At the slight chance of being tared and fathered,{Just a joke!} I would like to present the following for your consideration..
Are we under the "Law"? or under
"grace"? Many are confused! Are the Ten Commandments
abolished? Does Grace do away with law? Just because our sins are forgiven, and we are no longer under the death penalty of the Law for our sins -- are we now FREE from the Law � are
we FREE to live however we please, without fear of future
consequences if we break God's Law? Here is what Scripture says..
Picture the common teaching in your own mind, if you can. A nation of Israelites,
sinning, struggling under grievous bondage. Over them a harsh, stern, monstrous law, a terrible
yoke of bondage.{The Ten Commandments} To redeem them from such miserable bondage, God sent Jesus Christ to do away with law!
Now, does that picture make much sense? Of course NOT!
There is something flagrantly wrong with this concept of God! It pictures God the Father
as having made a mistake -- as being a cruel, harsh Monster.
It pictures Jesus Christ as a "smart-alecky" young man who came to do away with His
Father's Law. Christ is pictured as having more wisdom and knowledge than His Father, for He
saw that the Law was a harsh yoke of bondage. So He came to abolish it -- nail it to the cross!
Such a picture totally distorts the mercy, love, and goodness of God!
IF There Were No Law . . .
Think for a moment! Let's just suppose that God did abolish His Law for some
inexplicable reason. Suppose He decided to do away with it. What then? Do you realize what
this would mean?
This would mean that there would be no law against committing idolatry, worshipping
false gods, cursing, swearing, breaking God�s Sabbath -- but more, it would mean that murder
would be all right; stealing would be acceptable as well; lust, adultery, rape, every sex crimelying,
cheating, bearing false witness -- all these things would be all right!
There would be no law against them!
And since there would be no law, there would, of course, be no punishment!
Sin would be impossible, since "sin is the transgression of the law" (I John 3:4). If no
law, there could be no transgression -- no sin!
You would be living in a world where EVERYTHING GOES! Nothing would be wrong.
There would be no definition of right from wrong. Anything you had in mind to do would be
acceptable. If you murdered your mother-in-law, you could get away with it! There would be
no such thing as a judge, or a cell, a prison, an execution, or any kind of penalty -- and no
hellfire!
You could do exactly as you please, regardless of how it affects other people!
You could be a homicidal maniac, and no one
would be able to have you arrested. And, spiritually, God would not be able to punish sinners since sin would not exist!
If the spiritual Law of God were nailed to the cross, then from that time nineteen hundred
years ago to the present, today, sin would be nonexistent! And there would be no need of a Savior -- since there would be no need to be saved from sin! Hitler, Mussolini, and all the other arch-criminals -- Dillinger, "Pretty Boy Floyd," Al Capone, and all the rest -- would not be guilty, in God's sight!
Now, does that really make sense?
And if there is no sin, from the time of Christ to the present, then there is no such thing as
a sinner, no need for repentance, no need for forgiveness, no need for mercy or pardon -- no need for grace!
But if you follow the reasoning of the no-law advocates through to its logical conclusion,
that is where you are finally left -- that is where you end up!
But this is not the teaching of Jesus!
Was Christ "at odds" with His Father in heaven, as some say? Was it God's Law that
separated man from God -- or was it sin? Just what is the Law? And what is this thing called
Grace? And where does Sin enter the picture? Why did Christ have to die? What -- who -- was
Many assume, first of all, that law did not come until Abraham, the "father of the
faithful."
Was Abraham under grace? Did Abraham obey God's Law?
You have probably read what the apostle Paul wrote about Abraham: "What shall we say
then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were
justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture?Abraham BELIEVED God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Romans 4.1-3).
Further: "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But
to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his FAITH is counted for righteousness" (verses 4-5). Notice! Abraham was a man of faith. He believed God, and it
was counted to him for righteousness. Abraham did not receive the promises, including the promise of salvation, by works. What the apostle Paul means by "works" will be made plain later.
Abraham did not earn salvation -- or the promises! They were given to him by God!
Does this mean, therefore, that Abraham did not have to obey God? Does it mean, more
importantly, that we do not have to obey God today?
Turn to the book of James. Let's notice what the apostle James tells us about faithful
Abraham. James relates, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" (James 2:21).
Wait a minute! Doesn't that sound like a contradiction? Let's read on: "Seest thou how
faith" -- now he mentions "faith" -- "wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" (Verse 22).
