Saturday, March 15, 2014

The Gnostic dilemma of ruin and misery, only Christ is justifying His people with righteousness.

The Scripture declares in Romans 3:10-18 the Gnostic dilemma of mans natural fallen boasting state of ruin and misery.

10. according as it is written, “There is not a righteous one, not even one!”
11. “There is not one understanding, there is not one seeking God.”

12. All turned aside; together they became worthless, not one is doing goodness, not so much as one!” cf. LXX-Psa. 13:1-3
13. “Their throat is a tomb being opened;” “they used deceit with their tongues; the poison of asps is under their lips;
14. whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
15. Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16. ruin and misery are in their ways; 
17. and they did not know a way of peace;
18. there is no fear of God before their eyes.” cf. LXX-Psa. 5:10; 139:4; 9:28; Isa. 59:7, 8; Psa. 35:2; MT-Psa. 14:1-3; 5:9; 140:3; 10:7; Isa. 59:7, 8; Psa. 36:1 KJ3

This section of Scripture above fully describes the inversion of Truth, gnosticism would do, without the peace of God, abiding in it's original state of sin. From the beginning of mans fall, he choose his own corrupt ways and will, contrary to God's commandments. When God gave the Mosaic Law, He revealed through His righteous standard the depth of the problem of man's sin.


The next section of Scripture we examine is God setting forth His purpose in shutting the mouth's of the Gnostics, who would habitually declare their right natural standing before the universe. Let's focus on the phrase below "so that every mouth may be stopped".


Romans 3:19-20 KJ3
19. But we know that as many things as the law says, it says to the ones within the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world be accountable to God.
20. Because by works of law not one of all flesh will be justified before Him, for through law is full knowledge of sin. Psa. 143:2

When our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world, God the Father was setting the beginning of His righteousness as the new standard and the only way for man to have a right standing before God. The Gnostic dilemma of falling short of God's righteousness would be finally dealt with in the atonement work of Christ blood. God would condemn gnostic sin in the death of His only Begotten Son, and through the resurrection God's righteousness can be given to sinful gnostic man. 


God's own solution for Gnosticism's curse.
Romans 3:21-26 KJ3  
21. But now apart from law a righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22. even the righteousness of God through faith of Jesus Christ toward all and upon all the ones believing; for there is no difference,
23. for all sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified undeservedly by His grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God set forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood, for a demonstration of His righteousness through the passing over of the sins that had taken place before, in the forbearance of God,
26 for a demonstration of His righteousness in the present time, for His being just and justifying the one that is of the faith of Jesus.

Earlier we mentioned that God said "so that every mouth may be stopped" by revealing Gnosticism's problem of getting it's own condition wrong by it's own subjective epistemology. 
As the Lord Jesus Christ reveals His righteousness he asks in Romans 3:27-31 concerning the power of His imputed blood atonement.

27. Then where is the boasting? It was shut out. Through what law? Of works? No, but through a Law of faith.
28 Therefore we count a man to be justified by faith without works of Law.

By faith alone in Jesus Christ has God done away with the rudimentary boasting and thinking of mans cursed wisdom and life. The Law of Faith in Jesus Christ has overcome all things and made man who is believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ a new creation. Hallelujah for the reality of God's salvation plan! Let's boast in it's power alone! 





   


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