Should we have grace or the law of God in our minds?

Should we have grace or the law of God in our minds?
Of course, the law of God ! God says so. I don't care if radical grace or hyper grace preachers can convince us that they hear Jesus better or hear Jesus all the time; if God says that we should have the law of God in our minds, we will do and teach that we should think of His laws and have the His laws in our minds. It is what Jesus preached too:

• Heb 8:10-12 KJV  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:  (11)  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.  (12)  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Do we notice that when we have the laws of God in our mind, we do not need others to teach us, Know the Lord, Know the Lord ? We will all know Him. Did the words of God tell us not to teach the laws of God? No, His words say, And they shall not teach, Saying, Know the Lord. When we think of the laws of God or have the laws of God in our minds, God will be merciful to our unrighteousness, and our sins and our lawlessness will He remember no more. Hence, we don't think of grace, we think of God's laws. Of course, we can still think of God's grace, God's goodness, prosperity, peace, love, joy ... etc; but we must still have God's laws in our minds - it is His command.   


Should we just have good opinion of God, His forgiveness, and grace in our mind?
But Radical grace preachers would argue, "Of course, we must think of grace and His forgiveness only. If we have good opinion of God, God will have good opinion of us and forgive us all our past, present, and future sins. Thinking of the law will not help. It will not lead to repentance; but to the curse of sin. That' why Paul preached only the forgiveness of sin. See:

Act 26:18 KJV  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Did you see any repentance from sins or things that you must do in repentance? Where? Where is repentance? Paul said, The more he think of the law and commandment not to sin, the more he sinned. Hence, Law has failed terribly. There should not be any law or repentance in our mind, in our sermon, in our preaching.. otherwise, we remind people about their sins or remind them to sin. We become the preachers of the law and condemnation like the Pharisees, we become the hypocrites.. "
I will tell them, Please go and read your Bible again, Did Paul say that the more we think of the law, the more we will sin?

• Rom 6:12-19 KJV  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  (13)  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God... (19) I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
  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.

Paul saw two laws working in the opposite direction in him: one is the law of sin and flesh which yields to unrighteousness, the other is the law of God which yield to righteousness and holiness. What was his decision and solution? So then with the mind, he would serve the law of God ! It means that he would delight in the law of God, think of the law of God, serve the law of God, and obey and yield to the law of God, whilst leave the law of sin in the flesh and put it to death through Christ. He would still want us to learn from the Old Testament people like king David or the Psalmist who thought and meditated on the laws of God: 

• Psa 1:1-3 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.

We do not need to think of grace; we think of the laws of God
We know that most radical grace preachers would like to use the example of the adulterous woman in John 8:11 to prove that the Pharisees, law preachers, and those who teach the laws were hypocrites. I will ask the radical grace preachers, Would you think, if you put yourselves into the shoes of the woman or if you think of yourselves as the adulterous woman? What would you think? Would you just think of forgiveness or grace if you were the woman? You may say, "Oh, of course, I would just think of grace and grace will lead me to repentance and prosperity .. blah, blah .." But what if you were not the woman charged for adultery; you were a serial rapist, a thief, a con-artist, or a robber? Will you just think of grace, expect to be forgiven, and still live like a hero? No. If you were the thief crucified by the side of Jesus, you must accept the punishment, repent, and seek God:

• Luk 23:39-43 KJV  And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.  (40)  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  (41)  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  (42)  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  (43)  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Hence, I believe that the adulterous woman in John 8:11 was not thinking of grace or forgiveness too, when she was judged in front of everyone. She was thinking of facing the punishment and judgement, like the thief on the cross. She did not expect that she could be freed because of Jesus. It was a surprise to her that she could be freed. But we know that it was grace. Probably we can say that her deliverance was much better than that of the thief who died on the cross. But both of them received grace and forgiveness of God, and they had never thought of it.
Hence, if the sinners today would all just want to think of grace and expect grace after they have sinned or before they sinned, they would not know true repentance. They could just sin with the thinking and expectation of grace. If we would just encourage the sinners to think of grace only, with no repentance, we are not responsible God's preachers. If we are responsible preachers who want to help the sinners to repent, we do not preach and tell the sinners or believers to think of grace and expect grace only:

• We would tell the sinners to repent and to have the laws of God in their minds
• We would tell the believers to continue to think and meditate on the laws of God, and do like Paul (Rom 7:21-25) and the Psalmist (Psa 1:1-3) even though the believers have been forgiven of their sins

We can never reason well if we do not build our foundation of principles, doctrine, and reasoning based on the words and commandments of God 
In fact, young believers need to learn and think of the laws of God more. Like the children, they cannot understand many things; neither can they reason very well. Hence, like parents, we would still teach them and give them short instructions, doctrine, rules, and regulation based on the laws and principles of God, which they may not like. However, they will finally understand and teach others if they will just grow and obey the words of God:

• Heb 5:12-14 KJV  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  (13)  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  (14)  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
• 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.

