God is not unrighteous to forgive only; but to judge too

What is the real problem of the antinomian teaching

Most radical grace preachers have been preaching vehemently that God is not unrighteous to forgives all their sins. I have no problem with that although it is a confusing phrase which they simply extract from the Bible without really understanding it:

• Heb 6:10-12 KJV  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.

It means that God is not unrighteous as to forget your work or unjust until He forget your work. Hence, God is not unjust until He can never forgive too. On the contrary, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:9 KJV).
However, many radical grace preachers have preached it so radically that God must forgive and cleanse all their unrighteousness and lawlessness even if they do not repent from their lawlessness, do not turn from their sins, and do not live in godliness. We are afraid that they have crossed 'the line' and become the antinomian preachers. But they become more afraid when we tell them that God is not unrighteous to judge their lawlessness too. In another words, God is faithful and just to judge.
Hence, the problem with the antinomian teaching is not 'they have preached too much on God's forgiveness'; but 'they have preached God's forgiveness so much that they become deceived to think:

1. that God is unrighteous to judge, 
2. that God, the Lawgiver, is an Old Testament God, and 
3. that anyone who still shows them the laws or commandments of God is an Old Testament preacher

Hence, most antinomians would only preach and follow the 'Christ' who has no more law (no more demand or command) for them. They think that the 'Christ' whom they follow is 'Grace' or the true God of the New Testament, that He has no more law or demand for them, and that He would not have any law to judge them even if they sin and preach lawlessness. Is it true that 'only Law demands, but Grace supplies'? No, I don't think so. Yes, law demands, but grace demands too. Law judges, but Grace judges even more because we do not live by the law of the stones which is limited to the Ten Commandments only; we live by  every word that proceed from the mouth of God which can be more demanding than the Ten Commandments, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us (see Rom 8:2-4 below).


The words of Jesus are spirit and life
Yes, the law from the mouth of the Lord is more demanding, but it is spirit and life. It will not pass away. It will still judge in the future !

• 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 5:27-29 KJV  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:  (28)  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.  (29)  And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
• Joh 6:60-66 KJV  Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?  (61)  When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?  (62)  What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?  (63)  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  (64)  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.  (65)  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.  (66)  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
• Rom 8:2-4 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.
• 2Co 3:6-7 KJV  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  (7)  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
• Rev 6:9 KJV  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: .. (19:12) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God ...  (20:4) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The mark of beast will be received by those who do not and cannot have the word of God)

Is Jesus the God of grace only or the law only?
Many still argue, "But law and grace cannot mix. Hence, if God will forgive all our sins under the New Testament, He is grace. He is no longer law. And hence, we have no more law or judgement from God."
I will ask them, Yes, law and grace cannot mix. But, if God is law and God is grace, He is the same; how can we say that He mixes or He is a 'mixture'? Water can be in liquid, ice, and vapour too; but we don't say that it mixes or it is a mixture. Yes, God gave the law under the Old Testament and gave His Son, Jesus Christ, under the New Testament. But God is still a lawgiver under both covenants.

• Rom 8:6-8 RV  For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the spirit is life and peace:  (7)  because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be:  (8)  and they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
• Jas 4:10-12 KJV  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.  (11)  Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.  (12)  There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

We are not supposed to speak evil of our brethren with the intention to lie and malice. We would be judged by the law. But, if we speak evil of the law, God will judge us because God is the lawgiver. Many people who sin have tried to work around their sin problems by speaking evil of the law which judges them. They think that, if they do not believe any law or do not have any law, God can never judge them (or God is unrighteous to judge them because they are under grace, so to speak). No, I will say that they cannot be right if their thinking is wrong. God is the lawgiver and He will never change. He is the law, the truth, and grace. Hence, we don't split the law, the truth, and grace; neither do we say that He mixes or He is a mixture because of ignorance or wrong thinking preached out of the Bible context:

• Pro 6:23 RV  For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
• Joh 1:14-18 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.  (15)  John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.  (16)  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.  (18)  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

What do we see from the Bible verses above? We see God as the giver of both the law and grace. We don't split Him into the law (under the Old Testament) and grace (under the New Testament). We don't split Him into a God for the Jews and a God for the followers of Jesus Christ. No, He is the God of the law, truth, and grace. We don't worship only the God of grace; we worship the God of truth also. We don't worship only the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we worship the God who sent Moses and Jesus too.

** Some God's preachers may fail, not because they judge; but because they disobey
Many will argue, "Jesus is different from Moses and the prophets. Jesus is God and He never judge. Jesus is grace but Moses is a picture of the law. Moses judged and condemned. Moses rebuked the Israelites and called them the 'rebels'. He misrepresented God and showed that God was an angry God. That's why God was angry with Moses and barred him from entering the promised land."
I will tell them, Please read your Bible properly. God did not need Moses to show Him as a happy God or smiling God. God had shown the Israelites that He was already angry with their stiff-necked behaviours and attitude. In fact, in Exodus, God was so angry that He almost wanted to destroy all the Israelites when they rebelled and worshipped the golden calf. It was Moses who interceded and changed the mind of God. Hence, if God could be angry with the Israelites, I don't see any reason God was angry with Moses just because Moses was angry with the Israelites too. Hence, Moses did not make the mistake for being angry, for not speaking good and kind words to the Israelites, for rebuking them as the 'rebels', or for hitting the rock in a fit of anger. No, Moses did not make the mistake for being judging; he was judged because he did not obey every word of God and believe the authority of God's words. Instead of just speaking with his rod, he hit with the rod:

• Num 20:7-12 KJV  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  (8)  Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.  (9)  And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.  (10)  And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?  (11)  And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.  (12)  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. (13) These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.
• Num 27:12-14 KJV  And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.  (13)  And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.  (14)  For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

When Moses rebelled against God's commandment, he did not sanctify God before the eyes of the people. As a result, Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land. It was a big punishment. It showed that God was serious about it when Moses or any prophet did not obey and do every word that He said before the eyes of the people. If God told him to speak with his rod, he must not hit with his rod. Similarly, if God tells us to judge, we must not bless too. 
King Saul is another example in the Bible. He obeyed God only partially. As a result, God judged him severely. 

• 1Sa 15:20-24 KJV  And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.  (21)  But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.  (22)  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  (23)  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.  (24)  And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

Hence, it is understood that the prophets and kings have greater responsibility to obey God. If they cannot obey every word or commandment of God before the people, they do not sanctify God, and they have failed to do their job. Similarly, preachers or pastors today have greater responsibility to obey the words and commandments of the Lord too. Preaching grace or forgiveness without the preaching of repentance is only half of the gospel. They may give many excuses and argue that they have always preached Jesus, prophesied in His name, cast out demons in His name, and done many things to glorify God. But disobedience without doing every word and commandment of Jesus will not glorify God. It shows that they have rebelled against God. Jesus will reject them just like God had rejected Saul who had transgressed the commandment of the Lord because he feared the people more and obeyed their voice:

• 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!"

a. Jesus is more than a picture of grace
Many antinomian preachers argue that Jesus is (a picture of) grace, but Moses is (a picture of) the law, and therefore, they will listen only to Jesus; not Moses or any other prophets. They will listen only to grace, and not the law of God. They will listen only the ones who can preach more grace to them, and not the ones who preach more law, more repentance, or more judgement. They will listen only to the grace of God which supplies, and not any law which demands. It seems very logical to select whom they will listen to, entirely based on how much grace, favour, pleasure, or goodness they can get. However, this type of thinking is not from the believers who have truly repented. It is very much like that of the self-centred sinners of the world who worships any God, any idol, or any 'money' which can fulfil their desires:

• 1Jn 2:14-19 KJV  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.  (15)  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  (16)  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  (17)  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.  (18)  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.  (19)  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.  
• 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. 
• 1Pe 4:1-6 LITV  Therefore, Christ having suffered for us in the flesh, also you arm yourselves with the same thought, because he having suffered in the flesh has been made to rest from sin,  (2)  for him no longer to live in the lusts of men, but to live the remaining time in the flesh in the will of God.  (3)  For the time of life having passed is sufficient for us to have worked out the will of the nations, having gone on in wantonness, lusts, drunkenness, parties, carousings, and lawless idolatries;  (4)  in which they are surprised, you not running with them into the same overflow of unsavedness, blaspheming;  (5)  who will give account to Him having readiness to judge the living and dead.  (6)  For to this end also the gospel was preached to the dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but might live according to God in the Spirit. 

