When I Was A Child

I usually start with circumcision, as this was also an "everlasting covenant" and was definitely one of those "carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the reformation" that was most definitely, obviously, done away with! If God can do away with one everlasting covenant He can surely do away with others! Gen 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised 13 and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. Col 2:11 In whom (Christ) also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, Gal 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased... 14 For ALL the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Gal 5:2 if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. How could circumcision be done away, if it is an everlasting covenant? 1 Cor 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. Gal 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. 1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service Heb 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present that could NOT make him that did the service perfect, **as pertaining to the conscience;** 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. When I was a child, indeed, I had "carnal ordinances" over me-

Thou shalt not paint the walls with crayons or markers! Thou shalt not go outside in winter without a jacket! Thou shalt not touch the Drano, or the chemicals, they are an unclean thing to you! But when I became a man, I put away childish things!

It would be absurd to command the mural artist- " Thou shalt not paint the walls with crayons or markers!" It would be absurd to command the athlete- "Thou shalt not go outside in winter without a jacket!" It would be absurd to command the chemist- "Thou shalt not touch the Drano, or the chemicals, they are an unclean thing to you!" And yet, the lesson, the substance, learned in those childhood ordinances remains. I couldn't paint the walls because it was destructive, the walls didn't belong to me, and my parents would have to repaint them. I couldn't touch the chemicals because I didn't understand how they could hurt or kill me or others if I handled them improperly, and I was much to young to learn their proper use! So is the Old Testament! 1 Cor 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it **altogether** for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. ALL the law, all the "carnal ordinances" were added until the time of reformation which time has come! The child had no discernment, and so was under carnal ordinances for it's safety, and protection, and education. But! Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the

land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. 1 John 4:16 God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 2:20 ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Rom 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. What once needed to be regulated through "carnal ordinances" can know be understood in the conscience, because it is now written in the mature understanding. And to impose those same carnal ordinances upon the mature man becomes an absurdity! Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. Now, just for one example, in the circumcision, being spiritually mature, we understand that the lesson was not the circumcising of the foreskin that was the fulfillment, or purpose, of circumcision, but the circumcising of the heart toward God. Deu 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. That was the "substance" that was and is everlasting, not the carnal ordinance, which was merely a shadow, and a pattern, and an example. Just as in this very same dispensation, there are those things that ultimately will cease to be 1 Cor 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now

abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. Heb 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Now, with the eyes wide open, as spiritually mature adults, we can look and see- what "carnal ordinances" have been done away with, now that we have the understanding written on the heart, perfecting the conscience, rather than tables of stone? The dietary laws are one Acts 11:9 What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 1 Tim 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 1 Cor 10:23 **All** things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: **all** things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. 25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles (pagan meat market!), that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: Rom 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor 10:26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; **whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question** for conscience sake. 2 Cor 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. The carnal commandments of keeping the sabbath days is another one Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the

Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. The carnal ordinances imposing sabbath days have been done away, but the everlasting covenant of keeping the rest, by walking in God, and being His workmanship, has not! We have the understanding written in our hearts now, perfecting the conscience, we no longer need the added imposition of a carnal ordinance to keep a carnal rest! So now we have these two perspectives- child and man, representing the two covenantsOne of carnal ordinances, one of spiritual understanding. One is just a pattern, one is the fulfillment. One is merely a shadow, one is the body itself.

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. How many times have you watched your shadow on the ground? Is it you? It is not! It is merely your outline! So why would any want to become the shadow, when they are called to be the body? The shadow is not the body, and the body is not the shadow! Or else go outside on a sunny day, and lay down on the ground, and see if you can become "at-one-ment" with your shadow! See if your body can become two dimensional rather than three dimensional. The allegory simply does not fit! You will, I guarantee you, look just as absurd, as those who attempt to keep the law (the shadow), and yet be members of the New Testament body (what the shadow doesn't know!! And yes, you are going to have to choose which substance you are- shadow or reality!

Gal 4:30 what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. How do we reconcile these two scriptures? If I have love for others written on my heart and understanding, do I need a carnal ordinance commanding me not to color on the walls, as I did when I was a child? Gal 5:22 love 23 against such there is no law.

In love (adulthood, conscience perfected) I actually do now have the freedom to draw on the walls, contrary to the letter of the law! (2 Cor 3:6 the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.) If they are my walls! If the one who owns the walls wants or allows me to! Therefore, I am not, any more, under the law- "Thou shalt not paint the walls!" Unless! Unless I maliciously graffiti on someone else's wall! But that wouldn't be love, would it? Therefore, that would be disobedient to the fulfillment of the law! Therefore, that would be a transgression also of the law, wouldn't it? Ah-hah! also! Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of

concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. When I was a child I somehow could never keep from breaking those carnal ordinances"don't paint the walls, don't go outside without a jacket, don't touch the chemicals" because I didn't really understand the intent, the conscience behind them! They were just carnal ordinances to me! Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But now some would like to put me, and us, back under the carnal ordinances contained in the letter of the commandments! Gal 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. "The law has not been done away, we keep the law to the letter, and thereby fulfill it!" they say! They may just exactly as well be telling me that adulthood has not freed me from keeping to the letter the carnal ordinances which were over me as a child. Saying to keep them is the only way to fulfill them also! Thou shalt not paint the walls with crayons or markers! Thou shalt not go outside in winter without a jacket! Thou shalt not touch the Drano, or the chemicals, they are an unclean thing to you!

Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 **Are ye so foolish?** having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Cast out the bondwoman and her son! Gen 21:10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. 12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. Cast out the bondwoman and her son! Gal 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman

was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. The shadow is *not* the body! Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility

I hope this shows you the difference between a child (law) and a man (grace). May God bless you.