Is there law after grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17)?

The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17)
Most preachers who want to preach grace radically would know this Bible verse. Of course, it is all right to quote this Bible verse to preach more about grace. But if our motive or intention of preaching it is just to preach against God's laws and commandments, we have quoted it out of context. When the gospel of John says that the law was given by Moses .., does it mean that we have no more law or commandment from God? No, if that is the spirit or intent of the gospel, it will not tell us to keep God's commandments in John chapter 14 and 15.
Before I explore further on how most radical grace preachers have used this Bible verse to preach against God's laws or commandments, let us read it again:    

• Joh 1:16-23 KJV  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. .. (19)  And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? ..  (23)  He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Now let us set the record straight once and for all. Does it mean that all the law was given by Moses? Of course, not. I may not be certain which law or how many laws were given by Moses; but, I am very certain that not all the laws were given by Moses.


There are two main types of laws
Let us not argue whether the Ten Commandments were given by God or Moses now (I will discuss more about it next time). However, we can know clearly that there are laws given by God, laws given by Moses, laws given by Christ, and laws given by men. To simplify matters, we would not want to talk about the laws given by men; we talk about the laws given by God. The laws given by God, Moses, or Christ, an be classified into two main categories:

1. The law about Christ (or the law which reveals about the coming of Christ)
2. and, The law of Christ (or the law which is taught by Christ)

Please think, Which type of law can be obsolete?
Of course, the first type of the law, the law about Christ (or the law of Moses which mirrored the Lord's death, sacrifice, and ministry) could be obsolete after Christ has fulfilled the law.

• Joh 12:33-34 KJV  This he said, signifying what death he should die.  (34)  The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
• Luk 24:44-48 KJV  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  (45)  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  (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. (Many preachers would preach only the first part of the truth that the law about Christ has been fulfilled. But this will open the eyes of the people only partially if we do not show them that the fulfilment of the law about Christ is to lead us to keep the law of Christ or the doctrine of Christ, with repentance. We should never omit the latter part of the truth in the gospel of Jesus Christ in v47)  
   

However, the second type of the law, the law of Christ, can never become obsolete
Of course, this is common sense; but it is also the truth. If grace and truth came by Jesus Christ; but His words or His law will become obsolete, how can we still believe in grace and truth that is taught by Jesus Christ? Hence, when we preach that grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, we must preach the law of Christ and show the believers that it can never be obsolete; but that it must be in the hearts and mind of all the believers too.

• Rom 7:21-25 KJV  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (23) 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. (Unlike the non-believers, all believers of Christ have now the law of Christ in their mind. But another law which is already in the life of all the sinners will keep warring against the law of Christ in our mind - it is the law of sin in the flesh or the old man. It is not subject to the law of God)
• Rom 8:2-10 KJV  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.  (6)  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  (7)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  (9)  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  (10)  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
• 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.
• Gal 6:2-9 KJV  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.  (3)  For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.  (4)  But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.  (5)  For every man shall bear his own burden.  (6)  Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.  (7)  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. (Hence, under the law of Christ, of course, it is not just believing or doing nothing)
• Php 2:5-8 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. (Hence, the law of Christ will always start from our mind and it will always remind us of the cross)
• 1Pe 4:1-6 KJV  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;  (2)  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.  (3)  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:  (4)  Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:  (5)  Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.  (6)  For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
• 1Pe 1:13-17 KJV  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  (14)  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  (15)  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  (16)  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  (17)  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: .. (23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever .. (25)  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.(Hence, this is the law of Christ; this is grace.. this is the gospel that we should preach)

The law of Christ will show us that we must be doers of God's words
We now know that the law of Christ is not just believing only; there are laws too. In fact, there are many parables, sayings, words, teachings, doctrine, principles, and commandments of Jesus Christ too.

• Heb 6:1-3 KJV  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  (2)  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  (3)  And this will we do, if God permit.
• Mat 7:24-28 KJV 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: .. (28) And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:  (29)  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
• 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.
• Joh 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.  (11)  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.  (12)  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.  (13)  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  (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.
• Mat 4:4 KJV  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
• Mat 7:21 KJV  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.
• Joh 8:25-32 KJV  Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.  (26)  I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.  (27)  They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.  (28)  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.  (29)  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.  (30)  As he spake these words, many believed on him.  (31)  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  (32)  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

The law of Christ is based on the words of the Father
Hence, it is clear to us that the words, sayings, and law of Christ are still based on the words, commandments, and will of God the Father. The law of Christ will never tell us to be hearer of God's words only; but doers of God's words. It can never be just believing only. When the gospel of John (Jn 3:16) told us that for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish .., it did not mean believing Him as the Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour, or God only; it meant believe what He said, believe His words, or believe His commandments. When we believe what He said, naturally we would do His words. This is grace too. It is because only those who truly know grace or have grace can hear His voice, follow Him, and do His words:

• Joh 10:25-30 KJV  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.  (26)  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.  (27)  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  (28)  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  (29)  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.  (30)  I and my Father are one.
• Luk 14:27 KJV  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
• Joh 8:30-32 KJV  As he spake these words, many believed on him.  (31)  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  (32)  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
• Joh 13:35 KJV  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
• Joh 15:8-11 KJV  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.  (9)  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.  (10)  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.  (11)  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

If we know that we are sinners, we know that there is God's law 
Hence, all these show that there is law in Christ. When we quote John 1:17 The law is given by Moses; but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, we could never use it prove that there is no more law in Christ. On the contrary, it shows that there is law and grace in Christ (but, of course, there is no more law of Moses).

A true believer who repents and confesses his sins knows God's laws
Please think, Why do we have to confess that we are the sinners or that we have sins before we accept Jesus Christ? It is because we need grace, and only when we know that we are the sinners, can we know the great value of grace. But why must we confess that we are the sinners? Why are we sinners? Is it because we are born sinners without any reasons? No, there must be a reason why we are born sinners. Is it because we are Adam's descendants? Yes, all the descendants of Adam are sinners. But what's the real reason? Hence, we must still go back to the root problem of sin: Why are all the descendants of Adam considered as sinners? In short, it is because Adam sinned - Adam sinned against God by disobedience, and disobedience would be meaningless if there is no law or commandment.