James shows us that faith works together with works! This is no
contradiction!
He continues: "And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it
was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:23-24). "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" (verse 26).
Abraham did not "earn" the promises. And no Christian can ever "earn" salvation! No
one can ever "earn" salvation! It is not something which we receive as a result of all our deeds and works. Yet most people believe their faith earns them salvation! It isn't your faith that gives
you eternal life.alone," wrote James (verse 17). How clear! Faith and works, said James under inspiration, go hand-in-hand!
God tested Abraham's faith by his obedience -- his works. Abraham met the test without
flinching and dauntless courage. After showing God his willingness to obey, even if it required
the life of his own son, Isaac, God confirmed the promises He had made to Abraham. Why?
"Because that thou hast obeyed my voice" (Gen.22:18).
Abraham not only had faith in God -- but by faith he OBEYED his Creator! His faith
went hand in hand with obedience! God later told Isaac why Abraham was blessed: "Because
that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my
laws" (Gen.26:5).
How plain! God's spiritual Law was in force in the days of Abraham -- long, long before
Moses!
Abraham obeyed God. That's what your Bible says! By faith he accepted Gods
promises -- as a gift. God did not owe Abraham the promises. He gave the promises to him
because Abraham was willing to obey! Abraham did not "earn" them by his works!
Nevertheless, unless he had demonstrated his willingness to obey God, through his works, he
would not have had the promises given him.
But the fact that Abraham's obedience was involved did not earn him salvation!
The promises came freely through God�s grace, �not of works, lest any man should
boast" through God's grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). But works were involved. Does this sound
contradictory? Christ's faith in us is a gift. We do not receive it because of all our works. All
one's good deeds cannot save anyone. God gives it because of His merciful pardon and grace --
not because of works at all! James said, "Faith without works is dead, being alone." God's
grace alone, by itself, will not save us, since God will not give His grace to a person who refuses
to obey, who rebels against Him. Do we get the point?
Grace is simply free, undeserved, unmerited, pardon or forgiveness. God gives us grace
when He forgives us our sins. But unless we are willing to obey God, and stop sinning, we will
lose that forgiveness or grace.
But the fact that Abraham's obedience was involved did not earn him salvation! Read the
very next verse: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which
God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).
LOL. Isn't it cute how lagalists always use this same false accusations against those who believe otherwise? I am just curious, and this is a serious question, do any of y'all really believe this?
See, I honestly don't see how anyone who knows God could ever willfully do something that you know would hurt Him. Actually, quite the opposite. I have seen lifetime convicted felons on their knees in the middle of 62 other men, crying their eyes out and begging God to forgive them for some terrible things. I have seen women who have spent their lives in prostitution changed in an instant, and none of them ever even dreamed of going back.
So how is it we can have people like this, knowing God for the very first time, who would never even consider something as horrible as you describe, staying true, but on the other side (your example) we have Christians of maturity breaking all the rules they can just for the sake of disobedience.
I am sorry, but I just cannot see that. I don't believe it could happen.
To me the Bible seems clear, either live by the whole law, or by grace. You have to choose. Moses or Jesus.
I am sorry brother that you can't see it but does that make me better than you or vise versa? No simply because your mind hasn't been opened to these truths so don't call me a legalist because you can't see or believe That is not being fair or showing brotherly love!
I am sorry, brother. I wasn't tryin to offend you. I really do want to understand. I have seen many conversions, but never once did any of them take their freedom as a license to sin. I have never even heard of anyone doing so. I hear the warnings from people, usually from people not involved in ministry, but don't even know nyone who has actually witnessed it. And believe me, I know plenty of ministers.
What James was talking about with the faith and works is really simple, and it fits with Paul's teachings if you understand it. He was telling us how to tell if we were indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Faith being one of the gifts, he was saying that true faith makes you want to act to make up for your past. Or to please God. If you are going out working because the bible says to, you might as well not bother. That is you doing it, not the Spirit.
Anyway, sorry to upset you, I was just trying to understand.
The answer is in understanding, probably the most misunderstood topic in the bible, it is the to me the most important topic, the topic of faith. Faith for the christian and instruction for life and all that Jesus done for us will be found in the epistles.
Simchat Torah is the celebration of the ending of the annual reading of Torah. Simchat Torah means �Rejoicing with the Torah." It also marks a new beginning of reading the Torah for the next year. Simchat Torah is celebrated immediately after Sukkot. On this special day, Jews around the world celebrate the giving of Gods instructions by dancing with a Torah scroll. The Torah scroll contains all of the books of Moses.
