Lawless Saints?
“Circumcision is nothing, and
uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the
keeping of the commandments of God” (1 Cor 7:19, NASB).
Paul couldn’t be clearer. There is a distinction between God’s moral law and the Jewish ceremonial law.
“Do we then overthrow [make void]
the law by this faith? By no means!
On the contrary, we uphold the law” (Rom
3:31, ESV).
If you believe that God’s Law has been done away with, you
have swallowed heresy,
For such is the craziest notion to enter the Christian Church,
tragically.
Not only is it a nonsensical notion, but a very dangerous one,
A notion that’s contrary to Scripture, most offensive to the Father and
Son.
“Whoever says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments is a liar,
and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4, ESV).
Imagine any government without its laws, or a lawless humanity,
A planet of fallen beings without some kind of moral code, clear cut
boundary.
Wow! There would just be chaos, and given that Christians also
act rebelliously
Laws and moral codes are clearly essential, and God’s Holy Law
especially.
Hence why the Father sent His Son, for how could He abolish
the Ten Commandment Law?
A law that points out sin, and shows us how to behave — a law we
shouldn’t ignore.
Quite the contrary, Paul warns us, for Christians are hardly to
continue in sin,
Willingly, that is, which we won’t if we’re genuine, and if the
Spirit’s within.
Oh, by the way, we’re not talking perfection, as we’ll always
fall short of the mark,
And that’s exactly why we’re saved by grace alone, when on the
Christian walk we embark.
God knows our best will never be good enough, that we’re sinners by
nature, sadly,
And that grace is therefore the only method by which we’ll receive
eternity.
That is, if we’re truly repentant, and if our life’s in
harmony with God’s will,
For Scripture makes it clear that the saved ones are only those who His
wishes fulfill.
Not those who take license with His grace, thus effectively slapping
Him in the face,
For why would God save such abusers, users, who Christianity thus
disgrace?
“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer
remains a sacrifice for sins [God’s grace is made void], but [rather] a
fearful expectation
of judgment [unless we repent]...” (Heb 10:26,27, ESV).
It’s really very logical, as sense says it couldn’t be any
other way,
For why would God’s gift of grace cover sin as well as sinners, at the
end of the day?
Hence why when we sin we need to ask God’s forgiveness, with
contriteness deep within,
Not think that we can get away with it, for we won’t — not if it’s conscious
sin.
No, grace isn’t a once accepted, always covered, sinner’s
insurance policy,
That’s just Satan’s attempt to lull Christians into a false sense of
security.
And as a consequence, to have them continuing to willfully sin, sadly,
Whereby, they’ll forfeit eternal life, and meantime, propagate error,
witness badly.
One can hardly sin where there’s no law, hence why Satan wants
us to think God’s Law has gone,
And there’re those who’re happy to embrace such, and sinfully as before
carry on.
But in doing so, they ignore the words and actions of the apostles,
clearly,
For after the cross, the apostles still upheld and kept God’s Law
unswervingly.
Satan, we’re told, has been sinning since the beginning —
therefore, law has always been,
And given that Adam and Eve sinned, they too, must have had a law to
contravene.
And likewise, we too, for sin can’t go unchecked, (neither before or
after the cross),
Thus, should we foolishly continue to willingly sin, it could be to our
loss.
God’s Law, arranged and expressed to meet humans in their
fallen condition, (clearly),
Was handed down from father to son, and reiterated at Sinai awesomely.
That reiteration and the tablets of stone wouldn’t have been necessary
Had the descendants of Abraham never been seduced by idolatry.
The Israelites, who’d been enslaved, had forgotten much of
what had been known previously,
Thus, God sought to impress upon them the importance of His law very
strongly.
And what a solemn scene it must have been, one that God didn’t intend
they forget,
For there at the base of Mount Sinai — thunder, lightening, smoke and
fire — they tremblingly met.
God wrote on those tablets Himself, and to those gathered,
conveyed His Law directly;
Instructing that it be placed inside the Ark of the Covenant — it being
Holy.
The Ceremonial law, however, was placed beside the Ark, less
prestigiously,
A law God just conveyed to Moses, who wrote it down to be followed
explicitly.
The Jews were simply the guardians of
God’s Law, which was intended for all mankind,
A law that Christ came to magnify, clarify, reaffirm, hardly leave
behind.
It would be easier for Heaven and earth to pass away than this law, He
said,
And that He hadn’t come to abolish it, BUT, to fill it full of meaning
instead.
Oh, how significant a BUT is.
“ ‘But it is easier for heaven and
earth to pass away, than for one stroke of a
letter in the law to be dropped’ ” (Luke 16:17).
