Divinity’s Son-of-God became humanity’s Son-of-Man. He set aside eternity’s glories, to be clothed in humility; in poverty; in suffering and in death. It is for this very reason that God, in His wisdom and justice, has raised Him up and honoured Him above all that is in the heaven heights, the earth beneath and the waters under the earth, whether it be men or angels; spiritual principalities or earthly thrones.

Jesus is the very essence of God, Who went from being seated in the highest place of honour and power, to the very lowest, possible position – death on a cross. Being in the form of God from eternity past, He willingly took upon Himself the form of a man, and was born into the very race, He Himself had created. He chose to honour the will of the Father and drink His cup of suffering and humiliation. His desire was to fulfil His Father’s will and redeem the very race that rebelled against Him – by shedding His own blood for us and dying on the cross, in our place.

But Jesus did not lie in the grave. His sinless life was a deathless life, for only the soul that sins shall die… and Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life. Jesus was not deserving of death, but chose to give His life willingly, as the ransom price for the sin of the world. The only payment God could accept in exchange for mankind’s sin, was the sacrifice of a perfect, human life. Only Christ Jesus, the sinless Son, could fulfil the righteous requirements of God’s Law.

Although the lifeless body of Christ was placed in the tomb, death could not hold Him, and He arose from the dead – never to die again. He was the eternal Son and the sinless Man and death had not hold on HIM and He rose again to LIFE. But just as His death secured the full and final payment for the SIN of the whole world, so His resurrection secured LIFE for all who believe… Eternal life. Abundant Life. Immortal Life. The imputed Life of Christ within.

For this reason, Jesus, alone, is to be highly exalted. He alone is to be worshipped and honoured, both in His humanity and in His deity. He alone is equal with God for He was in the beginning with God… because He IS God Almighty – the Lord of heaven and earth forever and ever, amen. Luke reminds us, in Acts, that He Who came from heaven and became a man is the One whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Saviour, to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins to all who believe.”

Christ’s sinless, human nature in union with His eternal, divine attributes is infinitely superior to everything else, and He has been highly exalted by the Father, Who has placed all authority; might; majesty; dominion and power into His worthy hands. He is the Wonderful Counsellor and Prince of Peace. He is the King of Righteousness and His name shall be called, Jesus – SAVIOUR, for He shall save His people from their sins.

The simple, common, everyday name of ‘Jesus’ has thus become the name that is greater and more eminent than every other name that is named – for His name is to be the most excellent name that is named in heaven or earth, throughout time and into eternity. He is the unique Man, the incarnate Word of God, Who has secured for us the forgiveness of sin, life everlasting, an eternal inheritance.. and that which is over and above all that we could ask or imagine. He was made sin for us.. so that we, who deserve punishment, may be declared righteous and clothed in His own perfect, purity.

How sweet that name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear, for His name combines the holy and eternal attributes of the Godhead with human perfection, and every single spiritual fruit that God requires from man. What music is the lovely name of Jesus in the ear of every sinner, saved by grace, for it calms all sorrow, heals each wound and drives away all our fear.

The life of the Christian should reflect his Lord. The attitude of Jesus should be mirrored in the life of every believer, and yet… His was a life of deep pain and intense suffering. His was a life of humiliation, rejection, betrayal, and death. But His life of humiliation and death preceded His glorious resurrection and exaltation, and we too must share in His suffering, and die to self… if we are to live in newness of life and become a lovely reflection of the beautiful Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank You, Father, that all I need can be found in Jesus. I pray that I may decrease, and He may increase in all I think and say and do, until Christ is formed in me, to Your praise and glory. Thank You that Christ is highly exalted and has been given the Name that is above every name. This I pray in the lovely name of JESUS – Son of God and Son of Man – AMEN.

It must have been encouraging for Paul to see Timothy, his young ‘son-in-the-faith’ being sufficiently established in his Christian life to be entrusted with pastoring the recently established Church in Ephesus. In this first epistle to Timothy, Paul balances the encouragement and edification he gives, with some necessary warnings about teachers of the Law, who have deviated from the truth, while setting him the task to correct any erroneous doctrine.

