Worn Out? Sick and tired of being sick tired?

Have you ever seen these signs before?

“Wet paint. Do not touch.” “Speed limit 65 mph.” “Walk.” “Don’t walk.”

Romans 7:12, “Wherefore the law [is] holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.”

Do we really need signs that say these things? Some people might say, “No, not really.” Well we obviously do. The bible talks about the Law (the do’s and don’ts, technically the Old Covenant) as our schoolmaster. The Greek word for schoolmaster is paidagogos. Here is the Blueletterbible.org definition,

A tutor i.e. a guardian and guide of boys. Among the Greeks and the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood.

Schoolmaster here is taken from Galatians 3:23, “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.” Remember when you were a child or do you have children? When a child doesn’t obey the family rules what happens? Depending on the family, a few things could happen. Nothing, discipline, punishment, praise, etc. For this example, let’s say the child goes to timeout for hitting their sibling just because they wanted to. As a child or adult I do not desire to be someone’s hitting dummy. The child goes to timeout for a little while. They come out of timeout and the parent explains why and hopefully there is some understanding of why you don’t hit your sibling. There is a difference between not wanting to hit the sibling and not wanting to break the family law.

So, do I not touch the wet paint because I don’t want to? Or because the sign says not to? Does it matter? You better believe it does. If I live my life by do’s and don’ts and not by understanding then I am somewhat superficial wouldn’t you say? The Greek word for dissimulation or hypocrisy is hypokrisis.

Hypokrisis means the following: primarily, “a reply,” came to mean “the acting of a stage-player,” because such answered one another in dialogue; hence the meaning “dissembling or pretense.” A stage player in a theatrical sense could also be a clown. A clown wears a mask of makeup and acts a certain role. This is what the word means. It is what Paul used to describe what he saw in Antioch among the brethren namely Peter and Barnabas.

Galatians 2:13, “And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.” It seems that Christianity is generally viewed like this sometimes. Paul says, “Having a form of godliness yet denying its power.” It looks like it, but it ain’t it. It is only a form. Perhaps like Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Catholicism, Scientology, Zoroastrianism, and so on. Jesus said He is the Way. The only way to the Holy of Holies. He is the Good Shepherd. Also, in Western Christian denominations this is apparent besides Catholicism. So, can I be saved and be a Baptist, Catholic even Buddhist? I would say yes, but If you are Buddhist, Scientologist, Catholic, or whatever and Christ is your savior then why are you going back under a law or the law? That is what these other religions preach along with asceticism, individual performance, intellectualism, philosophy, only science (although science can be good and typically supports the Truth anyways), assumption, doctrines of angels, gnosticism, etc. Christ gives us rest. He is the Lord of the sabbath.

The purposes of the schoolmaster or law are these:

• To lead us to Christ and show us we can’t do it, but only in Him.
  
• It enables sin to slay us apart from Christ.
• Bring sin to life.
• It condemns and brings death.
  
• To expose sin for what it really is.
• To create order. Think of civil laws as an example. I agree that not all make sense since fallen man created them, but it we still need it for those who are lawbreakers.
• It was created for those who break the law.
• To be a shadow of Love. In Him and by His grace and faith, if you love with His love, all of the commandments are fulfilled.

This is part of what Jesus did on His cross and gives depth of meaning to Ephesians 2:14-16, Colossians 2:14-15, Galatians 3:18, and so many more.

So, then how I am justified? By the faith of Jesus Christ.

What do I have to do? Nothing.

Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Him. Read the Book of Acts. See what they did. Read more of this site. Corinthians speaks of gifts. Ephesians speaks of offices or functions. We all have a specific purpose and gift only we can give IN Christ that can bless the world. Whatever it is it will be something you enjoy. It will fulfill, affirm, and establish you as you grow in it. The Holy Spirit will witness to your spirit about what you are doing. It will involve helping or ministering to people. It will use all of your potential and more than you thought you had. Once you are growing in it, other people will want what you have, but that is not the motive. It is a natural side effect and nothing more.