I will ask them, What happen if I do not follow your strange 'law' ? Will I become poor ? Who is under the law ? Are you talking about the Jews, the sinners, or us ?
Are all the churches under the law?
They will say, "You bet. Of course, those who do the law are under the law. If you think of the law or any law, you are law-conscious too. If you are law-conscious, you are definitely under the law. That's why most of the churches are under the law because they believe in doing good and doing many laws, like the 'do good get good' principles. They are the modern day 'Pharisees' who preach many laws. That's why the Bible warns us that there are still many 'Pharisees' in our churches (Act 15:5) and we need to liberate them from the law churches. That's why we are never tired of preaching the grace revolution. We are the only churches under grace. That's why, being under grace, we would prosper more and this is God's promise to us who preach grace and supernatural transfer of wealth. Look, the churches are on this side, under the law; but we are under grace, on the other side. Please decide, Which side will you choose? More law and more poverty ? Or more effortless grace, favours, prosperity, success, and supernatural wealth without any law ?"
I will tell them, No, this is a 'super lie'. The churches are not under the law. If you are not on the same side with all the churches, you are on the other side with lawlessness. Yes, God will be merciful to our unrighteousness, and our sins and lawless deeds he will remember no more (Heb 8:12). But He will not forgive us so that we can be more lawless in both our thoughts and deeds. He forgives us so that we will have His laws in our mind and hearts. Hence, the Bible would never say that if you think of any law, you are law-conscious and become under the law. Please be honest, Don't you think of God's law and commandments when you read or teach from these Bible verses:
- Psa 1:1-2 KJV Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
- Heb 8:10-11 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: (11) And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. (12) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (We may not teach the people, 'Know the Lord'; but we would teach, 'Know His laws and do His laws')
- Gal 6:1-2 KJV Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (2) Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
- Rev 22:13-14 KJV I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (14) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
- 1Pe 3:9-12 KJV Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. (10) For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: (11) Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. (12) For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
- Jas 4:7-17 KJV Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (9) Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (11) Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. (12) There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? (13) Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: (14) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (15) For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. (16) But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. (17) Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
- 1Ti 6:18-21 KJV That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; (19) Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (20) O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: (21) Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. ..
- Tit 1:15 KJV Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. (16) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate ... (2:7) In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, .. (2:14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee .. (3:7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (8) This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. (9) But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. (10) A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; (11) Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
- Php 2:12-14 KJV Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (14) Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
- Heb 13:21 KJV Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- Heb 10:23-24 KJV Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (24) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
- 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.
- Gal 6:7-9 KJV Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
- 2Pe 3:15-18 LITV And think of the long-suffering of our Lord as salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him; (16) as also in all his epistles, speaking in them concerning these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the unlearned and unsettled pervert, as also they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. (17) Then beloved, you knowing beforehand, watch lest being led away by the error of the lawless you fall from your own steadfastness. (18) But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (What is the error of the lawless according to Peter's understanding ? It was referred to the teaching of Paul in the following Bible verses:)
- 2Th 2:3-17 LITV Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, because that Day will not come unless first comes the falling away, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, (4) the one opposing and exalting himself over everything being called God, or object of worship, so as for him "to sit in the temple of God" as God, setting forth himself, that he is God. Dan. 11:36; Eze. 28:2 (it could be the same abomination of desolation and lawlessness as prophesied by the Lord in Matt 24) (5) Do you not remember that I told you these things, I yet being with you? (6) And now you know the thing holding back, for him to be revealed in his time. (7) For the mystery of lawlessness already is working, only he is holding back now, until it comes out of the midst. (8) And then "the Lawless One" will be revealed, "whom" "the Lord" "will consume" "by the spirit of His mouth," and will bring to nought by the brightness of His presence. Isa. 11:4 (9) His coming is according to the working of Satan in all power and miraculous signs and lying wonders, (10) and in all deceit of unrighteousness in those being lost, because they did not receive the love of the truth in order for them to be saved. (11) And because of this, God will send to them a working of error, for them to believe the lie, (12) that all may be judged, those not believing the truth, but who have delighted in unrighteousness. (13) But we ought to thank God always concerning you, brothers, beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, (14) to which He called you through our gospel, to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (15) So, then, brothers, stand firm and strongly hold the teachings you were taught, whether by word or by our letter. (16) But may our Lord Himself, Jesus Christ, and our God and Father, the One having loved us and having given everlasting comfort and good hope by grace, (17) encourage your hearts, and may He establish you in every good word and work. (Paul has warned us to stand firm and hold their teachings of good word and work, whether by word or by their letters, because he knew that the lawless one will attack and remove all their Bible teachings in the end time.)
- 2Th 2:8 LITV And then "the Lawless One" will be revealed, "whom" "the Lord" "will consume" "by the spirit of His mouth," and will bring to nought by the brightness of His presence.
- Rev 19:19-21 KJV And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. (20) And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (21) And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Yes, it was a great war, but it was not a physical war; it could be a war of the minds or doctrines. It could be a war of the spirits in the heaven and spiritual realm too. We are sure in that war today if we know that the Lawless has been revealed.)
The Jews were under the law; whilst we and the world are under sin
** Were the Israelites under grace before the law was given?I will tell them, We have not been given the law so that we can do the law like the Jews to be accepted by God. God has rejected the world, the Gentiles, and us long time ago because we were totally lost without His law. We may have all kinds of religions which teaches us to do good and to follow our own religious laws. We may also think that we can get to God if we will do good under our own religious laws. However, to God, we are all under lawlessness.
Most radical grace preachers argued that the Israelites were under grace before the law or the Ten Commandments were given, and that's why there was not any death recorded from the time they entered into the wilderness until they received the law. I will ask them, If you don't see any Israelites died before the giving of the law, does it mean that they were under grace or under the covenant of grace? No, How can you say that they were under grace when the covenant of grace through Christ had not been given yet? No, the Israelites were all under sin before they were given the law. They were all under sin, like Adam and Eve, like all the people of the world, who did not know God. Yes, God had been very patient with some of them. They were called out by God to be a peculiar people and a holy nation. Yes, some of them, from the time of Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph until Moses, did receive favour, grace, and blessings, but it did not mean that they were all under the covenant of grace. It did not mean that they could never die or be judged no matter how they sinned before the law was given.
- 1Jn 3:4 KJV Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
- 1Jn 3:4 LITV Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
- Rom 3:9 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;
- Rom 11:13-19 KJV For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: .. (15) For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? (16) For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. (17) And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; (18) Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee ..
- Gal 3:22 KJV But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
- Gal 2:15-16 KJV We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, (16) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
- 1Co 9:20-21 KJV And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; (21) To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
- Rom 3:1 KJV What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
Both the Jews and Gentiles today must repent under the New Covenant
I can understand it if most of the ignorant believers or sinners do not know if they are under the law or under sin. However, if you are a preacher or a pastor and you do not know it, you have no excuse because you ought to have read the Bible more than us who need to hear from you. If you have to preach the gospel to save the sinners, you'd better know whether they are under the law or under sin. It is because if the sinners are under the law, we would just need to preach grace and tell them to do nothing with their sins. We can just trust God to deal with their sins after they are no longer under their laws. However, if they are under sin, we must preach the gospel with repentance from sins. Repentance is the only way and ultimate way for the sinners to come to God under the New Covenant through the gospel of Christ which calls sinners to repentance.
- This is the goodnews for the Gentiles because they who hear the preaching of repentance and repent in Christ are considered as born again believers (Joh 3:3-8) without the law and without the works of the law as practised by the Jews.
- It is also goodnews for the Jews too because they can now come to God through repentance without their law, without their works of the law, and without the law of circumcision.
- Mat 4:17 KJV From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- Mar 6:12 KJV And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Luk 13:3 KJV I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. - Luk 24:45-48 KJV Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, .. (47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And ye are witnesses of these things.
- Joh 3:3-5 KJV Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ..(5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
- Luk 19:8-9 KJV And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. (9) And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
- Joh 8:11 KJV She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Do we still preach against the law like the way Paul preached to the Jews in the past ?
Do we still preach to the Jews today ? Yes, probably if we are in Israel or in their synagogues. However, if we preach to the Gentiles most of the time, do we preach to them like preaching to the Jews ? I find it ridiculous to preach to the sinners (the world, the criminals, the thieves, the adulterers, the con men, and the liars) that they have believed in too much law and they need to rest under grace instead. No, they all need to repent; not just the criminals or the thieves, but all of us who are under sin need to repent too.
- 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 3:23 KJV For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
- 1Jn 3:4 KJV Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Paul did not preach against God's law and commandment
They will say, "But Paul told us in Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews that we should preach the righteousness without the law. We should preach righteousness instead of sin, law, commandments, godly rules, doing good, and any kinds of doings..We don't believe and preach about moral or behavioural modification under the laws and commandments, but we believe in the power of God unto salvation .."
I will tell them, If you do not believe in moral or behavioural change, you will not have moral or behavioural change, even if you claim that you have repented. Please read your Bible again. Yes, Paul did say that we should preach the righteousness of God without the law (or the Old Covenant); but he did not tell us to preach the righteousness without God's laws and commandments.Yes, Paul did say that we are justified by faith without the deeds of the law (or the works of the law); but he did not say that we are justified by faith without any fruit or work.
- Rom 3:21-28 KJV But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; .. (28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
- Jas 2:17-24 KJV Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? (22) Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? (23) 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. (24) Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
- Joh 14:21-30 KJV He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (22) Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? (23) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (24) He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. .. (30) Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. (31) But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
Paul preached repentance when he was among the Gentiles
Yes, Paul did say many things against the law. However, have you noticed that he wrote all these to the Jews or the Jewish believers in Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews ? Please enlighten me if he has preached against the law in Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, or Thessalonians too. Hence, isn't it obvious that he would preach against the law only when he was among the Jews ? What did he preach when he was with the Gentiles ? Repentance and fruits worthy of repentance (Godly living and God's commandments)
- Act 26:19-21 KJV Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: (20) But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. (21) For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
- Act 17:22-30 KJV Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious... (30) And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
- Eph 6:2-3 KJV 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.
Paul would want us to preach all the words of Jesus Christ today
Hence, I will ask the radical grace preachers, If you insist that you should only preach the gospel that Paul preached, do you know what he would preach ? Is it just grace or the curse of the law ? No, he knew that the Gentiles did not have the law; neither did they know the law; but he would preach repentance, teaching, and warning of Jesus Christ:
- Act 20:27-31 KJV For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. (28) Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (29) For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. (30) Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. (31) Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
- Mat 7:12-23 KJV Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. (13) Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: .. (15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. .. (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. (24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
- Luk 6:46-48 KJV And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (47) Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: (48) He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood (false doctrine) arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. (Hence, Jesus said clearly that He would not just want us to have right believing, right faith, right miracles, right preaching, or right confession only; he wants us to have right doing with His words too, because right doing would prove that we are His true disciples on the rock of salvation.)
- Mat 28:19-20 KJV Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Did Paul define or explain clearly what is keeping the law ?
Yes, you can find it easily in your Bible if you would just do a simple search on the words 'keep the law'. You would find 4 Bible passages with these words:
- Act 15:5-6 KJV But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. (6) And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
- Act 15:23-24 KJV And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: (24) Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
- Rom 2:24-26 KJV For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. (25) For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. (26) Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
- Gal 6:12-15 KJV As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. (13) For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. (14) But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (15) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Paul said in Gal 6:12 above that, as many wanted to look well in the flesh, they constrained or compelled others to be circumcised like them so that they did not need to suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. However, today we still find many who want to look well in the flesh too; they compel us to follow them so that they do not need to suffer for the cross of Christ. They think that they can look well in the flesh if they would just preach against the law and forget about repentance and the cross of Christ.