Paul wanted Timothy to know the insidious nature of ignorant men, who substituted the truth of the gospel of God for their fruitless discussions, and perverted teaching on God’s Law. The Law of God is good. Indeed, the Law.. given to Israel, through Moses, was perfect. However, Paul knew it was needful to remind Timothy of the reason the Law was given, and the danger of teaching a deviant doctrine. “We know that the law is good,” Paul wrote,  “provided one uses it legitimately”.

Sadly, there were false teachers who were not using the Law legitimately. They had missed the whole purpose of the Law and were undermining the true gospel of God. They were leading people astray with their incorrect understanding. “We know that the Law is not meant for a righteous person,’ Paul wrote, “God’s Law is for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers… for the sexually immoral and homosexuals, for kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching“.

Illegitimate use of the Law is contrary to the pure gospel of Grace that Paul taught, and he was anxious to ensure that Timothy would not be influenced by this teaching. Paul wanted him to recognise how dangerous it was… to both the unsaved sinner and those that were already born-again.

Timothy, the son of a Gentile mother and Jewish father, had already been taught the real purpose of the Law from Paul. He knew the Law was designed to identify one’s sin. It was to show people that they are ALL fallen sinners. They are ALL in need of a Saviour. It was to teach that the perfect standard God desires from man, is unattainable by man’s own effort.

It was to reinforce the teaching, in Old Testament times, that man is justified by faith and not by works of the Law. It was to remind them that the justified man is to live by faith. It was to help sinful man understand his need of salvation. It was to encourage sinners to turn from their sin and turn to God for the forgiveness of sin – which only comes through faith in Christ – God’s perfect sacrifice for sin.

When the Law is correctly understood it is good, for it brings lost sinners to salvation in Christ. But when it is misapplied, misappropriated and misunderstood it is being used unlawfully… causing sinners to strive to do good works in their own strength, by attempting to keep the righteous requirements of the Law… in the hope that God will forgive them because of their good works and meritorious acts. But this is NOT what Scripture teaches.

It promotes a false sense of security, by encouraging an attitude of self-righteousness. It fosters the mindset of a proud Pharisee. “I am so good because I didn’t do that, but did do this.. and God will be pleased with my efforts and award me a place in heaven!” is the honey-coated lie, around the sharp sting of sin. But this can never be.. for Salvation comes through faith in Christ Jesus… the one and ONLY sacrifice for sin… the one and ONLY Mediator between God and man.

Timothy would have known about Paul’s concern for the Galatian Christians, who had been taught, by false teachers, that they needed to be circumcised to be saved and that they had to continue keeping the Law, so they did not lose their salvation! GOD FORBID! was Paul’s emphatic outburst to these believers, when he was correcting in their foolish attempts to be saved by works and to live by works. “You foolish Galatians”, he spluttered, “who has bewitched you with this erroneous doctrine!”

The Galatians had to be retaught and Timothy had to be reminded that the Law is a schoolmaster that brings us to Christ…and that any attempt to keep the Law through works of the flesh will NEVER be accepted by God. When the Law is used lawfully it points people to Christ – BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Law is used unlawfully it causes man to try to save himself by works. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ AND…..

The Law is still good IF one uses it lawfully. But today, as in the days of Paul and Timothy, there are many that teach a different gospel, which ADDs to the work Christ did on the cross. Adding works to Christ’s finished Work of salvation, will NEVER be accepted by God. ‘Believe AND be baptised’. ‘Believe AND give money’.  ‘Believe AND evangelise’. ‘Believe AND do good works’ “Believe AND attend church, AND go to confession, AND say the rosary…………… And so on…

When the question, “what must I do to be saved?….” is asked, and the word “AND”. becomes part of the answer.. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ AND… BEWARE! When any ‘work of the flesh’ is being added to Christ’s finished work on the cross, it is using the Law unlawfully.

Heavenly Father, how I praise and thank You that I am justified freely by Christ’s finished work on the cross, and that salvation is a free gift to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You that my salvation does not depend on my merit, or anything that I do. Give me discernment to identify teachers, who wittingly or unwittingly, use the Law unlawfully, by adding to Christ’s finished work on the cross. How I praise and thank You that my salvation does not depend on work that I do but is dependent on the work that Christ did at Calvary, on my behalf – for which I praise and glorify Your holy name AMEN.

The tongue is a tiny member of the body but its ungodly use can cause real damage. James lays out the principles and practice of godly speech. He not only warns against ‘speaking evil’ but explains that ‘evil speech’ is a sin. “Do not speak against one another”, he warns us. “He who speaks against a brother or judges him, speaks against the law. He judges the law. And if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it”.

