Mike,

I noticed on your article Law of moses vs. the law of the spirit that you have a major error. On the summary section there is a quote from Heb 5:6. I think you’re referring to Heb 5:7. You quote it as saying “save him through (NOT FROM) death….” However, every translation I have looked at has it as saying “from” or “save him OUT OF death.” What translation are you using? I’d really like to know, and be sure to get back to me. Thanks, A____.

Hi A____,

Thank you for your question.

I appreciate you pointing out that typo. It is verse 7.

I point out that ‘from death’ is a terrible translation inasmuch as Christ and everyone since Christ has died excepting those alive now. The weight of scripture makes it clear that life comes only through death, or as you say ‘out of death.’ Christ certainly did not come and die for our sins so that we would never have to experience death. Nothing could be further from the truth. My point was that the death of the “vessel of clay that was marred in the Potters hand” (Jer 18:4) was purposely marred for the purpose of destroying that vessel and “making it a new vessel as seemed good to the Potter.” That “new vessel” will only appear “out of death.” It will never appear until the vessel of clay is dead. “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, [ because] neither doth corruption [ flesh and blood] inherit incorruption” (1Co 15:50).

Here are a few scriptures which bear out this Truth:

Joh 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Col 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Christ did not come and die to the flesh so that we could live in it. He came and died to the flesh while He was yet in the flesh so that we too, could “fill up in our bodies that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ.” That is so that we too, could die to the flesh while we too, are still in the flesh.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Since it is now “Christ living in me,” though I am still in a body of sin, “sin no longer has dominion over me.” In Christ I am “free from sin.” It is not a claim of being above ever sinning or being what all flesh is, that is corruptible sin. This is a simple acknowledgment of the fact that “sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace.”

Here is a simple question that deserves an answer:

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

And here is the answer to that question:

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Knowing Christ changes one’s life. He is not the same old sinner. He is still sinful flesh, but that flesh is now subdued to the spirit of Christ within. That flesh is “dying daily” as the “new man” is growing daily. And what has become of sin in the life of God’s elect?

Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death [“crucified with Christ”], we shall be also [ living] in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

If Christ is in us we “no longer serve sin.” Why should we not serve sin?

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for [ Greek – because] ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Read about the ‘verb’ part of grace in that law article. According to the entirety of the New Testament, “grace chastens us to forsake ungodliness…” (Tit 2:11-12).

Now that verse about “where sin abound grace does much more abound” makes a lot more sense. In other words, ‘when we continue to sin, God’s chastening grace will “much more abound.” God being God, He will always win that battle. We will never out sin God’s fiery, chastening grace. As I say in that paper, ‘The lake of fire is the greatest single act of grace in the history of the world. “By grace are ye [ all men of all ages] saved…”

Paul drives this point home in this sixth chapter of Romans. For the third and fourth times in this one chapter he reiterates that sin no longer dominates the life of a believer:

Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

And again:

Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

How few people believe these scriptures. Most ministers deny their veracity. Nevertheless…

Rom 3:4 Let God be true, but every man a liar…

Again, thanks for pointing out that typo. I hope this helps you to see the function of grace in the lives of God’s elect.

Life really does come only ‘out of ‘ and “through death.”

Mike