Can law save?

Can law save?
Many people, especially the radical preachers from the churches, argue that law cannot save. Who are they? and why do they say so? I do not want to conclude if they are the radical grace preachers or false prophets, but I do know that Satan is one lawless party who would raise up both hands and say, "Yes, amen, amen.. law cannot save. In fact, it kills. The letter kills. Hence, the law kills also. All kinds of laws have become obsolete because no man can keep even a law. Hence, men can do better without the law.. Look at Adam and Eve, They could not keep even a law. Do you think that you can do better than them.. No .. " Satan had deceived Eve to depart from God's only command to them not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He will try to deceive the churches again in the end time to keep no more laws or commandments of God.

• 2Co 11:2-4 KJV  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  (3)  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (4)  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

I will tell those who agree with him, the lawless ones, Please think, If law cannot save, why did God give the law to the Israelites ? Yes, we know that the law of Moses given to the Jews would not save now, but it was probably the only thing which saved them from the corrupted pagan religious practices that were prevalent in their surrounding countries.
Yes, the Israelites and the Christians today are no longer saved by the law now, but  we are certainly saved to keep the laws of God. It's because we can find all the Bible verses which tell us to do so or to keep His laws. Jesus had not only repeatedly preached the laws and commandments of God; He also told His disciples and us to keep His commandments too. Please think, Does it make sense for Jesus to tell us to keep only His commandments and ignore God's commandments? No, Jesus would keep God's commandments and God's commandments are His commandments to us too:

• Mat 19:17 KJV  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
• Joh 7:16-20 KJV  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.  (17)  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.  (18)  He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.  (19)  Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?  (20)  The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
• Joh 14:15 KJV  If ye love me, keep my commandments.
• 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.
• Heb 8:10 KJV  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
• 1Jn 2:3-4 KJV  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  (4)  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
• 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.

 
The law did save the Israelites in one way or another
I will tell the Christians, "Of course, I know that we are saved by grace; not by the law. However, we must be clear why do we keep bringing up this subject? If we think that we are saved by grace, and therefore, we can stop doing and teaching the law of God, we are deceived and deceiving others. Please think, are we saved by the church building? No, a church building may save occasionally as a temporary refuge centre for the victims of earthquake or hurricane in some countries, but it cannot save their souls if they do not believe and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord. However, do we preach against the church building? No, we know the contribution of a church building which can save in other ways.


The law can still save a country today
However, most of the political leaders know that the law can save much better than a church building because the law does not just save people in the earthquakes or hurricanes; it saves the countries from lawlessness, chaos, and radical ideology. It saves the people from the lack of knowledge, education, and economic development. It saves the families and orphans from fatherless childhood, marriage breakdowns, and brokenness. It stops racist thinking, sexist discrimination, and unjust bullies by the rich and the powerful. It protects the young and the innocent. We can never over-emphasize how much the law of the country can save during a crisis and how it can save better than a church building. In fact, the law of the country save throughout its peaceful governing. 
We have always heard radical grace preachers who keep saying that they still believed in preaching about the glory of their church building, growing attendance, tithes and offerings, money, prosperity, material blessings, and reigning like king Solomon. They argued that you must prosper and become a blessing so that you can bless others. They said, "That's why we still preach about prosperity even though we know that we are saved by grace.." 
I will tell them, For the same reason, why can't we preach the law of God which can save must better than your gold and silver? The law of God may not save, but I think that it is more biblical to teach the law of God than the health and wealth gospel. 


Lawlessness will come in where there is no law
Recently I heard of the kidnap of the school girls in Nigeria in The Washington Post. 
It shows us that without good governance and enforcement of law, things can become ugly. Why such an ugly thing can happen there and not in other countries? I believe that ugly things can happen when there is no law or where there is weak enforcement of laws. Lawlessness will come in subtly, secretly, sand slowly when the 'snake' which does not bite immediately would just convince the people, including the government leaders and the preachers, to sleep and snore, "SSSSS .." The situation in Nigeria is not the war between one religion against another. It is a war against lawlessness. The abductors were lawless and godless although they kept shouting in the name of God. They were robbers. They were just using religion as a cover to promote and do whatever radical ideology they believe in. God hates people who use any religion, law, principle, the name of Jesus, or grace, to promote their radical ideology in God's name. The Bible is very clear about God's judgement against such people irregardless of whether they promote lawless beliefs in His name or in other religions.

