a deacon, an elder, mother, father, sibling, etc.) to learn if a person be of the Lord or if the word/message/doctrine be true. They trust the arm of man and put no trust in God, the Creator, the Redeemer, our Maker and Husband: The God of our salvation.
If any goes first to a man (rather than first unto God, asking Him for the Holy Spirit to open their understanding and guide them into all truth), these are they who have no faith. These are the sinners who remain in sin, being deceived, for they do not search the Scriptures. They do not dig into them for truth as for hidden treasure. Their spirit is not steadfast in the Lord. These are those who profess and proclaim God with their tongues; but they deny God in their lives all the day long, every day.
Let us all choose by faith to be taught of God and know His ways by the Holy Spirit. Then you will know God, His ways. You will choose to walk in His ways. You will keep His statutes and do them and His judgments by His grace (His power). And you will increase in the faith He gives, as you choose to exercise the faith He has already given you.
Stop living by man. Start living by faith. Choose to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then you may stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.
Remember Christ words: “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).
Let that sink in.