True Grace and True Freedom - Sarah and Hagar - Old VS New Covenant / Kingdom School - Lesson 6

Welcome to the Kingdom school. I’m so excited about Lesson 6.

God revealed the ‘Kingdom school’ teaching to me when I was in jail.

This lesson was my favourite and it still is today.

I’ve been getting excited while preparing and making this lesson ready for you.

I’m very excited about this lesson.

I’m sure it’ll open your eyes to so many things.

Since Lesson 5 came out, many things have happened here in Mexico.

We’ve started our next Luke 10 school.

I took this photo only two days ago. Here is the next Luke 10 school.

There are many people here: students and helpers.

Over 120 people are sharing life with us, here and now.

They’ve come here from all over the world, from over 20 nations.

God is doing beautiful things.

I also hope this teaching will help you to live this life.

I hope that you’ll have testimonies of being led by the Spirit.

I hope that you’ll have a good foundation in your life.

Many of the students here have testimonies.

I met one guy here yesterday and heard his testimony.

I asked somebody to record it. Here’s a one-minute testimony.

Please listen to what he says. This guy met God only a few weeks ago.

Now he’s here. Listen to this testimony.

(Interviewer) Please share: how did you get on the Luke 10 school?

(Guy) So I went to a kickstart.

I got baptised by the Holy Spirit and started speaking in tongues.

After that, we prayed for a man who hadn’t walked for two years.

(Interviewer) Wow. (Guy) We prayed for him.

Actually, we were in a hurry as we’d already paid for our parking tickets.

So, we prayed for him and then ran to our
car. But something told me to look back.

When I looked back, I saw that man walking away with his cane in hand.

Now I’ve left my job. I’ve joined the Luke
10 school. (Interviewer) Oh, beautiful.

There’s actually more to this story than he tells here. I heard more of it later.

What happened a few weeks ago?

Some students from the previous Luke 10 school went to Mexico City.

There, they met this guy. There, he was
filled with the Holy Spirit and set free.

He was kickstarted, just as he says here.

He prayed for someone out on the street, who got healed.

This guy turned around. He saw that person, walking with his cane in hand.

But it didn’t stop there. A few days later, this guy got a vision:

He saw a specific house with three people inside.

Shortly afterwards, he actually saw the same house as in the vision.

He went and knocked on the door. He saw
the same three people as in the vision.

He entered and shared Jesus with them.

So many things have happened in his life in the last three weeks.

Now he’s here. He quit his job. He came
here, because he wants more of this life.

It’s a beautiful story. It’s the fruit that came from what we planted.

I didn’t go to Mexico City: neither our team nor the leaders.

But the previous school’s students went there.

Now this guy’s here as a student, on this school.

He’ll be sent out like the others were. We have so many testimonies.

So, the school has already started.

However, we are planning the next school here for this summer.

Also, more schools will happen in the future. So, things are happening.

I want to announce something else.

Since Lesson 5 came out, my book ‘412 days’ has come out as an audio book.

You can find that on audible.com or on Amazon.

It’s a good opportunity for you to listen to it:

A journey of hope, freedom and revival. Here are two reviews for the audio book.

I want to read them to you: ‘Thank you Torben for being so vulnerable!!

I love how open and honest Torben was in this book.

It has many important facts about Jesus’ gospel and being a disciple.

There’s a lot to learn for all of us!’

We see the same thing with the Kingdom school.

There are many facts about the gospel of the kingdom and being a disciple.

This guy says this about the audio book: There’s a lot to learn for all of us!

Another person wrote here: ‘Read/listen to this book. Thank you Torben!

You're transparent, vulnerable, and open about your experience in jail.’

Yes, I’m very honest in the book, about my pain.

I wrote it in the midst of my pain. So, it’s a very special book.

‘This book deeply moved me.

It helped me to evaluate my walk in the fear of the Lord.’

Yes, we want you to be moved.

We want you to evaluate your life in the fear of the Lord.

‘This book impacted my walk with Christ. Thank you is an understatement.’

I want to say this to you:

If you want to get this book, there are links under this video.

Click on the link and get the book. What if you aren't a big reader?

You can now listen to the audio book on
your phone or other device. I like that.

We looked at some things in Lesson 5, including this slide that I love.

Today, I want to start with that.

It's a good summary of the covenants we’ve looked at.

The Bible contains one story, from the beginning to the end.

The first covenant here is with Noah. It points to the return of Christ.

Then, God will judge the world: Not with water like the first time.

He promised not to do that. But next time, He’ll judge the world with fire.

Jesus is the greater ark that we are saved into.

In the covenant with Noah, the sign is the rainbow. It’s a sign of hope.

We look forward to the return of our Lord Jesus, our blessed hope.

A sign of hope and a new beginning for those saved in the ark;

the rest perished in the waters.

And now in Christ, we are saved from the waters of destruction. How?

Through the waters, that symbolize baptism.

We leave the old life behind and embrace hope for eternal life.

Then we looked at the Abrahamic covenant.

That included the circumcision, the cutting of the foreskin.

The cutting of the foreskin was the sign of the covenant.

This prevented them from being cut off from the promise.

Instead, they could inherit through Abraham.

Now in Christ, we are circumcised in our heart.

Therefore, we will inherit as Abraham’s children.

Today we’ll look more at the phrase “children of Abraham”.

Lesson 6 will give you a new understanding.

We’ll see that it is not all children of Abraham will inherit.

Only the children who came from Sarah will inherit, not those of Hagar.

I’ll teach about this today. Later Moses came.

There were the stone tablets: Keep my laws.

Be God’s treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.

In Christ, God has now written His laws on our hearts;

So, we can be God’s treasured possession, a kingdom of priests etc.

In Lesson 6 and 7, we’ll look at this more and bring it all together.

It’ll become one whole amazing story.

Lesson 5 brought some questions up about the law.

Firstly, today, I’ll take few minutes to talk about the law.

Here’s an important point. We are dead to the law.

Lesson 6 will help you understand this: We’re free from the law.

We’re free to marry somebody else. We’re free to walk in righteousness.

But the law is good. This is still true when you’re not bound to the law.

1 Timothy: “We know that the law is good if it is used properly.”

The law is still good. But how should we use the law?

If we use it the right way, it reveals sin. That is good.

If we use it in the wrong way, it’s not good. Why? Because the law brings death.

Paul continues: “We also know that the law isn’t made for godly people.”