• 1Jn 3:3-5 KJV  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.  (5)  And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

Hence, it is ridiculous if we confess that we are the sinners; but deny that there is law. It is impossible to preach the gospel of repentance by telling the people that they are the sinners and that they can just change their minds, without telling them that there is God's law and that they have transgressed against God's law through Adam. However, if the sinners know that they have transgressed against God's law, they will know the value of grace and know why they need to repent. They will be born again with a heart and mind to keep the law of God conscientiously by the Spirit of God (with the mind of Christ to abide and continue in the words and the law of Christ). Yes, they may still fall or feel wretched like Paul. They may still need to war against the lawless flesh or the lustful desires of  'the sinful man', but they will be saved under the grace of God. When they keep the law of God, they will always be kept under the grace of God.  

A true believer, who do God's will, will still obey God's laws
Please think again, How do we know that a believer did not sin after he believed and became a true believer of Christ? Is it because he always confess that he is the righteousness of God? Is it because he never confess that he is a sinner or because he keep thinking and preaching that he is righteous? No. Is it because he did good works, prophesied, cast out demons, or preached the goodnews? No, we know that he did not sin because he obeyed God's commandments or he did the will of God ! If he did many things for God, but still disobeyed (like king Saul), how can we say that he did not sin? Hence, a true believer must still obey God's laws, besides doing good works, casting out demons, and preaching the words of God. He would not think, "Since I have committed adultery, sinned, or broken one law, it does not matter if I break all the laws of God." Instead, he will just keep on keeping the law of God no matter how many times he failed or how many laws he has broken.That is the true spirit of a believer, given by the Spirit of Christ.

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What do we say about the Ten Commandments?

What do we say about the Ten Commandments?
I am not interested to preach the Ten Commandments as the gospel. The Ten Commandment is not the gospel. However, they are the words of God. Like the love of God, peace, joy, patience, goodness, faithfulness, meekness .., the words of God or the sword of the Spirit helps the believers in many ways. Many ignorant believers classify or mistaken the Ten Commandments as the law of Moses, the Mosaic law, the Old Covenant, or the law of death. Well, I won't waste my time arguing with the ignorant who insist that all the laws and covenants of God are useless.  Of course, we are not required to keep the Old Covenant now. However, when we compare it with the New Covenant, we can still learn something from it. Under the Old Covenant, the names of all the tribes were engraved on the ephod and breastplates of the high priest; however, under the New Covenant, the laws of God are engraved on hearts of the believers. Both covenants show the beautiful pictures of the love of God to His people and the love of His people to Him. But this pictures of love could become ugly when the preachers of either covenants are corrupted with lawlessness or crafty motives.  

Hence, if there are crafty preachers who capitalize on the controversy between the old and the new covenants so that they can falsely accuse God's preachers who still do and  teach the law and principles of God faithfully and correctly under the new covenant, we should question them on how well they know about the Ten Commandments or God's commandments? I would ask them on what basis they preach that the Ten Commandment are the law of Moses and therefore the commandments are not applicable to the believers under the new covenant? If the commandments are not applicable, why did Paul still teach the believers about them in Eph 6:1-3 and Rom 13:9-10? Hence, if we must be accurate about our biblical stand on the Ten Commandments or the law of Moses, we can say that the law of Moses is obsolete; but not the Ten Commandments which are still the basic principles and commandments in the doctrine of Christ and faith in Christianity, for eg. We worship God and love God; not the idols. We still keep the law of God and Christ to love our parents, our wives, and others too; however, we do not follow the law of Moses (or the covenant) to circumcise ourselves and sacrifice animals:

• 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 ... (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: .. (27)  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.  (28)  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;  (29)  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

        




God's words or commandments may not save like grace; but we cannot live without the words or commandments of God (Mat 4:4)   
Compared with the traditional grace preachers, modern grace preachers (those who claim that they preach better grace or pure grace today) are very much aggressive against the teaching of the Ten Commandments or God's commandments. However, they preach it with a perverted basis that any law, commandments, or do's and don'ts, are hindrances to the preaching of their radical grace doctrine, effortless prosperity, or revolution. They claim that it will mix law and grace and stop the people from thinking of pure grace. But I think that this is nonsense. If thinking of God's laws, God's commandments, or God's words will corrupt their so-called 'pure grace', God would be unjust to give any law, command, or word to Adam in the first place.
Hence, I would think that, contrary to the philosophy of 'pure grace' or 'radical grace' preachers, thinking and understanding of God's laws and words should bring us closer to the grace of God; but departing from them will only separate us from God and His grace. Thinking and meditating on God's laws and words should make us understand more on God's way, God's will, men's sins, and the need for men to repent:  

• Psa 1:1-6 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.  (3)  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.  (4)  The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.  (5)  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  (6)  For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
• Luk 24:44-48 KJV  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  (45)  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  (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. (These Bible verses show us that we still teach God's doctrine based on what Jesus said; not entirely on what Paul preached or the gospel that Paul preached, as vehemently argued by the radical grace preachers)

The glory of the Lord will appear again (in the ark, in the temple, or in us)
Yes, the glory of Adam was forfeited (Gen 3:7, Psa 8:5), the glory on the face of Moses had faded, and the glory of the Old Testament has also disappeared with the loss of the ark of covenant, the tablets of the testimony, the manna, and the rod. But it does not mean that the glory or the commandment of God has become obsolete. It is because the glory of the ark, the commandment, or the word will still shine again (Heb 8:10,10:16) when every prophecy of God for the church is fulfilled in the end time in the book of Revelation:

• Rev 11:19 KJV  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
• Mat 17:2 KJV  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
• 2Co 3:1-8 KJV  Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?  (2)  Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:  (3)  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. .. (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:  (8)  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? ..
• Heb 8:10-13 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: .. (12)  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.  (13)  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (When God's laws are in our hearts or mind, there is grace - because God will be merciful to our unrighteousness, and .. )

1. Jesus is the Lord of Sabbath - He is the law of Sabbath too
Jesus came and fulfilled everything in God's words, including God's laws and commandments, not to abolish them, but to made them become more established. Hence, He did not abolish the law of Sabbath; He became the law Himself.