- Gal 6:12 LITV As many as desire to look well in the flesh, these compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
- that they are always under the law when they are in fact under lawlessness (sin)
- that they need to do less law when they in fact do not have God's law
- that they would just keep confessing grace and try to be less legalistic when they should in fact repent from their lawlessness before God
- that they need to hear the righteousness of God when they should in fact be convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit Joh 16:8 KJV And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Can we use the confusion of the law to justify whatever we can do under grace ? No.
Many radical grace preachers think that they can boast under grace. But when they quoted the law to compare with what they could do radically, unknowingly they could have used it to gratify the desire of their flesh to boast and to live with their lawless or radical philosophies. They may not commit adulteries or live with sinful lives but they may teach and influence our next generation to live with the wrong philosophies, and wrong philosophies will lead to wrong living one day.
They will argue, "But what's wrong if we boast in the name of the Lord ? Under law, we cannot show that we are at ease with ourselves, we cannot shout and scream, we cannot clap and cheer. We cannot walk to our pulpit in styles, we cannot do this and that; we can only tiptoe to our pulpit in boring silence, like the Pharisees. You think that this is humility ? No, this is false humility. But under grace, we are so secured that we can just stroll in to our pulpit in styles, amidst the cheers and shout of our 'fans' and followers. You may criticise us for encouraging idol worship, but I am just representing Jesus to receive the glory from the people. The Jews can never give glory to God if they did not have the anointed kings like king David or king Solomon. So, likewise, we are the anointed ones or channels for the people to give glory to God too.. Haha. Under law we cannot boast, we cannot live in the flesh, we cannot feel good about many things, we cannot dress like rock stars, we cannot enjoy sex or fame and talk freely about it on the pulpit, we cannot do this and that; we can only live like a monk? No, this is false holiness; but under grace, we are so righteous that we do not need to live like a holy monk - we can do everything in Christ now (Php 4:13). We can boast about all things in the Lord and yet we are very humble. We will glorify His name.. Under law, we cannot do this and that .. but under grace, we can do all things and we can boast about it .. Under law, we are poor.. under grace, we prosper.. Under law, we are under stress to do do do, Under grace, God supplies and bless bless bless.., Under law, sin is highly infectious and contagious, so is holiness, and it is effortless under grace .. God spoke to me in an audible voice, err.. I mean in an inner small voice, to preach all theses and glorify His name.. "
They said that they are the channels through which God can receive the glory from the people. I will tell them, God will still receive the glory without you or your people. If God wants the glory, He can make the stones to give glory to Him too:
- Mat 3:8-9 KJV Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: (9) And think 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.
- Psa 98:7-9 KJV Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (8) Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together (9) Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.
Under the law or grace, no one can boast
If Jesus did not accept the Pharisees who boasted with the thinking that God would be glorified by their works and boasting, neither would He accept us
if we boast like the Pharisees or king Saul thinking that God would be
glorified by our boasting or offerings. Under both the Old and New
Covenant, God has said that He is not interested in any offering or
boasting if it is done out of pride, human lust, lawlessness, or
rejection of God's commands:
- 1Sa 15:20-24 KJV And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. (21) But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. (22) And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (23) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. (24) And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
- 2Co 10:5-8 KJV Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (6) And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (7) Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. (8) For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
a. For the Gentiles and us, we are under sin, not under the law. we don't have God's law to show us that we are under sin although we do have many men's laws, our own laws, and perverted laws. But, in the eyes of God, we are all under lawlessness (1Jn 3:4) whether we like it or not. But under grace, holiness is not contagious without our conscious effort to repent too. The Bible tells us that, under grace, all must repent. Holiness is contagious and will abound only if the repentant sinners or believers are well taught about sanctification, honour, and holiness according to the commandments of the Lord (it is not effortless without any command) :
b. For the Jews and Pharisees who are under the law (Gal 2:15-16), yes sin is infectious; but for them to be under grace and to abound in holiness, they must have repented and followed the teaching of the Lord too. Hence, Paul teaching above on sanctification, honour, and holiness would still apply for the Jews. However, I wonder, Why would the radical grace preachers keep preaching on "Under the law, sin is .. Under grace, holiness is .. " when there are no Jews or Pharisees in their churches. Probably they think that the sinners in their churches would think that, being under the law, they will not need to repent from their sins ? However, unknown to them, by keep reminding their believers to abound in grace and holiness, they are confirming the words of Paul again on how they ought to walk and to please God (v1), and how they should possess their vessels in sanctification, honour, and holiness (v3,7). However, unknown to them, this would contradict against what they have always preached ie: holiness is contagious, effortless, and doing nothing. They have confused their believers.
