Was Peter law-conscious ?

Was Peter law-conscious ? You bet. He was so law-conscious that he dare not eat the food which came to him in a vision:

Act 10:9-16 KJV  On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:  (10)  And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,  (11)  And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:  (12)  Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.  (13)  And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.  (14)  But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.  (15)  And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.  (16)  This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Was he thinking of God's laws and commandments during his encounter above? Yes, you bet. Was he under the law? No, he had already believed Jesus and received the Holy Spirit; if he was still under the law, he would not be saved. Did he receive the curse of the law by thinking of God's law during his encounter above? Of course not. If he received the curse of the law, he would not be our Apostle; we would not read and include his letters as part of our New Testament Bible.

1. You won't be under the law by just thinking about the law ..

any more than a person who ate a Macdonald burger and became burger, unless you take drastic steps, for example, to jump into the meat grinder or burger machine and .. ! Similarly, you won't be under the law if you are a Gentile, unless you take radical steps, for example, to circumcise yourselves, observe Sabbath strictly, go to the high priest to offer your sacrifice, and subject yourselves to all kinds of the law requirements to cleanse your sins.
If most of us are not under the law, why are we hearing so much preaching of 'radical grace' which would only argue against the law, the Jewish law, or the ten commandments? Why must we make people think that we have followed the law like the Jews when we are Gentiles. Even if we were Jews like Peter, we won't be under the law so easily. The Jews were under the law because they boasted that they were under the law and were so righteous that they would not repent. But unlike the Jews, Peter and all of us repented.
Luk 3:8 KJV  Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Joh 8:33-39 KJV (33) They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?..(34) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin...  (37) I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. ..(39) They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. (From the conversation above, we know that the Jews refused to admit that they had sins or that they were sinners but Jesus told them bluntly that they were all servants of sin as long as they still sinned)

2. Hence, the root problem of men, for the Jews and Gentiles alike, is not the law; but sin
Jesus showed us that the root problem of the Jews was not the law, it was their self-righteous belief in Abraham and in the law that had blinded them from rightly dealing with the root problem of their sins and lawlessness. However, the root problem of the Gentiles today is not the law; it is still sin too. The Bible tells us clearly that the root problem for all men, both the Jews and Gentiles alike, is that we are all under sin. Radical grace preachers will argue, "Can you show us the Bible verses? Why can't we just say that the root problem of men is condemnation, fear, or unbelief ?"
Rom 3:9-10 KJV  What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;  (10)  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 7:14 KJV  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Hence, if we just preach against the law and stop there, we still have not preached against the root problem of men. The root problem of men, for the Jews and Gentiles alike, is not the law; it is sins and lawlessness. Hence, the full gospel is to preach, how God will deliver men from their sins and lawlessness through the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the need to repent. However,

1. if we just want to preach ignorance, fear, and rejection of all God's laws, all commandments, and doctrine, we are not preaching the gospel, we are preaching rebellion, lawlessness, and blindness like the 'anti'-nomians.
2. if we preach that the root problem of men is just condemnation, fear, or unbelief, with the intention to avoid any mention of sins, we could have preached like the Pharisees who would justify themselves and refuse to deal with their sins or admit sins. We would be preaching like the 'anti'-repentance preachers.

3. You won't receive the curse of the law by just thinking about any law

Radical grace preachers will argue, "Ok, Peter may not receive the curse of the law but he was not greatly blessed, highly favoured, and deeply loved like his brethren John. That's why we was crucified upside down. I will tell them, If your exaggerated theory is right, why did Paul who was the most grace conscious person on earth get beheaded ? Hence, I would challenge all the radical grace preachers to change their minds. Not all kinds of law-consciousness is the law-consciousness that Paul preached against. It does not mean that, when you are law-conscious or just think of the old law, the country's law, the mercantile law, the company law, or the goods of sales act, .. etc, you are under the law. If we become so 'radical grace conscious' that we become suspicious of everyone who teach rules, principles, laws, or commandments, we would become more paranoid or religious than the Pharisees. We would be under another kind of bondage which may be worst than law-consciousness - The bondage of lawlessness (which has been set up by Satan to challenge against all the laws and commandments of God since he rebelled against God). I will explain what is law-consciousness which will not save if the Lord permits next time. 