• Luk 6:5-6 KJV  And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.  (6)  And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

Hence, all those who believe in Him do not just keep His laws physically, but more so spiritually. We do not just worship God once a week ('physically' in our churches) in our rest day; we worship God in our rest everyday 'spiritually'. Jesus showed us that we do not keep the law of Sabbath by doing nothing; instead He showed us that we keep His law of 'Sabbath' or rest by doing more:

• Luk 13:15-17 KJV  The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?  (16)  And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?  (17)  And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
• Rom 3:31 KJV  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

2. Jesus fulfilled the Words so that we will not just keep them physically or superficially, but spiritually
God gave us the Ten Commandments called the Decalogue (the 'Ten Words'). If Jesus has fulfilled the law of Sabbath in the Decalogue, He fulfilled every word in it. For example, the Commandments tell us not to make for ourselves any physical idol or carved image of any likeness (Exodus20:2-17); but Jesus said that we cannot make for ourselves any spiritual idol of any form, including mammon (Mat 6:24,Luk16:13) and self (Joh 12:24):

• Luk 16:13-15 KJV  No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.  (14)  And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.  (15)  And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
• Joh 12:23-25 KJV  And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.  (24)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.  (25)  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

3. Jesus fulfilled the Words so that ..  
..

What Jesus did should wake us up to repentance
I don't have time to explain every word or every commandment that Jesus has fulfilled in the Decalogue. But the two examples of the commandments above will show clearly why the Ten Commandments have been fulfilled by the Lord, not to make us rest and 'sleep' without any law of God, but to make us rest and keep the laws of God more 'fruitfully'.
We have seen many explanation and definition of the Ten Commandments as 'the Decalogue' (or the 'Ten Words' in English). But do we know that the Ten Commandments can be explained and shown more graphically and meaningfully in other languages too? For example,

The 'Decalogue' or the 'Ten Words' in English = the '十字' in Chinese translation.  

Hence, when Jesus was on the cross, He was on the 'Ten Words', the 'Decalogue', or the '十字架'. He died on the cross so that we will keep His commandments in our hearts. He is the Word who came in the flesh ..

• 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. .. (17) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (For the law or the Words were given by Moses .. but now the Words came by Jesus Christ. There is a big difference: last time the words were given from a distance; but now the Word is with us and in us!)
• 1Jn 4:2-3 KJV  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  (3)  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world ..
• 2Jn 1:7-11 KJV  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.  (8)  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.  (9)  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.  (10)  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:  (11)  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 

All the believers who repent will know the doctrine of Christ or what Jesus meant when He told us to carry our cross (unless we are stuck on the cross like the thief who could not do anything):

• Luk 14:27 KJV  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

However, when most of the radical grace or hyper grace preachers preach the death of Jesus Christ today, they do not see the cross that bear the death of Jesus; they see only the blood, the gory, and the 'drama' of how much blood will flow from the cross to cleanse their future sin or lawlessness. However, to me, it means nothing if we do not know, carry, or keep the cross or the commandments of the Lord. If we are not ready to carry our cross, we are not His disciples yet.
Today Jesus is not on the cross any more. He has risen from the dead. But He has left behind the cross, a very simple cross (or a simple command) that ..

• Mar 8:34-38 KJV  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  (35)  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.  (36)  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  (37)  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  (38)  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (I will tell those who argue vehemently that Jesus words were obsolete because they were said to the Jews under the law, The emphasis of the word 'Whosoever' above will show clearly that your argument or explanation is a lie.)

Jesus would never want us to do and teach like the Pharisees

Under the Old Testament, the Pharisees taught the commandments of God with the 'shortcut' and 'loophole' to avoid doing them, and accuse others for not doing like them:

• Mar 7:10-11 KJV  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.
• Joh 8:6-7 KJV  This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.  (7)  So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Under the New Testament, Jesus came and taught the commandments of God with the parables and illustrations to show us that we ourselves (including the Pharisees) must repent, and do and teach the commandments of God:

• Luk 10:25-37 KJV And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? .. (27) And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself .. (29) But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?  (30)  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves ..  (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.

However, in the end time, or today, we have no more Pharisees who still teach God's commandment with 'shortcut' and 'loophole' to avoid doing it; but we have many false prophets who will teach God's law with false doctrine, false law, or 'false grace' to avoid doing it. They may profess that they know Jesus, but Jesus will profess that He does not know them because they work lawlessness.

• Mat 7:23 KJV  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (lawlessness).

Working lawlessness is not limited only to doing lawlessness. 
Working lawlessness could mean loving, preaching, teaching, inventing, creating, entertaining, hiding, mixing, multiplying, or thinking 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.
• 2Th 2:7-10 LITV  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. (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. (Lawlessness can be a mystery. Many antinomian preachers will hide themselves. They are not obvious, but they are dangerous)

Many will argue, "No, we can never be lawless in our behaviours, thinking, or teaching. We still tell the people to confess that they are sinners. We still preach against sins. We preach that the wages of sin is death"

• Rom 6:20-23 KJV  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.  (23)  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I will tell them, Did you meditate or at least think, What is sin? Do you know that, if there is no transgression against God's law, there is no sin? Hence, if there is no law, there is no sin too. Hence, how can you preach against the wages of sins when you do not know or believe in the law of God? Hence, how can you say that you confess that you are sinners when there is no more law? If there is no more God's law, it makes no sense for you to preach that you are a sinner or that the wages of sin is death:

• 1Jn 3:3-4 LITV  And everyone having this hope on Him purifies himself even as that One is pure.  (4)  Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

Working lawlessness and doing righteousness are far apart
They will still argue, "But many believers associate righteousness with a list of things that they have to do .. But the Bible tells us in 2Cor 5:21 that God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. We are not righteous because we do right. You are righteous because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross!"
I will tell them, What you said is partial truth. Yes, Jesus did not give us a list of things that we have to do; He gave us no list. But it does not mean no list to do anything. On the contrary, it is no list to do more things. It is because we are no longer under the law which is limited by a list of things which we must do; it is now an invisible list which is under the Spirit of the law of Christ for those who do not walk in the flesh:

• Rom 8:1-10 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.  (6)  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  (7)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  (9)  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  (10)  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Please think, What kind of mind do you will have if you are in Christ? You will mind the the things of the Spirit, the things which please God, or the things which are in the will of God. It means that you must have the law of God in your mind, or else you cannot be subject to the law of God (v7) and walk in the law of the Spirit of Christ. However, if you are not prepared to do so, please don't say that you are thinking of the cross.)

Doing righteousness is keeping God's law or doing the will of God
They will still argue, "But God's commandments do not save; grace saves. We need the grace revolution .. If we break one commandment, we break all the commandments. That's why Jesus use the Ten Commandments to condemn the Pharisees so that no one need to keep any commandment to be righteous.. Jesus did not teach us to keep the commandments; He used the commandments to bring the people to the end of themselves so that they know that they can never and should never keep any law .."
I will tell them, Did Jesus say it? No, this is only your presumption. Jesus did not say it. Obviously you could have quoted it from the letter of James and change the spirit and the intent of it:

• Jas 2:8-11 KJV  If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:  (9)  But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.  (10)  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.  (11)  For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Please read the above again. Please read (v11) too. Can you say that you are really righteous because you've never committed adultery? No, James is saying, No one can boast that he is righteous just because he has never committed adultery or looked at another woman. But, if he killed or lied, he is still guilty of sin and he is still considered a sinner. In another words, no one can boast that he is righteous even if he kept all the law or behaved better than the Pharisees. The spirit or the teaching behind the letter of James chapter 2 is not to throw away the law of God; it is to know what is transgression of the law, who are the transgressors of the law, and why we must be humble enough to confess our sin or guilt if we do not keep God's law. If we read on, we should know the spirit and the intent of the letter - if we do not do the words of God, we can still be judged (even if we are the believers who 'believe'):

• Jas 2:12-20 KJV  So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.  (13)  For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.  (14)  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?  (15)  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,  (16)  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  (17)  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?

So, if we are bold enough to quote from the letter of James on God's law, we should be 'men' enough to admit that faith without works (or without doing the law of God) is dead too ! Many believers who believe can claim that they have kept all the law of God perfectly well through the work of Jesus Christ, but without work or doing it, it is a dead proclamation too! James compared those who believe without work to the devils who also believe. This should be clear enough to wake all those who insist that they are 'forever' saved, 'radically' saved, or 'effortless' saved even if they still think and live like the 'old man': 

• Eph 4:17-24 KJV  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,  (18)  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  (19)  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  (20)  But ye have not so learned Christ;  (21)  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  (22)  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  (23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  (24)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

God's words or God's laws may not save; but they can show and expose lawlessness 
I believe Paul would not give any radical promise to the believers who argue that they will enter heaven even if they have no work. Paul would rebuke them if they keep arguing and thinking that radical grace would cleanse all their past, present, and future sins, and that the Holy Spirit can never convict them of any sin. Yes, they may claim that they are the believers; but their arguing spirit has shown that they are not the true believers. They could have believed like Simon:

• Act 8:12-18 KJV But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.  (13)  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done .. (18) And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money .. (20)  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.  (21)  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.  (22)  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.  (23)  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.  (24)  Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. (If Simon, who thought, believed, and did, like a faithful believer, could be rebuked and asked to repent, anyone who thinks that he is a believer and that he could never fall needs to beware too.)

I will tell them, You said that God's commandments do not save; grace saves ..  Yes, I agree. But love does not save, peace does not save, joy does not save too .. Does it mean that there is no more love, no more peace, or no more joy? Does it mean that we cannot preach love, joy, or peace? No. Similarly, God's commandments do not save; but it does not mean that we do not have any God's commandment or we cannot teach any God's commandment.

• 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.

I love the grace revolution that was preached by Paul because it exposed the lawlessness and the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and those who were the law teachers; God's laws and covenant had become so corrupted by them that nobody could understand and follow the law - it became the ministry of death instead.
However, sadly the grace revolution today is not preached with the same purpose and intent that Paul had. It has been 'repackaged', not to reveal and condemned the lawlessness of the Pharisees or lawless men, but to remove all the law of God including the law of Christ. This type of revolution will not bring the people of God to a better covenant or the new covenant; it will bring them to more confusion and lawlessness instead.
     
     
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We don't need to see miracles to repent

We don't need to see miracles to repent

• Luk 16:27-31 LITV  And he said, Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father's house;  (28)  (for I have five brothers, so that he may witness to them, that they not also come to this place of torment).  (29)  Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them.  (30)  But he said, No, father Abraham, but if one should go from the dead to them, they will repent.  (31)  And he said to him, If they will not hear Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if one from the dead should rise.

We don't need anointed rich preachers to show us how to repent
Many preachers, especially the rich ones, said that the parable above is not applicable to them because both the rich man and Lazarus were Jews under the law. However, many preachers said so, because they are very rich. They mock at others and boast that they have more favours than their fellow preachers who preach the truth. They continue to enjoy their 'lamb' chops and increase of member 'sheep' while knowing and seeing other people's sheep running away because of their false doctrine. And they do nothing to stop the confusion or the 'ding dong bell' revolution caused by them. Instead, they continue to mock at the 'poor' preachers. I will ask the rich ones, If both the prodigal son and his elder brother in the parable were Jews, will you say that the parable is not applicable to you too? No, you will still need to repent if you behave like them, irrespective of whether you are the Jews or non-Jews, or whether you are a rich pastor, a rich lawyer, a rich son, or a rich man. We do not need to see what the rich man saw in hell to repent. Neither do we need the anointed preachers to seduce us or psych us to 'repent' or 'believe' like them. We should just simply repent based on the words of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour .. We and the true sheep will know what Jesus meant when He said, 'Repent, ..'

What is repentance?
Repentance is certainly not just doing something at our own convenience. It requires great effort, and sometimes sacrifice, to repent from the way we lived our lives. We can rest on the shoulder of the Great Shepherd only if we become the sheep, who obey all the words of Christ, like the one sinner that repenteth in the following parables:

• Luk 15:4-13 KJV  What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?  (5)  And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  (6)  And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.  (7)  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.  (8)  Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?  (9)  And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.  (10)  Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.  (11)  And he said, A certain man had two sons:  (12)  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.  (13)  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living ..

Obviously, Jesus was teaching about repentance in Luke 15 and 16. After the parable of the prodigal son, He talked about the covetousness of the Pharisees and men who worshipped mammon, and then the rich man who loved his riches so much so that he was blind to the suffering of Lazarus who died at the front of his house. In the rich man's case, he and his five greedy brothers should have repented by using their riches to help Lazarus and the poor. Hence, repentance is not just empty talks of love and belief on how much God loves us, favours us, or gives us grace. Repentance is a drastic spiritual change (or born again in Joh 3:7) which is normally accompanied by many changes too; it's not just physical change, mental change, mysterious change, or any change that no one can tell. Jesus told Nicodemus in Joh 3:8-12 that he and the unregenerated cannot tell (see) when and where the 'wind' blows; but those who are from Him know where the 'wind' (change) comes from; it comes from true repentance! Hence, if we are obedient to the Lord's call of repentance, we are most likely to have understood, and believed in Him, believed in what He preached, and believed in the gospel that He preached too:

• Mar 1:13-15 KJV  And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.  (14)  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,  (15)  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

We don't need to wait for the right season to preach and teach repentance
Many preachers, especially the rich ones, will say, "People will feel condemned if you do not preach carefully; it depends on what kinds of message you preach to them. If you preach repentance, they won't feel good; instead, they feel condemned. So, why do you keep talking about repentance? The real message today is not to tell the people to repent; it is to tell them how not to feel condemned. Hence, we should preach more on the goodness of God, for example, forgiveness, love, grace, blessings, healing, and prosperity. If people can see the goodness of God, the goodness of God will automatically teach them and lead them to a 'non-condemning repentance'. That's why the Bible says, Grace can teach (Tit 2:11-12). And we don't need to teach or preach. 
Do you know that there is a season for everything? In a few more days we will celebrate Christmas. But preaching of repentance is not appropriate for this joyous season.. it's because repentance is not the reason for Christmas .. Christmas is the season to celebrate, exchange gifts, make merries, eat, drink, and be happy because a son has been given to us .. Grace and supplies have come, but law and demand (judgement or commandment) has been removed from us .."
I will tell them, Preaching of repentance is the most appropriate message of the gospel for all seasons, especially Christmas. It is the main ministry of the Lord which has been passed on to His disciples:

• Luk 24:45-48 KJV  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  (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.

Yes, repentance is a drag to many like the rich man who saw Lazarus dying; but it is goodnews to the poor like Lazarus. It is condemnation to the rich preachers who are afraid to preach it; but it is the gospel to the disciples of Jesus Christ who know the true meaning of repentance. Repentance is the gospel !
I will tell them, You said that your 'Grace' can teach. But how can your 'Grace' teach if your 'Grace' has no doctrine? Did you read the Bible properly before you quoted from it? Please ask the people to read the whole chapter instead of giving them your 'bite-size' deception which you call nuggets of truth:

• Tit 2:1-15 KJV  But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:  (2)  That the aged men be sober, ..  (3)  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, ..  (4)  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, .. (6) Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.  (7)  In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,  (8)  Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; .. (9)  Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters,..  (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;  (13)  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  (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.

I don't know how you will read it. Perhaps, some may still insist that they do not have any doctrine to teach because they see only grace can teach above (in v11 and 12). However, I see the whole commandment of God to teach sound doctrine and repentance to all men, that 'we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (v12)' ..    

I will ask them, Do you really think that you are the rich ones because you are rich and others are jealous of you? I tell you, You are the blind ones if you refuse to repent:

• Rev 3:15-22 KJV  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  (17)  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  (18)  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  (19)  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  (20)  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  (21)  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.  (22)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Bible warning is applicable to all men at all time, and at all seasons;
otherwise, it would not be in the Bible. However, I have heard of one very ridiculous explanation from a famous radical grace preacher. He said, "What? You still preach about the warnings and tribulations from the book of Revelation which is full of dooms and glooms? No, we should not be around to know who is the beast, the false prophets, or the dragon. We should have been caught up in the rapture. Hence, the tribulations should be reserved only for the lawless, the ungodly, and the people who do not know grace.. Why? Please do a thorough search on the book of Revelation and you will find that the word 'churches' appears only in the first three chapters of Revelation. However, you won't find any churches mentioned again later in the rest of the chapters, until the last chapter or chapter 22 of Revelation. It means that the churches will grow from glory to glory. We will not need to know any beast, any false prophet, or any dragon because we are well-protected. We can just sleep and rest with the peace and assurance of God that no one can harm us or deceive us.. Hence, spiritual warfare does not mean much to us; it would only mean more 'fighting' to enter into the peace of God, to rest even more.. by the grace of God. Revelation 2 to Revelation 3 are not warnings for us; they were only obsolete warnings to the seven churches in the past. Our churches today and the churches in the future would never need any warning because they will become more and more glorious because of our 'revolution' and the goodness of God, Hallelujah, amen .."
I will tell him, It sounds very logical and encouraging. I like to enter the rest too. And I know which Bible verses you have quoted from:

• Heb 4:8-11 KJV  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.  (9)  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  (10)  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.  (11)  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

But how do we enter into that rest? Did you read the previous chapter in Heb 3?