- 1Th 4:1-8 KJV Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. (2) For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. (3) For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: (4) That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; (5) Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: (6) That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. (7) For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. (8) He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
Was Jesus a friend of the sinners because He ate with them or because He preached repentance ?
They will argue, "Jesus was a friend of all the sinners. But today many of us condemn the sinners. Jesus was never harsh with the sinners who sinned. Jesus loved them all. However, Jesus would only condemn the scribes and Pharisees. Why did Jesus only called the Pharisees snakes and vipers? It's because Jesus does not hate sinners or sins; He hates those who are under the law, who wag their fingers in condemnation of others, and who are hypocrites... But we, the grace preachers are like Jesus who hated and preached against the law, and we are the friends of sinners too. But many churches and repentance preachers who condemn others in sins today have accused us for being a friend of the sinners like Jesus. We have been persecuted by the churches.. "
I will tell them, If you call this persecution just because others have disagreed with you, you are crying 'wolves'. However, if you are really a friend of the sinners because you have stopped preaching repentance, you are the blind leading the blind. Yes, Jesus was a friend of the sinners because He was a true repentance preacher - He preached repentance whenever He went and the sinners would repent. But are you a friend of the sinners because you are a repentance preacher too ? No, you could be a friend of the sinners who hate repentance because you mocked at repentance, distorted repentance, or preached anti-repentance or something else to replace repentance.
Was Jesus harsh only with the Pharisees because they were under the law or were hypocrites?
Secondly, when Jesus was harsh with the Pharisees and ate with the sinners, it does not mean that He hated the Pharisees and loved only the sinners and publicans. No, He loves all the sinners including the Pharisees who were the sinners too. However, why was He especially harsh with the Pharisees ? Of course, it was not because they were under the law or were hypocrites. Do you know that when you point the fingers and accuse the Pharisees as hypocrites, you are accusing and are hypocritical too ? We are all hypocritical in one way or another because of our sins and lawlessness. No one can boast and accuse others without having a good look at our own sins first. We should not accuse all those who are under the law as hypocrites even though we are under grace. It's because Jesus did not accuse every Jew who were under the law as hypocrites. He did not accuse Moses as hypocrite, He did not accuse Elijah as hypocrite, He did not accuse his father or mother as hypocrite too. But why would He accuse only the Pharisees as hypocrites ? Was it because they were under the law ? No, it's because they were unrepentant and yet they would want the people to think that they had repented. The Lord and John the Baptist knew that the Pharisees would corrupt the gospel without true repentance if they were accepted. They would just teach repentance without the fruits of repentance like the way they teach God's commandments in Mark 7:11-13.
Were the Israelites under the law AND under the wrath of God ?