I will ask them, Did you say that Jesus is grace and always gracious to the sinners, the lawless, or the antinomian? Do you know that Jesus is the law too when He showed the lawless (the Pharisees and the hypocrites) God's laws too, and brought them to the end of themselves? Yes, Moses judged; so did Jesus.

• Joh 8:7-9 KJV  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.  (8)  And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.  (9)  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.  
• Mat 5:27-29 KJV  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:  (28)  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.  (29)  And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.   
• Luk 10:36-37 KJV  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. 
• Luk 19:45-47 KJV  And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;  (46)  Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.  (47)  And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,

b. Jesus is also a picture of the law (or the glory) in our hearts
Jesus might not come down like Moses with the tablets of the commandments; but He actually came as 'the law' Himself. Those who have followed Him and have His laws in their hearts will not feel condemned; but will be covered with the glory of God. However, those who do not believe Him and keep His words are condemned already:

• Joh 3:17-21 KJV  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.
• 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:
• Mat 4:2-4 KJV  And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.  .. (4)  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 ... (17) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand ... (Mat 17:2) And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
• Exo 34:28-29 KJV  And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.  (29)  And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.   
• Gen 3:7 KJV  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. God's command was the glory which covered men; when Jesus came, we return to the glory of God because He is the law now.
• Psa 8:5 KJV  For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
• Heb 2:9 KJV  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.  

c. Jesus is also a picture of the law on the cross
Moses came down to the Jews from Mt Sinai with God's law written on two tablet of stones; but Jesus Himself is God's law on the cross (two pieces of wood). He is the Word who came to the world in the flesh, given to both the Jews and Gentiles by grace.   

• Joh 1:11-17 KJV  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  (12)  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  (13)  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  (14)  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.  (15)  John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.  (16)  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.  
• 1Jn 4:1-3 KJV  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  (2)  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.

d. Jesus is also a picture of the Word in the ark and the flesh too
Jesus is a picture of God's word in the ark. Pardon me, in fact, Jesus is not just a picture of the Word. He is The Word, who is also the life (manna), commandment (tablets of testimony), and authority (rod) in the ark. He is the commandment and testimony of God. How can we say that there is no more law?

• Joh 20:12 KJV  And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
• Exo 25:18-22 KJV  And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.  (19)  And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.  (20)  And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.  (21)  And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.  (22)  And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
• 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. 

Hence, we can say that Jesus is the God of the law and grace too. No one can dispute it.

Do we know the 'line' and preach it correctly in God's will ?
Many argue that law and grace cannot mix and that there is a 'line' which separate grace from law, and law from grace, as follows:

But I would think that the separation is not between law and grace; the separation is between the old covenant and the new covenant. In the old covenant, the Jews had the words of God (or the law of stones) through Moses; but in the new covenant and by grace, we can now have the words of God too (or the law of the Spirit) through Jesus Christ. Both laws may look different, but they are from the same Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus or the same God.

                                                   
Hence, we may not obey the Ten Commandments or the law of circumcision religiously, ritualistically, legalistically, or precisely, like the Jews under the old covenant. However, we still obey and follow the law of God or the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. If we will still obey and keep the law of the Spirit, we will do and keep all the commandments of God, including the Ten Commandments too:

• 1Co 7:19-20 KJV  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.  (20)  Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
• 1Co 7:19-20 ERV  It is not important if anyone is circumcised or not. What is important is obeying God's commands.  (20)  Each one of you should stay the way you were when God chose you.

Hence, we don't see the 'thin line' above as the 'separation' for us to depart and reject all the laws of God; but we see it as the 'curtain' which was torn down from top to the bottom in the temple of God, and this allows the law of the Spirit of life to move from the temple into the hearts of the sinners who repent:

 

We see this as the assurance of God through the Apostles that we do not need to follow any Jewish rituals which were passed down from Moses after we have repented and become the children of God.

