justbyfaith
Well-Known Member
I do not deceive myself.Believing in the Messiah without obedience to the commands of God will not grant you the set-apart airflow. You deceive yourself, hence, "and you gives his set-apart airflow to those who obey him".
I have studied for over 28 years the concepts in the New Testament and the Old; and have asked the Holy Spirit for understanding all the way through.
There is even a passage of scripture that might give you your jollies, that also teaches us that failing to keep the law will not place a man outside of the kingdom:
Mat 5:17, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18, For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mat 5:19, Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:20, For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
The point being that they will be found in the kingdom of heaven, though they be counted least.
As for v.20, I believe that it is to be compared to the following:
Gal 2:21, I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Phl 3:6, Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Phl 3:7, But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Phl 3:8, Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Phl 3:9, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: