Gino,

great discussion on the Law, and how we Obey that law. I agree whole heartedly, when we are "trying" to obey is when we fail. When we are led by the Holy Spirit, HE succeeds in us and through us.

 

 There is an attack going on of this sort of faith going on today. Unfortunately it is headed by a bible teacher which I had admired very much in the past.

 

There are on one side the Word of faith teachers, and the "Crazy charismatics" who pervert the Holy Spirits leading to serving the flesh, and ignoring the law.

 

And on the other side there is the "cult of textuality" as A.W. Tozier called it, which are those that deny the leading of the Holy Spirit altogether. Sola scriptura is their motto, one which I would agree whole heartedly as truth, but the Holy Spirit, and his gifts and leading are denied, instead we are to follow the teachings and understandings of men.

 

Read the following, and you will see the latter explained better than I can:

http://www.thebereancall.org/content/strange-fire-conference-spiritual-discernment-according-Calvinism

 

Though I do believe in the cessation of the office of prophet, That being that the writings of people now are no longer to be considered scripture as in the first century eyewitness accounts, I do believe that many in the church are given the Prophetic word to speak to the church. The rest of the gifts have not ceased, but are alive and well in those who are led by the Holy Spirit.

 

¹² So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8)

 

I did not want to stray too far from the topic of obeying the law in your letter, but the truth is that there is a movement in either camp to get us to follow the flesh, and to not be led by the Spirit of God. The Charismatics are led by the emotions of the flesh, and the "cult of textuality" is led by the mind of man. There are very few A.W. Tozier's in the leadership of the churches anymore, who believe in obeying the voice of God, and verbal inspiration, But there are a whole lot of scribes and Pharisees.

 

God bless

David H.