It’s not for righteous people. “It is for those who break the law.

It is for those who refuse to obey. It is for ungodly and sinful people.”

Why? Because sin is revealed through the law.

Then those people can come into Christ and become righteous.

We become dead to the law, so that we can live a new life.

Therefore, we’re not under the law anymore. This will become clearer.

It’s very important to understand this.

In Matthew 5, Jesus said:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;

I have not come to abolish but to fulfil them.” How did He fulfil them?

Everything points to Christ:

The Law (the first 5 books) and the Prophets (that we’ll look at later).

They all point to and are fulfilled in Christ.

Has he already fulfilled them? No, not everything.

There is the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

There is the Feast of First fruits and the Feast of Weeks.

These first four feasts were actually fulfilled:

Through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and the giving of the Holy Spirit.

But there are three more feasts:

The Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles.

Those are not yet fulfilled, but they will be when Jesus returns.

We’ll look at those things later on.

This teaching is laying and building on a foundation.

Jesus did not come to abolish the Law and Prophets. He came to fulfil them.

They all point to Him. He said this:

“For truly I tell you, until heaven and
earth disappear, not the smallest letter,

not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law

until everything is accomplished.”

So, everything will be accomplished at Jesus’ return. The Law is good.

However, we need to use it properly, in the right way.

That law is not for us who are in Christ:

Those who are born again and walk by the Spirit.

It is for sinners and lawbreakers.

It reveals sin so that they can come into Christ.

Then they’ll become dead to the law but alive in Him. Jesus said:

“Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands

and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven,

but whoever practices and teaches these commands

will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you”

- this is very important - “that unless your righteousness surpasses

that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law,

you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Our righteousness should surpass that of
the teachers of the law and the Pharisees.

These were the people who were teaching the law.

Our righteousness should surpass theirs.
Then Jesus said something interesting:

“You have heard” – talking about the law of Moses -

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago,

“You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.”

That’s what the law said. Jesus said: “But I tell you,

that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgement.”

So, the law said one thing, but Jesus said something else.

What Jesus says, is higher and more perfect than the Mosaic law. He lived it out.

He continues: “You have heard that it was said” – in the law -

“You shall not commit adultery.”

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully

has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” He continues:

“It has been said, “Anyone who divorces his wife

must give her a certificate of divorce.”

But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality,

makes her the victim of adultery,

and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

So, Jesus explained what the law of Moses said. However, He raised the standard.

It was no longer about just the physical actions, but about the heart.

Jesus dealt with something that Moses could not. He dealt with the heart.

The Mosaic law was written on physical stone tablets.

A person can try to keep that law.

But inside, they are rotten, full of dead man’s bones and lots of bad things.

In Lesson 5, we read that Jesus talked to the Pharisees.

He told them first to clean the inside of the vessel.

Then the vessel would also be clean on the outside.

So, the law is good, but it’s not perfect.

The law couldn’t reach the standard that God wanted.

In Matthew 19, Jesus talked about marriage, remarriage and divorce:

“So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Jesus talked about God’s standard.

The Pharisees heard that God had a higher standard:

“Why then” they asked,

“did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce

and send her away?”

If God’s standard is so high, why did the law say something else?

This is important here: “Jesus replied, “Moses…”

God had given the command but it came through Moses.

In that way, it was a human, imperfect command.

“Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard.

But it was not this way from the beginning.”

So, Moses brought the law, in which some things were permitted.

However, it wasn’t like that from the beginning. So, why did Moses allow it?

Because their hearts were hard. They couldn’t live up to God’s standard.

At that time the law was only written on stone tablets. But Christ came.

He removed our hard hearts and gave us new hearts of flesh.

He wrote His law on our hearts.

Jesus’ law, words and teaching are more perfect and holy.

He has a higher standard.

There is a difference between Jesus’ law and Moses’ law.

Jesus’ law is not about external things like “Don’t touch!

Don’t taste! Don’t do this and that!” It’s about love.

It’s about a heart transformation. Colossians:

“Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,

why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:

“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules,

which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use,

are based on merely human commands and teachings.” Let me explain here.

“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” There is a higher standard.

Some people are very focussed on rules, such as “Oh, you cannot eat this or that.

You cannot touch an unclean woman. These people are unclean.”

All those things are done away with in Christ.

But that doesn’t mean that we are without a law.

We actually have a more perfect, higher law. It starts with the heart.

I hope that this will become clearer through the teaching.

I’ll come back to this as we move in Lesson 6, my favourite lesson.

Today, we’ll look at Sarah and Hagar: Freedom from Sin.

It will be a similar teaching to last time but from a different angle.

I’ll focus on the difference between these two covenants. I’m excited.

I’ll pray now and then continue.

God, I pray for everyone who is watching this lesson. You’ve opened my eyes.

I’m excited about this.

I pray that they’ll be excited about it too, God. Come with your Holy Spirit.

Open their eyes, God. Help them to see this, God.

Help them to be set free to walk a new life by the Spirit in them, God.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen. We have looked at Moses recently.

In this lesson, we’ll go back to Abraham. In Lesson 7, we’ll look at Moses again.

Lesson 8 will be about David and the kingdom.

Here’s a scripture that I’ve read several times already.

This time we’ll read further to understand the bigger picture. Galatians 3:

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,

for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,

nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed,

and heirs according to the promise.” Abraham’s seed.

The people described here are children, or offspring, of Abraham.

So, we have Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

However, Isaac was not Abraham’s firstborn in the natural.

In that sense, the firstborn was Ishmael.

But God did not say “Abraham, Ishmael and so on”.

He said “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”.

What happens when a person’s baptized into Christ?

They become God’s child according to Isaac, not Ishmael.

Now we’ll go back to something very important in Genesis.

Genesis 15 describes the Abrahamic covenant.

Abraham later had a family that became a nation. We looked at that already.

However, chapter 16 seems weird at first glance.

Suddenly, Abram has a child through another woman.

God gave a promise to Abram in Genesis 15.

In Genesis 16, Abram had sex with another woman who had also become his wife.

At that time, Abraham and Sarah’s names were ‘Abram’ and ‘Sarai’.

Genesis 16: “Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne no children.

But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar;

So she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children.

Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”

Abram agreed to what Sarai said.” And then we read:

“So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years,

Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar

and gave her to her husband to be his wife.”

Here was Abram and Sarai. Sarai had a slave woman.