4. Are we working for our own righteousness?

Rom 4:5 KJV  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Radical grace preachers will argue, "Did you read the Bible verse above ? That's why we believe only. When we believe on Him, we would be justified even if we are the ungodly who still sin and do not really repent".

I will ask them, When you are so 'radical grace conscious' that you do not want to think of any repentance or obedience to God's commandments, will you become more righteous than others? I am doubtful. Please do not be deceived. The Bible tells us that those who worked for their own righteousness were the Jews and Pharisees who disobeyed God and justified themselves with their laws and self-righteousness. They would abuse God's laws, God's covenant, blood sacrifice, or God's grace and sin wilfully thinking that they would be justified as long as they offered the blood sacrifice once a year without any repentance of their hearts:

Heb 10:26-29 KJV  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  (27)  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  (28)  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  (29)  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

5. The Old Covenant was corrupted by the false prophets or Pharisees who preached hypocritically

Please think why would the people of Nineveh put on sackcloth when they repented?
Jon 3:6-10 KJV  For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. .. (8)  But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands...
Putting on the sackcloth could be just a common way to express their seriousness, regrets, sorrows, or repentance at that time. But please think, will it make sense to put on the sackcloth without any of these feelings but with dancing and celebration ? Of course not. However, there are preachers who preach repentance as just giving thanks to God and celebration of God's goodness and prosperity. I will tell them, This is not true repentance; this is Pharisee way of repentance (Luke 18:11-12). True repentance will involve the realisation of their serious crimes, mistakes, and sins, and their determination to turn away from sins. It should be the same thinking when we partake the Holy Communion to remember how much it cost the Son of God to die for our sins. Similarly, when God established His covenant with the Israelites through Moses, He set up the law of sacrifice and circumcision as His peculiar way for them to express their seriousness, regrets, sorrows, or repentance too. Whenever they offer blood sacrifice for their sins, it would remind them that it was so costly or serious that animals lives were sacrificed. But when the covenant was passed down to the Pharisees, it became an unholy thing or abomination in the sight of God because it became their practice and excuse for more sins and  more prosperity gain for themselves (Please read about their 'Corban' laws in Mark 7:11).
Mal 2:8 KJV  But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. .. (17) Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? 
Mal 3:1-18 KJV Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. .. (7) Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. ..  (8)  Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.  (9)  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation ... (13) Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?  (14)  Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?  (15)  And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.  (16)  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.  (17)  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.  (18)  Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

6. The New Covenant can be corrupted by any preachers who preached like the Pharisees too
Please think, If the old covenant has become so distorted and ineffective that God had to give them another covenant, do you think that God would allow the preachers today to preach it like the Pharisees? No. If we sin wilfully or preach it like the Pharisee, we would "hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace - Heb 10:29"  too !
Radical grace preachers would argue, "How could it be possible if Jesus' blood is so powerful that we can never think of abusing His grace .. We would never abuse God's grace .. Even if we did sin or abuse it, His blood is so powerful that we are still forgiven .. " I will tell them, Whenever you sin wilfully or do not teach people to think how costly or seriously the blood of the covenant has been shed for us, you 'hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing'. Hence, what's point if you prosper so much with 'radical grace' and still could not understand the teaching of the Lord and the importance of repentance in the New Covenant ? If we must preach 'radical grace' or false doctrine without any repentance to become famous and wealthy, we are not truly rich:
Rev 3:17-22 KJV  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  (18)  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  (19)  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  (20)  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  (21)  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.  (22)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
I will ask the radical grace preachers, Do you know why God has abolished the Old Covenant which had the law requirement of circumcision and animal blood sacrifice? Yes, we know that it was abolished as prophesied and planned according to His word; it is also because

1. He was thinking of extending His covenant to the Gentiles who may find circumcision a difficult thing
2. He was making it easy for all the people so that the Pharisees and the false prophets could not take advantage of the religious requirement to oppress the people more and profit themselves 

Now, if God is willing to do the above to help the people by sacrificing His only Son, do you think He can make it even easier for the people, for example, to do nothing (without any need to repent, to believe, or to obey Him)? You bet. But if He would forgive everybody even if they don't do anything, don't repent, don't believe, don't obey, or don't worship Him, He could have created everybody as robots, animals, or trash !

