Is it lawful to do good, or to do evil ?

1. Is it lawful to do good (or teach others to do good) under the law ?
Jesus had asked the Pharisees the above question in Mar 3:4 even though they might think that they had God's law. The Lord will still ask the radical grace preachers the same question too, irregardless of whether they may think that they have God's law in their hearts and mind (Heb 8:10).

Please think, If Jesus said to the Pharisees bluntly that it was lawful to do good, wouldn't there be still law to do good too ? Of course, yes. This is not only common sense; but also God's truth and God's law. The Lord had spoken and shown the Jews and the Pharisees that it was always God's law to do good (see more Bible verses below). Please think, If there is a law to do good, it means that: There is also a requirement for us to do good and teach others to do good too; whether it be our inner law, spiritual law, unspoken law, or God's law. It will bear witness with us of Christ when the law of the Spirit is revealed:

• 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.
• 1Jn 5:2-9 KJV  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.  (3)  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.  (4)  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  (5)  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?  (6)  This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.  (7)  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  (8)  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.  (9)  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

Hence, Jesus would never destroy God's law to do good or make it of none effect.

• Mat 5:17-20 KJV  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  (18)  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  (19)  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. (Jesus did not preach the covenant of grace or Himself to supercede or destroy the law of God; instead Jesus preached repentance - because no one is too righteous to repent and to do and to keep the law of God; including the Pharisees. 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.)

However, the Pharisees would always make God's law of none effect by giving the false impression to the people that they were not required to do God's law:

• Mat 15:5-12 KJV  But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;  (6)  And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.  (7)  Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,  (8)  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  (9)  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.  (10)  And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:  (11)  Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.  (12)  Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
• Mar 7:9-13 KJV  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.  (10)  For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:  (11)  But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.  (12)  And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;  (13)  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. 

Those who hate God's law would argue, "No, Jesus did not say, 'Is it lawful to do good, in Mar 3:4?' but He said, 'Is it right to do good..' in another Bible translation. Hence, Jesus did not tell us to do any law or God's law .."
I will tell them, Will you feel better just because you think that Jesus said, It was right to do good or it was 'lawless' (has no law) to do good ? No, you will still have to do God's law whether you like it or not, because to do right or to do good is always in God's law. Just ask ourselves, How do we, or Adam and Eve, know what is right or wrong? Isn't it by God's command or God's words ? Hence, when Jesus asked, "Is it right to do good .., or to do evil ?", He had actually asked the question based on God's law and commandment too !

• Joh 1:17 KJV  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
• 2Co 3:6-7 KJV  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  (7)  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
• Gal 3:10 KJV  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Hence, under the law - the old covenant, the Jewish law, or the law of stones which was given by Moses (Joh 1:17, 2Co 3:6-7), the Jews were strongly required to do all the works of the law to fulfil the law (Gal 3:10). But, under grace or God's law which came by Jesus, both the Jews and all of us are strongly required to do good to all men (see the parable of the good Samaritan in Mat 25:34-42 and more Bible verses from the Lord below).   

2. Is it lawful to do good (or teach others to do good) under grace or God's law ? 
Many will argue, "Of course, it is lawful to do good and we will never dispute with anyone who want to do good. But we are no more under any law including God's law to do good, or to love God; it is now God who will love us. We have no more law to do good or do anything; we have only grace under the New Covenant to do nothing, to maintain an effortless state of our mind and life .."
I will tell them, Of course, we are not required to do the law or the works of the law which fulfilled the law. Firstly, we cannot do the works of the law even if we want to because we are not the Jews. Secondly, the works of the law were referred to the works which the Jews must do to justify themselves.

• 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.

Now many radical grace preachers would interpret with this Bible passage that, therefore, they are not required to do any work including God's laws and good works. Is it true. No, it is a lie. If we do not read the Bible, we would be deceived by their radical interpretations on Galatians which are quoted out of the Bible context. Firstly, we are not the Jews. Secondly, we have never received the law. Thirdly, Jesus has clearly told us that it is lawful to do good works. In another words, we are required to do God's laws and good works even if it is against the law of Sabbath, the law of the Old Covenant, or our legitimate laws. God's laws to do good and to help others would supercede all the works of the law which previously or currently served the laws of any covenants:

• Mar 3:1-4 KJV  And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.  (2)  And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.  (3)  And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.  (4)  And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
• Luk 6:8-11 KJV  But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.  (9)  Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?  (10)  And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.  (11)  And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
• Mat 25:34-42 KJV  .. (37)  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? ..(40)  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.  (41)  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  (42)  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink..

Hence, nothing can supercede God's law to do good, not even the effortless grace, 'pure' grace, radical grace, lawless grace, or the 'most most glorious' grace too. If we use any kind of grace teaching to supercede God's law, God will supercede us !

