Wednesday 24 April 2013

By Christ's obedience or our obedience ?


  • Rom 5:19 KJV  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Radical grace preachers will say, "So, by whose obedience are we made righteous ? Is is by our obedience ? No, it is by Christ's obedience. Why can't we tell the sinners that we are made righteous without any obedience, any law, or any judgement ? It is effortless for us. If we preach the right gospel with Christ's obedience, people will automatically repent and obey without self-effort. However, many law churches, repentance churches, and doing good churches today are still preaching the 'old obedience' to God's laws and old laws. They are still trying to keep the people under the law. They are preaching another gospel. To be obedient means to hope, believe, and trust in God’s grace, not to do many laws or do, do, do..."" 
I will tell them, While the Bible did say that we are made righteous by Christ's obedience, the Bible did not say that the churches cannot teach God's laws and obedience, preach repentance, and do good. In fact, the Bible told us that we are saved to do more because we have known Christ's obedience now. Please think, If you can tell people that they are saved to prosper, to reign, or to bless others, why can't we tell others that they are saved to keep God's commandments, to be obedient, to turn from their sins, and to do good too ?
Please think, If there is no more obedience from us because of Christ's obedience, what's the point for God to give men the free will to do their own obedience. If there is no need for our obedience with free choice, what's the point for God to create men ? Just create robots or animals and put Christ's obedience into them to make them obey automatically ? This is absurd.

Did Jesus say that there is no more law or commandment from God ?
Radical grace preachers will continue, "There is no more work, no more law, no more commandment, and no more judgement under grace. Why ? it's because there is no more obedience from us, but only obedience from Christ according to the Bible (Rom 5:19). If we are saved by the obedience of Christ, God would not need to see any obedience from us. If God would not require obedience from us, there is no need for us to keep any commandment or obedience. That's why under grace, we have no more law, no more obedience, no more commandment, no more judgement, and no more condemnation. Jesus' obedience has removed all the need of law and obedience from us. Jesus has kept all the law so that we don't have to keep any law. That is good news. That's why Jesus told all His disciples and the Pharisees that none of us can keep any law and it's best for us not to keep any if we were to believe in Him:
  • Mat 5:1-30 KJV  And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:  (2)  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,  (3)  Blessed are the poor in spirit: ...  (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 ...  (27) 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.  (29)  And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.  (30)  And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
I will ask them, Now I understand why you preach a lawless gospel, which has no more law or commandment. You said that there is no need for obedience from us because Jesus has done the obedience for us (Rom 5:19), and therefore there is no more obedience for us to keep any commandment or law? But are you sure it is biblical to ask the people not to keep any law or commandment according to your interpretation of those Bible verses above? The Bible verses you've just quoted above cannot prove to us that Jesus wants us to keep no more law or commandment; but on the contrary, those Bible verses prove to us that Jesus wants all of us to repent because no one is righteous enough to enter the kingdom of God, including the Pharisees. In another words, no one is righteous enough to ignore His preaching of repentance and do nothing to enter the kingdom of God. Contrary to what you said, Jesus wants us to do something, at all cost, to repent and to enter the kingdom of God even if we have to amputate our limbs physically. Of course, He did mean it figuratively or spiritually how much we ought to repent and keep ourselves from evil and lawlessness.
Hence, your radical interpretation of the Lord's teaching that there is no more law or commandment cannot sit well with the true teaching of the Lord. You could have deliberately shown people that the Lord has preached obsolete sayings or contradiction by comparing His words in Mat 5:1-30 and John 15:10-15, and mislead the people that we cannot believe in His words, and that we can only believe in 'the gospel that Paul preached or you preach'. Of course, this is a lie. The Lord's words have never told us to :
  1. to do nothing,
  2. to enforce it on others (judge) others by cutting off their hands or legs if they steal or sin. It is rather an attitude or spirit which a believer should have within himself when he is challenged by the sin issues of his own lives, or
  3. to keep no more law and commandment. Jesus has never said this or implied that this is so when he said those words in Mat 5:1-30. On the contrary, He said it clearly that we have to keep His commandments or God's commandments because His commandments are from God. John 15:10-15 KJV  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.  ..  (12)  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you ... (14)  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.  (15)  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.  