She decided to give her slave to Abram, so he could sleep with her.

Her slave could conceive and Sarai could build a family through her.

“He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.”

I know this story is very weird for us to read. But it’s very important.

There is a message here.

So, I encourage you to read the whole story by yourself.

Hagar conceived.

She then started to mistreat her mistress, because she’d conceived.

She felt, she was more worthy than her mistress, who had no children.

There was a big fight between Hagar and
Sarai. Later, Ishmael and Isaac were born.

Chapter 17: “God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife,

you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah.

I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her.”

So, Abram had a son by Hagar. Then God said, “No, I’ll bless Sarah,

and give you a son by her. The covenant is through Sarah, not Hagar.

“I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations;

kings of peoples will come from her.”

It is the same for God’s sons and daughters of Abraham by faith, today.

They come from Abraham and Sarah’s line, not Abraham and Hagar’s.

I encourage to read that whole story for yourself. God confirms this here:

“Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son,

and you will call him Isaac.

I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant

for his descendants after him.”

So, the covenant is with Isaac. “And as for Ishmael, I have heard you:

I will surely bless him;

I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers.

He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.”

So, God still blessed Ishmael. “But my covenant I will establish with Isaac,

whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.”

God blessed Ishmael, Abraham’s son, but didn’t establish a covenant with him.

The covenant was with Isaac. That’s very important.

Chapter 21 describes how Isaac was born.

Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age.

Abraham called him, Isaac.

Please read this really beautiful whole story by yourself.

But, as soon as Isaac was born, there was a conflict and fight:

“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian,

which she had borne unto Abraham, mocking (Isaac).”

So, there was a conflict between Ishmael and Isaac:

“Wherefore she said unto Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman”

or slave woman “and her son” Get rid of the slave woman and her son.

“For the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.”

Here we can see the gospel. This is truly amazing.

Perhaps you see these chapters only as a story.

It's about Abraham, Hagar, Sarah, Ishmael and Isaac.

A story about the slave and free women.

But actually, this is all about the gospel.

Remember, the early disciples preached the gospel from the Old Testament.

Notice these words, especially: “Cast out this bondwoman”

Cast out that slave woman “and her son:

for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son”

So, there are two lines here. One: Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael.

Two: Abraham, Sarah and Isaac. Only one of these lines will inherit.

The other will not. We also see these two lines in the world today.

Isaac’s physical descendants are the Jewish people.

In Christ, we’ve become part of this. Ishmael’s descendants are the Arab people.

In Islamic tradition, Ishmael is often
viewed as the Prophet Muhammads' ancestor.

This links him to many Arab tribes.

So, here we see something extremely interesting.

In Genesis, we read about world history including the present time.

Consider the Arab people and the religion of Islam today.

Consider the fight between them and the Jewish people today.

Then read what Genesis 16 and 17 says about Ishmael and Islam:

“He” Ishmael “will be a wild donkey of a man;

his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him,

and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”

Doesn’t that describe Islam today? Islam is like a wild donkey.

Islam is against everyone and everyone is against them.

Whom do they live in hostility towards? Their brothers, the Jewish nation.

Islam has so much hatred. Look at a world map. Israel is a small country.

The countries all around are Islamic. God also said:

“I will make him a great nation… and will greatly increase his numbers.”

We see that. “He will be the father of twelve rulers”

Rulers from the Arab nations are implementing Islam.

God spoke about twelve rulers. It’s extremely interesting.

But let’s read here: “But my covenant I will establish with Isaac”

I think that one of the main problems is jealousy:

God established His covenant with Isaac, not Ishmael.

We also saw jealousy in Joseph’s brothers. God called Joseph.

His brothers became jealous and threw him into a pit.

Jealousy is very destructive and damaging.

When we consider this, history, and the two lines, it’s extremely interesting.

Listen here: The Bible explains the world we are all living in:

From creation to this present age and into the age to come.

Then Jesus will return to bring salvation to those who await Him.

He'll establish the Kingdom of God here on earth. Your kingdom come.

According the Lord’s prayer, how should we pray: Your kingdom come.

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

This is not just a spiritual kingdom as many people think.

No, it’s a physical kingdom.

The heavenly Jerusalem will come down here on earth.

Right now, God’s will is happening in heaven, but not fully on earth.

But later, God’s will is going to happen
on earth through Christ, the son of David.

He’ll rule here on earth. We’ll look at that later, and study David.

We look forward to the new heaven and earth and Eden’s restoration.

The Bible describes all those things: Our past, present, and future.

The Bible is one story. It describes our past, our present time and our future.

There are two roads throughout the Bible.

This goes back to the woman’s seed and Satan’s seed.

There are two roads: one that leads to death and the other that leads to life.

Which one are you walking on? The story of Abraham shows this clearly.

Abraham had two wives. Their two sons became two peoples.

Here are two roads, that actually represent two covenants.

We’ll look at that. The two sons represent two peoples:

One people are the followers of Islam, who aren’t God’s people.

This represents religions of the world as a whole.

The other people are Israel, God’s people. These don’t follow a religion.

In our case, we have a relationship with Christ.

This is for them who are called out and aren’t part of this world.

Now, we’ll move on to the New Testament.

You’ll see something interesting from lots of New Testament scriptures.

I’ll pick out some words, that identify these things:

Two roads, two wives, two sons and two covenants.

Later, I’ll put it all together to help you see a very clear picture:

What are those two roads, two covenants and two people? Galatians 4:

“Tell me, you who want to be under the law,

are you not aware of what the laws says?” Paul gave the Galatians a warning.

He wrote that they mustn’t go under the law again, that enslaved them before.

This teaching is for people, who want to go under the law.

Paul writes about the two wives. “Tell me, you want to be under the law,

are you not aware of what the law says?

For it is written that Abraham had two sons” from two different wives.

Why does Paul write about that?

“Abraham had two sons, one by the slave
woman and the other by the free woman.

His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,

but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.”

One was born according to the flesh.

The other was born as a result of a divine promise.

“These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants.

One covenant is from Mount Sinai that is where Moses came

that bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar.”

This describes two covenants.

“Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia

and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem,

because she is in slavery with her children.”

This may seem strange for you at first.
At Mount Sinai, Moses came with the law.

Hagar represents that, which is also the present Jerusalem.

“But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.”

This describes Sarah. “She is our mother. For it is written:

“Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child;

shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labour;

because more are the children of the desolate woman

than of her who has a husband.”

Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.”

Let’s put it together: Abraham had two sons, representing two covenants.

Hagar was a slave woman.

That covenant is according to the flesh, the natural.

That speaks of Mount Sinai in Arabia and
the law of Moses. Hagar was a slave.

But there was another woman, another covenant. Sarah was a free woman.

Her son was the result of a divine promise.

He wasn't born according to the flesh and the natural. It was supernatural.

That speaks of Mount Zion, not Mount Sinai.

Actually there is a teaching section about this in the kingdom book:

Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. This illustrates the difference between the two.

I didn’t include that in this online kingdom school.

You’ll have to read that in the book. The new Jerusalem is free.

In Galatians so far, Paul has written about the two women and their two sons.

One is free; the other a slave. One is supernatural; the other is natural.

One is Mount Sinai; the other is Mount Zion.

One is an earthly present Jerusalem; the other is the heavenly Jerusalem.

One is free; the other is a slave.

“At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son

born by the power of the Spirit”. We already read about that persecution.

The same happens today. “But what does Scripture say?

“Get rid of the slave woman and her son,

for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance

with the free woman’s son.”

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman,

but of the free woman.” Why did Paul write about that?

At that point in time, there was a church in Galatia, many years after Abraham.

Paul warned them against going under the law.

He taught them, referring to Abraham, his wives and children.

He explained how Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away.

Sarah told him to send the slave woman and her son away:

“Her son shall not inherit with my son”. This is a picture.

It points to Christ, the New Covenant, the promise and our salvation. Why?

Because those two women represent two covenants.

Those two sons represent two peoples.

One people will remain as slaves and will never inherit.

We need to get rid of them. The other people will remain free and inherit.

It’s extremely important. Here it is: Two covenants.

One is described thus: Slave. Mount Sinai in Arabia. Earthly, not heavenly.

I have a teaching relating to this in the kingdom book.

I’m working on the book right now. Soon it’ll come out. It’s called:

‘Pictures and shadows’.

On Mount Sinai, Moses saw a picture and shadow of the heavenly Jerusalem.

She’ll come down one day. Here are other pictures and shadows:

the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, the sacrifices and the offerings.

These earthly things are pictures and shadows of heavenly things.

Jesus, the high priest.

He didn’t go into the earthly temple or tent, but into the heavenly.

He didn’t take the blood of goats and animals, but his own blood.

Jesus went to the heavenly one, Mount Zion. This will come down from heaven.

Then, God’s kingdom will be established here on earth.

Moses and the law are shadows and pictures of heavenly things.

The present Jerusalem also is. We love Israel and Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is David’s city, part of his kingdom.

But have you been to Jerusalem? I have. It’s full of sin.

It’s not what it was supposed to be.

But one day, something else will descend from heaven.

One son was born by the flesh, the natural, what we see.

That son won’t share in the inheritance. He isn’t God’s child.

That represents one covenant. The other is free.

Christ has purchased us for freedom. That is the heavenly Mount Zion.

We are seated with Christ in the heavenlies.

The heavenly Jerusalem is described in Revelation.

She will descend from heaven as a beautiful bride.

That son was born by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We cannot enter into the kingdom of God, unless we’re born from above.

We’re already born in the natural.

However, we need to be born from above by the Holy Spirit’s power.

Those will inherit. If we’re baptised into Christ, we’re the seed of Abraham.

Abraham’s sons. We’ll inherit the promise. Now we’re God’s children.

Hallelujah! Galatians 5: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again”

- don’t go back under the law -“by a yoke of slavery.”

Even if you’ve experienced freedom, you can return to slavery.

I’ve seen many do that. Remain free! Don’t go back under slavery.

“Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,

Christ will be of no value to you at all.”

I know that many under the law today aren’t circumcised.

But sadly, I know those who were free in Christ.

Then they started to go under the law.

They focussed on human rules and not on the new covenant.

Some of them said before, they’d never be circumcised.

But finally, they got circumcised.

If you start going under the law, you’ll be enslaved:

“Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised

that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

You who are trying to justified by the law have been alienated from Christ;

you have fallen away from grace.” Here we can see these words: Freedom.

Justified by the law. Fallen away from grace. John said:

“And of his fullness have we all received, and grace for grace.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Moses brought the law. Jesus brought grace and truth.

I hope that you can see that. The truth will set you free.

The true grace will set you free. Grace is not a cover up for sin.

Grace is an empowerment to live a holy life.

The law said one thing but Jesus said another thing.

The law said, “You must not commit adultery.”

Jesus said, “You may not look with lust on a woman.”

But in my flesh, I can’t do that. Who can live like that?

If we understand and walk in grace, we can experience freedom. Why?

Because the true grace sets us free and teaches us. It’s not a cover up of sin.

This grace teaches us to live in holiness. What did Titus write here:

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

It teaches us to say “No”” - God’s grace teaches us.

This is the Spirit of grace, the Holy Spirit. What does He teach us?

- “to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,

and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”

The law couldn’t do this. But Christ did it, through God’s grace.

We’ve received the Spirit of grace.

He teaches us to live holy in this present age.

“while we wait for the blessed hope

– the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,

who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness

and to purify for himself a people that are his very own”,

- this is the church, the called-out. He redeemed us from this wicked world.

Noah built the ark, while the world continued in wickedness.

We are called-out - “to purify for himself that are his very own,

eager to do what is good.”

The law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Christ.

But now, there is fake teaching about grace all over the world.

It’s a wrong understanding of grace.

People think that being under grace, means that they can live in sin.

No, you can live free from sin because you’re under grace.

You cannot do that, under the law. But under grace you can.

Therefore, the law couldn’t do this, because of sin. But Christ did it.

At the start of Lesson 6, we read this:

The law allowed certain things because of the hardness of heart.

But then Christ dealt with the hardness of heart.

He gave us a new heart with the law written inside.

He gave us a new spirit: The Spirit of grace that teaches us to live holy lives.

Those people will inherit the promise. They’re born of the free woman.

This’ll become clearer as we continue.

In Galatians 3, we read that we’re baptized into Christ.

Then, we belong to Christ.

We become Abraham’s seed or sons, heirs according to the promise.

This time, we’ll read further:

“What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage,

he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.

The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.”

Why did Paul write about this? “So also, when we were underage,

we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman,

born under the law, to redeem those under the law,

that we might receive adoption to sonship.”

So, before we were baptized into Christ, we were underage.