• 1Co 3:14-20 KJV  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  (15)  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.  (16)  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  (17)  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.  (18)  Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.  (19)  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.  (20)  And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. (We are holy because the Spirit of the law of God is in us. But if we defile or reject that Spirit, we are no longer in Christ)
• Luk 10:29-37 KJV  But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?  (30)  And Jesus answering said, A certain man ..  (36)  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?  (37)  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
  

Hence, today if we see a Pharisees under the law or a preacher under grace who would not stop by to help others in need, he may not a genuine believer in Christ. If he goes further by arguing with everyone and stopping everyone from doing good which becomes his law teaching, effortless teaching, or grace teaching, his teaching is not under any God's covenant; he could have been under false delusion and religious hypocrisy. He is certainly not under any God's laws; he could be under the error of the lawless prophesied by Paul:

• 2Pe 3:9-18 LITV  The Lord of the promise is not slow, as some deem slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not having purposed any to perish, but all to come to repentance.  (10)  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with rushing sound, and having burned the elements will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be burned up.  (11)  Then all these being about to be dissolved, of what sort ought you to be in holy behavior and godliness,  .. (14)  Because of this, beloved, looking for these things, be diligent, spotless, and without blemish, to be found in peace by Him.  (15)  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. 

3. Is it lawful to do good (or teach others to do good) under the Spirit of the law (Rom 8:1-5) ? 
They will always argue, "No, you have misunderstood us. You have falsely accused us. How can we be lawless although we preach that grace has no law, no repentance of sins, no moral codes of conducts, no do's and don'ts to do good, and no judgement. Yes, we did emphasize and preach pure grace, we preach no mixture of law and grace, we preach effortless prosperity, and we tell people that there no need to keep the ten commandments or any do's and don'ts. But we still tell them to live like Christ or prosper like Christ. As He is, so are we .. Hence, we still have the law of Christ. It is not the law to do good and do, do, do.. but it is the law of effortless success; it is the law to do nothing, the law to rest, the law to get, get, get or the law to be blessed !"
I will tell them, If this is your law, you are still lawless under lawlessness like the Pharisees. The Pharisees were 'lawless' in the eyes of God even though they might have many laws.

• Mat 23:27-29 LITV  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened graves which outwardly indeed appear beautiful, but within are full of bones of the dead, and of all uncleanness.  (28)  So you also indeed outwardly appear righteous to men, but within are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.  (29)  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the righteous.
• Mat 7:22-24 LITV  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many works of power?  (23)  And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; "depart from Me, those working lawlessness!" Psa. 6:8  (24)  Then everyone who hears these Words from Me, and does them, I will compare him to a wise man who built his house on the rock;
• Mat 13:40-41 LITV  Then as the darnel is gathered and is consumed in the fire, so it will be in the completion of this age.  (41)  The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all the offenses, and those who practice lawlessness.
• Mat 24:11-12 LITV  And many false prophets will be raised and will cause many to err.  (12)  And because lawlessness shall have been multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold.

The Lord would consider us lawless too if we would just talk about many laws eg. our own laws or even the law of Christ; but do nothing. The Pharisees and false prophets were definitely considered as the lawless ones in the above Bible verses because they preached many laws without doing them. They might do the works of the laws and many laws but they have all missed the law of the Spirit that would teach them to do good and help the needy. They might even boast about the works of the law but they had no fruit of the law or the Spirit of the law of God:

• 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.
• Rom 8:1-5 KJV  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  (2)  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  (3)  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  (4)  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  (5)  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (Jesus Christ was sent to fulfil the law so that we have the Spirit of God's law to do God's laws. However, if we do not walk by the law of the Spirit to do good and to produce the fruit, we would be condemned.)
• Gal 5:22-25 KJV  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  (23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  (24)  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  (25)  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (It should not be misinterpreted as 'no more law'. But here it actually says, There is no other law which can replace the law of the Spirit, to do God's law and do good, with fruits.)
• Eph 5:5-11 KJV  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  (6)  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.  (7)  Be not ye therefore partakers with them.  (8)  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:  (9)  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)  (10)  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.  (11)  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 
• Mat 3:8-11 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.  (10)  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  (11)  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Many radical grace preachers argued that the opposite of the law is the Spirit and vice versa or the opposite of the Spirit is Law. Why would they interpret this ? They did this so that people would not do any God's laws and commandments, except their laws, their grace confession, their righteousness confession, or their mind changing philosophies. I will tell them, No, that's not the Spirit of the law. No, the opposite of the Spirit is not law but lawlessness and walking in the flesh and the desires of lawlessness. Obviously, all your own laws and mind changing doctrines have twisted and changed God's laws and commandments so that you would only keep the laws which you love and benefit yourselves eg. the law of rest or the law of doing no more law or doing nothing. However, you are like the Pharisees who would only keep the works of the law or the forms of the law without the Spirit eg. their law of circumcision, law of rest, law of Sabbath,.. etc, and doing nothing ! They did not know the Spirit of the law of God in all those laws. They were hypocrites because they would only want to preach the law that they liked.

• 2Ti 3:1-10 KJV  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  (6)  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,  (7)  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  (8)  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.  (9)  But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.  (10)  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, ...
• ...  2Ti 3:14-17 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  (15)  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (Hence, the law of doing good is still under the law of the Spirit of God and no one can dispute against the law of God, no matter how 'snaky' he is !) 

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