Spiritual Law (Part 7) (Romans 5:6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 1:12-13; Matthew 6:9-10; Luke 11:2; Matthew 18:15-20; Romans 8:31-34; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12)

COURTROOM

[This is a more extensive word study, in an attempt to tie together some of the concepts previously presented in the Spiritual Law word studies (Part 1-6)].

Governed by Law

Society is governed by law, and without some type of enforceable restraint, there would ensue chaos or anarchy, to varying degrees, and the principle of 'might makes right', would invariably become the terrifying standard of behavior, with the strong preying on the weaker persons in society, with deplorable consequences. In an attempt to thwart any such undesirable outcome, laws were enacted, primarily based on the Judeo-Christian tradition, to govern behavior. Both historically, and for all intent purposes, during the present, there are basically two categories of 'law':

1. Criminal Law

This is where someone has broken some statute or a legally binding ordinance, or law, and such a transgression, when enforced, requires some form of restitution, financial penalty, or, in more extreme cases, physical incarceration, in keeping with the severity of the crime. These violations could range from something minor, such as smoking in a non smoking area; a speeding ticket, for surpassing the posted limits; stealing from someone; assault; or even rape or murder. All of these would be considered criminal acts, to a greater or lesser degree, and all should receive the just punishment, weighed against the actions of the offender, in proportion to the written law that has been broken. Guilt or innocence is the presumed outcome in such a trial, and based on that determination, the presiding judge renders a verdict, on the basis of what law has been broken, and the appropriate punishment for such an offence.

2. Civil Law

This is not a rendering of 'guilt' or 'innocence', but rather, a determination of who is in the 'right', or who has the 'legal right', whether to property, position, as in claims of inheritance, or some type of legal ownership. In fact, in the Old Testament [OT], the common theme, especially in Proverbs, though throughout the OT, is the constant contrast between the 'wicked', and the 'righteous'. The underlying emphasis is that the 'righteous' have the 'right' to rule and govern, and are recipients of God's favor, because they adhere to His standards of practice and behavior, in their lives.

Good vs Righteous

Romans 5:6-8 says, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. for scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" [KJV].

What is interesting about this passage, is that traditional thinking would equate the 'righteous' with those of good behavior, more noble, or worthy, in some respect, and yet, they are seemingly, less appealing than 'a good man', and not necessarily someone whom the average person would be compelled to sacrifice for, above a 'good' person.

Made Righteous

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For He has made Him sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him".

Spiritual Condition

Both sin and righteousness are spiritual conditions. Christ Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin, on the cross, taking on Himself every disease, poverty, and the spiritual condition of separation from God the Father. We, who knew no righteousness, became righteous, because of His legal sacrifice, and being raised from the dead, and we entered into a position of authority and favor with God, our Father.

Legal Right

John 1:12-13 says, "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power [authority] to become the sons of God, to them that believe [have faith] on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God".

Legal Authority

The word 'power', is the Greek word (exousia), 1849, meaning 'authority', the 'right to rule', "whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed" [BLB]. Righteousness is not only a spiritual condition, not earned by behavior, as a 'good person', but it is something conferred upon an individual, or group of people, giving them the authority to act on the behalf of another, as their representatives, and specifically, it is afforded to us on the basis of the fact that we are 'born of God', or 'born again' of God (Jn.3:3).

Ignorance

The significance is that we are righteous, we have authority, delegated to us, by our Father God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, we "whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed" [BLB]. However, if we don't realize or recognize that authority, we allow, through ignorance of the scriptures, [our covenant with God], the devil and demons, to wreck havoc in our lives, when they have absolutely no legal right. We are the 'righteous', and we have the legal 'right' to enforce God's will, on the earth, as it is in heaven; the spiritual realm.

The Lord's Prayer

Though referred to as the 'Lord's Prayer', it more accurately is the 'disciples prayer', or instruction on how to pray. In the KJV the first portion reads:

Matthew 6:9-10

"After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be the name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as (it is) in heaven".