• Act 15:5-25 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. .. (23) And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:  (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:  (25)  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

Many quoted from these Bible verses or Paul's letters and said that Paul had told them not to keep any law. I will ask them to read his letters again. Everyone in the book of Acts or in Paul's time knew that 'the law' is the Jewish law or the law of circumcision which the Pharisees had used to oppress and hinder the Gentiles from believing the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can see from the Bible verses above clearly that the Apostles did not want the people to keep 'the law'. But, they did not say that they should not keep any law, including the Romans laws, the Caesar's laws, or the laws of God. Hence, it is ridiculous to tell the people today that we should not keep any law, including the law of our country, the marriage law, the criminal law, the company law, the school law, or the law of governance in our society, families, or countries..  Please think, If we still keep the law of our country, the traffic law, or the governance laws, how much more we ought to keep the law of God?
 

** In the end time, the antinomian will build the 'line' to stop the flow of water 
The antinomian would preach and see the 'thin line' as the separation for them to promote lawlessness or lawless teaching. They see it as:

We should tell them to read their Bible again. If they could just teach no more law, why did the Apostles still gave them the law not to worship idol and sin?

• Act 15:23-31 KJV  And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:  .. (27)  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. .. (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.  (30)  So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:  (31)  Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

Obviously, there is no thin line between law and grace; but a thin line between law and lawlessness. If the radical grace preachers are not clear about the line, they may cross 'the line' and become the antinomian preachers.

In the end time, many will cross the 'line' or the 'river'. They will preach lawlessness to the church and the world. They will wait for the 'water of life' to dry up and cross over from the world to the churches:

• Rev 16:12-15 KJV  And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.  (13)  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.  (14)  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.  (15)  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Many will ask, "What has the antinomian got to do with the law and the water? Are you saying that they can stop the flow of water?" I will tell them, Yes, you bet. I have said earlier that Moses rebelled against God's commandment in the wilderness of Zin and He did not sanctify God before the eyes of the people. However, water still flowed. But when antinomians rebelled against God's commandment, there will be no flow. It's because without the law of God for too long, any 'streams or rivers' will still dry up sooner or later. Please think, How can the preaching of a 'lawless Christ' or 'lawless Rock' produce any water? 

• Num 27:12-14 KJV  And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel...  (14)  For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. 
• Neh 8:1-3 KJV And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.  (2)  And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month... 
• Heb 9:19-23 KJV  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people..  (22)  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.  (23)  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
• Psa 1:2-3 KJV  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.

The Lord's warning against the false prophets, false christs, or the antinomian preachers can never be obsolete
Many antinomian preachers will raise up their 'huge banner of great anointing' and say, "Who are you to judge? We have preached to millions in reputable TV and media broadcast and save many souls. We are the stars of the gospel and the princes of the goodnews. We are the anointed ones. We have the direct anointing from God because we always hear God telling us to speak to the people. In fact, God always tells us that we should not judge. Jesus told me, 'Son, you have not blessed enough .. you have judged too much.. you have not been gracious enough to my people who are the kings and priests .. you should preach more on this.. and that..' 
But how about you? Did you hear from God? No, you have never mentioned the name of Jesus. You have never said how Jesus would want you to preach. All you said is your own assumption, the law, and people's sins. Hence, why should anyone listen to you who speak like a carnal man without the 'flow of the Spirit'?"
I will tell them, Of course, if I want people to listen to me, I can always speak like you, or speak with the religious lingo or slang, like "Thus said the Lord", "I have the prompting of the Holy Spirit to tell you that ..", "I heard the voice of the Lord and He told me to say ..", "I had a vision ..", "I am the anointed ones", or .. etc. Of course, I could have spoken or written with these phrases without thinking that I was lying if I worded it 'intelligently and wisely'. But I find that it is not necessary for me to use any of these phrases if I trust that God can speak to the people. If I deliberately use them, I would be no different from the false 'christs' or the 'anointed' who think that everyone must listen to them because they have more anointing or do more miracles:

• Mat 24:4-6 KJV  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  (5)  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  (6)  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
• Mat 24:11-12 KJV  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  (12)  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
• Mat 24:23-25 KJV  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  (24)  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  (25)  Behold, I have told you before.

Why did Jesus repeat the warning of false prophets and false Christs three times in the same chapter of Mat 24? Apart from showing us that this warning is a warning which will extend to the end of times, the Lord also emphasized to us that this warning is more important than His other warnings about the earthquakes, tsunamis, famines, pestilence, or wars in the end time because it will determine if the churches and the believers can survive the destruction and the judgement which will come in the future.


