"For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end; while it is said, ‘Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation.’" (Heb 3:14- 15).

In the New Testament our focus is not on the Law. Our focus is on Jesus. Focus on the Law is basically focus on ourselves; that is, trying through the strength of our fallen soul to conform ourselves to the image of Christ. Focus on the law is trying to change our soul and flesh through the strength of the soul and flesh. It cannot be done. Only Jesus knows best how to accomplish this through the ministry of the Holy Spirit through our spirit. This is because "It is the Spirit who creates-alive ⁸, the flesh profits nothing" (John 6:63). The flesh cannot create life. We cannot change what our soul and flesh are. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to create life anew, to change our soul and flesh to conform to the image of Jesus.

One of the main ways that Jesus directs our lives through the ministry of the Holy Spirit is by having the Holy Spirit bring to our minds relevant Scriptures according to the need of the moment. As was discussed in Section 2, the Word of God is not the sword of man, it is the sword of the Holy Spirit. Paul states in Ephesians, "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." (Eph 6:17).

This is where the other category of commands and admonitions of New Testament Scripture fit in. These other commands only become relevant to our lives personally when Jesus by the Holy Spirit states that they fit in according to His present Lordship over our lives. Otherwise we are not qualified to judge ourselves or know in ourselves which principle of New Testament Christianity in this category is relevant to our present need. This is because, as was discussed in an earlier section we do not know our heart, God’s heart, or the heart of the individual or individuals we are trying to minister to. Only Jesus does. Because the Word of God is the sword of the Holy Spirit, we need to know the Word and the principles of Scripture so that the Holy Spirit can bring them to our remembrance when it is relevant to the Lordship of Christ over our lives at the moment. Jesus said in the Gospel of John, "but the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." (Jn 14:26). If we do not have the Word hidden in our hearts the Holy Spirit cannot bring it to our remembrance.³² Paul states in Colossians,

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Col 3:16).

Paul does not say to let the Word of Christ richly dwell within

you so that you can try and apply it to your life or go around putting others under condemnation or legalism, but because it is the sword of the Holy Spirit which he uses to direct our lives with when we come to Jesus through worship and praise to seek Him for direction for our lives in relation to God, ourselves, and others. When the Holy Spirit says a certain Scripture applies to our relationship to God, ourselves, or others, it then becomes relevant and living and active.³³ We can then feel free to apply it to the immediate situation, as directed by the Holy Spirit, and know that it will bring life and the change in our lives and others as God intended. Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who creates-life¹²; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." (Jn 6:63).

"For the word of God is spiritually-alive¹³ and energetically-affective¹⁴ and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing¹⁵ as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the conscious-reasonings¹⁶ and intentions¹⁷ of the heart." (Heb 4:12)

Another reason for the Law then is that it is the sword by which the Holy Spirit guides us as we seek direction from Jesus concerning His Lordship over our lives in relation to God, ourselves, and others.

The Apostle John states in 1 John 4:1, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

How do we know what is truly the Holy Spirit speaking to us? What does Jesus say? "He who is of God hears the words of God. . ." (John 8:47a). If we receive an impression of what we think is the Holy Spirit speaking to us, we should not just accept it as being the Holy Spirit’s voice immediately because the Apostle Paul states that, ". . . even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." (2 Cor 11:14a).

The way we discern what is truly the Holy Spirit’s voice is by asking ourselves whether or not it lines up with the teaching of Scripture. The Bible is the measuring stick for all truth. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away." (Matt 24:35). Paul states,

"All Scripture is give-by-inspiration-of-God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3:16-17).

Peter states, "Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble." (2 Pet 1:10). This is why Paul again states in 2 Timothy, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth." (2 Tim 2:15). A strong knowledge of the Word of God will help us to keep our paths straight and discern truly what is the voice of the Holy Spirit in our lives,³⁵ because the Holy Spirit will never lead us contrary to Scripture.³⁶

Many times on the field when I am witnessing to an individual, they will make a statement something like the following,

"Oh, I have never done anything really bad in my life. I have pretty well kept the ten commandments most my life, so I’m sure I’ll make it to heaven okay."

What they mean by this statement is that they haven’t done anything so bad that they need to turn to Jesus’ Salvation for them. They are relying on their good works to get them into heaven. Another statement might go like the following,

"Hey, I am a deacon in the church. I give lots of money to charity each year. With my good record I am sure God will let me into his heaven."

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the only way into heaven. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."

Being that this is true, how does one respond to the earlier statements above when trying to show a person his need of Jesus for salvation? Pretending that I am talking with a person we will call Greg, I would proceed with the following conversation:

Dale: Greg, have you ever sinned in anyway in your life no matter how small it may seem to you?

Greg: Sure, a few times. Hasn’t everybody?

Dale: Greg, do you know how perfect you have to be to be saved through the Law?

Greg: No. How?

Dale: Greg, In James 2:10 it states, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all." It says in this passage, Greg, that if all you ever did was tell a small lie to your mother in your whole life, God holds you as guilty as Hitler who killed six-million Jews. Do you know why this is true Greg?"

Greg: No, why?

Dale: Greg, this is because in Romans 6:23 it states that the wages of sin is death. God’s penalty for sin whether great or small is the same: death! There is no other way to pay the penalty of sin. Paul defines death as eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord in 2 Thessalonians 1:9. To pay the penalty of sin would require us to spend eternity out of Heaven in Hell. Eternity is for ever and ever. That means if left to yourself you would never come to a place of having paid the penalty of your sins. Helping old ladies across the street will not pay sins penalty. Giving money to charity and doing good deeds will not pay sins penalty. The Bible tells us that only eternal separation from God can pay God’s penalty of sin.

Greg, God did not give us the Law because he thought we could obey it. It tells us in Galatians 3:24, "Therefore the Law has become our conductor¹⁷³ to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith." Paul tells us in this passage that God gave us the law, not because He thought we would be able to obey it perfectly, but to show us our need of salvation through Jesus Christ. You see Greg, the penalty of sin is death. God gives us two ways to pay that penalty: Pay it ourselves throughout eternity which never comes to an end, or accept the free gift of His Son’s dying on the cross for our sins in our place.