Luke 11:2

"And He said unto them, 'When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth' ".

Prayer

The Greek word used for 'pray', both in Matt.6:9 and Lk.11:2, is (proseuchomai), 4336, which is part of the word group used in over 95% of all references to prayer, in the New Testament (NT). The meaning of the word translated 'pray', is "to make bold or confident assertions about oneself, to brag or boast", basically, to 'confess' or 'declare'. Again, over 95% of the time, in the NT, any references to 'prayer', use this word group, meaning that 'prayer' is not so much asking for something, but it is a declaration, with the words of our mouth, of what is already ours, legally enforcing what already belongs to us, as the righteous sons and daughters or God our Father, bringing about the Father's will on earth, as it is in heaven, enforcing our rights under 'civil law'.

Two or Three (Matt.18:15-20)

Matthew 18:15-20 speaks of church discipline, and the desire to restore broken fellowship between spiritual brothers/sisters, and ultimately, to restore the relationship between the one in the wrong, and their fellowship with the Lord. The passage speaks of the binding authority of a person's words, and "...that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established" (Matt.18:16), and that "Whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt.18:18). The 'binding' and 'loosing' is a consequence of your words!

The passage goes on to say that "...if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 18:19), and the reason it shall be done is because, "...where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt.18:20), to establish and carry out what was agreed to by your words, in this constant spiritual scenario, where we are witnesses, and our testimony, the deciding factor, in our 'civil law' court case.

'Ask' (Matt.18:19)

The word 'ask' is (aiteo), 154, meaning, not only to ask, but:

1. to ask for yourself.

2. to not only to ask for yourself, but the more forceful tone, 'to demand for yourself'.

3. and not only to 'demand for yourself', but to 'demand for yourself', because you 'have a legal right' to what you are demanding.

'It Shall be Done' (Matt.18:19)

This phrase is one word in the Greek, which is (ginomai), 1096, meaning, 'to come into existence'; which means, it happens right now, in the spiritual realm, the moment you demand it to be so, because it legally belongs to you; you have a legal right!

Paraphrase

"If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they demand for themselves, because they have a legal right to it, immediately, right now, it will come into existence, and happen, in the spiritual realm, by your Father, who lives in the spiritual realm" (Matt.18:19).

Romans 8:31-34

This passage presents a courtroom situation representing our Father as the judge; Christ Jesus as the attorney for the defence; and Satan as the prosecuting attorney, [see Spiritual Law (Part 6)] where the word of our testimony, [because of our covenant, sealed in blood], determines whether what is legally and rightfully ours, is rendered to us, and we walk in that authority, or whether we allow the devil to illegally steal, and possess what is legally ours; and what belongs to us, is stolen. This is not a courtroom situation involving 'criminal law', where guilt or innocence is decided, but rather, this is a courtroom scenario of 'civil law', determining whether our rights and privileges are enforced and adhered to.

2 Corinthians 13:1

"...in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established" (Deut. 17:6; 19:15; Matt.18:16;1 Tim.5:19; Heb. 10:28)

Established

The word 'established' is the Greek word (histemi), 2476, and in the context of these verses noted, it means "to uphold or sustain the authority or force of anything" [BLB]. It is used as a legal term, to mean that something is now legally binding.

Summary

In the case of spiritual 'Civil Law', your words determine what you have or do not have in your life; and whether you possess, what legally belongs to you, or by your words, you agree with the devil, with your testimony [your words], and lose out with God, concerning your rights and privileges in Christ.

Freely Given

"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Rm.8:32)

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him. But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God know no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (1 Cor. 2:9-12).

God, our Father, has given everything to us, as part of our legal covenant, but whether we speak what the scriptures say, or confess/testify, contrary to the scriptures, determines whether we enjoy the benefits of what already legally belongs to us.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours