The Old Testament is a record of man's failure to please a Holy God. The Bible teaches that man is a sinner from the time that he is born, Psalm 51:5, until the day that he dies. This is why Paul refered to himself as "The Chief of Sinners" 1 Timothy 1:15. Was Paul really the chief of sinners? Of course not, but he probably saw himself as being a wicked person, Romans 7:18.
Catholics and others believe that the old Adamic nature can be re-habilitated through the works of the law. The works of the law is any religious thing that we do. What did Paul say about that? "Therefore by the deeds of the law (things that we do) there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin" Romans 3:20.
This should kill any idea that we can become pleasing to God through the law or through religion (things that we do). The purpose of the law is not to re-habilitate us, but to show us that we are sinners so that we will call on Christ to save us, Romans 10:13. The Christian is called to live his life before God as a sinner, a saved sinner. He is always pressing towards the high calling that is in Jesus Christ, but he never reaches the point where he can say that he has arrived.
In the Gospel, Jesus embraces our humanity in himself and puts it to death. This is why Paul said... "I have been crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live" Galatians 2:20. Paul identified himself as a sinner that had been put to death in Christ, "Knowing this, that our old man (our old Adamic nature) is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" Romans 6:6.
All that are "In Christ" have been baptized into Christ, Romans 6:3, by the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13. All that posses the Holy Spirit will identify themselves with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When Jesus lived, we lived in him. When Jesus died, we died with him. When Jesus was resurrected, we were resurrected with him. When Jesus ascended into heaven we ascended into heaven with him. This is why Paul could say to the Colossians... "For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" Colossians 3:3.
No, we have not been re-habilitated by the works of the law or by religion. We are now new creations in Jesus Christ, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation" 2 Corinthians 5:17. God now sees us as perfect and complete in his Son Jesus Christ, Colossians 2:10. I think that the Catholic church should take their old dead Adam out of the church bury him. Re-habilitation is not working.
Catholics and others believe that the old Adamic nature can be re-habilitated through the works of the law. The works of the law is any religious thing that we do. What did Paul say about that? "Therefore by the deeds of the law (things that we do) there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin" Romans 3:20.
This should kill any idea that we can become pleasing to God through the law or through religion (things that we do). The purpose of the law is not to re-habilitate us, but to show us that we are sinners so that we will call on Christ to save us, Romans 10:13. The Christian is called to live his life before God as a sinner, a saved sinner. He is always pressing towards the high calling that is in Jesus Christ, but he never reaches the point where he can say that he has arrived.
In the Gospel, Jesus embraces our humanity in himself and puts it to death. This is why Paul said... "I have been crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live" Galatians 2:20. Paul identified himself as a sinner that had been put to death in Christ, "Knowing this, that our old man (our old Adamic nature) is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" Romans 6:6.
All that are "In Christ" have been baptized into Christ, Romans 6:3, by the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13. All that posses the Holy Spirit will identify themselves with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When Jesus lived, we lived in him. When Jesus died, we died with him. When Jesus was resurrected, we were resurrected with him. When Jesus ascended into heaven we ascended into heaven with him. This is why Paul could say to the Colossians... "For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" Colossians 3:3.
No, we have not been re-habilitated by the works of the law or by religion. We are now new creations in Jesus Christ, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation" 2 Corinthians 5:17. God now sees us as perfect and complete in his Son Jesus Christ, Colossians 2:10. I think that the Catholic church should take their old dead Adam out of the church bury him. Re-habilitation is not working.