Did the Bible tell us that there is no more obedience from us ? 
They will still argue, "Ok, I know that Jesus had preached about repentance and keeping the laws. But He preached to the Pharisees, not to us. He preached harsh laws and hard sayings to the Pharisees and the Jews so that none of them can keep any law and would in the end turn to Him. But today, we should not read Matt 5 and Matt 6 any more. His teaching from the sermon on the mount from Matt 5-7 is no more applicable for us who are under grace. Today we don't listen to His words any more, we listen to Paul. We listen to the gospel that Paul preached, not the gospel of law or repentance that Jesus preached to the Pharisees and the Jews in the Old Testament. Why ? It is because we are under grace. And Jesus has kept all the laws and commandments for us. We would just need to think and assume that He has done all His obedience for us (Rom 5:19) for our past, present, and future sins and lawlessness. We are saved by Christ's obedience, not by our own obedience. If Jesus has obeyed God, it means that we have obeyed God even if we would still rebel or sin against God. The obedience of Christ is so good that God would consider us as obedient children even if we still sin or disobey Him. This is goodnews. That's why we will listen to the gospel that Paul preached, not the gospel that Jesus preached when He was not yet crucified.
  • Rom 5:19 KJV  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
  • Rom 16:24-26 KJV  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.  (25)  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,  (26)  But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
  • 2Pe 1:1-2 KJV  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:  (2)  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
How is grace and peace multiplied unto you ? It is by the knowledge of Christ, by believing it, thinking about it, and confessing it; not by doing it or by doing many repentance. That's the reason why we can now call ourselves the righteousness of God. It means that the righteousness of God has been imputed to us without us keeping any God's laws, doing obedience, or doing anything. Under the law, sin is infectious, but under grace, righteousness is contagious. This is what God said to me, haha, because I am under grace, I can hear from God, haha .."
I will tell them, Yes, Peter said that Grace and peace is multiplied through the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ in 2 Pet 1:2, but Peter did not say that grace and peace is multiplied without any repentance. Thayer interpreted the knowledge of God and of Jesus as correct knowledge or precise knowledge. It means we do not just have the knowledge about God or about Jesus; but we have the knowledge of Jesus too. We have the knowledge of Jesus because we know His words and commandments. 
I will tell them,You said that the teaching of the Lord in Mat 5:1-30 is not for His believers or followers, but for the Pharisees or the Jews who believed in the law. Can you read the whole chapter from the top again and find out if it is for His believers or the Pharisees ?
  • Mat 5:1-30 KJV  And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:  (2)  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,  (3)  Blessed are the poor in spirit: ...  (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 ...  (27) 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.  ..
Please see how Jesus had spoken to the multitudes and His disciples. Can you be honest with the people by telling us this Bible passage is for the disciples or for the Pharisees ? Did He say that His teaching is not applicable to us ? I don't think so. If this is so, He would not have commanded His disciples to teach everything that He had taught:
  • 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.
I will tell them, You said that "under the law, sin is infectious, but under grace, righteousness is contagious". But do you know that obedience is a spirit which is contagious too ? We have many examples and proofs to show people that we will follow the examples of the elders and our parents to do good and to keep the laws in their country, in their community, in the trains, in the buses, and in the schools too. That's why we don't litter, we don't smoke, and we don't do obscene business in the public places. That's why we can teach the young to follow us. Our spirit of obedience will influence them and it can be contagious too. Are you ignorant about this, preachers ? Or would you deliberately deny that this can be taught in the churches too ? If you would always argue and 'ding dong' about this, you are not under grace; you are on the road to perdition and rebellion as prophesied by the Apostle:
  • Php 1:27-30 KJV  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;  (28)  And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.  (29)  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;  (30)  Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
  • 2Th 2:3-12 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  (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.
  • 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? ... (35) Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward .. (39) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
  • Rev 17:10-14 KJV  And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.  (11)  And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.  (12)  And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.  (13)  These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.  (14)  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (I am not bothered how many 'beasts' will come and fight against the word of God. Neither am I troubled to know if he is the seventh beast or the eighth beast which will spew lawlessness in the last days. But one thing we are certain:   