They will say, "Under the law, sin is infectious, but under grace, holiness is contagious. Under the law, it means that you are under the wrath of God. How do I know this ? The Bible shows us that the Israelites were under pure grace in the wilderness before they received the ten commandments. That's why they murmured and no one died. But the moment they said, "We will obey and keep all God's commandments", they fell into sins again. They were in pride, and they died. So don't ever think of keeping any law or commandment. The law is like poison. The moment you are conscious of it or when you are law-conscious, you will die. Before the Israelites boasted and asked for God's commandments (Exo 19:8), they were under the covenant of grace and no one died. I could not find any death recorded in the Bible. But the moment they asked for the law, 3000 of them died. 3000 death were recorded for the first time. This proves to us that the law or any law will bring death.."
I will ask them, If you think that the law is so horrible, why don't you speak your hearts and speak openly that the law is from the devil; but grace is from God? If this is the impression you have give to the people, you have preached lawlessness with the grace that is not from God but from the lawless one:
- 2Pe 3:15-18 LITV And think of the long-suffering of our Lord as salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him; (16) as also in all his epistles, speaking in them concerning these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the unlearned and unsettled pervert, as also they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. (17) Then beloved, you knowing beforehand, watch lest being led away by the error of the lawless you fall from your own steadfastness. (18) But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (Peter showed us that in the last days, it is not the sinners who will preach lawlessness or the error of the lawless; but is is the believers who will preach lawlessness and the error of the lawless to us. How do we know that this will happen in the churches? It's because Peter told us in v16 that they would use the Scriptures to pervert and argue with the churches .. and we are already seeing it happening today ..)
- Mat 19:17 KJV And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
- Rev 22:13-14 KJV I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (14) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
- Luk 13:2-5 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. (4) Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? (5) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
- Heb 10:16-17 KJV This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
I will ask them, You said, "The Israelites boasted and asked for God's commandments in Exo 19:8". Are you sure ? Please read it again. How can the Israelites boasted and asked for something that had already been given ?
- Exo 19:3-8 KJV And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; (4) Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. (5) 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.
You said, "The Israelites were under grace or the covenant of grace. That's why they murmured and rebelled but God would still forgive them and no one died." Are you sure ? I cannot confirm if they were anyone died in the wilderness before the giving of the law, but I can confirm that God was more gracious to the Israelites because of His covenant with Abraham. However, it was not the covenant of grace yet until Jesus came. The Israelites were a peculiar people because they were covenant people with God from the beginning. However, they could never be under the covenant of grace or know the grace of God until they knew Jesus Christ (For more explanation of the chart below, please see video: Is there law in the covenant of grace?)
Joh 1:14-17 KJV And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (15) John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. (16) And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. (17) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
They will argue, "Does it matter if we preach against the law ? We learn that Paul would always preach against the law. I am just following him to preach the grace of God. I have learnt all these by myself through the wisdom of God:
"Under law, sin is infectious; under grace, holiness is contagious..", "law supplies; grace demands", "Under law, you must do this and that; under grace, you do nothing", "under law, you cannot prosper; under grace you would prosper effortlessly", "Under law, we feel condemned, dejected, and depressed; but under grace, we feel loved", "Under law ..;under grace .. "
Who is under the law ?
I will ask them, Are you preaching to the Jews, the believers, or the sinners when you preach like the law or grace experts ?
a. If you are preaching to the Jews,
please take a good look at your own audience again before you blast off with the wrong teaching of the law. Very likely, you have preached to the wrong target audience with your bitter arguments against the law or the works of the law known and practised only by the Jews, Peter, and Paul when you are not even a Jew.
- 1Ti 1:7-8 KJV Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. (8) But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
- 2Pe 3:1-18 KJV This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: (2) That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: (3) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts .. (9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance .. (14) Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (15) And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (16) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (17) Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked (lawlessness), fall from your own stedfastness. (18) But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
b, However, if you are preaching to the believers,
you are still speaking to the wrong crowd too. The believers should have the law of Christ to do good, not the law of the Jews to circumcise themselves. They will argue, "No, we must expose all the legalistic believers who are under the law. Yes, they may not be Jews but they have been deceived by the Pharisees to believe in the law. When they teach others to do many things, to do good get good, and to think of any law, they are under the law.."