James wanted to make it clear that as believers, we should DO the royal law of God, but not be a judge of it, in the lives of others. We are not simply to KNOW the law. The Law of God is to be manifested in our lives through godly living. However, pointing a judgemental finger at a fellow believer is counter to the Law, for there is ONE Lawgiver and ONE Judge – the Man Christ Jesus.

James explained that speaking against a Christian brother exposes a judgemental attitude, that is often manifest in an ‘evil’ way of speaking, that dishonours the Lord. It demonstrates a critical and superior attitude, that elevates self above others. It places ‘self’ in the role of judge – a position of which God alone is worthy. James teaches that disparaging a fellow believer, emanates from a spirit of negativity and unlawful condemnation.

It causes the Christian to fall from grace into legalism. It identifies a self-righteous attitude that is conceived in the scornful heart of a carnal Christian, who finds fault with others, in order to look good themselves.

We are called to be doers of the word and not hearers only. We are called to be doers of God’s royal law of love and not to become judges of the law. It is not our role to adjudicate the actions of others and criticise them, if their behaviour does not line up with our own, personal standards. We are called to judge our own conduct, but not that of others. That responsibility falls to God, alone.

We are called to edify and encourage one another. But pointing the finger of blame, over-stating a brother’s fault, participating in unfounded gossip, censorious speech, or condemning the legitimate, freewill choices of another Christian, when their actions conflict with the freewill standards we have chosen, is considered, by James, to be evil speech.

It is quite sobering to realise that the spirit behind evil, incorrect speech, is not only a sin… because it violates God’s written word, but contravenes every biblical instruction on godly living, for we are not to judge one another. “Judge not,” Christ warned us, “that ye be not judged?”

We are certainly called to judge the spiritual fruit of a pastor and teachers, and check the doctrines they teach against Scripture. We are to be spiritually discerning. We are to beware of false teachers and be able to identify unbiblical teachings and doctrines of demons. However, we are not instructed to judge the thoughts, hearts, motives, and behaviour of others – as it degrades our own testimony and dishonours the Lord, Who is the only one worthy to judge the thoughts of the heart and the actions of a man.

It is the royal law of love, which calls us to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. It is the command of Christ that we should be applying in our lives – “love one another as I have loved you”. To judge the motives of a fellow believer’s actions equates to judging the law. To pass judgement on another believer is to evaluate his heart or to draw a conclusion of his standing before God – which should never be.

Appraising others, sets us up as a judge of the law rather than one who adheres to the Law. Judging a fellow believer, according to one’s own standard, implies that we are superior to the law – but only God, Who gave us the law, holds the right and responsibility to be judge and jury.

God alone knows the thoughts of a man. Only God understands the motives behind a man’s actions and attitude. Only God has the authority to judge righteously. The judging of others does not belong to a Christian… rather it usurps the authority of God – for no one knows the heart of another, save God alone.

James teaches that the tongue is a small member of our body, which can be used for good or evil. May we guard our heart and bridle our tongues, with all vigilance, for out of it can flow springs of life or the curses of death. May we be careful not to become judgemental, or to speak against one another.. for to do so violates God’s holy law, speaks against the law and judges the law – rendering us judges of the law, instead of doers of God’s word.

Heavenly Father, I pray that I may become a doer of Your holy law and not fall into the foolish trap of judging it, by condemning the actions of others. Lord, You alone can judge the thoughts of the heart and I have no right to condemn others, through my own self-righteous attitude. Keep me humble before you and help me become an encouragement to my brothers and sisters in Christ, and not their accuser. Keep me from being ‘wise in my own conceit’, or making arbitrary assumptions about the motives of others and above all, teach me to love others as Christ loved me, for in so doing I will honour Your name, as Christ lives in and through me – in His precious name I pray, AMEN.

What a wonder of divine love and grace that we, who were once at enmity with God, have been so favoured by the Father, that we should be called ‘sons’, “and because we are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

The ‘birth certificate’ that confirms this amazing truth is the Person of the Holy Spirit, living in the heart of all who believe. It is He Who bears inner witness that we are sons of God. It is the Holy Spirit of God’s own dear Son, Who has been sent into our heart, Who communes with us and cries affectionately.. Abba! Father!,

The privilege of the permanently, indwelling Holy Spirit began at Pentecost. He takes up residence in the body of every born-again believer, the moment he trusts in Christ. His presence within our heart, is both the guarantee and proof that we have been made ‘sons of God’ and joint-heirs with Christ.

