The religion of the Pharisees was the law. They took the first five books of the Old Testament and came up with the Torah. There are over 600 laws and rules in the Torah. Jesus was not pleased that they did that. The law tells us to do something or not to do something. You would think that Jesus and the Pharisees would be friends, seeing how they were both teachers of the law, yet they were bitter enemies. A religion of laws and rules is not a religion of faith. Living by laws, rules and religion is NOT living by faith, actually it is an indication of the absence of faith. The law is something that we do, we are not saved or justified by what we do.
"But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH" Galatians 3:11.
The just shall live by faith in what? The just shall live by faith in Christ and his Gospel. In the Gospel Jesus justifies the ungodly, Romans 4:5 and reconciles us and the world unto God, 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19. How does Jesus do that? Does he do it by making us holy through the law? If that were true then Jesus didn't have to come into the world and be crucified for the sins of the world. He could have just stayed in heaven and have sent his Spirit into the world to save the world. Beware of those who teach against the incarnation of Jesus Christ, they are enemies of the Gospel.
Jesus was a real live, flesh and blood man. His mission was to come into the world and provide salvation for fallen man. As our substitute and representative he offered to God the Father a life of perfect obedience according to God's Holy Law. This life was lived for our justification, Romans 3:26. That was not enough, something had to be done about our sins and the sins of the whole world.
"For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" 2 Corinthians 5:21.
The law has been fulfill, Matthew 5:18 and abolished, Ephesians 2:15. Our sins and the sins of the whole world have been atoned for. We can now stand before God's Holy Court as perfect and complete "In Christ" Colossians 2:10. This is the Gospel and is how we are justified by faith. Our faith is counted for righteousness. The law and religion does not produce righteousness, what it produces is wrath, Romans 4:15.
"But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH" Galatians 3:11.
The just shall live by faith in what? The just shall live by faith in Christ and his Gospel. In the Gospel Jesus justifies the ungodly, Romans 4:5 and reconciles us and the world unto God, 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19. How does Jesus do that? Does he do it by making us holy through the law? If that were true then Jesus didn't have to come into the world and be crucified for the sins of the world. He could have just stayed in heaven and have sent his Spirit into the world to save the world. Beware of those who teach against the incarnation of Jesus Christ, they are enemies of the Gospel.
Jesus was a real live, flesh and blood man. His mission was to come into the world and provide salvation for fallen man. As our substitute and representative he offered to God the Father a life of perfect obedience according to God's Holy Law. This life was lived for our justification, Romans 3:26. That was not enough, something had to be done about our sins and the sins of the whole world.
"For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" 2 Corinthians 5:21.
The law has been fulfill, Matthew 5:18 and abolished, Ephesians 2:15. Our sins and the sins of the whole world have been atoned for. We can now stand before God's Holy Court as perfect and complete "In Christ" Colossians 2:10. This is the Gospel and is how we are justified by faith. Our faith is counted for righteousness. The law and religion does not produce righteousness, what it produces is wrath, Romans 4:15.