Good Works That Are Fruit Unto Death

 

Good Works That Are Fruit Unto Death

 

Romans 7:5

 

For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

 

For when we were in the flesh: that is, before regeneration, while we were in the natural man, (to whom the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness for he cannot know them: I Corinthians 2:14) when we were in innate nature. The motions of sins: which were by the law: that is, the passions of sins excited by the law: the law (which in itself is “holy and just, and good Romans 7:12)” stirs the evil, and vivifies the depravity, and corruptions in the natural heart, which, adds to its hardness, and deepens its prejudice against the law giver. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” (Romans 8:7). Did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death: the law laid restraint on sin, by the law commanding, “thou shalt not”; and so lust, unfulfilled must increase, the desire after that which is evil; and that in itself, is sin. And so sin by the commandment becomes exceedingly sinful. (Romans 7:13). Therefore the motions of sins which were by the law did work in our members to bring forth more lust after sinful objects and actions, which is sin, and fruit unto death. But this is not all.

 

The motions of sins which were by the law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death; in a more concealed and unrecognized way, for the Apostle Paul saith: “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Galatians 2:21). For, if men could give obedience to the law of God, perfectly and perpetually, in thought, word, and deed; without the least slip, (for the slightest infraction in the least mark of punctuation of the law, brings certain and eternal death; for the law of God is a “whole law” James 2:10)  there had been no need for the coming of Jesus Christ to honor and fulfill the law (Isaiah 42:21; Matthew 5:17-18).  Although our offense in Adam would yet have damned us. But thank God that Christ Jesus has put away all the sins, of all the elect, of all ages, by one offering: “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14). “Them that are sanctified” are them that were chosen in the covenant of grace before the foundation of the world, unto the adoption of children, and unto confirmation of the image of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:3-5: Romans 8:29; See also Exodus 13: 2,12: to sanctify is to set apart). Blinded Israel fell into this trap, (of frustrating the grace of God) for they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, went about to establish their own righteousness, and by that action they demonstrated a complete and total disregard for the righteousness  which is brought in by Jesus Christ (Daniel 9:24; Romans 11:9) for “even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” (Romans 1:28).      

 

Consider the words of the Apostle Paul: “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 9:30-10:4).

Israel Had not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God, being ignorant of the knowledge of God’s righteousness. That righteousness is a Person, Jesus Christ, whom the national leaders rejected, being blinded by God. “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.” (Romans 11:7-10). As said Isaiah; “Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” (Isaiah 29:9-14).

 

National Israel stumbled at the stumblingstone, Christ (Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22), they said “we will not have this man reign over us” (Luke 19:14). But to the “remnant according to the election of grace” (Romans 11:5) “he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” (I Peter 2:7-8).

 

National Israel rejected the Christ of God, being ignorant that He is “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:6), and the fulfilling end of the law, for righteousness to everyone that believeth. They stumbled at the elect precious foundation Stone upon which Stone God Has built His church (Genesis 49:24). They would not have Jesus of Nazareth reign over them. (Luke 4:29). And went about to establish their own righteousness by the deeds of the law, by which no flesh shall be justified in the sight of God (Romans 3:20; Psalm 143:2; Philippians 3:9), they sought to be justified in the sight of God by their own law works, because they knew not the Christ of God when He came to them. And everyone who goes about to obtain salvation by something he has to do, to be saved, is of those who reject the Christ of God, trusting his own works for salvation. This notion is the very deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13; Romans 7:11). Men who are void of grace, seek to obey the law of God in their own person for justification before God, this shows distrust of the Christ of God. God the Father has made Jesus Christ the Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption of his elect people, the “Israel of God” (I Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 6:16). Men by seeking to obey the law in their own person for righteousness, or any part of righteousness, shall never achieve that state of righteousness in the sight of God, for, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. God saves His people in, and by Jesus Christ, and in no other way.  

AJ Ison

 

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