Rom 5:19's By Christ's obedience does not mean no more obedience
I will ask them, You quoted Rom 5:19 and argued that it is by Christ's obedience that we are made righteous; not by our obedience. Are you sure there is no more obedience from us and, therefore, no more law for us ? Yes, Paul did say that it is by Christ's obedience that we are made righteous, but he would never give people the impression that there is no more obedience from us. On the contrary, Paul said that it is by Christ obedience that many shall be made righteous because the believers would have more obedience to the words and commandments of the Lord. They will obey more because Christ has obeyed first. 
  1. As Christ was obedience, so we will obey too - Php 2:5-16 KJV  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.  .. (12)  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:  (15)  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;  (16)  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. (Paul said that obedience is not just empty words; it is holding forth God's words, doing His words, and obeying His words with mind of Christ.)
  2. As he is pure, so we will purify ourselves too - 1Jn 3:2-4 KJV  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  (3)  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.  (4)  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
  3. As He is love, so we will love too - 1Jn 4:16-21 KJV  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.  (17)  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.  (18)  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.  (19)  We love him, because he first loved us.  (20)  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?  (21)  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
  4. As He is righteous, so we will do righteous too - 1Jn 3:7-12 KJV  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. ..  (10)  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.  (11)  For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another ..  (17) But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  (18)  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. .. (21)  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  (22)  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.  (23)  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.  (24)  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. (John did not say that we should just believe on the name of Jesus only; but he said, Believe AND love one another. And he that keepeth His commandment dwelleth in Him and He in him. This is what John meant, As He is, so are we to keep His commandments; not to just prosper and become rich. If you can tell people that they are saved to prosper, to reign, or to bless others, why can't we tell others that they are saved to keep God's commandments, to turn from their sins, and to do good too ?)
I will tell them, Please read all the Bible verses above again. Do you still think that to obey means to hope, to believe, to trust in God’s grace, and just to do nothing? Do you think that God would consider it obedience if He has no more laws for you to do or obey ? No, if there is no more law for you to obey, there is no more meaning for obedience, and you would become the law yourselves, and you would become lawless like Satan in the eyes of God also. 

The Bible said, We believe and obey; not we believe or obey
  • 1Jn 2:3-7 KJV  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  (4)  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  (5)  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.  (6)  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.  (7)  Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning ... (1Jn 5:13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
John has just said clearly that He would not want us to believe only; but to keep God's commandments too. It's because John knew that Jesus would not want us to believe only. Jesus would want us to believe AND obey. He wants us to believe AND repent too. He would not want us to just 'believe in His obedience' and do nothing:
  • He wants us to believe 'in His obedience' so that we will obey more. 
  • He wants us to believe in His keeping of God's commandments so that we will keep the law of God in our hearts and mind too. 
  • He wants us to believe in His teaching of repentance so that we will turn from sins. 
If it is ridiculous to tell people that by Christ's repentance, we do not need to repent any more, it is equally absurd to tell the believers that by Christ's obedience, we do not need to obey any more. No, this is not the true interpretation of Rom 5:19. The correct interpretation, which does not contradict the teaching of the Lord, is: By Christ's obedience, we will still obey and keep God's commandments:
  • Rom 5:19 KJV  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous ... Rom 6:1-2 KJV What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  (2)  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ... (12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  (13)  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.  (14)  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.  (15)  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.  (16)  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  (17)  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  (18)  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.  (19)  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.  (20)  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  (21)  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  (22)  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. ... Rom 7:23-25 KJV  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  (24)  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  (25)  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin .. Rom 8:2 KJV  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
When Paul said, God forbid - it means a clear commandment not to sin, a commandment not to sin with grace, and a commandment to still honour our parents with grace:
  • 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.
  • Rom 13:9-14 KJV  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ..(13) Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  (14)  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
 It is still a commandment to obey the ten commandment too. 
  • 2Pe 2:1-22 KJV  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  (2)  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  (3)  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not  ...  (18)  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.  (19)  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.  (20)  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  (21)  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  (22)  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