7. We would never think that God's commandments are 'locked up' in a box

That's why I am now scratching my head and think, How on earth the radical grace preachers can convince all their followers that all forms of laws including God's commandments and the ten commandments can bring the curses of the law? If God's commandments can bring the curse, Moses should have chucked the commandments into a pit. Why would he bother to put them into the ark of covenant ? Radical grace preachers would argue again, "Didn't you know that God had instructed Moses to build a 'box' to lock up the ten commandments? It's because the ten commandments can kill. It must be covered by the mercy seat and the blood of sacrifice..." I will ask them, Who told you all these? Your dream or your Bible? If the commandments would always kill, God would never give them in the first place. Please think, Will you give your child a gun if you know that it will always kill ? No, you would never flash it out for a second in front of your child. Instead you would hide it somewhere else safely without showing it at all. The fact that God had given His laws and commandments to Moses so that they would read them and obey them would show that God's commandments don't kill; they give life.
Exo 25:21-22 KJV  And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.  (22)  And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

8. God did not judge the Israelites because they wanted more laws but because they disobeyed God's laws

The commandments are known as some kind of mark which would set them aside as God's peculiar people. When the people of the other nations saw that the God of Israelites was the God who gave Israelites the commandments, they would know that the Israelites had worshipped the true God of the universe.

Exo 19:5-8 KJV  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:  (6)  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.  (7)  And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.  (8)  And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

Having read the above, I will ask the radical grace preachers, Did God give the law to them before they answered and said, "All that the Lord spoken we will do", or after they had boasted about it as preached by the radical grace preachers? No, I would disagree with the radical grace preachers. I would say:

1. God gave the Israelites the law before they answered and said "All that the Lord spoken we will do"
2. The Israelites did not boast that they wanted to have more laws. They said they would obey but they rebelled instead. Hence, God judged them not because they boasted about God's laws or because they would obey God's laws but because they rebelled against God in the end.    

Hence, the thing which really killed them was their disobedience and rebellion against God. They chose to worship the golden calf, disobey the very first law which was long before the giving of the ten commandments, and sin against God. That first law was still the very first law in the ten commandments when Moses came down with the laws. That's why Moses was so 'mad' with them that he made them drink from golden powder of their golden calf - probably a sign to remind them that they would drink the wrath of God if they would worship the golden calf again:

Exo 32:19-20 KJV  And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.  (20)  And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

9. God used His commandments to set His people aside for Himself 

They will still argue, "But do we still have to do any laws or covenant to remain in the good book of God ..." I will tell them, You bet. Your question is like asking, "Do we need to obey God to be in the book of God ?" Can you answer it yourselves? Can you OBEY God without obeying any law? If God has no more law for us, there is no more requirement for obedience. Can it be possible? You may argue that you don't have to obey any law to get saved and to be in the book of life, and that you are saved solely by obeying Christ. I will ask, Yes, you are no more in the Old Covenant but are you under the New Covenant ? If you are still in a covenant, you would still have the new covenant laws to obey. You would obey the new covenant laws better because of the Spirit of Christ:
Heb 8:8-10 KJV  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:  (9)  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.  (10)  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Churches, Please think, Why do we still keep God's commandments? Why did Jesus tell the devil that it is written .. , it is written .. , it is written .. in Matt 4:4-11 ? It is because the devil had kept telling man and probably the Lord that there was no more law, no more commandment, and no more command from God. Hence, when Jesus said, "It is written" three times, He was telling the devil assuredly that there was law, there was commandment, and there was still God's command for man, Mat 4:4 KJV  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God... (10) .. Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Hence, how can we say that we are saved if we have no more laws in our hearts? Do you think that you are saved if you do not obey God in any covenant? No. Of course, we can say that we don't have to obey God under the old covenant, but we would still obey God under the new covenant and in Christ. When we need to obey God, it means that there is still God's law to make us into His peculiar people too. The desires of God to give us commandments to mark us as His peculiar people from others is still the same. It will never change even though His covenant may change.