I have celebrated this holiday in a Jewish synagogue. I have danced with a Torah scroll myself. The Jews celebrate their Torah by dancing with it. Does Torah sound like a burden? It is given to us by Grace!
Faith withOUTworks is dead -- a dead, useless faith. There are works
involved! But these works, of themselves, do not earn us salvation -- they merely demonstrate our willingness to obey Him and be submissive and obedient to His government!
God will not give salvation to any soul that He cannot govern! Before God will give us
His promises, we must prove our willingness to obey Him, even as Abraham did, to the very end! There are conditions involved.
These conditions involve repentance, faith, surrender and submission to God -- as well as
the condition of obedience to His authority!
But these conditions do not earn salvation. They are the conditions God sets in order that
He can give you eternal life.
Could This Be You?
This illustration should help you understand!
You are sitting on murderer's row. You have just killed a man. Lonely, miserable, full of
fear and terror, you wait the telltale footsteps clinking down the corridor of the prison, beckoning you to your fate.
The jury found you guilty of murder in the first degree. The stone-faced judge sentenced
you to DEATH. Droplets of cold sweat break out on your forehead. You shiver with fright and dreadful anticipation.
Then, as these thoughts race through your mind, you notice footsteps. Soon a key turns
in the lock of your cell door. A voice booms, "Come with me." Depressed, hopeless, you follow the guard down the hall, appalled at the sinful deed you committed. A door opens ahead of you,
and suddenly you find yourself standing face to face with the warden of the prison. Fear grips you.Then a voice calmly says, "You are free to go. Your crime has been pardoned by the governor.
You stagger back. You can hardly believe 'it -- free -- Free! In a state of shock, you can
hardly grasp what is happening. Free! "Free to go!" You have been given a new lease on life!Sound like a strange tale? It has happened in the past. But why do I mention it?
Because you, in God's sight, we were just like this murderer. You were in sin, and the
death penalty was waiting irrevocably for you (Romans 6.23). You were doomed! But Christ set you free by paying your penalty in your stead!
Now is the released murderer free to go out and break the law? Is he free to murder
someone else? Does the gift of life give him license to kill? Of course not! Such a thought is preposterous!
The murderer received pardon. Grace. If he murders again, he will go back to prison!
Even so, when a sinner repents, and accepts the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as atonement for
his sins, he comes under the grace of God. His past sins are forgiven. The death penalty for sin no longer hangs over his head.
Does this mean he can now disobey God? Does this mean he is free to do whatever he
wishes? Obviously not!
The grace of God, and faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ to atone for your sins, must
be accompanied by law-abiding works! If you willfully turn again to the way of sin, knowingly willfully rejecting God's way, there remains no more sacrifice for your sins, and you will incur the death
penalty once again -- this time, without any escape! (Hebrews 10:26; II Peter 2:21.) That's what your Bible says!
Salvation is a GIFT! But it is predicated on certain conditions! A sinner cannot earn
salvation -- for he is already condemned. But through repentance, and the grace of God, he can
receive it as a gift. He must, however, meet the twin conditions of faith and obedience, even as faithful Abraham did, setting us an example!
I think your post was excellent with well made points. I just think some have a different "interpretation" of "works" and take it literally of having to "do something" to earn a way into grace which is not what you are saying (if I interpret your post correctly) ?
My interpretation of your quoted scriptures is that you must "work" your faith. After the disciples were freaked out by seeing someone walking on the water and then discovered it was the Lord, Peter asked if he could do it and Jesus said sure thing. So Peter jumps in and starts walking on the water (he starts "working" his faith) but as soon as he becomes distracted with the sea etc (stops "working" his faith) he starts sinking. Peter was still "saved by grace" from drowning but I bet he never forgot the greater reward of "working faith" .
Abraham "worked" his faith. He loaded the sticks for the fire and travelled up that hill with Isaac. Noah "worked his faith" by building an ark while others laughed. The reason for the "works" may be unseen - faith.
GRACE baby! THANK God for his AMAZING grace, by which we are saved - for it is the gift of GOD, NOT by works, so that NO man can boast.
If you choose to live under law, then you had better be able to keep the WHOLE thing, or else you will be damned by your own choice...if you choose to LIVE by grace, GOD will save you, obliterate your sins and FREE you to spread the GOOD news of His Grace.
