A Compelling Testimony: Maintaining a Disciplined Walk, Christlike Character, and Godly Relationships as God's Servant

Ses s i on 7: F l esh i ng Out a Compe l l i ng Tes t imony : Di sc i p l i n i ng Our Di sc i p l i nes 319

29; Rom. 4.9–17). Circumcision, food laws and Sabbath are not required, because the days of separation between Jews and Gentiles have ended. And yet the deeper reality to which these laws pointed has now been fulfilled. Circumcision of the heart has become a reality through the work of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 2.28–29; Phil. 3.3) and the work of Christ on the cross (Col. 2.11–12). The purity laws of the OT are fulfilled in purity of life and in separation from all evil (cf. 2 Cor. 6.14; 7.1; cf. Peter’s application of Lev. 11.44 in 1 Pet. 1.15–16). Paul himself does not enunciate how the Sabbath is fulfilled, but the author of Hebrews (Heb. 4.1–11) sees the Sabbath as coming to fruition in the Sabbath rest which believers now enjoy, and which will be consummated at the day of Christ’s return. The fulfilment of the law for Paul (cf. also James 2.8–12) also involves empowerment so that the moral norms of the law may be kept. Many scholars doubt that Paul operated with a distinction between the moral and ceremonial law, but texts such as Rom. 2.25–29; 8.4; 13.8–10; Gal. 5.2–6, 14; 1 Cor. 7.19, suggest that he operated with such a distinc tion. Of course, Paul never conceived that the law could be fulfilled in one’s own strength. Fulfilling the law was due to the work of the Holy Spirit which enabled believers to obey God’s commandments [emphasis mine].

~ D. R. W. Wood, 1996. New Bible Dictionary . 3rd ed. (electronic ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996. p. 677.

A. The letter of the Law that kills

1. Because of the weakness of the sin nature, living according to the letter of the law can only cause and breathe death into our lives; only the Spirit can transform us.

a. We are living epistles written by the Spirit of God and not by our own obedience to the Law, 2 Cor. 3.3-6 – And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. [4] Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. [5] Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, [6] who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.