Heb 8:10 KJV  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Rev 14:11-12 KJV And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (12)  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Do you notice how will God mark those who belong to Him and those who are not? Those who have the mark of the beast will not have or keep God's commandments. They may have some other similar 'rules' or 'principles' which are not God's commandments. They may be called 'Corban' commandment (Mark 7:11), oxymoron commandment, prosperity commandment, or evasive commandment. But they are all man-made philosophies or teaching which sounds good, and sounds like God's doctrine or God's commandments but they are actually 'tares' .. Have we forgotten that Satan could convert God's commandment into his own 'oxymoron commandment'?  

• God's commandment - Gen 2:16-17 KJV  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  (17)  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
• Satan's false promise - Gen 3:1-5 KJV  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?  ..  (4)  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  (5)  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 

Do we notice that God gave His commandment and warning to man in Gen 2:16-17 but Satan converted it into to his own false promise and 'no condemnation' assurance in Gen 3:1-5?  I don't know what Satan had 'preached' to Eve and cause her to think that God's commandments can be so easily converted? Can you see the same scenario in our Christianity today too ? Jesus has given us His commandment and warning but some preachers are giving us false promise or lawless assurance to lead us away from the true Jesus who has God's commandments for us?
2Co 11:2-4 KJV  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  (3)  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (4)  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
If we read the Lord's warning in Matt 25 about the virgins or the churches, everything would make sense now:
Mat 25:1-2 KJV  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  (2)  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Jesus could be telling us that half of the churches would believe in another 'Jesus' or the 'Jesus' who would give them the false promise and lawless assurance but the other half would choose to keep God's commandment and take heed to His warning. 

Mat 24:39-40 KJV  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (40)  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Luk 17:34-35 KJV  I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.  (35)  Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

You may ask, The great flood is over. There won't be another flood. What do you mean by the flood .."  I will tell them, You will have better idea if you keep reading:

Luk 17:26-27 KJV  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  (27)  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Mat 24:37-42 KJV  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (38)  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  (39)  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (40)  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (41)  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (42)  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Of course, it is not the flood of water which will destroy literally drown or destroy them; it is the 'flood of false doctrine' from the devil or Satan, the creator of all lies and oxymoron truth which would twist the word of God and carry them away in their own fantasies and lusts. Many preachers have preached it as the tsunami or some kind of supernatural flood which will destroy half of the population on earth. I will not rule out the possibility that Satan can create havocs with tsunamis but I know clearly that the 'flood' refers to 'flood of the false doctrines'. It could be anything which came out from the mouth of Satan:   
 Rev 12:15-17 KJV  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.  (16)  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.  (17)  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Many believers could have been carried away by the 'flood'. I would think that the whole Church or whole Christianity might be carried away had not God intervened and caused the earth to 'swallow up the flood'.

This is clearly a great prophecy or warning about the end time churches and 'virgins'; it is talking not about the judgement of all unbelievers or sinners in the end time. It has become so plain now. Hence, Matt 25 is not about the judgement of the world too; but it is about the judgement and separation of the churches (between the wise virgins and the foolish virgins), God's preachers (between the faithful servants and slothful servants), and the believers (between the sheep and the goats). I believe that all these will take place soon after the rapture or the first sickle as mentioned in Revelation14, whilst the sinners and non-believers will be judged very much later after the rapture and judgement of the false prophets.

1. First sickle (rapture of the churches) - Rev 14:14-16 KJV  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.  (15)  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.  (16)  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
2. Second sickle (judgement of the false prophets and believers) - Rev 14:17-20 KJV  And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.  (18)  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.  (19)  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.  (20)  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. 
3. How do we know that the accounts above will come to pass ? It's because they are the prophecies of the Lord about the separation and judgement of His churches (virgins), His preachers (servants), and His believers (sheep and goats) in Matthew 25. Do you find it purely coincidental when he told us about separation of the wheat and tares too? Mat 13:36-43 KJV  Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.  (37)  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;  (38)  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;  (39)  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.  (40)  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.  (41)  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;  (42)  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  (43)  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.  