Paul delighted in this law, and James refers to it as the Law
of Liberty,
For it’s far from a law that restricts, but rather, spares one trouble
and misery.
But not so those ancient Jews with their legalistic attitude towards
God’s Law,
Who foolishly thought that law-keeping could secure their salvation, a
fatal flaw.
No, no one can be saved via keeping God’s Law, no one ever has
been, nor can be,
For salvation comes via grace alone, such being God’s gift to fallen
humanity.
Those before the cross, looked toward the cross, and we, look back to
the cross, trustingly,
And out of gratitude, and in order to witness, obey God’s Law willingly.
Though we’re saved by grace, we’re hardly exempted from
keeping God’s Law, and understandably,
For God desires that we walk obediently, dutifully, not rebelliously.
He wants us to leave our old habits behind, and to become a “new
creation;”
In other words, more like Him in thought, word and deed — a
process called sanctification.
“You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:22-24).
And those who’re genuine, do want to be
like Him, and therefore, act accordingly,
Empowered via the Holy Spirit’s working, their fruitage soon bearing
testimony.
But not so the uncommitted Christian, those who’re lukewarm, Laodicean,
worldly,
And who God’s grace thereby void, for God’s no fool — He doesn’t reward
hypocrisy.
Too often, folk make Scripture say what they want it to say,
not what they need to hear,
Hence God’s warnings, signs of the times, that hopefully instill a
little healthy fear.
Otherwise, many will be lost whilst thinking they’re saved, having
embraced heresy,
For God hasn’t abolished His Law, but repeatedly says walk obediently.
“To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom 8:6-8).
So where Scripture implies God’s Law has been abolished, what
does it mean, (you ask me)?
It means abolished as a way of salvation, not that it used to be so,
clearly.
Such refers to all who would attempt to use God’s Law to secure
eternity,
Deluded as much as those who seem to think obedience isn’t necessary.
If our child damaged our car, I’m sure that we as loving
parents would extend grace,
But does that mean our child’s at liberty to damage our car again, pull
a face?
So why would we think that we can walk all over God’s Law, simply
because of His grace,
And thereby take advantage of His graciousness, whilst sin we continue
to chase?
And would we let our child modify our car to suit them self,
alter it in some way?
Hardly! So why would we play with God and His Law by behaving
rebelliously?
His Law is there with good reason — for His glory and the good of
humanity;
Yes, love and law combining, as those who truly love God walk
obediently.
When prisoners are pardoned and released, does their freedom
allow them to break the law?
No! And nor does being pardoned and released via God’s grace mean we
can act just like before.
Hence why God wants His Law put in our mind and written on our heart —
where it should be,
For it’s the product of His love and concern, a divine protective
boundary.
Let’s continue...
Scripture shows that Abraham and the Israelites kept God’s Law
before Mount Sinai,
Thus, Mount Sinai was hardly where God’s Law originated, let me clarify.
And given the apostles kept it post-Calvary, it clearly wasn’t voided
by Jesus,
Which means that any abrogation of God’s Law points beyond — and at who
of us?
John, writing apocalyptically, talks about the endurance of
the saints,
And a picture of their faithfulness to God’s Law — midst an End-time
scene — duly paints.
Such clearly shows that our Saviour never brought an end to His Ten
Commandment Law,
A law that Christians shouldn’t disobey, a law that Christians should
never ignore.
“Here is a call for the endurance [faithfulness] of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God…” (Rev 14:12, ESV).
Yes, God’s Word couldn’t be clearer — it’s the doers,
not the hearers who’ll be justified,
Those who submit to God’s Law, not those who
willingly break it, foolishly backslide.
No, the saved are those who keep God’s Law, just
as it’s written down, and willingly so,
Knowing that even breaking one of God’s Ten
Commandments a waywardness will show.
“For whoever keeps the whole law
but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it”
(James 2:10, ESV).
God doesn’t make mistakes! His Law is perfect, His Word
conveys — Holy, just and good,
A law that genuine Christians willingly keep, not adhere to just
because they should.
But having said that though, we should keep God’s
Law, for it’s a law that makes so much sense,
One that we’re judged by, by the way, for our God cannot wink at
disobedience.
“So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty” (James 2:12, ESV).
His Law is the standard of conduct we’re to live up to, for
faith without works is dead,
Plus, we’re His ambassadors, witnesses, who lawlessness and rebellion
have shed.
Well, hopefully so — otherwise, we’re no better than the world, and
just as lost too,
As Heaven’s for those who’ve changed direction, not those who the ways
of the world still pursue,
No, we can’t have it both ways, something that the Israelites
discovered to their cost,
And as a consequence, their privileged status, and all that came with
it, sadly lost.