Are the laws, commandments, first principles, and fundamental doctrine of Christ important? Certainly yes. Can we skip them and go for higher principles of reasons or reasoning instead? No, though some of us can reason very well, no one can boast that he can just skip the law and doctrine of Christ and go straight to spiritual reasoning immediately. It's because all reasoning and teaching must still be given and taught based on the laws, commandments, and the fundamental principles of Christ. I am sure this is common sense too. Who would try to reason with their kids why they should drink milk? why they cannot take chocolates everyday? why they must go to school? why they must listen to the teachers? why they must take their bath, .. etc? No, we don't reason with kids or babies who are too young to know the reasons. Yes, if you have the time to explain everything, you can try to explain to them; but I know that you are just wasting your time. It's because they have not developed the ability to reason like the adults yet, and a lot of time it is still better to give them the short and clear instructions of what to do or what not to do.
Similarly, many new believers or new converts may still want to reason with their old thinking too. It is our responsibility to show them the will, commandments, principles, and doctrine of God first before we let them use their reasons to remove or change the words of God. When they are mature enough (after knowing and doing the commandments, instructions, and doctrine of the Lord), they will just automatically cast away all their old reasoning and accept God's commandments and doctrine as the basis of all their future reasoning:

• 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.

We must have the authority of God's words in our minds to defeat Satan
And the authority of God's words is in the written commandments of God:

• Mat 4:10-11 KJV  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.  (11)  Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Jesus did not say, It was written; He said, It is written .. Hence, Jesus showed us clearly that the written commandments of God are not obsolete. He has not only the written words of God in His mind; He has  the written commandments of God in His mind too. Hence, if we want to tell Satan to get out from us or get lost, we must have the written words and commandments of God too. It would be strange if we tell Satan to get lost by thinking of the grace of God without using the authority or commandment in the words of God.

** When there is too much 'sugar' in our food, it could become 'poison' to our body (in the body of Christ)
When Satan tempted Jesus, he could have probably used the illustration of food too and told Jesus to eat anything because of the grace and supplies of God. However, Jesus did not only show that Satan was wrong; He showed us that we must not replace the normal 'diet' of the believers with something else.
Satan could have told Jesus that He should just think of the grace and the goodness of God and jump because God's super abundant grace and protection would save Him.
Today many radical grace preachers preach grace as a mental principle whenever or before they do anything. Should we listen to them, and 'jump' ? No, Jesus said that it is written that the words of God must be our main stable food; anything else is bad even if they are better, sweeter, more desirable, more effortless, more powerful, more fantastic, more super abundant, more supernatural, and even more saving than the words of God. Yes, 'sugar' means the goodness of God, but it is not cheap. It is not meant to be taken insensibly, radically, or indiscreetly. If we do that, we will fall into the trap of Satan.

• Mat 4:4-6 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.  (5)  Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,  (6)  And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with just sugar or sweets. We do eat pure sugar or pure honey. There is nothing wrong if we want to add more sugar in our coffee according to our individual preference too.  However, if someone tells us that we must eat only sweets or take sugar all the time and replace our main diet with it, we should tell him to get lost. Similarly, we know that there is nothing wrong with the goodness, supplies, protection, or grace of God too. However, if someone tells us that we must think of His goodness only to replace thinking of all His words and commandments in our walk with the Lord, we should tell him to get lost too.  Hence, whenever we hear someone said, "Law demands, grace supplies ..", "Grace cannot mix with any other teaching of God's words and commandments ..", or "Pure grace can prosper more effortlessly and supernaturally ..", to show that the goodness of God for our welfare is more important, that it should be the main focus of all our teaching, and that it should replace the doing and teaching of all God's commandments in a believer's life, we know that he did not come in the name of Jesus; he came as a wolf, a tempter, or a thief. He did not come to steal only money, offering, or tithes from the churches; he came to steal the written words of God from the hearts of the believers.   

Hence, if Jesus had said 3 times, "it is written, .. it is written,.. it is written..", it means that Jesus confirmed it 3 three times that the words of God with His commandments, instructions, do's and don'ts, doctrine, and principles are more important than any fantastic messages of goodness, pleasures, blessings, prosperity, and protection. It's because Satan cannot preach the commandments of God with true Spirit of the law of God; he could only twist and turn the words of God with his message of goodness, pleasures, prosperity, and protection. He may even impress us with his supply of wisdom to know more things from his gospel:

• Gen 3:4-6 KJV  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  (5)  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.  (6)  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
• 2Co 11:3-4 KJV  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.
• Joh 10:9-10 KJV  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  (10)  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
• 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.
• Mar 4:14-15 KJV  The sower soweth the word.  (15)  And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
• Luk 8:11-12 KJV  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  (12)  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Hence, if it is written 3 times how the words of God (including the laws and commandments of God) can be stolen or removed from the hearts of the believers, it means that the Bible confirms it 3 times that the words of God (with His commandments, instructions, do's and don'ts, doctrine, and principles) could be received or believed by the believers, and then stolen by the devil or Satan too. Many of us thought that all those believers who fell were not believers or they were young believers. However, the Bible did not mention about their age or the duration of how long they had received the words before the words were stolen from their hearts. Hence, we know that believers could lose the words irregardless of how old they were. Some of them might even have received and believed the words with much joy (and with genuine tears of belief too), but they could still lose the words after temptation:

• Luk 8:13-14 KJV  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  (14)  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 

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