I don't think many people will dispute that the parable of the ten virgins is a prophecy about the end time churches and we are all in the end time now. Hence, the parable of the ten virgins were about the Bride who will prepare for the coming of the Lord in the end time. The Bride is the focus; not the Jews.  
1Co 12:13 KJV  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
2Co 11:2 KJV  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Rev 21:1-2 KJV  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  (2)  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
However, I believe that the radical grace preachers would have a very different version. They would find all kinds of excuses to tell their believers that it is never for them or about any of them and that this prophecy has become obsolete. They would need to explain it in such a way because they don't believe in judgement of anyone in the churches including the judgement of any false prophets. However, their belief makes us wonder, Why can't God judge the false prophets? Are they afraid because they know that they are false prophets too? Anyway, I don't know how they will explain this parable. Meanwhile, I will say that most of us know that Jesus wants the churches to be watchful like the wise virgins. For a long while, I could not understand, Why would the virgins need oil ? How does it apply to us ?

Mat 25:3-13 KJV  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  (4)  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  (5)  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  (6)  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.  (7)  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  (8)  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.  (9)  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.  (10)  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.  (11)  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  (12)  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.  (13)  Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Now I will share what I understand. When Jesus came 'at midnight', there would be a great spiritual darkness in the darkest hours of our human history and we would not be able to 'see' very well under lawlessness. We need to 'trim' our lamps for more light to 'see' around us. It means that this great spiritual darkness or deception would blind many from seeing and following the true Jesus. Many believers would not take heed to Jesus warning, do anything to train their spirit men, check their Bible, or become sensitive to the word of God. Hence, when they became spiritually blind and knew that the Lord was about to come, they would start going to their fellow brethren for spiritual guidance or advice; it could be too late. The 'door' could be shut as many churches (the other virgins) may have shun them because of their slothful examples. 

10. Is the law of God more inferior ?

After a while, the radical grace preachers will say, "We will still insist that Peter was under the law because he was thinking about the Jewish laws. He may not be saved if he did not change his mind by rejecting his Jewish law totally. Of course, he should be saved by now because he should not be law conscious anymore after that encounter. His encounter should be a great warning for all of us who are law-conscious too .."

I will tell them, Very logical ! But if your hypothesis is true, then many disciples including all the other 11 Apostles could be in danger of being under the law too. Please think, If Peter was still under the law after he had repented and followed Christ, many Apostles could be still under the law if they had never have the same encounter like Peter's? Are you suggesting that the sinners are not saved yet, even after they have repented and believed Christ? They must verbally reject all the Jewish laws and covenant even though they do not know those laws; otherwise, they are not saved ? Did the Bible tell us that the sinners will not be saved if they are still thinking about some kinds of  laws or commandments other than the Jewish laws or the law of circumcision? Will they receive the curse of the law if they would only think of obeying their own country's laws? But my question is: If they cannot be cursed by the law of their country or the law of the Gentiles, then why thinking of the laws and commandments of God in the Bible instead will curse them ? Do you mean that all the laws and commandments of God are more inferior than the laws of the Gentiles? This is absurd. Obviously, you have to define what type of law-consciousness will bring the curse. You can't assume that all your followers will make their own assumption and know the answers. I hope that you can answer my questions too.

11. No, God's law is not inferior

I will tell them, Sorry, I can't wait for your answer; I will answer it. God's law is not inferior. When God found fault with His law it does not mean that His law is inferior. If you read carefully (see Heb 8:7-10 above), He did not find fault with His law or commandment; He found fault with His first covenant. His first covenant had 'fault' not because it is inferior or faulty but purely because it would pass away. But His laws and commandments would never pass away. Hence, how can we tell the people that His laws (or commandments) are all inferior or the same as the first covenant ? Some lawless preachers have even boasted that "there is no more law, no more commandment, and no more judgement .." for their believers. I will ask them,   Even if God's first covenant had 'fault', who are we to find fault with His covenants and all His laws? Yes, you may preach against God's first covenant and find fault therein but have you found fault with yourselves first ? Have you repented from your sins and lawlessness ? Sorry, from what you boasted and shouted to your believers, I am afraid you have been blinded by your own lawlessness.  

12. God's law can still judge in the New Covenant

Yes, we are not saved by God's laws and commandments; but we are saved to have God's laws and commandments in our hearts. So, how can we conclude that the gospel of Jesus Christ has no law and no commandment? What's wrong to preach God's law and commandment in our heart too?

I know that many radical grace preachers (or the prosperity preachers who would support them) don't like to hear about these reasoning. They will just simply say, "We don't reason or argue like this. We would only preach Jesus, we preach grace, we preach only the positive things. Too much of reasoning or questioning like this will all become arguing, murmuring, and complaining. It will not do any good.. God's preachers don't argue .. God's preachers would only speak the gooooodd things.. " 

I will ask them, If you think that this blog has too much arguments, do you know where these arguments come from ? They come from your pulpits because you have preached these radical grace arguments against God's laws, God's commandments, obedience to God's laws, warnings of sins, repentance, and doing good. You have argued so much that I can't finish writing all of them. (Please help me I want to take a break too).

Hence, it does not make sense to say that only the radical grace preachers can argue against God's law but God's law cannot judge them. If they have argued so much, they would be judged so much, by the word of God or sound doctrine. I don't think Sound doctrine means to tear down any good biblical arguments. But if the radical grace arguments can be torn down easily by anyone who can think sensibly, it would just show that the radical grace arguments are not God's doctrine. They are not pure grace; they could be purely lawless arguments or senseless arguments. No point keep patching them up with false assurance that there is no law, no judgement, and no warning against them, to deceive the people and give them the false hope ..
      

13. Was Paul law-conscious?

Was Paul law-conscious? You bet. The radical grace preachers will say, "What? How can Paul be law-conscious? He was a grace preacher..." I will tell them, Have you  read the following Bible verses from him:

Eph 6:1-3 KJV  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  (2)  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)  (3)  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
They will argue, Yes, but this does not mean that Paul was law-conscious. I will tell them, Precisely, When anyone or any preachers preach God's laws, teach about God's laws or tell others to do good that they may get good, it does not mean that they are law-conscious and under the law. For your info, when Paul taught us about God's commandments in Eph 6:1-3, he was preaching 'do good get good' too. Yes, Paul and the preachers who preach about God's commandments could be thinking about God's law or are law-conscious in one way or another, but that does not mean that they are under the law.
So, I will tell the radical grace preachers, NOT all the 'do good get good' preachers are necessarily the law preachers who preach the law or the old covenant like the Pharisees. Have you explained it to your followers properly? Did you correct them when they falsely accuse all the churches who do good as the churches who mix the law and grace ? 

14. If we do not teach our children anything, Satan will gladly take over as their 'dedicated teacher'
Radical grace preachers will argue, "Since we are not under the law, we will not need to teach any laws, any commandments, and any doctrine. We preach; we don't teach. We think that all kinds of laws, moral laws, company laws, school laws, family laws, and country laws will make people law conscious. They may cause people to go against the grace of God. Therefore the pulpit is used not to teach the laws; it is used to preach God's grace and salvation .. The traditional preachers who teach a lot moral values, doing good, and Bible values has lost the focus of the gospel. They hardly preach the name of Jesus. We are not like them. We preach Jesus, the beauty of Jesus, and the finish work of Jesus ..We don't teach the curse of the law .." 
I will tell them, Do you know that Paul taught God's laws ? Did Paul teach the curse of the law when he said: 
Eph 6:1-3 KJV  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  (2)  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)  (3)  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
If churches cannot teach our young people to do good or do God's words, then something is very wrong. Please think, If our parents cannot teach their children to do good, our society would be doomed to lawlessness too. Satan would love to see our parents pushing away all their responsibilities in the name of radical grace, effortless principles, 'do nothing' faith, 'Corban' confession (Mark 7:11), or strange religious confessions, with the hope that the Holy Spirit or Jesus Himself will teach their children everything. But very likely their children would end up thinking of vain riches and quick gains all the time, with no knowledge or capability to discern what is good and evil, and may become easy prey to many false prophets who will surely come in the name of christs (the anointed ones) or in the name of Jesus Himself. Do you know why Jesus would forewarn us about the false prophets? Don't we understand that He wants us to teach and warn our children, so that they will not become easy prey to them?
Mat 24:23-26 KJV  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ (the anointed prophet), or there; believe it not.  (24)  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets (Jesus explained it here who were those Christs), and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  (25)  Behold, I have told you before.  (26)  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