And it appears that we aren’t any better — we, meaning, those
Christians who’re guilty,
Those Christians who dismiss, corrupt, or misuse God’s Law — just
repeating history.
“ ‘Not everyone who says to Me,
‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who
does the will of my Father who is in heaven [keeps the Ten Commandments]’ ”
(Matt 7:21, ESV).
By Lance Landall
Here’s the key: In the context of salvation (Justification –
right standing before God), law keeping is of no avail, but in the
context of Christian conduct (Sanctification – right living before
God), God’s law has value and validity.
Note explanatory diagram that's at the bottom of this page.
Where Grace Just Becomes A Joke
Did God provide grace so that we could sin our way to Heaven, take His name in vain, and discard His moral Law?
Did God provide grace so that we could swear, lie, cheat and steal our way to Heaven, and while here, worldly things adore?
Did God provide grace so that we could meander in to Heaven, get there any old way, actually,
Or to put it another way: Did God provide grace so that we could get away with murder, effectively?
Let me rephrase that:
Did God provide grace so that we could ignore obedience and still be saved, plus treat Him disrespectfully?
Did God provide grace so that we could still indulge in lustfulness, porn, promiscuity and adultery?
Did God provide grace so that no matter what we believed or practiced we’d still be saved, receive eternity,
Or to put it another way: Did God provide grace so that we could have a foot in both camps quite happily?
Okay, let me put all this another way:
Have those who’ve accepted God’s gift of grace become more like Him in every way, they having surrendered fully?
Have they turned their back on worldliness in favour of the heavenly, and thereby are witnessing correctly?
Are they more attuned and receptive to the Spirit’s promptings, and thereby far more in harmony with God’s will?
And more often engrossed in His Word, that they may far better understand it, and thus His requirements fulfil?
Can you see what I’m getting at?
If acceptance of God’s grace hasn’t seen us become more like Him in everyway, and willingly, by the way,
Then what did we accept His grace for? Some selfish way out? Weren’t we truly repentant? Still wanting to disobey?
Well, what else could it be, for surely those who’re truly grateful for what Christ did on Calvary, will respond in kind?
That is, sacrificially too, giving up their old ways, dying to self, due to having a changed heart and mind.
Yes, they walking obediently, conforming to God’s wishes-cum-Law, such showing us the way in which to walk,
For God never said that Heaven was for willing sinners, but those who show they’re genuine by walking the talk.
Otherwise, Christians would be exempted from rebelliousness, which the Bible makes clear they aren’t, and rightly so,
For why would God reward a form of religion — a sham, a charade — a walk that true repentance doesn't show.
Such is where grace just becomes a joke — in other words, an excuse to just carry on sinning, effectively,
Which given our sad fallen nature — and if grace did cover wilful sin — would be clutched at more than readily.
Which, by the way, God clearly knows, and hence those warnings in His Word, and why we should fall at His feet every day,
Aware that the acceptance of God’s grace is simply the beginning, the cross thus pointing to a better way.
Hence why “Walk ye in it” we’re told, the Spirit enabling, and we becoming more and more sanctified each day,
For God wants that change to begin now, we not waiting until His coming, whilst meantime we rebelliously play,
No, to continue to willingly sin while we wait, is to assuredly seal our fate, for lost we will be,
Given God never gave us some licence to sin when He selflessly died because of our sins at Calvary.
Yes, God’s grace is a robe, not a blanket, nightcap, or mask.
By Lance Landall
“Do we then overthrow [make void]
the law by this faith? By no means!
On the contrary, we uphold the law” (Rom
3:31, ESV).
“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer
remains a sacrifice for sins [God’s grace is made void], but [rather] a
fearful expectation
of judgment [unless we repent]...” (Heb 10:26,27, ESV).
It's All Or None
As far as God’s Commandments go, we either keep the lot and exactly as laid down, or we ignore them,
And one thing that’s clear is, that those who don’t keep them, and as laid down, both God and the Scriptures strongly condemn.
Either God’s Ten Commandments still apply, or they don’t, and if they do, (which the Scriptures certainly convey),
Then they’re a complete package — in other words, each one of them still valid, and still to be kept faithfully.
But hey, who could honestly think they’ve been done away with, are no longer the standard of Christian conduct,
Or just a casual grouping from which any one of them can be discarded or selectively plucked,
Or for that matter, be treated differently in some way to their Author’s original intention?
Which, once again, going by the Scriptures, would not only be an insult but a clear-cut contravention.
Yes...
There’s nothing ceremonial about these Ten Commandments, and neither are they Jewish or outdated,
Hence why all throughout the New Testament their place and importance is repeated and accentuated.
After all, is it okay to misuse God’s name now, to lie, steal, covet, murder, commit adultery?
