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ADULTERATED GRACE

this subject of GRACE just wont go away - as they say "but wait there's more "

Let's consider the Apostle Peter, what a character !
PETER - from the Greek word PETROS – literally - 'a little rock'
an ex fisherman, called by Jesus to be 'a fisher of men' Matthew 4:18, 19
renamed by Jesus as Cephas 'a stone' John 1:42
one moment blessed with a divine revelation as to who Jesus really was Matthew 16:14 – 18

3 verses later, rebuked by the Master as influenced by Satan v 21 – 23
the supposed leader and founder of the Roman Catholic Church, and its first 'pope'
walking on the stormy lake waters to go to Jesus Matthew 14:22-32
with Jesus on the Mount of transfiguration, seeing Moses and Elijah Matthew 17:1-13 but later to deny that he knew Jesus, with oaths and curses Matthew 26:69-75
still later - jumping from his fishing boat into the sea when he heard that Jesus (resurrected) was on the shore John 21:2-8
Peter, quick to respond, hasty, impulsive - a natural leader - a lovable character - quite a guy
Peter - for 3 years a personal witness of Jesus miracles and teachings – a partaker of GRACE

Then 25 years later, we find Peter - Apostle to 'the circumcision' - the Jews of the day who still followed the Mosaic law and ordinances.

Enter Paul, called to take the GOSPEL of GRACE to the Gentiles
Listen to his words to Peter Galatians 2:11-16 AMP
Peter is in trouble yet again ! This time with Paul, who rebukes him publicly !
As a hypocrite, for mixing LAW with GRACE, with disastrous results

But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I protested and opposed him to his face [concerning his conduct there], for he was blameable and stood condemned.
For up to the time that certain persons came from James, he ate his meals with the Gentile [converts]; but when the men [from Jerusalem] arrived, he withdrew and held himself aloof from the Gentiles and [ate] separately for fear of those of the circumcision [party].

And the rest of the Jews along with him also concealed their true convictions and acted insincerely, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy (their example of insincerity and pretense).

But as soon as I saw that they were not straightforward and were not living up to the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas (Peter) before everybody present, If you, though born a Jew, can live [as you have been living] like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how do you dare now to urge and practically force the Gentiles to [comply with the ritual of Judaism and] live like Jews?

[I went on to say] Although we ourselves (you and I) are Jews by birth and not Gentile (heathen) sinners,

Yet we know that a man is justified or reckoned righteous and in right standing with God not by works of the Law, but [only] through faith and [absolute] reliance on and adherence to and trust in Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). [Therefore] even we [ourselves] have believed on Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law [for we cannot be justified by any observance of the ritual of the Law given by Moses], because by keeping legal rituals and by works no human being can ever be justified (declared righteous and put in right standing with God).

Peter was also guilty of MIXING LAW with GRACE – and still doing so 25 years after Jesus sacrifice on Calvary !
And the problem was such that Paul's often traveling companion Barnabas was also guilty of it and terribly affected by it.
Oh the subtlety of this adulterated mixture of Law and Grace – that mature servants of God were and still are blind to it and guilty of it - then as now !
This mixture of LAW with GRACE is the MINISTRATION of DEATH mixed with the MINISTRATION of the SPIRIT – GRACE 2 Corinthians 3:7-11
Galatians 2:21 AMP

Paul sums it up...
Therefore, I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God.
For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain. [His death was then wholly superfluous.]

There it all is -
LAW is for the LAWLESS -- NOT the righteous -- NOT for those under GRACE

But certain individuals have missed the mark on this very matter [and] have wandered away into vain arguments and discussions and purposeless talk.
They are ambitious to be doctors of the Law (teachers of the Mosaic ritual), but they have no understanding either of the words and terms they use or of the subjects about which they make [such] dogmatic assertions.

Now we recognize and know that the Law is good if anyone uses it lawfully [for the purpose for which it was designed],
Knowing and understanding this: that the Law is not enacted for the righteous (the upright and just, who are in right standing with God), but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinful, for the irreverent and profane, for those who strike and beat and [even] murder fathers and strike and beat and [even] murder mothers, for manslayers,

[For] impure and immoral persons, those who abuse themselves with men, kidnapers, liars, perjurers--and whatever else is opposed to wholesome teaching and sound doctrine
As laid down by the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. 1 Timothy 1:6-11

LAW is for the LAWLESS – NOT for those under GRACE – get it ?
To preach LAW is to 'FRUSTRATE' GRACE - to set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify GRACE
To mix LAW with GRACE is the ADULTERATION of the GOSPEL of GRACE

And recently I was surprised to hear Joseph Prince make a statement that I can confirm from my own observation of Legalistic preachers –
That those preachers of the LAW generally have BIG PERSONAL PROBLEMS of their own !
How remarkable !
Those legalistic preachers, those who mix LAW with GRACE, throughout Christendom

Those who preach strongly about sexual sins – generally have a sexual problem themselves. Those who preach strongly about the 'sins of the flesh' – have the same inward problem to contend with.

LIKE somehow begets LIKE -- just listen closely to their preaching emphasis
Remarkable to observe and behold

And the grace (unmerited favor and blessing) of our Lord [actually] flowed out super abundantly and beyond measure for me, accompanied by faith and love that are [to be realized] in Christ Jesus.

The saying is sure and true and worthy of full and universal acceptance, that Christ Jesus (the Messiah) came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost.
1 Timothy 1 : 14, 15 to which I say AMEN indeed

Oh, beware the ADULTERATION of AMAZING ABUNDANT G R A C E
from the days of Peter and Barnabas even until now !