• Heb 3:10-19 KJV  Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.  (11)  So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)  (12)  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.  (13)  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  (14)  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;  (15)  While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.  (16)  For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.  (17)  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?  (18)  And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?  (19)  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Hence, we fight against doubts or sins to enter into that rest. It means repentance too, by turning from an evil heart without deceitfulness of sin.
You said that you have searched the whole book of Revelation and concluded that the churches will not be around when the beast or the false prophet starts to give away the 'mark of the beast'. But have you read the following Bible verses in the book of Revelation?

• Rev 12:17 KJV  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Rev 14:12 KJV  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Please tell me, Are they the true believers of Jesus Christ? If they are the true believers of Jesus Christ and they are more than one, can we called them the churches of God? If there will be churches of God in chapter 12 - 14, all the more we need the warning of God against the beast or the false prophet for the present and future churches. It's because in chapter 12 - 14, the activity and the deception from the beast will be the most rampant and the most deadly against the churches and believers !
You said that the parable of ten virgins in Mat25 is not applicable to you too because it was teaching and prophecy for the Jews under the law. I am not sure how many more Bible verses you would say that they are not for us. I don't have time to explain the parable of the ten virgins, the one talent servant, and the separation of sheep from the goats in Mat25. But I can say that they are relevant prophecies about the churches (virgins), the pastors and preachers (the servants with the talents), and the believers (the sheep and the goats). If we just want to keep explaining that the words of Jesus are not for us just because He taught to those who were under the law, one day the Lord will rebuke us and ask, "Do you say that my words in John 3:16 is for the Jews too because it was taught to the Jews, recorded by a Jew, read to the Jews, or preached by the Jewish disciples ?"  


One of the greatest warnings from the Lord to the believers, especially the preachers, is: don't be a 'ding dong bell' preacher
Many radical grace preachers, especially the rich ones, are now changing their minds. They insist that they are not against repentance; they preach repentance. But it could be a bit too late and it could be a serious problem to many of their followers.
I will ask the preachers, Having attracted many followers who hated to repent and who departed from their traditional churches to join you, will you now tell your followers that they must still repent? They will become more confused than before and they may leave again, unless you will deceive them again with yet another version of 'repentance' which is different from the traditional teaching of repentance. However, you will never really get the people to repent simply in the traditional or biblical way. And you will keep on arguing why the other churches can never preach repentance better than yours. Will you now start a 'Repentance' revolution instead, after finding that your 'Radical grace' revolution had given the wrong impression to the sinners about the need to repent? No, please do not preach all kinds of revolution or confusion like playing the 'yoyo'. You can't switch God's doctrine to and fro to promote your own way of thinkings at the expense of others; or else, you would be no difference from the lukewarm believers who are neither cold nor hot; or neither here nor there - like a ding dong bell that repeatedly produces two different sounds:

• Rev 3:15-19 KJV  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  (17)  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  (18)  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  (19)  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

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What's the real problem of radical grace or hyper grace?

What's the real problem of radical grace or hyper grace?

The real problem is not because the preachers of radical grace or hyper grace today preach too much grace or preach grace too radically and comprehensively. It is a problem because they preach radically, not to show that God is gracious, but to show that God is a 'lawless' God or that God has no more law for them .. But, as soon as the churches start to question their antinomian beliefs, they would just backtrack, insist that they have high regard for the law, and argue vehemently that most churches are the 'elder brothers' who have misunderstood them or falsely accused them. I believe that Jesus would still judge them as the 'lawless'. Jesus would not show grace or mercy to the lawless, especially those who are the lukewarm antinomian and are neither here nor there in the doctrine of Christ.

• Rev 3:15-16 KJV  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (When Jesus spue them out, it shows that they were in Christ, but now they are no more in Christ)

Yes, undeniably they can preach grace radically and convincingly with revolution, signs, and wonders; but ironically, the way they do it is not very gracious at all.
Please think, If God has no more law for us, no more law for the churches, or no more law for the world, can God still be the Judge or can God still judge in the end time? No, if there were no more law, the false prophets and the lawless would argue that God had to 'judge' them righteously without the law because they did not have any law, know any law, or break any law. They would argue that God is unrighteous to judge them based on His law, but based on their 'laws' or their deeds. Yes, they may boast and insist that they were righteous in the name of Christ and that they know Him; however, the Lord will not accept them: 

• Mat 7:15-23 LITV  But beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside they are plundering wolves.  (16)  From their fruits you shall know them. Do they gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?  (17)  So every good tree produces good fruits, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruits.  (18)  A good tree cannot produce evil fruits, nor a corrupt tree produce good fruits.  (19)  Every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and is thrown into fire.  (20)  Then surely from their fruits you shall know them.  (21)  Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of Heaven, but the ones who do the will of My Father in Heaven.  (22)  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!"

Hence, it is not surprising to know that the end time generation will fight against the law and the prophets (the spirit of the law that is represented by the two prophets, Moses and Elijah), not because the 'lawless' generation want to live like 'gods' or live godlessly, but because they were influenced to think that God's law is a burden or hindrance to them, especially to the preaching or belief of their 'radical grace' revolution and prosperity. When they rise against the laws of God, unknowingly they have stood like the lawless who work or multiply lawlessness in the eyes of God:

• Mat 24:10-13 LITV  And then many will be offended, and they will deliver up one another and will hate one another.  (11)  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.  (13)  But the one who endures to the end, that one will be kept safe.
• Rev 11:10 KJV  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Hence, the radical grace message is more appealing to the end time generation, not because it shows them a better and clearer call to repentance; but it confuses them about the need to repent and confess sins. It gives them all the excuse, delay, and false doctrine to justify themselves not to think, do, and preach any thing against sins. It gives them the justification to preach false accusation against those who preach correct traditional view on doing repentance and keeping God's commandments too.