I will ask them, The lawyers are always thinking about the laws; are they under the law? After they have received Christ, can they still think of the laws ? Of course. Many welfare organisations, including those run by the Christian organisations, would always think of doing good too; are they under the law? Of course, we don't just accuse everyone as under the law just because they think of their laws, rules, and regulations.
I am sure you have always quote from the Bible verse above, but have you ever pause and ask yourselves: Who has truly received the law given by Moses? Of course, only the Jews. You and me CAN NEVER received the law given by Moses because it was the covenant only between God and the Jews. Hence, we can never be under the law; we are under sins. We may have many laws. Some religious bodies may think that they have the law of God to do good and do many things. But those are not the law given by Moses. In the eyes of God, we are still under sins as sinners, unless we have repented in the Lord to receive grace under His New Covenant.
- Joh 1:17 KJV For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
I will tell them, You said that 'under law, sin is infectious' because it will spread or it will make others sinning too? Please think, If law will make sins infectious, then
c. However, if you are preaching to the sinners,
you would certainly confuse them because they have not read the Bible and would be deceived to think that they are under the law instead of being under sins and under the New Covenant to repent. You could be using the law and grace confusion as your 'cover' to excuse or exempt yourselves from preaching the unpopular command to the sinners to repent. However, your behaviour as God's preacher would only show that you have rebelled and rejected the Lord and His command in Luk 24:45-48 even though you may claim that you have done many wonderful works for the Lord in Mat 7:15-24. Yes, you are right to say that many sinners felt loved after coming to your church, but that was because they felt accepted in your church even if they sinned 'quietly' and would not repent. They could have felt condemned and dejected by their former churches because they had been asked to repent, to admit, and to confess their sins. However, they could just falsely accuse all their former churches for preaching the law and condemnation now. It could be just their excuses to hide their rebellion against God's commandments, their unwillingness to repent, and their unrepentant hearts. They felt condemned not because they were under the law; but because they were under sins and unrepentant spirit.
- law is worst than SARS or poison,
- law is the culprit,
- God who is the lawgiver would be solely responsible for our sins. When we sin, it is God's problem; not our problem. And hence, God must find His ways and means to settle the sin problem which was caused by His laws,
- we would not need to repent from our sins, and
- we would just need to reject any law or any poison from God ..
Yes, his stunt may always captivate the audience who love God and God's prosperity, but they will have no intention to repent and would be jealous of others who have repented. Their pulpits have become the 'HorrorWood' platform for their actors and actresses who entertain themselves with their own popular show - 'Romancing their stones' with the Bible, where everyone is promised to prosper effortlessly without any preaching of repentance from their sins. Instead of preaching the gospel, they preach lies and stones. They have used the law and grace arguments to distract the people from believing in the gospel of repentance. However, I believe that we should preach the following clearly if we want the sinners to truly repent:
- Under the law, the Jews must keep the law and the works of the law that fulfil the law.
- Under grace, the Gentiles will not need to keep the law and the works of the law.
- But under the New Testament, all those who are under the law or under sin must repent (Luk 13:2-5) and keep God's commandments. Jesus did not say that keeping no commandment is the gospel when He showed us Mat 5:28; but rather He proved to us that all must repent, including the Pharisees (Mat 5:20), otherwise no one can enter the kingdom of God. Hence, repentance is the gospel.
Luk 13:2-5 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. (4) Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? (5) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Mat 5:19-20 KJV Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:27-28 KJV Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: (28) But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Jesus did not say that we should be as righteous as the Pharisees, but He said we should be more righteous than the Pharisees who were hypocrites. In another words, 1. All the Jews must still repent even though they thought that they were as righteous as the Pharisees, 2. All of us, who are now in Christ should never follow the deceivableness of unrighteousness (2Th 2:10) that is in the Pharisees or hypocrites too.)
