First Works
PART I: FAITH
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 KJV
What are His commandments? The commandments given by Moses is still the commandments that are taught of in the New Testament. No where in the teachings of Christ does it say that these were made void. In fact, Matthew 5 confirms the commandments of old and adds more to the detail to the commandment. When Christ was being questioned by the pharisees as to try to temp Him, He was asked which was the greatest commandment. This is where we have the perfecting foundation of the commandments.
Matthew 22:36-40 KJV
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This is the first and great commandment.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Though we are no longer under the law of Moses we still will fulfill the law by faith and belief in Christ. This may be a hard concept to some, but Christ said he did not come to make void the law he came to fulfill it. What does that mean? He fulfilled it by becoming the end of the law of righteousness through works of the law, which the law itself spoke of. He became the fulfillment of the law, that whosoever believe on him should be counted as righteousness by faith. Here we see in Matthew that the love of God is the greatest commandment followed by love your neighbor as yourself. This is important because if you love as God has commanded you are already fulfilling the commandments of the law. So, the law is not made void it is again fulfilled. By fulfilling the commandment of love and believing in the Son of God we can receive the impartation of the Spirit of truth. We have now established the Word of God and the Spirit of truth. The Spirit of truth is the gateway to hearing.
John 16:13 KJV
13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
The Spirit of truth is a guide to all truth. You must have the Spirit of truth in order to have understanding. However, whoever is imparted the Spirit of truth will also need to be imparted with the Holy Spirit. They will work together, the Holy Spirit as a teacher and Spirit of truth as a guide. The question will arise as to whether you can have the Spirit of truth and not have the Holy Spirit? The answer is yes. The Spirit of truth is given upon believing but the Holy Spirit is given by an action. In John 14:21-23 we see that action in the works. By keeping His commandments, He will manifest himself unto you. Through that manifestation you are able to receive the comforter of the Holy Spirit.