An antinomian preacher can be either a law preacher or grace preacher
Many will argue, "We are not antinomian preachers. Why do you keep accusing us as the lawless preachers? We are husbands of one wives, we have never gone to the prostitutes, we were not immoral, we obey the law of our country. We don't steal or lie. We still preach the law of God and ask the people to meditate on it. Although sometimes we can be quite radical about the preaching of grace, we have always obeyed the voice of the Lord to preach more on grace and less on the law and repentance .."
I will tell them, Who told you that antinomian preachers are lawless preachers or criminals who steal and lie? Antinomian preachers are preachers who could be husbands of one wives and they may obey all the law of God, like the Pharisees. But they could be antinomian preachers simply because they teach people not to keep any law or do any law. However, most of the people do not know that they are antinomian preachers. Like the Pharisees, they would preach some God's laws and some of their own laws to give people the false impression that they are still God's preachers. Hence, many of us think that the Pharisees were law preachers. But in God's eyes, they were still lawless in their minds and behaviours:

• Mar 7:9-13 KJV  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.  (10)  For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:  (11)  But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.  (12)  And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;  (13)  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
• Mat 23:28 LITV  So you also indeed outwardly appear righteous to men, but within are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.  

Today we don't have many Pharisees or law preachers who still preach the law of circumcision or their Jewish laws to us; we have many grace preachers instead. But does it mean that all grace preachers can never be lawless in their minds and behaviours like the Pharisees? No, of course, antinomian preachers can appear as the law preachers or the grace preachers. They won't let us know if they are antinomian preachers. Of course, Satan won't tell Adam and Eve that he was the devil too. Naturally the antinomian preachers would not disclose their antinomian identity to us too. Of course, they will very unlikely come to us as a monk or a Jewish priest. They knew very well that they can deceive more believers if they come as a pastor, an evangelist, a preacher, or a prophet instead. However, they cannot fool everyone every time. Jesus has shown us that one of the best ways to know them is by their fruits. It's because they can't hide with the fruits of their teaching or behaviours. The fruits will show what kind of teaching, thinking, philosophy, or 'Christ' they follow. Like the Pharisees who preached law to give people the false impression that they are still God's preachers, they may preach grace. But in God's eyes, they are lawless in their motives. No amount of law preaching or grace preaching can hide it when they preach subtly against the churches and those who have God's laws and commandments. It would only make them look more disgusting when they resort to switching their doctrine, like a 'ding dong bell'. They become lukewarm preachers whom the Lord will spew out of His mouth, not because they are not hot enough or cold enough in law or in grace, but because of their despicable tactics of finding fault with the churches who preach repentance or God's principles.

• Rev 3:15-17 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:

However, when they are exposed as the antinomian preachers, they would just switch back to the preaching of repentance and complain that they have been falsely accused by all the churches (or the 'elder brothers'). They would claim that they are the victims, like Joseph who was sold by his brothers, when actually they are the shepherds in disguise or wolves in sheep clothing.

• 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 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.

An antinomian preacher can be either an 'once-saved-always-saved' law preacher or an 'once-saved-always-saved' grace preacher
Do you know that the Pharisees could be the 'once-saved-always-saved' preachers too? According to Paul, there would be Old and New Testament believers who will face the judgement of God if they sin wilfully:

• Heb 10:26-31 KJV  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  (27)  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  (28)  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  (29)  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?  (30)  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.  (31)  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Obviously there were two groups of believers or preachers in the Bible verses above, and

1. they were the believers; not the unbelievers. There were the Old Testament believers who knew Moses' law and New Testament believers who knew grace.
2. However, both types of believers sin wilfully if they takes the blood sacrifice for granted. 
3. The Pharisees or the law preachers could have despised Moses' law and sinned wilfully when they sinned continuously without repentance, thinking that they were 'once-saved-always-saved' as long as they offered their blood sacrifices every year. 
4. Some radical believers under grace could have taught and behaved like the Pharisees too. 
5. However, God's judgement on the new covenant believers would be much sorer compared with the judgement on the Pharisees and the Jews.
6. It is because when the new covenant believers use the grace of God to justify their unrepentant lives, they are worse than the Pharisees. There would be no more sacrifice for sins for them.
7.  This warning is certainly for all the new covenant believers who sin wilfully.