Under grace, it does not mean that we have no more God's laws
They will say, "Under the law, God demands righteousness from us, but under grace, God imparts righteousness as a gift to be received.. Under the law God said I will by no means clear the guilty but I will visit their sins to the third and forth generation. But under grace, I will by no means remember your sins and your sins and iniquities I will remember no more.. The law condemned the best of us, but grace saves the worst of us. Hence we must not have any law including the law which tell us not to kill, not to do this and that like the ten commandments..There must not be mixture of law and grace in the gospel .."
I will ask them, Are you speaking or God speaking ? Are you quoting from the Bible or are you hearing from your heads ? Are you speaking to the Jews under the law or the sinners under lawlessness? If you remove all the laws and commandments from the Bible, what should we teach our children and our lawless generation ? What kinds of law should we teach instead ? They will argue that they will only have grace, pure grace, or lawless grace to teach the children and the lawless generation. However, I would think that, without the laws and commandments of God, it is mostly their own laws and philosophies which will teach the children. Yes, grace can teach, but according to the words of God, grace must still teach through the words of God, His commandments, and sound doctrine:
- Tit 2:1 KJV But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.. (4) That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, .. (10) Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. (11) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Under grace, we are a condemned people who are given a 'second chance' to be under God's covenant
Yes, the law condemned and killed because most of the Jews who refused the grace of God through repentance were under the law or Old Covenant. However, it does not mean that the sinners will be saved by just rejecting the law which they've never received. No, both the Jews and the Gentiles must receive grace and Jesus Christ through repentance under the new covenant. Without repentance, both the Jews (who are under the law) and the sinners (who are under sins) will be condemned. Without repentance, both the law and sins will kill ! Have you preached the truth ? The gospel is not just to reject the law, think about grace, and do nothing. Have you preach repentance and Jesus Christ through repentance under the New Covenant ? Otherwise, it is like telling the people not to be greedy, not to be under sins, or not to be under any law; it is useless. It's because people will still be greedy everyday. They will still be under all kinds of laws and sins, and they will still not be saved. If we are truly God's preachers, we must tell them that God has made a covenant to save us; but we must be under His covenant. Hence, we should point people to that covenant. God has made two covenants with the people - The Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Of course, the Old Covenant is out of the question unless we love to be circumcised and we were the Jews who lived in the days when God made a covenant with Moses through the ten commandments and the stones. However, today both the Jews and Gentiles must all believe in repentance and do repentance to be under His covenant. This has not been changed in the Gospel until today:
- Luk 13:2-9 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. (4) Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? (5) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (6) He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. (7) Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? (8) And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: (9) And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
- Act 26:19-20 KJV Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: (20) But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
**Under grace, we can go straight to Christ without being under the law at all
- Gal 3:24-26 KJV Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (25) But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
- Firstly, we may be too legalistic or too rigid with the rules and regulation, but we can never be under the law just because we have many church rules or regulations. Do you know that some radical grace churches have more rules and regulations than the legalistic churches too, especially after they have moved to bigger, or more modern, more expensive, and more exorbitant churches ?
- Secondly, please interpret the Bible with the Bible. Can you read Gal 3:24-26 above again ? Can you please teach clearly who were those under the law? Didn't Paul say clearly that they would be under the law if they believed in the law as 'their schoolmaster to bring them unto Christ Gal 3:24' ? Are there still churches today preaching and believing in the law as 'their schoolmaster to bring them unto Christ' like the Jews ? Otherwise, not everyone can come under the law so easily. In fact most of us, the Gentiles, are under lawlessness and sins. We are totally lost and under total darkness because we are not under any covenant like the Jews who knew God's covenant and the law which was given by Moses: Joh 1:17 KJV For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
- Thirdly, Paul had mentioned clearly that they were under the law, when he wrote about Gal 3:24-26 and those were under the law, because they were Jews (not because they were Gentiles who sinned under lawlessness). Gal 2:15-17 KJV We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, (16) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (17) But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Is it lawful to do good (or teach others to do good)
- under the law ?
- under grace ?
::
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