What will happen when there is no more law in the world?
This is a simple truth: If there is no more law in the world, no one can be judged. But please ask yourselves honestly, If our courts have no more law, can the judge be really a judge? Can the criminals be criminal? No, if there is no law, no criminal can be convicted in any of our courtrooms. Similarly, if there is no law in the kingdom of God, false prophets or lawless prophets can not be judged and convicted either. If the false prophets cannot be judged convincingly, justly, and righteously, they would enter into the kingdom of God and the true believers will suffer. There will not be any true redemption in the kingdom of God too. Hence, the preaching of radical grace and hyper grace may sound very ideal, but it is fruitless and it could be a hidden deceit which has been planted by the lawless according to the words of God. That's why lawlessness can be a mystery. Antinomian preachers will hide themselves. They are not obvious, but they are dangerous:

• 2Th 2:5-8 LITV  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. 
• 1Ti 1:5-11 LITV  but the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience, and faith not pretended,  (6)  from which having missed the mark, some turned aside to empty talking,  (7)  wishing to be teachers of law, neither understanding what they say, nor about that which they confidently affirm.  (8)  And we know that the Law is good, if anyone uses it lawfully,  (9)  knowing this, that Law is not laid down for a righteous one, but for lawless and undisciplined ones, for ungodly and sinful ones, for unholy and profane ones, for slayers of fathers and slayers of mothers, for murderers,  (10)  for fornicators, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and if any other thing opposes sound doctrine,  (11)  according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I was entrusted.

Many argue that there is no more law for them based on the Bible verses above 1Ti 1:5-11. I will tell them, Please read it again. Paul said, Law is not laid down for a righteous man. It means that Law is laid down for sinners. Hence, I don't think we can all consider ourselves to be so righteous that we do not need any rules and regulations in our traffics, schools, countries, or churches. I can understand that we can be righteous enough to be called the righteousness of God or the children of God because of the finished work of Jesus.  However, have you read until 1 Ti 1:9-10. What did Paul mean when he said, "any other thing which opposes sound doctrine" in 1 Ti 1:10? He meant "anything which is false doctrine or lawless philosophy". It also means that the law has little or no effect on us if we have already being obeying and keeping God's doctrine and commandments; but it is also our weapon (our sound doctrine) against the ungodly, the lawless, the profane ones, the liars, the perjurers, the vain speakers, and those who preach false doctrine, lies, or anything which oppose the doctrine of God.


What will happen if the Holy Spirit cannot convict the world of sin and judgement; but of righteousness only?

• Joh 16:7-12 LITV  But I tell you the truth, it is advantageous for you that I should go; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.  (8)  And having come, that One will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment.  (9)  Concerning sin, because they do not believe into Me;  (10)  and concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father, and you no longer see Me;  (11)  and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.  (12)  I have yet many things to tell you, but you are not able to bear now.

Some radical grace preachers would break this Bible verse into three parts and argue that the Holy Spirit can only convict the world of sin, the believers of righteousness, and the devil of judgement separately. Generally I have no problem to believe that the Holy Spirit can convict everyone in the world, including the churches and the devils in the world, of sin, judgement, and righteousness. However, if someone would like to go further by saying that the Holy Spirit cannot convict someone in the world or in the churches of sin, righteousness, or judgement, something is wrong. Why do we limit the power and judgement of the Holy Spirit if He is God and He has the full authority of God to judge anyone, anything, and any believer in the world? Again like the people who interpreted the Bible that there is no more law, some preachers has the 'lawless' motive to give the false impression that God cannot judge and convict them. I am not sure if every radical grace preacher has the lawless motive to preach false doctrine when they interpreted John 16:7-12 wrongly. But I am certain that any preacher who has the lawless motives to limit the convicting power of the Holy Spirit is not a God's preacher. He could have conspired with the Lawless One in 2Th 2:5-8 and become the fulfilment of the prophecy, and we should not be shocked to know that the end time will come much earlier than we think.


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Did Jesus say Repentance is just change of mind?

Did Jesus say Repentance is just change of mind?
Most of the preachers who say it is so do not really read the Bible. They may argue, "Although Jesus did not say it, He meant it."  I will tell them, If we read the Bible, we will know that Jesus would never mean or explain repentance as just change of mind.

• Mat 12:38-42 KJV Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. (39) But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas .. (41) The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here .. 

Jesus said clearly that the people of Nineveh repented. Although He did not explain clearly how they repented, the Bible did explain clearly how they repented:

• Jon3:4-10 KJV And Jonah began.. and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. (5) So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.. (10) And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way;  

Did they believe God only or change their minds only? No, God saw their works. In another words, God saw their repentance; not just change of their minds only. Hence, if we still insist that repentance must involves the change of mind, it must be the change of mind with the will or determination to turn away from sins. Hence, repentance is not just any change of mind just because we change our thinking or our preference: for example, last time, we loved to eat from Burger King, but now we eat from McDonald; or last time, we believed in an angry God, but now we think of Him as a smiling God; or we change from negative thinking to positive thinking ..
Please think, If repentance is just change of mind to adapt ourselves better in different environments or beliefs, the Pharisees would repent or change their minds better and faster than anyone of us.

Hence, please don't be deceived by the preachers or prophets who will never read or explain the Bible properly. They may claim that they are 'Christ' or the anointed who preach a better version of 'repentance' which can draw more sinners, but their repentance doctrine and they themselves could be as fruitless as the Pharisees who were under the the law:

• Mat 3:5-10 KJV  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,  (6)  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.  (7)  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  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.