The Bible said, God will judge us based on His words; not based on our thoughts
They will argue, "Rom 5:19 has clearly said that By Christ's obedience, we are made righteous. Is it by our obedience? No. I would think that we should interpret it further to say that by Christ's thought or obedience, we are made righteous. The thoughts of Jesus are all righteous. Therefore, God will not judge us based on our thoughts any more; but by Christ's thought or obedience.. That's why we can say that we are made righteous by Christ's obedience, not by our obedience. There is no more obedience for us, no more law for us, no more self-effort, no more repentance of dead works, no more 'do good get good' principles, no more judgement, no more condemnation if you don't this.. and that .. Don't you think that this is too good to be true. Yes, of course, this is the true gospel .. Haha, Heihei.. and we are not ashamed to preach the grace gospel or the revolution .."
I will tell them, You said that you are righteous because as He is so are you and this is what you think. However, the Bible tells us that God will judge us based on His words and commands, not just based on our thoughts or Christ thoughts alone. I think you need to read the Bible all over again.
They will say, "But don't you agree that we are not perfect? That's why we would preach Jesus as the perfect servant. We can prove to you that Jesus was the perfect servant according to the gospel of Mark..."
I will tell them, No, Jesus has shown you that He is not only a perfect servant but an obedient servant. Please think, If Jesus Christ has set the example for you to be an obedient servant, what would He tell you to do as an obedient servant ? Of course, it is to obey and do the commandments of God. Hence, the real teaching of Jesus Christ for us as He is the perfect servant is: As He is the perfect servant (or obedient servant), so are we. As Christ do, so we do also.
  • Joh 13:12-17 KJV  So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?  (13)  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.  (14)  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.  (15)  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.  (16)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.  (17)  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

The Bible said Jesus was the perfect servant for us to follow
The Bible did not say that Jesus was the perfect servant to serve us; but the perfect example for us to follow and to obey like Him:
  • Php 2:2-8 KJV  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  (3)  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  (4)  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  (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 them, What's the point if you keep preaching that Jesus is the perfect servant or the great servant when you yourselves would not repent, put on His mind, obey, believe, and do all His words. Yes, I know that the gospel of Mark depicted Jesus as the perfect servant. However, if you preach that Jesus is the perfect servant, what is your 'perfect' intention ? Do you preach Him as the perfect servant (for you):
  1. because He serves you so that you can reign like a king ? or
  2. because He shows you the example of being an obedient servant so that you will serve as an obedient servant also ? 
However, if you think that He is the perfect servant for you because of the first reason, something is wrong with your Bible. You would need to read your Bible again.
However, if you think that He is the perfect servant for you because of the second reason, do you think further, Why would He want to set Himself as the perfect servant ? Of course, it is because He wants you to serve. If He wants you to serve, He would want you to serve with obedience or to serve as an obedient servant. Hence, obedience is still required from us. How can you tell others that there is no more obedience and no more commands for us ? If there is obedience from Christ, there is obedience from us. There is God's commandment for us too. Hence, teaching that there is no more obedience or no more God's commandment for us because of Christ's obedience is certainly a lie. I think that the 'effortless' or the 'do nothing' doctrine with no more law or no more obedience for us (which tries to convince us that walking with the Lord is always 'effortless' and 'no sweat') can never blend very well with the Lord's teaching. In fact, it contradicts radically and contentiously against all the Lord's teaching. Please be honest, Don't you think that it is very hypocritical to tell everyone that to serve others as a perfect servant is just to serve 'effortlessly', to serve without any effort, or to serve with 'no sweat' attitude ? I find it disgusting to tell the lie that we do need to serve and do anything for the Lord as God's servants. How can we call ourselves God's servants if we do not want to serve ? Can we just remove all the Bible verses which tell us to serve as God's servants and interpret that God can only tell us to reign like kings ? No, I would rather tell people honestly that they would have to make great sacrifice to obey and to walk with Christ, than hide the words of the Lord from them and give them our own promises instead:
  • Luk 14:25-35 KJV  And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,  (26)  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  (27)  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.  (28)  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  (29)  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,  (30)  Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.  ..  (33)  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.  (34)  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?  (35)  It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Jesus was the perfect servant who obeyed God's commandments. How about you ?
Do you obey His words? They will argue, "Jesus would never say the above to us; He had said it only to the Jews and those who were under the law. Please think, We are not under the law. We are modern men who have works and family. How can we hate our parents, forsake everything, and follow Him. If you believe this kind of absurd law teaching or commandment teaching, please sell all that you have and give it to me.."
I will tell them, If you cannot do it or understand it, that does not mean that it is not for you. Of course, Jesus did not mean it literally; but certainly He meant it figuratively. Please don't argue like a moron. Do you think that Jesus would ask everybody to find a real wooden cross and carry it ? Of course, not. If you know that you are not supposed to mean it literally, I trust that you can figure it out yourselves on how we ought to 'take up our cross', 'hate our parents', and 'forsake all that we have', and to follow Him. However, if you cannot do it, please don't teach others to do nothing and ignore all the teaching of the Lord. Doing so would be equivalent to denying the Lord and His words even though you may keep calling His name and arguing that you have preached many wonderful words in the name of the Lord:
  • Joh 6:60-66 KJV  Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?  (61)  When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?  (62)  What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?  (63)  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  (64)  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.  (65)  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.  (66)  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
  • Joh 14:23-25 KJV  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.  (25)  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
  • Mat 7:15-24 KJV  .. (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:

