blogs

Here is the church sign message.

Don't Fear The Full Ten Commandments
They Are The Character of God

Uhhhhh…I do actually fear both the full and the partial Ten Commandments. And the reason I fear them is that the Ten Commandments do reveal the character of God and that I can never measure up to God's character and holiness. I need a Savior or I am in a world of eternal hurt. I have invited a famous theologian to the weekly iPod Devotional to add his thoughts today. The song that came to mind as I pondered this sign was recorded by a group called the Bobby Fuller Four in 1964. The song talks about a young man who ends up in prison for his bad choices.

(A') Breakin' rocks in the ... hot sun
I Fought the Law and the ... law won
I Fought the Law and the ... law won
I needed money, 'cause I ... had none
I Fought the Law and the ... law won

With those lyrics in mind let's welcome in our guest today. He is a man who is an expert on the Biblical law and who also spent a little time in prison albeit for very different reasons. Welcome Paul of Taursus to TheFish.com.

Paul of Taursus: May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Dave of Garland: Thanks. I know you wrote a bit about fighting the law that God gave the Jews. You have written that the law actually had a surprising purpose.

Paul of Taursus: Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

Dave of Garland: No kidding. What would you say to those who feel like you have to bring something besides faith to salvation? I remember that some in your day were teaching that you must be circumcised to be saved. How about that?

Paul of Taursus: Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,  though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could.

Dave of Garland: Feel free to speak boldly Paul. Tell us about your credentials to address this topic.

Paul of Taursus: Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

Dave of Garland: Well said Paul. We are running out of time this week. Could you come back and join us soon?

Paul of Taursus: I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.

Dave of Garland: Wow. Most of my guests are not that affirming. Final thoughts on today's devotional.

Paul of Taursus: Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace.

Dave of Garland: Great place to stop this week. Check out Paul's epistle to the Romans for more from our special guest today. Jesus fulfilled the law. Trust Him and quit fighting.

(Note: Paul's answers were provided by the New Living Translation)