If you check the meaning of 'Christ' in the Hebrew dictionary, you would know that 'Christ' means 'the anointed'. Today we have heard many who claim or pretend that they are the anointed ones or Christs. We should know that the Lord's prophecy above has already come true with great and amazing accuracy. It has also reminded me of many preachers who would keep confessing or teach other to confess, "As He is, so are we - like Christ(s)" We are now in the end time as we will hear more and more believers telling one another, "Lo, That anointed preacher is here (or there or everywhere)..he is now in town.. he could do this and this .. and preach wondrously .." Jesus said, Believe it not !  

Heb 5:12-14 KJV  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  (13)  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  (14)  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 
Do you know why our children cannot discern what is good and evil now? That's because they drink milk all the time. But why do they drink milk? That's because, we, the parents have never taught them anything or train them to take solid food. Some of our preachers are guilty of this too. False prophets will try to convince you that you don't have to teach your children anything and that Jesus will teach your children everything. Actually they are preparing themselves to take over the minds of your children so that they can teach them all kinds of 'do nothing' principles, radical grace, effortless philosophies, lawless freedom, mysterious favours, or lawlessness. We are still able to impact the world today because we have been teaching our children solid Bible characters, good Bible values, sound doctrine, God's commandments, and clear principles. But when we listen to the false prophets and start to teach our children nothing, our next generation may not be the same anymore:

Mat 24:11-12 KJV  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  (12)  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

2Ti 3:12-17 KJV  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.  (13)  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  (14)  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  (15)  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Radical grace preachers will argue, "We can never be the false prophets; we preach gospel of grace. In fact, many God's preachers have impacted the world because they preached grace; like the Apostle Paul, Martin Luther, Hudson Taylor, Charles Spurgeon, John Sung, Billy Graham, Stephen Thong .. etc. The world is impacted by their teaching of God's grace, not by teaching of God's laws, commandments, repentance, many 'do good' doctrines like the Pharisees Corban commands in Mark 7:11.. " Whenever they said this, I would chuckle within, Oh, boys, only the young will listen to you because they do not know them. I hope you really do not know what you are saying. If you do, you are lying. Please don't be so blind. If the Pharisees created many 'Corban' commandments in Mark 7:11, it does not mean that the teaching of God's commandments will make all of us live like the Pharisees. It also does not mean that, therefore, the radical grace preachers can never behave like the Pharisees just because they always preach grace. Last time I used to think like that. But, now I find that radical grace preachers are more hypocritical (I mean, boastful) than others because they lie against all God's commandments including the ten commandments, confuse the believers, and always claim credit, when actually our society was impacted by the teaching of God's words and God's commandments by the older generation of faithful preachers who knew traditional repentance and Bible values.

15. Did we tell our children to discern it correctly or to be more blinded by it ?

I will tell the radical grace preachers, Please be honest, If you have really obeyed the Lord and did warn your believers that false prophets would come, how did you warn them? Did you warn them that the false prophets would come preaching 'too good to be true' gospel or repentance? Very likely you could have told them to beware of the false prophets who always preach repentance and condemnation. But I will say, 

• False prophets will preach both ! 

Not surprising! They can even preach grace or sound doctrine too. They will preach anything which confuse, blind, and lead astray the ignorant or those who never read the Bible. They can twist the Bible so well that you may wonder if they could preach better than Paul. That's why we need to read the Bible OURSELVES to have God's discernment, and do not rely on any preachers who claim that they know Christ, call Jesus"Lord, Lord", heal the sick, and cast out many demons in His name. Jesus said,
Mat 7:15-23 KJV  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  (16)  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  ..  (20)  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  (21)  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Will false prophets preach the resurrection of Jesus? You bet. But they will preach, "Do you know why Jesus is risen? He is risen and alive, so that we have unconditional justification, total justification, and once-and-for-all justification .. we are forever and irreversibly saved.. we have no more future sins.. we become infallible .." This sounds perfectly scriptural. But if you know that they are 'anti'-repentance preachers, you would know that their preaching cannot save, neither can it justify. How do we know it ? If we ask their same question, "Do we know why Jesus is risen?", I will answer, He is risen and alive, so that our repentance will become effective and acceptable to God. Do you know that, before Jesus came, most of the Jews and sinners did not know any repentance. Their sins may still be judged even if they felt sorry, regretful, or sins conscience? The Pharisees were clear examples of why God would not forgive them even after they had offered blood sacrifices and felt sins conscience. So, how can we preach resurrection and promise justification to the sinners without any repentance message of the Lord ?