• Mat 7:15-23 KJV  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  (16)  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  (17)  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  (18)  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  (19)  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  (20)  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  (21)  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
• Luk 6:46-48 KJV  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?  (47)  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:  (48)  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood (false doctrine) arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. (Hence, Jesus said clearly that He would not just want us to have right believing, right faith, right miracles, right preaching, or right confession only; he wants us to have right doing with His words too, because right doing would prove that we are His true disciples on the rock of salvation.)

I will ask the radical grace preachers now, Did Jesus save the girls? Yes, you may argue that they would still go to heaven if they died in the kidnap. So, be positive, be thankful, and keep thinking of God's grace? But that is a blind consolation. I don't think that you can tell the mothers that their girls would just need to be saved by grace; not by the law or any laws. You may tell your believers and boast that God is so good and gracious to you that such tragedy or kidnap can never happen to you because of your radical grace philosophies or super abundant grace protection. However, can you place yourselves in the shoes of those mothers who lost their girls in the kidnap? I believe that many of them could be Christians who believe in grace too? Will you blame them for not believing in radical grace or believe like you? 


Lawlessness will come in when men would 'sleep'
It is sad to know that this thing happened in Nigeria which is one of the most evangelized countries. They were one of the first countries who could freely listen and follow the broadcast of many prosperity preachers and radical grace preachers. However, without good foundation in the doctrine of Christ, many of the converted believers could have believed everything that the radical grace preachers taught. This could be the reason why the enforcement of law is still weak even though many of them are 'grace', 'favor', or 'lucky' Christians in the government bodies.
Many of us may just look at the whole episode of kidnap with thanksgiving to God that it did not and could not happen in our countries because we did not switch to the radical grace doctrine immediately. But, please don't be too happy yet. Many western countries who believe in the old, traditional, and strong teaching of Jesus Christ on the laws and commandments of God are now beginning to get tired of the good laws they have enjoyed in their countries. Instead, they love lawlessness, lawless philosophies, lawless argument, lawless based gospel, lawless favor, lawless talks and seminars .. etc  ..
Yes, it may look like fun to go for the revolution or the hype of our time; however, many of our mothers in the next generation may one day wake up with the cries for their daughters and sons, like the Nigerian mothers, when their children become the victims of lawlessness in the future. Please think, Is it possible for the Nigeria government to start to do and teach good laws to the children, churches, and countries now? It could be too late to do anything if we have been 'sleeping' all the time.    

• Mat 13:36-43 KJV  Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.  (37)  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;  (38)  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;  (39)  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.  (40)  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.  (41)  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;  (42)  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  (43)  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Many preachers prophesied and said that they are seeing the 'transfer of wealth' taking place spiritually as they see more and more developed countries experiencing financial crisis and become poorer than the Asian countries. However, I would think that we do not need the prophets or anointed preachers to tell us the current economic events. Some old traditional 'down to earth' preachers could have looked into the future. That's why they would keep the laws and commandments of God without compromise.

• Rev 12:15-17 KJV  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.  (16)  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.  (17)  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Rev 14:11-13 KJV  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.  (12)  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (13) And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

The old traditional preachers had probably warned us about the coming of lawlessness which could create shocking impact on our spiritual lives as well as our daily physical lives in the future. However, we did not take heed as most of us who did well in our affluent society would just brush it off as some kind of low-esteem repentance teaching, law-based teaching, or condemnation teaching. Most of us would just want to enjoy economic success, effortless prosperity, and freedom from any law. As a result, we became off-guard against the subtle spirit of lawlessness which was beginning to creep in.  


Lawlessness will come in the end time
Many of us think that the tares are the lawless and godless robbers or murderers, like the Nigerian kidnappers. However, have you asked yourselves, "How is the tares associated with the kidnappers or murderers? Haven't there been many kidnappers, murderers, and wicked people before we preached the gospel? Are we responsible for the behaviors and the crimes of the wicked people too? Why would Jesus explain the parable of the tares to His disciples?"
I would think that this parable is not just about the spiritual impact on the churches of God when God's preachers preach the words of God to the believers; it has a physical impact on the people of the world too. Why? It's because the words of God which is based on the law and command of the Lord would bring either obedience and rebellion; or light and darkness to the world spiritually as well as physically.

