Coming Out Of Babylon
* Introduction To The Bible Study
In today's society, the Babylonian system is the current world system that is based on "self-effort" rather than "trusting in God's ability." As Christian Believers, when we try to mix the Law with Grace, confusion is the result. God wants us to come out of the Babylonian system of self-effort and to put all our trust in His Grace and Mercy.
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A. "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the Law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born aafter the flesh: but he of the freewoman was by promise." (Galatians 4:21-23)
1. Hagar and Sarah represent the "two covenants:" The Law (bondage) and The Promise (freedom). (Galatians 4:24-26)
a. As born-again believers, we are children of the promise, not of bondage. (Galatians 4:26-30)
2. We should not be entangled with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1)
a. Some people want to be saved by grace, but then they try to live by the law, because they believe that by doing this it will make them holy.
b. The Law is perfect, but it cannnot make us perfect; The Law is holy, but it cannot make us holy because, in our flesh, it is impossible for us to keep the law.
c. Only The Holy Spirit can shape us into what God wants us to be. He Who is perfect, can and will mold us after His Own Will.
d. We should not try to mix the Law with Grace, thinking we need the Law to make us holy.
f. The Grace of God teaches us His righteousness and holiness; The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth. (Titus 2:11-12)
3. Isaac was the son of God's Promise, while Ishmeal was born from human effort alone.
a. Ishmeal wasa born of the Law (self-effort or bondage), and Isaac was born free, by the Promise (Abraham being led by The Holy Spirit).
b. Without the confession of Jesus Christ, the son of bondage is never going to share in the inheritance of the son of the freewoman.
B. God hates when we try to mix His Grace with The Law. We cannot mix the two covenants; we cannot mix the Law with God's Grace. (Mark 2:20-23)
1. "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:15-16)
a. The cold and the hot are not referring to our activities.
b. Cold in this instance, represents the Law while hot represents The Grace of God.
2. Under the ministration of Grace, life is much more glorious than under the ministration of condemnation. (II Corinthians 3:5-13)
a. Our great success is a result of being led by The Holy Spirit, instead of being led by the Law.
b. We can't mix the two, mixing the two leaves us with nothing.
Scripture References
Galatians 4:21-30 Galatians 5:1 Titus 2:11-12 Mark 2:20-23
Revelation 3:15-16 II Corinthians 3:5-13
* Study Notes By: Dr. Creflo Dollar
"May The Lord Add A Blessing To The Reading And Meditation Of His Word."