And please don’t tell me that that seventh-day Sabbath has no purpose anymore, as it does, actually.
That very Commandment is the only one that points out the Author of the Ten, and points to creation —
In other words, that declares who made this Earth, and why God’s worthy of time-cum-worship-cum-adoration.
Yes, an ever flying flag — a memorial, in fact, which God wants kept intact — for such shows loyalty,
As does keeping the whole ten, for to break one is to violate the lot, all being linked and in harmony.
By Lance Landall
Note: Collier's Encyclopedia — Saturday, seventh day of the week.
“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it”
(James 2:10, ESV).
“Whoever says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments is a liar,
and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4, ESV).
“Here is a call for the endurance
[faithfulness] of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God…”
(Rev 14:12, ESV).
Yours Sincerely, Apostle Paul
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, there appears to be some confusion amongst you regarding God’s Law,
Such saddening me, even frustrating me, given that I spent time with you explaining it all before.
And shouldn’t I know? — for I was schooled at the feet of our Lord and Saviour himself, I who am big on grace,
And who despite grace, have clearly told you that God’s Law hasn’t been made void by His grace, but still has its place.
Yes, on the contrary, I’ve said, we establish God’s Law — in fact, I told you that I delight in God’s Law —
And here you are seemingly confused! Haven’t my fellow apostles confirmed such too, and them you ignore?
So who have you been listening to then? Deluded saints? Various false teachers? Have you got itchy ears?
Are you ever hearing but never learning, perhaps more attuned to those falsehoods that Satan engineers?
So let me repeat: We’re to still uphold God’s Law, for without it, who would know sin? And hence why I’ve told you
To put away your former way of life, your old self, and not that same lusting after the flesh pursue,
And that those who don’t submit to God’s Law, can’t please Him, but only those who keep His Commandments, the whole ten,
They being true followers of Christ, as opposed to those who’re more followers of tradition-cum-foolish men.
And if anyone’s familiar with such, it’s me, for I was once a zealot, a hard out Pharisee,
Thus, I’d spot legalism instantly, and can assure you that keeping God’s Law isn’t such, believe me.
And besides, try showing me one thing that’s wrong with God’s Ten Commandments — so why wouldn’t one want to keep them?
And hence why those who don’t — the Scriptures, God himself, and I too, with my fellow apostles — strongly condemn.
Even Abraham keep God’s Law, though saved by faith — or to put it another way, grace — for though saved by grace,
God’s Law is the standard of Christian conduct which we’re judged by, as faith without works is truly a disgrace,
And why only those who willingly adhere to God’s will — Law — receive eternal life, and fair enough too,
For why should deliberate lawbreakers be rewarded, other than with eternal death, they not true-blue.
But it’s not as if you didn’t know this. Are you still babes then, seemingly requiring to be bottle fed,
Still being blown about by every wind of doctrine, or just making excuses for sin, despite what I’ve said?
Because if you are, you’re on perilous ground, for grace doesn't cover sin but contrite sinners, believe me,
Otherwise one could accept God’s grace and still get away with anything, which would simply mock Calvary.
Listen, that’s why God said, (found in the book of John), “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments,” so tell me,
How much clearer do you want it? — and if you do, turn to the book of Hebrews, chapter ten, actually,
For there it states that those who willingly continue to sin, void Christ’s sacrifice, unless they repent, and
Mend their ways, empowered by the Spirit, for those who think that God waves some magic wand, just don't understand.
Sure it’s only God who can bring about such change, but not without us playing our part, and that, willingly,
For surely you don’t think that God wants us to do nothing when He’s stated His desires very clearly?
Hence why when we arise each day, we should consciously, willingly and receptively seek to do His will,
For only in those who do their very best to try and keep His Law, can the Spirit truly dwell.
Now lest you still think I’m into works, (and why, I wouldn't know), one’s salvation is all about grace, grace alone,
However, those who aren’t into obedience, are hardly into heavenly ways, but ways of their own.
Hence why they like the idea of God’s Law having been done away with, but God said no such thing, and instead,
Told us to walk obediently, not wait for some magic wand, thus treating grace like some nightcap and bed...
And to our end, ultimately.
Christ has only said that apart from Him we can do nothing, and never that we’re to do nothing, you see,
However, what we do, (in His power), we don’t do to gain salvation, but to witness more correctly.
After all, we’re His ambassadors, hence “You will know them by their fruits” He has said, for how else could it be,
Given that the alternative is nothing but rebelliousness, laziness, and outright hypocrisy?
Yours sincerely, apostle Paul.
By Lance Landall
You may also like to read my
poems "God's
Gift of Grace", "Balancing
Grace", and "Grace and
Obedience".