Then, we weren’t heirs to the promise.

We were slaves, under a trustee or guardian. We were under the law.

But now, we’re not slaves but sons.

There’s a difference between being a slave and being a son.

Here are lots of pictures. I really pray that God will reveal this to you.

In Christ “we receive adoption to sonship”

Paul: “Because you are his sons” – and daughters -

“God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,

the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

So, you are no longer a slave, but God’s child;

and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”

Why did Paul write about sons and heirs?

Why did he write about a guardian, a
trustee, being underage and being mature?

Because they are pictures pointing towards our reality.

We were under the law until the set time when Christ came.

Then we became Christ’s.

Now, we don’t need that law, that guardian anymore. Why?

Because we’re now sons. We’ve received His Spirit, because we are sons.

To say it another way:

We were locked up under the law (as slaves).

Then Christ set us free from the law (so we are no longer slaves).

We needed a guardian until Christ.

The law is good, if we use the law the right way.

It’s for sinners and lawbreakers.

But when we’re in Christ, we don’t need that law anymore.

We have a new law, written on our hearts.

The Spirit of grace teaches us to live holy lives.

Christ set us free from the law, so we are no longer slaves but children:

Free to walk by the Spirit. So, if you are born again:

You are no longer a slave (under the law, in need of guardians and trustees).

You're God’s child. You are now a SON (or daughter).

Therefore, you're an heir of God through Christ.

The law is a guardian UNTIL a set time.

When the set time had fully come, the FATHER sent His Son.

He was born of a woman, born under the law.

He came to redeem those under the law (YOU AND I).

So, we might receive adoption to sonship.

So, that is what Jesus came to accomplish?

However, some people don’t know what it means to be in Christ.

They don’t understand the new life by the Spirit.

Instead, they want to follow human rules that enslave many people.

Many people in the church love giving rules, instead of the Spirit.

External rules can’t bring freedom, but the Spirit can.

I mentioned last time what Paul wrote: “I myself am not under the law”

– but later he wrote -

“though I am not without law to God, but under Christ’s law”

So, we’re not lawless, without a law.

At the time, we’re not under Moses’ law, but under Christ’s law.

The law is spiritual. The one who sins, becomes a slave of sin.

This is like the law of gravity. If I drop something, it’ll fall down.

It is similar with the law.

If we try to keep the law, we’ll keep falling.

It doesn't matter how many times we try to stand up. Why?

Because being under the law, doesn’t bring us freedom.

We need to understand these things:

What does it mean to be a son, in Christ? To be free from the law of Moses?

To walk by the Spirit today?

Then, suddenly the law won’t have power over us anymore.

We’ll not be enslaved, but live in freedom. Let’s continue.

I still have many more things to share in this lesson:

Christ came to purify a people for Himself.

The law was in effect until Christ came, as we needed guardians.

The law is good if you use the law the right way.

But now that we are in Christ, we are adopted as sons.

He proved this by removing our stony hearts, giving us His Spirit.

The Spirit of grace who teaches us. God writes the law on our hearts.

Now, we no longer need guardians. The law of Moses is no longer needed.

That's because we have the Spirit.

We can walk by the Spirit under the law of Christ:

This is God’s Word that's written on our hearts, free from sin.

The Truth will set you free. Are you a slave or a son?

Jesus also used the pictures of sons and slaves.

In John 8, he talked to the Jews:

“Jesus spoke to the Jews who had believed him.

“If you obey my teaching,” he said,”

Believing is not enough, but also obedience to Jesus’ teaching.

“you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth.

And the truth will set you free.” The truth will set you free.

Jesus told the Jews this:

If they followed Him and His teaching, they’d know the truth.

The truth will set them free. To be free is the opposite of being a slave.

“They answered him, “We are Abraham’s children.”

They didn’t understand. “We have never been slaves of anyone.

So how can you say that that we will be set free?”

From a human perspective, they weren’t slaves.

“Jesus replied, “What I’m about to tell you is true.”

It might be hard to understand this truth.

“Everyone who sins is a slave of sin.”

Everyone who sins, or continues to sin, is a slave to sin.

“A slave has no lasting place in the family.”

Remember Ishmael, the slave woman’s son, who was sent away.

“But a son” – Isaac and those who are born again and baptized into Christ.

Those who’ve received the Spirit and walk by the Spirit

- “belongs to the family forever.

So, if the Son of Man sets you free, you will really be free.”

I know that there’s lots here to process.

Abraham’s children and heirs are in Sarah’s, not Hagar’s.

Hagar’s offspring are described here: Not heirs.

Slaves to sin, who’ll not remain in the house forever.

Sarah’s offspring are described here: Sons and heirs. Free from sin.

They’ll remain in the house forever.

Some of you are hearing these things for the first time.

Please watch this lesson again and again, to really understand these pictures.

Here’s a good time for a break.

Afterwards, we’ll move on from Galatians to Romans.

We’ll read some of the verses from last time.

This time, we’ll focus on freedom from sin and walking by the Spirit.

You’ll understand the two covenants.

You’ll see the difference between trying
to live under the law or by the Spirit.

At the end, I’ll put it all together.

I’ll show the two covenants side by side, and headings under them.

You’ll see a big difference.

Each of us then need to ask ourselves: how do I live?

Am I walking on the broad road or on the narrow road?

Sadly, many people in the church are walking on the broad road.

Even though, they’re in church, they’re still slaves. They’re not free.

We need to be free from sin:

Slaves won’t remain in the house forever, but the sons will.

The one whom the Son sets free, shall be free indeed.

So, let’s take a break and then return again.

[Music]

Okay, we’re back again. Look here: Dead to sin but alive to God.

Now, we’ll look at Romans, some of which we looked at before.

This is extremely important.

It shouldn’t only give you theology, but
help you to be free to walk by the Spirit.

It should help you walk in freedom and inherit the promise, in the end.

You need to be on the right road.

But many people have misunderstood grace, as they also did in Paul’s time.

Paul quoted someone else’s question here in Romans:

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?”

No! How can you think that? “By no means!”

But, some people thought that as people think today.

They say: “Oh, I’m under grace. I can go
on sinning. God’s grace will increase”

“By no means! We are those who have died to sin;”

Those who are truly born again should see themselves like this:

They have died to sin – “how can we live in it any longer?” Paul continues:

“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus

were baptized into his death?”

This is the death, we also read about in Galatians 3.

