Should we think of more grace or more law?

Should we think of more grace or more law?
I will tell the radical grace preachers, Of course, I have no problem with more thinking of grace or more thinking of the laws. I also have no problem with those who think of grace only, or law only.
However, I find it disgusting when some people think of grace but they are not gracious at all. They think and speak of grace but their behaviours are not consistent with what they think or say. They were demanding on others, but 'gracious' to themselves. They make others work harder and walk the extra miles for them; but they would do the minimum because they want to please only themselves. They want effortless job; but push the mundane and difficult tasks to others. Yes, their minds are full of radical grace; but their hearts are far away from the law of God. They would ask, "Who is my neighbour?" They would always question God and argue, "Why do you still talk about the law of God when there is no more law for us?" whenever they are told to keep the law 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?  (26)  He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?  (27)  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.  (28)  And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.  (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, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.  (31)  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  (32)  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.  (33)  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,  (34)  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  (35)  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.  (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.

Are there believers or servants who just think of grace without God's laws in their hearts?
Of course, certainly yes. In fact, there are more and more such believers today than the early churches. When Jesus told us the parable of the servant who desired grace and forgiveness of sins, we thought he was the minority. But now we know why the Lord preached it as a parable - it was a prophecy about the believers who have known grace; but would refuse to keep the law of God and love their neighbour as themselves:

• Mat 18:32-35 KJV  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  (33)  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?  (34)  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.  (35)  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

a. justification by faith or by grace is only the beginning of a believer's forgiven life so that he can do more with the words and commandments of God in his life. The grace for cancellation of debts or forgiveness of debts is not given so that we can have more future debts or more future lawlessness. It is certainly not an excuse or license to have more future sins with no more repentance (or to sin wilfully). 

• Luk 13:2-10 KJV  And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?  (3)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (4)  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?  (5)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (6)  He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.  (7)  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?  (8)  And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:  (9)  And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.  (10)  And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

b. Grace is not forever - it is given for the purpose of repentance, turning back to God's commandments, keeping God's laws, and doing His words. Grace is not given for the purpose of enjoying or living in lawlessness forever. Grace is not there forever if we are forever lawless in our hearts or minds. However, if we repent, keep the commandments of God, and live with the laws of God in our hearts and minds, God will remember all our lawlessness no more and He will be our God forever: 

• Heb 10:16-17 LITV  "This is the covenant which I will covenant to them after those days, says the Lord: Giving My Laws on their hearts, and I will write them on their minds;"  (17)  also He adds, "I will not at all still remember their sins" and their lawlessnesses. ..  
• Heb 8:10 LITV  Because this is the covenant which I will covenant with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord, giving My Laws into their mind, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 
• Luk 19:8-10 LITV  But standing, Zaccheus said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor. And if in anything I accused anyone falsely, I restore it fourfold.  (9)  And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, for he also is a son of Abraham.  (10)  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the one being lost.

Hence, the cancellation of debt or forgiveness of debt is not given so that a believer can have more future debt or lawlessness forever. It is certainly not an excuse or license to have more future sin or lawlessness without any repentance. However, many preachers have deceived the believers into thinking that they can literally expect forgiveness of all their future sins, and even supernatural cancellation of all their future financial debts, if they will just radically believe or do and teach their 'holy communion's blood cleansing' ritual, 'pure grace' confession, 'supernatural' favour, 'mind changing' philosophy, or 'false repentance' to disregard and to 'repent' from all the laws and commandments of God. I did write about some preachers who have managed to quote the Bible out of context and capitalise on this 'supernatural' deception or 'cancellation of debts' to transfer effortless wealth to themselves. (see "Supernatural cancellation of debts - Is it really a supernatural transfer of wealth, a religious gimmick, or just a vain religious boasting?" in my previous post here.)

So, if you ask me again, Should we think of more grace or more law? My answer is still the same. It doesn't matter to me if you think of more grace or more law. What matters is, Do you have the law of God in your hearts while you think of grace or law? Will you keep and do the law of God while thinking of grace or law? If not, you are worse than a Pharisee who did not know grace. If you know grace and yet you reject the law of God to love others, you are still a hypocrite even though you may claim that you are a radical grace preacher.
Hence, the thinking of grace is not necessary always better than the thinking of God's laws. On the other hand, thinking of God's laws or having His laws in our minds does not mean that we will always live like the Pharisees too. If we really have the laws of God in our minds, we would have the intention to keep the laws of God. We will have the love of God in our minds to love according to His laws too. However, if we do not think of having any law or keeping any law of God to love others, it is unlikely that we have any intention, thinking, or heart to love others too. This is just plan reasoning. 
Hence, the words of the Lord is very clear to us. But, what's the point of having lots of grace only to become an antinomian who has no more law and repentance in our minds? We would be only as good as the non-believers who do not know the Lord.
Joseph, Moses, king David, king Solomon, and king Saul had all received grace and favour from God. Does it mean that they were better than the non-believers? No, They had all done wrong and sinned with murder, adultery, pride,  ignorance, rash behaviours, and disobedience, but God still chose Joseph, Moses, and king David to be the leaders of His people. Why? They repented. However, they would be worst than king Solomon or king Saul if they refused to repent and change. Similarly, if we have committed sin, murder, or adultery, and have received the grace of God, we must repent and change too; otherwise we would be worst than the non-believers.