• Mat 5:13-19 KJV  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  (14)  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  (15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  (16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  (17)  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  (18)  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  (19)  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
• Joh 3:19-21 KJV  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.

A God preachers who preach the word of God will bring good seed which produce good fruit. But a false prophet who corrupt the word or the law of God will bring tares which produce iniquity and lawlessness. 

• Mat 13:41-43 LITV  The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all the offenses, and those who practice lawlessness.  (42)  And they will throw them into the furnace of fire; there will be weeping and gnashing of the teeth.  (43)  Then the righteous will shine out like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one having ears to hear, let him hear.
• Mat 7:22-23 LITV  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many works of power?  (23)  And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; "depart from Me, those working lawlessness!"  
• Mat 23:28 LITV  So you also indeed outwardly appear righteous to men, but within are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
• Mat 24:12 LITV  And because lawlessness shall have been multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold.

If the Lord has warned about lawlessness and the PREACHING of lawlessness four times, I don't think we can take it lightly or dismiss it as something which can never happen. I will speak to the radical grace preachers who claimed that most of the warnings, teachings, and commandments of Jesus Christ are law-based and obsolete. I will tell them, Yes, the teaching of Christ is 'law-based' because Jesus would never teach without God's law or lawlessness, but it is certainly not obsolete. Why? It's because Jesus was talking about the end time. How can His words become obsolete when the end has not come yet !!! 


People will perish without the knowledge and teaching of God
Many will still argue, "Please don't falsely accuse us. Yes, we did not preach the law of God. Yes, we may have encouraged the people to depart from the law of God to grace. Yes, we told them to change their minds from thinking of God's laws to thinking of God's grace. But what's wrong? Did we do lawlessness or commit any lawless deed? No. Did we give people the license to sin? No. Anyway, God has promised that he would forgive all our lawlessness, lawless deeds, and sins committed in the past, present, and future.  He said that Heb 10:17 KJV  thatl "all our sins and lawlessness He will remember no more". So, even if we have sinned or committed any lawless deeds in the future, we have been totally forgiven. No one can accuse us, including God... we are saved by grace; not by any law .."
I will tell them, Yes, you are saved by grace, but that would not give you the justification to tell people to depart from God's laws. Do you know that the very Bible verse which you quoted, Heb 10:17, does not suggest that you can ignore the teaching of His laws and commandments? Please read it with Heb 10:16 again.

• Heb 10:16-17 KJV  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  (17)  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 

Did God say that He will forgive our lawlessness before He put His laws into our hearts? No, He will forgive us after He put His laws into our hearts. And when that happen (when the laws are put into our hearts and minds), our sins and lawlessness will not be there any more. It will not be remembered any more.
So, how can we tell people that all our sins are forgiven without having His laws in our hearts or minds? Please think with our minds, How will He put His laws into our hearts? Is the knowledge of God's laws and principles passed to us through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, laying of hands, or direct osmosis? No, you may claim that your children are taught by the Lord supernaturally without anyone teaching them; however, you can't deny that we must still  teach the principles of the doctrine of Christ based on the four written Gospels, the Bible, God's commandments, and the law of God:

• 2Ti 3:15-17 KJV  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
• Psa 1:1-4 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. (Today, many believers have rejected the law of God; but delighted in the counsel of their favourite pastors. However, we know that their counsel is not from God even though they can preach it lawlessly under the new covenant with the new flavour of grace or favour.) 
• Hos 4:4-11 KJV  Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.  (5)  Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.  (6)  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.  (7)  As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.  (8)  They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.  (9)  And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.  (10)  For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.  (11)  Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

As you can see from Hos 4, When God judged His people, He would include the priest and the prophet too. The priest and the prophet might not commit any sin or lawless deeds, but God held them responsible. Hence, if we argue like the false prophets who keep saying that they have prophesied and done many things, we know that we are deceiving ourselves. The Bible has said it very clearly. Jesus will say, "I never knew you ..

• Mat 7:23 LITV  And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; "depart from Me, those working lawlessness!"

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