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that,

just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,

we too may live a new life.” So, be baptized into Christ’s death.

Why? So that you can live a new life. What is that life?

A transition occurs here: we are no longer slaves, but we’re adopted as sons.

This happens when we repent, are baptised in water and receive the Holy Spirit:

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his,

we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

The Holy Spirit does this.

He raises us from death, and makes us alive with Christ.

“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin”

This body is ruled by sin. The one who sins becomes a slave to sin.

- “might be done away with” - What happens here?

The body, enslaved to sin, is done away with

– “that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

Because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again;

death no longer has mastery over him.

The death he died, he died to sin once for all;

but the life he lives, he lives to God.”

Let’s continue. I love Romans 6:

“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin”

However, as a believer, I was told:

“We are slaves to sin. Sin has power over us. We can’t do anything about it.”

If you have that mindset, you will live in that reality. Paul wrote this:

Born-again believers shouldn’t count themselves as slaves to sin.

They should count themselves “dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Therefore” – considering yourselves dead to sin -

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin” - Don’t do that!

- “as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God

as those who have been brought from death to life;

and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.”

We can either being an instrument of sin or an instrument of righteousness.

Here, we have the two roads again.
Each one leads to something different:

The road of sin and the road of righteousness:

“For sin shall no longer be your master,”

- You shouldn’t be a slave to sin anymore. Why? -

“because you are not under the law but under grace.”

People under the law, are slaves.

They aren’t sons who’ll inherit and remain in the house.

They are slaves, who’ll be cast out. This is why we need to be born again.

From that point, we’re no longer slaves under this elemental rules of this world.

We die to this world, by going into the baptismal waters.

Those who are baptised into Christ, belong to Christ.

They’ve received a new heart and God’s Spirit, the Spirit of grace.

The law is written on our hearts by the Spirit of grace.

He teaches us to live in freedom. There’s so much here:

Sin shall not be your master, because you aren’t under the law.

But if you try to live under the law, my
friend, you will feel like a slave again.

So, don’t go there. Instead, live under grace and be free. Hallelujah!

This is good. So, under the law you’re a slave and sin’s your master.

Under grace, you’re free and sin isn’t your master.

Oh I remember when I first understood this.

Many years ago, I was in my office. I realised: “I’m free. Hallelujah!

Everything that I was told was a lie.

They told me that I was just a sinner who can’t do anything.

No, the Bible doesn’t say that. The Bible says that we were sinners.

Now the Bible describes us as saints.

We can’t do this in our own strength but we can in Christ.

Whom were the letters to Ephesus and other cities addressed to?

‘The saints’, not ‘the sinners’. We must count ourselves dead to sin.

We must understand what true grace is and does: “What then?

Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?

By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone

as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey”

So, you’re a slave of the one you obey - “whether you are slaves to sin,

which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”

Here we see two roads.

One road is slavery to sin, a broad road that leads to death.

The other road is freedom from sin and obedience, that leads to righteousness.

Here are the two roads.

“But thanks be to God that, though you used” - past tense - “to be slaves to sin”

- this applies to all of us - “you have come to obey from your heart”

– with a new heart - “the teachings you were given!

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

We can’t live anymore like we used to, when we were on the broad road.

Now, we’re on a different road.

“I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations.

Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity

and to ever-increasing wickedness,

so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.

When you were slaves” - past tense - “to sin,

you were free from the control of righteousness.”

When you were a slave to sin, you did what the flesh wants.

You followed your heart’s evil desires.

“What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?”

I’m ashamed of my past actions and sins.

“Those things result in death! But now” – Hallelujah! -

“that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God,

the benefit you reap, leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

For the wages of sin is death,

but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

So, there are two roads, my friends.

One road is slavery sin, that leads to impurity. Its result is death.

The other road is freedom from sin, that leads to holiness.

Its result is eternal life.

I see that many Christians in the church are on the broad road.

That road leads to death. They’re still slaves to sin.

They haven’t understood the new birth and what it means to be a son.

They don’t understand what the Spirit of grace actually does.

This is really sad to see. The one who sins becomes a slave to sin.

In this world, we used to be slaves to sin, held captive under the law.

But in baptism, we died and are now free from the law that said:

“Don’t touch! Don’t taste! Don’t do this and that!”

The law of sin and death worked in our bodies, and the sin bound us.

But now, we’re free to live a new life. We’re free to marry somebody else.

Paul continues. I read this already but I want you now to understand it more.

Paul wrote about marriage. Why?

Because it’s an illustration of how the law works and death.

“Do you not know, brothers and sisters

- for I am talking to those that know the law

- that the law have authority over a person as long as he lives?”

You can’t be free from the law and live a new life, in your own strength.

The only way forward is to die.

As long as you live with a body of sin, you are bound to sin. You need to die.

That’s why we need to be baptized, Christ and the cross.

“For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband

as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies,

she is released from the law that binds her to him.

So then, if she has sexual relations with another man

while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress.

But if her husband dies, she is released from that law

and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.”

Why did Paul suddenly write about marriage?

Here, he wrote about the law.: “So, my brothers and sisters,

you also died to the law through the body of Christ”

You were baptized into the death of Christ, as part of the new birth.

“that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead,

in order that we might bear fruit for God.

For when we were in the realm of the flesh,

the sinful passion aroused by the law”

– the law didn’t free us when we were sinners so the law;

instead, sin was aroused even more - “were at work in us,

so that we bore fruit for death.

But now, by dying to what once bound us,

we have been released from the law

so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit,

and not in the old way of the written code.”

I also said some of these things in Lesson 5.

I want to continue here today:

Many people have misunderstood the next verses.

I want you to notice something here: “for when we were” - past tense;

“but now” - present tense.

In Romans 7, Paul switched between past and present tenses.

Now he moves on in the past tense.

He used the ‘representative I’ in Greek.

Here, he didn’t describe himself in the present, but how he was in the past.

Many people don’t understand these verses.

Paul wrote “I” here in the past tense.

He identified himself with those who were still under the law.

He used to be like them. So, many people misunderstand this today.

Then Paul wrote: “We know that the law is spiritual;”- Yes, it is.

- “but I am unspiritual” – Paul, are you unspiritual? - “sold as a slave to sin”

Paul, you wrote seven times already that you are free from sin!

You are not a slave to sin anymore. You are free.

But now you say, “I’m a slave”. No.

Here, he used the ‘representative I” in Greek.