Paul had been explaining to the Galatians… that following the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, the status of believers changed from that of an underage child, with a promise of a future inheritance… to a mature son, who has received his inheritance from his father – and the Holy Spirit has been sent into our heart, as the confirmation of this glorious truth.

Before the cross, believers were looking forward with expectation to a promise that was yet to come. The Law that governed their lives was etched on stone tablets, that only permitted a distant, external relationship with God, which was carried out in an earthly Temple, through a human mediator – either a prophet or priest appointed by God.

Following Christ’s ascension into heaven, it is grace that governs our lives. It is not the Law that was written on stone, that determines how we should live. It is the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus that presides in our hearts. It is the indwelling Spirit of His Son in our heart Who communes with us and guides us into all truth.

Paul describes those living under the Law as underage children, who had not yet achieved their maturity nor received their promised inheritance. This included all pre-cross believers, like Elijah, Daniel, Isaiah, and John the Baptist. However, those who are living under grace have a new, living, ongoing and intimate relationship with the Father, through the indwelling Spirit. This includes post-cross believers like Peter, James, and John – it includes Christians like you and me.  The proof of sonship is the permanently, indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ – without Whom we would tremble as we approach the Father, but Who cries in our heart – Abba, Father.

While pre-cross believers lived under the Mosaic Law, which governed their external relationship with the Father and placed many limitations on their relationship with Him… post-cross Christians are led by the indwelling Spirit. We are governed by a higher law – a heavenly Law – a limitless law – the Spirit’s Law of life in Christ Jesus, which set us all free from the limited law of sin and of death, that condemns every sinner. We are motivated by a law that is not limited by the flesh but one that is empowered by the Spirit of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What incredible assurance to know that we are accepted by God – in Christ and made sons, through the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit. He guides us into all truth through His word and empowers us with His sufficient strength. What amazing love that He should pour out the wrath that we so justly deserve upon His dearly Beloved Son. He was despised, rejected and cruelly crucified, on our account. He died to satisfy God’s righteous justice. His blood paid the price for sin, so that we who believe, could be elevated into a position of son-ship and be awarded joint heir-ship with Christ – by grace through faith.

Though once children of wrath and disobedience, all who have trusted Christ for Salvation have been positioned in Him, as children of His love. And by His grace, we have been given the additional gift, and guarantee, of God’s indwelling Holy Spirit, Who took up permanent residence within our hearts, the moment that we trusted in Christ for Salvation.

No name or title for the eternal, almighty Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth, could be more profoundly personal nor intensely intimate than that of, Abba – dearly loved Father. Such language of sweet endearment is reserved for the closest of unions, and such was the life experience of the Lord Jesus.. and He is our pattern for life. He is our example to follow.

Throughout His earthly life, Jesus showed us how to maintain close, adult fellowship with the Father, and throughout our earthly walk we are to walk as Christ walked and to live as Christ lived – in sweet, mature communion, with Abba, our dearly loved Father.

Jesus set aside His glory for a season, and through humble, prayerful obedience, was enlivened, empowered and animated by the same Holy Spirit of the Father, Who dwells in us. Throughout His life, Jesus only did what He saw His Father doing and only said what His Father told Him – and we are to pattern our life on His life. Like Him, we will be strengthened and enlivened through His Spirit through the same, humble, prayerful obedience.

It is not trying to copy what Jesus did that gives us this intimacy, but living as Christ lived. It is living in mature, intimate fellowship with the Father. For it is as we maintain spirit to Spirit communion – the human spirit with Christ’s Spirit – through the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit, that our hearts can whisper in steadfast prayer, joyful praise and intimate communion – Abba, my Father.

Abba, my loving Father, I realise I am standing on the holiest of ground. Thank You for doing such great things for me. I desire to develop the depth of fellowship with You that is demonstrated through the life of Jesus, and pray that through the power of Your indwelling Holy Spirit, my human spirit and soul will submit in humble obedience to His guidance – so that my inner spirit may commune with You, in godly intimacy… through Your Holy Spirit, this I ask in Jesus’ name. AMEN.