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By Abraham Eli
This study was first taught on March 8, 2020
Topic: The New Way (5): Professors or Possessors
(use the audio to study)
Background
The last time we met to discuss "The New Way", we spoke of the plans of Peter and John to go to the temple to pray, but we noted that they did not pray; instead, a man born lame was made to walk in the name of Jesus.
Thus we noted that:
• Man may make plans, but God has His purpose, and His purpose will be accomplished regardless of man's planning.
• The counsel of the Lord always prevails no matter how perfect man's plans may be.
• God always turns our plans and desires upside down—so let us seek first God's counsel.
To live in the New Way:
• We must understand that our lives no longer belong to us, but to God,
• Therefore, submit to God's will and do what He says,
• Let us no longer be like the horse or the mule that will be tethered to be force-led. Be led by God (<strong>Romans 8:14</strong>)
Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 5:17-48
Matthew chapters 5-7 can be said to be heaven's blueprint for the New Way. In these chapters, the Lord spells out those who will attain to the kingdom of God; how to behave when persecuted; who we are—salt and light; that He did not come to cancel the Law but to fulfill them; the true meaning of the Law; etc. We shall look at our scripture text from the perspective of the old way and the new way and those who must walk in the new way.
You can profess to be something, but we know if you are what you say you are when we see your lifestyle. A possessor of the kingdom on the other hand says and does (<strong>2 Timothy 3:10-14</strong>). The professors will tell you that they are Christians but when you place them in front of the mirror of the word of God, you find that they don't possess Christ (<strong>1 John 5:10-13; John 1:4-5</strong>).
Matthew 5:17-19; Hebrews 8:7-13; Ezekiel 36:22-36; Romans 10:1-10; James 2:10-11; Mark 7:1-23 (Matthew 15:1-20); Matthew 23:1-7; 5:21-26, 27-30, 31-32, 33-37, 38-42, 43-48.
Conclusion
The professor is all talk; the possessor live the life. The professor is shallow; the possessor is deep. The professor has zeal without knowledge; the possessor has Christ alone. The problem with the old way was not the Law but the practitioners. When we come to Christ and choose to live the new way through Him, we are able to fulfill the Law as He guides us in the way.
The demands of the Law was not fully known by the Pharisees and the Scribes, as such their righteousness was not able to bring them into the kingdom. But when we have Christ in our lives we are able to live in the righteousness of God, which is Christ Jesus, and enter into the kingdom of God. Thus, by the old way—the way of the flesh—we cannot keep the Law, but by the new way—through Christ—we are able to fulfill the full demands of the Law.
If you possess Christ you are in the new way, else you are in the old way. The new way, therefore, requires that you be a possessor of Christ! If all you are doing is professing Christ without possessing Him, you no different from a Pharisee and therefore just a professor!
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