Why are you called the servants of righteousness ? 
I will tell them, Since you think that the teaching of Christ has been taken over by the teaching of Paul, we will move from the teaching of the Lord in the gospel of Matt and John to the teaching of Paul (although I know that Paul must still follow all the teaching of Christ). Let us now look at the letters of Paul about the servant of righteousness:
  • Rom 6:15-22 KJV  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.  (16)  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  (17)  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  (18)  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.  (19)  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.  (20)  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  (21)  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  (22)  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
I will tell them, If Paul had confessed to us that he was still having the struggles of sins in his flesh or in his mind (Rom 7:14-25), he would never think that confessing our sins or confessing our struggles of sins will make us sin even more. On the contrary, confession of our sins will give us the courage to confront the problem honestly and to make humble and conscious effort to obey and to yield ourselves to the righteousness of God.   
Do you know why we are called the servants of righteousness ? Before we try to answer the question, just answer this question honestly: Why didn't Paul say that we are the kings or priests of righteousness ? I know that we will be made unto God kings and priests in Rev 1:6 and 5:10 but it has a different meaning. We will come to that later. But now why are we called the servants of righteousness and not the kings of righteousness ? What is the difference between a servant of righteousness and a king of righteousness ? I don't think we need a rocket scientist to know it:
  • A servant of righteousness is someone who obey and do righteousness. That's why Paul said in (v16), ".. Ye are to whom ye obey". However, if you are a servant of sin, you would do sin. You would be under the bondage of sin as you yielded the members of your body to sin (v20).
  • A king of righteousness on the other hand is someone who will not need to obey to be righteous. He is the righteousness. He can make others righteous. He is the source of righteousness to those who are the servants of righteousness. Hence, I don't think anyone of us can take His place. There is only one who can be called the king of righteousness. Jesus Christ
We may be like the king of righteousness but we are not above the king of righteousness because we are the servant of righteousness. If we are the servant of righteousness, we obey righteousness or the king of righteousness. Joh 13:12-17 KJV  So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?  (13)  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.  (14)  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.  (15)  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.  (16)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.  (17)  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Now, how do we obey righteousness or show our obedience unto the king of righteousness ? We simply do His righteousness or yield our members to do His righteousness. Isn't this what Paul have said in Rom 6:15-22 above ? He said in (v22) ".. ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life" because you have become a servant of God or a servant of righteousness. However, it would be ridiculous if we tell the people that to be a servant of righteousness we will just need to think of righteousness, confess righteousness, assume righteousness, or repetitively confess the following Bible verse or any Bible verse which has "the righteousness of God" without asking them to do righteousness or to be a servant of righteousness:
  • 2Co 5:21 KJV  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
I will ask them, Are you made the righteousness of God with the command of not to do any righteousness ? If not, please don't give such command to any sinners who would only want to believe and do nothing and confess that they are the righteousness of God. Even the king of righteousness, Jesus Christ, will do righteousness and become the example of righteousness for us:
  • 1Jn 3:7 KJV  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous... (10) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 
  • Joh 13:12-17 KJV  ..(15)  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.  (16)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.  (17)  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Today many believers still think that they are the king of righteousness, prince of grace, or prince of peace. They will say, "What's the problem ? We are the little Prince or little God who are like Jesus. As He is the righteousness, so are we. As He is peace, so are we. We are made like Him. Do you remember the donkey that Jesus rode into Jerusalem before He was crucified ? Yes, of course, Jesus got the glory, so did the donkey. We are like that donkey who will get the glory because we serve the King too. Jesus will never feel insecure and think that we can rob His glory .."
I will tell them, The problem is not whether you can steal the glory; the problem is what kind of impression you want to give to the people. If you give the sinners the impression that you are the 'little' king of righteousness or the 'little' prince of grace, you will become their 'little' idol as they think that you would help them to receive more righteousness or more grace. You become like a 'little' god to them. You may be so puffed up that you would think that you are no more a servant of righteousness; but a little 'God' of righteousness who would never need to do any righteousness.

::

No comments:

Post a Comment