Yes, I do not deny that repentance involve change, but it is more than the change of mind or mental change. In fact, Jesus showed the Pharisee, Nicodemus, that there must be a bigger change, not so much on the physical change or mental change, but the spiritual change - or the change of being born again or being born of water and of the Spirit:

• Joh 3:1-12 KJV  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  (2)  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  (3)  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.  (4)  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  (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.  (6)  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7)  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  (8)  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.  (9)  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  (10)  Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?  (11)  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.  (12)  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

Did Paul say Repentance is dead work?
No, Paul did not say Repentance is dead work; he said We should all know repentance from dead works - it means that he wants us to repent from dead works and sins.
Many will argue, "Why should we be so particular about what to repent? Why must we repent from sins? We can repent of anything. What would a believer do before he can believe? Of course, he repent or just change his mind from believing in the wrong religion to right believing. Hence, a believer in Christ must have repented or changed his mind when he believed. Hence, we have all repented when we just change our minds from unbelief to right believing, or from believing in an angry judgemental God to believing in a gracious smiling God. Hence, repentance and salvation in Christ should never be preached as behavioural modification, change in behaviours, or dead works; but just change of mind. It's because we just need to change our mind and believe Jesus, and we are saved .."
I will tell them, Yes, of course I believe that God is gracious, and that not all of us can be very exact in the definition of repentance. If we make a big mistake on the definition of repentance and lead many people to damnation, we may probably still find grace for making it right. Hence, I would not judge preachers or believers based on whether they can definite repentance accurately or not. It is because repentance is not about thinking, definition, or confession only; it is about doing it. We may not express it, explain it, or confess it correctly. If we can simply do it, it speaks louder than any words.
However, if we preach the easier version of 'repentance' intentionally and deliberately for the purpose of drawing more people to ourselves and accusing others who preach repentance, we may not find any room for our own repentance before God. Wrong teaching of repentance with the wrong motive will not show suddenly overnight. It could be deliberately planned for a period of time, to deceitfully hide sins, carnal thinking, or lawless philosophy, with a series of linked and complicated, but deceitful teaching, to remove God's doctrine and commandments: eg. with no more keeping of God's commandments, no more earnest prayer, no more sacrificial godly living, no more discipleship, no more righteous suffering, no more righteous judgement, no more conviction of sins, no more serious warnings against sins, no more repentance or conscientious effort to turn away from sins and do good works, recompense, or confession of sins .. etc.  Hence, Paul has given us serious warning, especially if we are the preachers of God's words and the doctrine of Christ:

• Heb 6:1-6 KJV  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  (2)  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  (3)  And this will we do, if God permit.  (4)  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,  (5)  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,  (6)  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Of course, Paul did not say that the foundation of repentance is dead work; but he did say that repentance is turning away from dead works or sins. If repentance is the foundation principles of the doctrine of Christ, it is more important than what we think. In fact, it is one of the most important doctrine before a believer can leave for higher principles of the doctrine of Christ. If we cannot get it right or cannot repent with the true conviction against sins or dead works, I don't think Paul would permit us to preach other things or other repentance with no mention of sins. Contrary to what the radical grace preachers preach, repentance is not dead work. Yes, repentance will always involve turning away from licentiousness and making conscientious effort to do more good works. But doing this is not dead work under the law.

• Eph 4:17-28 KJV  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,  (18)  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  (19)  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  (20)  But ye have not so learned Christ;  (21)  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  (22)  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  (23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  (24)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.  (25)  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. ..   (28)  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
• 1Pe 1:13-17 KJV  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  (14)  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  (15)  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  (16)  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.  (17)  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

What is dead work? I will say, Dead work is self-effort, testifying, or boasting which we do deliberately to promote ourselves or make others think that we are more anointed or more righteous than others.



Did Jesus say that we are saved if we just believe ?
I will tell them, You said that we are saved by believing in Jesus, not by doing anything in Him. I understand what you mean. You've probably quoted from the following Bible verses and focused on 'whosoever that believeth':

• Joh 3:16 KJV  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

But did you read on?  

• Joh 3:16-21 KJV  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  (18)  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  (19)  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  (20)  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  (21)  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God (revealed).

Jesus meant that those who truly believe in Him will believe and do what He said, and their deeds, actions, or behaviours will reveal if they have truly believed in Him. In another words, He would want us and 'whosoever that believeth' to do more than just believing or change of mind only. The Pharisees and false prophets would only want to believe or repent with just the mental change which no one could see, but Jesus knew them too well:  

• Mat 7:21-27 KJV  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:  (25)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  (26)  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  (27)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
• Joh 8:51 KJV  Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
• Joh 14:15 KJV  If ye love me, keep my commandments.
• 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.
• Joh 15:10 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.
• Joh 10:26-30 KJV  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.  (27)  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  (28)  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  (29)  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.  (30)  I and my Father are one.

The fruit will show if we have truly believed or repented
This is common sense because we can never see what a person believe until he shows it in his speech, attitude, behaviour, or action. Hence, Jesus has said it very clearly, Those who truly believe in Him are those who hear Him, understand Him, keep His words, and do and teach His words. There would be changes in their deeds, actions, thinking, speaking, and even teaching. If there is only change in the thinking or believing without any change in the things that will show, they have probably not believed yet. They have only heard and walked away without bearing any fruit:

• Mat 13:18-23 KJV  Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.  (19)  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.  (20)  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  (21)  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.  (22)  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.  (23)  But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Most of the disciples, including Paul, understand His words and do and teach His words:

• 2Co 9:5-11 LITV  Therefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brothers, that they go forward to you and arrange beforehand your promised blessing, this to be ready, thus as a blessing and not as by greediness.  (6)  And this: the one sowing sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one sowing on hope of blessings will also reap on blessings.  (7)  Each one as he purposes in his heart, not out of grief or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. (8)  And God is able to make all grace to abound toward you, that in everything, always having all self sufficiency, you may abound to every good work;  (9)  even as it has been written, "He scattered, he gave to the poor, his righteousness abides forever." (10)  Now He that supplies seed to the sower and bread for eating, may He supply and multiply your seed and increase the fruits of your righteousness,  (11)  in everything you being enriched to all sincerity, which works out thanksgiving to God through us.
• Heb 6:6-12 KJV  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.  (7)  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:  (8)  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.  (9)  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.  (10)  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  (11)  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:  (12)  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

In fact, Paul told us that we should do and work like those who are full of faith and who inherit the promises with patience.


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