He identified with those still under the law as he once was.

Remember, Paul used to be a Pharisee of Pharisees.

He really lived by the law. “I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.

I do not understand what I do.

For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.

As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.”

These verses don’t describe the normal Christian life.

You need to get the context from the chapters before and after.

Then, you’ll realise that this isn’t the normal Christian life.

We’re no longer sold as slaves to sin.

We shouldn’t be unspiritual, but spiritual.

We shouldn’t be carnal slaves to sin, but experience freedom.

But many Christians identify themselves with these words:

“Oh, what I don’t want to do, I do.

What I want to do, I don’t do. Its sin that dwells in me.”

If this is your reality, there are two possible explanations.

One is, you’re not truly born again.

Two, you were born again but then you tried to go in under the law again.

It’s possible to go back and become bound again. I’ve seen people do that.

We need to remain in freedom.

The law works such a way that people become bound again and condemned.

But when we live by the Spirit, there’s no condemnation.

Let’s take an example of what Paul wrote about head coverings.

My wife and daughters don’t do that – they have long hair.

We live in different times now. This is why I believe Paul wrote that:

Covering the head was part of the society at that time.

Married women covered their heads, to show that they were married.

This also exists in many cultures today.

At that time, married women who didn’t cover their heads were rebellious.

They were not submitted. They brought a lot of attention to themselves.

But nowadays in some places, this has changed.

What sometimes happens when a woman covers her head?

She stands in front of people and gets a lot of focus and attention.

It works almost in the opposite way.

In the past, women covered their heads to show submission.

It took attention away from themselves.

I believe that Paul’s motive was this:

Women should dress modestly for the sake of the angels.

We need to know who is a man and who is a woman. Who is married?

Who is not married. Wear your wedding ring.

Be clear in front of others and the angels:

Who is a woman, and who is a man?

Woman have long hair and are submitted to their husbands.

Be submitted to the people around you. This is the concept behind it.

However, people now use this as a rule.
Where I am, it isn’t part of our culture.

We need to understand the motive behind it.

We need to dress modestly and properly.

Woman shouldn’t draw attention to their bodies, but dress accordingly.

Women should submit to their husbands.

Husbands submit to Christ and lay down their lives for their wives.

Hair is our covering. But, at that time, it meant something else.

However, I’ve seen many women today who have received the Spirit.

They’ve lived holy lives.

The Holy Spirit has written the law on their hearts.

They were living holy lives.

If they dressed improperly, the Holy Spirit told them not to dress like that.

So, they started to dress modestly.

If they were rebellious against their husband, they were led to submit.

The Holy Spirit worked in their heart. They lived holy lives in freedom.

But then they misunderstand some rules, or rules were imposed on them.

Then, suddenly, they started to feel condemned:

“Oh no, I feel condemned. I need to cover my head.”

So, their testimony became this: “I felt condemned.

Now, I cover my head. Now, there’s no condemnation.

Oh, I want to share this beautiful testimony with the whole world:

When I started to cover my head, all condemnation disappeared.

This is from God.” No. Listen here.

Before hearing the teaching about head
coverings, there was no condemnation.

You were free in Christ, to not cover your head.

But you were still free to submit and do what the Spirit was showing you.

Then, when you heard a teaching, you suddenly felt condemned.

You felt, you need to keep the rules, to make the condemnation disappear.

But it often doesn’t stop there. I’ve seen this happen many times.

People start to think: “I can’t do this or that”.

Covering heads was not even found in the law of Moses.

Other things were regarding men, women and submission etc.

But often, people move on from head coverings to food laws.

They start keeping the feasts and other rules.

A person may think they shouldn’t eat pork:

“Oh I felt so condemned when I ate pork. Now, I’ve stopped eating pork.

I don’t feel condemned anymore.”

But you had already been living with God for fifteen years in freedom.

The Holy Spirit worked in you. You’ve been living a holy life.

You could eat pork without feeling condemned.

But then you heard a teaching and the law became part of your life.

Suddenly you felt condemned, because the law brings condemnation.

Then you thought: “Oh, I need to keep this to make the condemnation disappear.”

Then you hear another thing that you feel you need to keep.

This cycle repeats itself. Suddenly, life becomes full of rules:

“Don’t touch! Don’t taste! Don’t do this or that!”

You then live a life in condemnation.

You no longer walk by the Spirit and in freedom.

I’ve seen that happen so many times.

People walked away from the freedom in Christ.

I hope you understand what I’m saying.

“So, Torben, doesn’t the Bible say that you cannot eat pork?”

Yes, but I’m not under that law. Firstly, I’m not a Jew.

Secondly, I’m not under that law. I’m free in Christ.

“So, Torben, do you eat pork?” Yeah. “So, is your fridge at home full of pork?”

No, we actually don’t have pork in our house.

This is nothing to do with the law. Pork is not healthy and we try to avoid it.

Sometimes, I buy something with pork and eat it.

But I think God had a reason behind that commandment.

I don’t think it’s healthy to eat pork. That’s my view.

But when I go out of our home, I eat what’s being served.

I am not under that law. I don’t have to follow those rules.

I’m free to eat what’s being served. We read this in the Bible:

When you come to a house, don’t consider
this and that and think about the rules.

Just eat what’s being served. I’m free. I don’t think that pork is healthy.

“Torben, do you keep the Sabbath?” I’m not a Sabbath keeper. I’m in Christ.

Jesus did not command me to keep the Sabbath.

He commanded me to find a rest in him. I’m not a Jew.

“So, Torben, do you work seven days a week?”

No, I believe there is a principle behind resting one day.

I’m not obligated to keep that.

But I try to take time off, which is important.

It’s important to give not just one day to God, but all the days of your life.

Don’t disregard the law, but use it in the right way.

Understand how it works. Keep your freedom.

Don’t go under the law, where you’ll feel condemned again.

Walk in freedom by the Spirit of grace. That will lead to holiness.

When we truly understand the Spirit, we don’t have an excuse to sin.

A true understanding leads to holiness. Romans 8:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

So, don’t go under the law and feel condemned. You’ll get into a cycle:

Keeping laws, feeling good, hearing about more laws and feeling condemned.

Your life will be full of keeping more and more laws.

You’ll end up being enslaved again. But you’re loosed from the law.

You’re dead to the law. You’re alive in Christ.

Walk by the Spirit. Let the Spirit speak to and guide you.

“Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit”

- that is in those who are born again - “the law of the Spirit who gives life” –

as we walk according to law of Christ, not the law of Moses -

“the law of the Spirit who gives life

has set you free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,”

In other words, the law of Moses couldn’t transform the hard stony hearts.

But God did it. How did He do it? “God did it by sending his own Son

in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.

And so he condemned sin in the flesh.”

The law couldn’t bring freedom and righteousness. Why?

Because of the hardness of heart. We saw that in Matthew 5.

But Christ did. Hallelujah!

- “In order that the righteous requirement of the law”

– in Lesson 7, I’ll talk about curses and blessings.

I’ll explain that if we don’t keep the whole law, we’re under a curse.

But if we keep the law, we’re blessed. That is the focus of Lesson 7.

These verses are important: curses and blessings still exist under the law.

They’ve not been done away with. But Christ has fulfilled the law.

The righteous requirement of the law still exists. Here, we read this:

“that the righteous requirement might be fully met in us”

- who obey the whole law? No -

“who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

So, what happens when you walk by the Spirit or live according to the Spirit?

The righteous requirement of the law is met:

Not by you but by Christ in you.

Our focus should be on walking the new life by the Spirit.

Then the blessing from the law, will be ours in Christ.

“Those who live according to the flesh

have their minds set on what the flesh desires;

but those who live according to the Spirit

have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”

What is your mind focussed on: the flesh or the Spirit?

The righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us:

Those do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Okay, I’ll finish this lesson soon.

So, where are you, my friend and everyone watching this video?

Let me ask you: Are you fully born again?

That is essential. Have you truly repented?

Have you received a new heart?

Have you been baptized, putting off that old life and washing away your sins?

Have you buried that life, the body that was a slave to sin?

Have you received the true baptism of the Holy Spirit?

Has the Spirit of grace made you alive?

Here are two covenants and two roads. We looked at this today.

On one side are Hagar and Ishmael.

That is Islam, which represents all religions and this world:

Everything outside of Christ. They are
slaves. They live according to the flesh.

That is the old covenant with the law of Moses.

The old covenant could not make them righteous. This is in Christ.

This is everything outside Christ.

The law was written on stone tablets on Mount Sinai.

This is the present earthly Jerusalem.

These children are born in the natural, by the will of man. They’ll not inherit.

They are under the law. So, we see all those things under Hagar: Slave.

Old covenant. Stone tablets. Mount Sinai. Present Jerusalem. Born naturally.

Children by the will of man. Not inherit. Law.

But what do we see here? Isaac. Free. Divine promise. New covenant.

The law of Christ, written on our hearts. Mount Zion.

Heavenly (future) Jerusalem. Born spiritually.

Children of the promise of God. Will inherit. Grace and truth.

You can see a big contrast. Which side are you on? Let’s move on.

Here, the righteous requirement is by keeping the law:

They’re not God’s children.

They’re under a guardian that existed until the time of Christ.

It brings condemnation. They walk by the flesh. They will die.

But this is the righteous requirement in Christ: You are God’s children.

This is an eternal covenant. There is no condemnation.

They walk by the Spirit. They’ll live forever. It’s so beautiful.

The law was a guardian/trustee until the set time when God sent His Son.

Now we are not under the law of Moses, written on stone.

But we're under the law of Christ, written by His Spirit on our hearts.

And we need to choose: who shall we follow? You can’t follow both roads.

You must be either be on one, or the other.

We’re coming to the conclusion of Lesson 7.

You may have just read through the Bible, including:

The story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar; God’s promise and covenant;

Abraham rescuing Lot; the Abrahamic covenant.

Chapter 16 about Hagar and Ishmael might seem very strange to you.

You may wonder, why it’s in the Bible. But you find the gospel here.

It’s a picture that points to Christ.

The story of Sarah and Hagar illustrates the two covenants.

This also shows the difference between these two:

One, living under the law (the natural).

Two, living in the promise of grace through faith in Christ.

These two paths run throughout the Bible:

Two roads – one that leads to death and one that leads to life.

Those who rely on their own efforts and the law (like Ishmael,

those who are born of the flesh – Islam and all other religions,

those who are not born again) will not inherit the promises of God.

They are God’s creation but they are not adopted as sons, yet.

But those who believe in Christ and are born of the Spirit

(like Isaac, the child of promise) are true heirs.

However, we must understand what true repentance and baptism are:

What does it mean to live according to the Spirit. Why?

Because today, many believe they walk on the narrow road but do not.

That was my last slide. Where are you? Are you truly born again?

Are you walking by the Spirit? Come back to the freedom that is in Christ:

Walking by the Spirit and live a holy life. If you need help, reach out to us.

We can then put you in contact with people.

They can sit with you and share more of the gospel.

They can help you to get baptised in water and filled with the Holy Spirit.

They can help you to walk this new life by the Spirit.

I have a lot of other teaching out there that I recommend you to watch.

Also, listen to the audiobook: ‘412 days’ if you haven’t already.

Get the teaching and foundation. Be strong in Christ.

I will finish now by praying for you. God, I thank You for this teaching.

I thank You for everyone who is watching this.

God, come with Your Holy Spirit over them.

God, I pray that they will not be deceived.

I pray that they won’t be slaves to the elemental rules of this world and sin.

I pray that they’ll experience the freedom that is in You, God.

I pray that they’ll be truly born again.

I pray they'll understand that they’re not slaves but sons.

I pray that they’ll live in that freedom by the Spirit of grace.

The Spirit teaches, guides and helps us.

You want to purify a people that is Yours. Jesus you’ll return soon.

You’ll take us, Your bride, to be with You forever.

We’re now seated with you in the heavenlies.

One day, the heavenly Jerusalem will come down. That’ll be our inheritance.

We’ll live with you forever. Come by Your Holy Spirit.

Use this kingdom teaching to change the hearts of those who watch this.

Come by Your Spirit and do it, God, in the name of Jesus.

We thank You. Amen. God bless you out there.

Share this kingdom teaching with other people.

Subscribe to the channel if you haven’t already.

I look forward to sharing Lesson 7 with you.

There, we’ll look at the curses and blessings of the law.

We’ll finish this section of teaching.

Then, we’ll focus on David and the kingdom.

From then, there will be a very different focus in this teaching.

But I don’t want merely to hear about the kingdom.

I truly want you to enter that kingdom. That’s why I started with this.

God bless you. Bye bye.