• If Jesus is risen, it does not mean that all the Jews and Pharisees who believed in Jesus would be saved. Similarly, it does not mean that all the sinners today will be justified automatically too. They all must repent as commanded by the Lord:

Luk 5:32 KJV  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luk 13:2-3 KJV  And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?  (3)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luk 15:7 KJV  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Luk 24:47 KJV  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Act 5:31 KJV  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Act 11:18 KJV  When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
I am only halfway in my search for the Bible verses above; but it should be sufficient to tell us that sinners, Jews or Gentiles alike, must repent to be saved and justified, to be forgiven, to receive life ..

Hence, when the Bible tells us that we are not justified by the law; but by grace,

•  it does not mean that we are justified without the need of any repentance

16. If the Devil can imitate God's words, false prophets would imitate Paul's preaching and speaking too

• Paul admitted that he could not speak very well: 1Co 2:3-6 KJV  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.  (4)  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  (5)  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.  (6)  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
• But boastful preachers may tell you that they stammered more than Paul too. Obviously they wanted to give people the impression that they have more wisdom and more power. However, if we know their motives, we will know that they stammered to blind the minds of the people who love their speeches and lies:  

Isa 28:8-15 KJV  For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.  (9)  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.  (10)  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:  (11)  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.  (12)  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.  (13)  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.  (14)  Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.  (15)  Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

• The above is a prophecy about preachers or prophets who speak with stammering lips. They will speak lies of rest, boldness against death, and false promises. They will quote Bible verses like: Psa 91:5-12 KJV  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;  (6)  Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.  (7)  A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee  ....  (11) For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.  (12)  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.  
• But we know that they have spoken like the devil. Can it be possible? You bet: Mat 4:5-7 KJV  Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,  (6)  And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.  (7)  Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

In the end time, false preachers will not preach grace. They preach Old Testament favour, and then they 'ding dong' between favour and grace. They will not preach God's laws and commandments but they will 'ding dong' between their principles and God's principles. They claim that they stammered before God but they have smooth and curly tongues like the frogs.

• Rev 16:13-16 KJV And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. (14) For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (15) Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. (16) And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

17. The words of the false prophets are rejected because they do not have the Spirit of Christ

Many boastful preachers will argue, "What's wrong if we preach Psalm 91 ? Psalm 91 is God's word.." I will tell them, Yes, Psalm 91 is God's word. But Jesus did not agree with the devil and say, "Since, it is God's word. We will do it" ? No, on the contrary, He told the devil, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Did Jesus say that this commandment was for Him only? No, He showed us clearly that if He, the Son of God, would not listen to the devil, we, the disciples of Christ, would not tempt the Lord too. Does it mean that we will reject all the Bible verses from Psalms ? Of course not. Jesus had taught us one very important lesson. That is: When there is controversy, conflict, or challenge from the devil, we listen to the first commandment of God or the most important God's commandment. It also means that we do not just extract any Bible verse from the book of Psalm, Revelation, or Old Testament and expand it or twist it to our advantage. Sometimes, the way we boast about it may show that we do not have the same kind of Spirit as Christ. We just want to be like God without the mind of Christ:

Php 2:2-8 KJV  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ... (5)  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  (6)  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  (7)  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  (8)  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

I will tell the radical grace preachers, Yes, you can preach "As He is, so are we" if you insist, but let this mind be in you that Christ "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God - Php 2:6". However, sad to say, many of you have decided to have another mind which is totally different from Christ:

Php 3:18-21 KJV  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  (19)  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)  (20)  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  (21)  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
  
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