We do not just think; we do and teach the law and doctrine of Christ
Many think that the parable of the good Samaritan is the Lord's parable to tell the believers to do only the law of Christ and not the law of God. However, if you read the parable again, you would know that the commandment to love thy neighbour as thyself was already the law of God written and understood by most of the Pharisees and scribes at that time: 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?  (26)  He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?  (27)  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.  (28)  And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live... This showed that the lawyer quoted from the scripture which had taught them the commandment to love thy neighbours as thyself too. Hence, Jesus did not give us any new law or different law. He just quoted from the scripture and hence, He did not come to destroy the law and prophets. He came to fulfil and accomplish it, to make the law of God more remembered and more established in the hearts and minds of the believers:

• 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.

Do we have to remember the Ten Commandments by heart? No, we do not need to remember all the Ten Commandments the 'hard' way. Jesus has made it easy for us to remember God's laws. However, He would not condemn us even if we cannot remember His laws with the perfect words or sequence. He is more concerned if we have the law of God in our hearts or the Spirit of God to do and teach His words. It is impossible for us to memorize all the words of God in the scripture, but that does not mean that all the written words of God have become obsolete and therefore they are inapplicable to us. Similarly, the Ten Commandments could be hard to remember, it does not mean that they are obsolete and inapplicable to us too. In fact, all the Ten Commandments are still applicable to us, not only to the churches, but to the whole world in one way or another too (in upholding the law of our country). How can we pervert this truth and lie that the law of God is no longer applicable to churches or the world? Do you know how do we teach the doctrine of Christ? It is based on the law of God and the scripture too. Those who preach that we have no more law is blind and hypocritical:

• Joh 7:16-18 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.
• Mar 4:2 KJV  And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
• Mar 12:38 KJV  And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
•  Rom 6:17-18 KJV  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  (18)  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
• Rom 16:17 KJV  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
• 1Ti 4:15-16 KJV  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.  (16)  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
• 1Ti 6:1 KJV  Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
• 1Ti 6:3 KJV  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
• 2Ti 3:16-17 KJV  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.
• 2Ti 4:2-5 KJV  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  (3)  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  (4)  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  (5)  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
• Tit 2:1 KJV  But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: .. (7) In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,.. (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; .. (15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
• Heb 5:12 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. .. 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.
• 2Jn 1:9-11 KJV  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. 
• Rev 2:14-16 KJV  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.  (15)  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.  (16)  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (What is the doctrine that Jesus hate? Is it the doctrine of the law of God? No, it is the doctrine of idols, fornication, and lawlessness !)
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The doctrine of Christ would never tell us to just know Him, look at Him, and behold Him
Did the Bible say that the Holy Spirit can teach, Jesus can teach, or grace can teach? Of course, yes. But did the Bible say that grace can teach, and therefore law cannot teach or the doctrine of Christ cannot teach? No, on the contrary, we still need to teach more with the law and doctrine of Christ. I don't think that anyone can dispute with all the 'doctrine' words in the Bible verses above and replace them with the 'grace' words and argue that grace can teach better instead.

• 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. (God would forgive our sins because we have the law of God, and we would do and teach the law of God instead of just know or think of the Lord.)

We don't just tell people to know the Lord or the Holy Spirit. Neither do we tell people to behold the Lord, look at the Lord, and do nothing, for everyone will know the Lord. But we tell the people to do and teach His laws and doctrine. The Bible verses above have shown us very clearly that we must still teach His doctrine. Do you know where did Jesus Christ get His doctrine?
Most radical grace preachers argue that we must tell the believers to do practical things by replacing all the teaching of His doctrine with the teaching of His grace instead. But I would think otherwise. If we replace all the doctrine of Christ with grace and teach only grace, we are not teaching His doctrine; we are teaching our own doctrine.


God has given us the same commandment at two different mountains
God have given us the same commandments; but they are in two different covenants. However, many of us think that "God has given us two different things at two different mountains at two different times. From Mount Sinai, the Israelites received the Ten Commandments and the Old Covenant; but from Mount Zion, grace."

• Heb 12:20-22 KJV  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:  (21)  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)  (22)  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

I will tell them, If you want to be more accurate with the interpretation with your typology, you should consider Mount Tabor also. It is because when Jesus transfigured and shone like the sun at the high mountain which is now believed to be Mount Tabor, it was the same picture (typology) when Moses was about to give God's commandments to the people. But the Israelites rejected God and His commandments when they worshipped the golden calf:

• Mat 17:1-2 KJV  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,  (2)  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
• Mat 23:37-38 KJV  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!  (38)  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 
• 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.

God gave us His Son so that His words will live in us
Hence, God gave the laws to the Israelites through Moses at Mount Sinai. God has also given His laws to us through Jesus Christ. The difference is not in the laws. The difference is that the laws given to the Israelites were written in stones under the Old Covenant through Moses; but the laws given to us are written in our hearts and minds under the New Covenant through Jesus Christ. One is of the letter; the other is of the Spirit. One is from Mount Sinai; the other is from Mount Olive.

• 2Co 3:6-18 KJV  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  (7)  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:  (8)  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?  (9)  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.  (10)  For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.  (11)  For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.  (12)  Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:  (13)  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:  (14)  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.  (15)  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.  (16)  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.  (17)  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  (18)  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

One is of the ministration of death because it is no longer a valid covenant after it has been taken over or replaced  by the New Covenant; the other has now become the living testimony of Jesus Christ in all the believers.

•  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.

One was destroyed and broken into pieces because of Israelites' sins, but it was given again as the commandments to be put into the ark of covenant. The other was crucified and killed because of our sins, but He was resurrected and He became the laws in the hearts of the believers. He is the Word who came in the flesh - the bread of life, the commandment, and the rod of authority in the hearts of the believers.

• Exo 32:19 KJV  And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
• Exo 34:1 KJV  And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.

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