They will argue, "What's wrong if we preach 'once-saved-always-saved' promise to the believers? How many of us can live a sinless life? Don't you sin wilfully? Don't you believe in grace and still sin and lust ?"   
I will tell them, If the believers still fall in sins, it doesn't mean that we can all sin wilfully. Please read Heb 10:26-30 again. Sinning wilfully is not sinning because you know grace or you are the new covenant believers. Sinning wilfully is sinning by manipulating the blood or the grace of God with contempt, with evasive doctrine, or with the intention to mock at those who have repented, kept God's laws, and become the true followers of Jesus Christ. It is a type of sin which is more likely committed by the Pharisees or the preachers. They sin wilfully by changing the words of God, twist His teaching, and corrupt His covenants. They may teach and turn the law or grace of God into license to sin, cheap grace, lies, or 'once-saved-always-saved' heresy for the unrepentant sinners. They think that, by doing so, they are the friends of sinners; they are like Jesus. However, unknowingly they become worse than the Pharisees and become more condemned with much sorer punishment.
Of course, I won't say that everyone who preaches 'once-saved-always-saved' is preaching false doctrine or sinning wilfully. Of course, we can preach it occasionally (as the assurance) to the sincere believers who have repented. They could be the minority who do not read the Bible, and hence, do not know the assurance of their salvation from the words of God. They do not know or believe 1 John 1:9.
However, it is sad to know that many preachers today do not teach the 'once-saved-always-saved' message to the sincere believers who have repented. Instead, they preach it radically, rampantly, and 'cheaply' as the 'too-good-to-be-true gospel' to the sinners of the world, or to the unrepentant and carnal believers in the churches. It is certainly not the gospel of Jesus Christ who calls sinners to repentance; but it is 'cheap grace' or 'ding dong bell' doctrine which is antinomian and lawless.


An antinomian preacher does not preach repentance and good works because he thinks that they are dead works
Of course, antinomian preacher can preach from the Bible too. However, they will quote the Bible verses out of context. They think that they are preaching right believing when they say, "Preaching of too much of repentance will lead to condemnation of sins. It could become self-effort and dead works."
I will ask them, Please read your Bible again. Paul did not say that. If you read it again, you will know that repentance is not dead work; but it is the foundation for the believers to depart from dead works.

• 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.

In another words, before we can move to higher principles or higher doctrine of Christ, all believers must have known the foundation of repentance. However, Paul lamented that how many believers can really do that:

• Heb 5:11-14 KJV  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.  (12)  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.

I will ask them, In your 'right believing', do you still believe in doing good? If you still believe, why can't we preach doing good? Isn't it ridiculous to tell us that we can believe in doing good; but not in preaching doing good? If we can believe in doing good, what's wrong if we preach doing good too? What's wrong if we preach doing good and repentance as the foundation or the principles of doctrine of Christ for all the believers too? If Paul said that it is the foundation for every believer, how can it become self-effort and dead works for the believers? Obviously your revolution or complain against all the churches who 'do good get good' is a false accusation in the light of Christ's doctrine. It shows that your doctrine is a 'ding dong bell' doctrine which is antinomian and lawless again.


An antinomian preacher does not preach repentance because he thinks that he can never transgressed against God's laws, or because he does not have any law
Most antinomians do not believe in 1 John 1:9, not because they are afraid to confess sin, but because they do not like to repent. The Pharisees had no problem in confessing about their sins too. But they had big problem in repenting because they could never do it convincingly before John the Baptist and the people whom they had oppressed:

• Mat 3:5-9 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.

Hence, antinomians will find all kinds of excuses to reject 1 John 1:9 too. They will say that it is for the agnostic believers, carnal believers, false believers, cult believers, or other religious believers. But I will ask them, Can't you see God's forgiveness and grace in 1 John 1:9 too? Please think, How can that verse be for the agnostic believers, false believers, or other believers? If grace is for both the sinners and God's believers, I don't see any reason why we ought to reject 1 John 1:9 and lie that it is not for us to repent and to confess our sins so that we may obtain the grace of God. If you were misled by unscrupulous preachers to confess sins in a manner that is detrimental to your mental health and sanity (for eg. by repeating the confession 500 times or 5000 times a day and chanting it like a monk or a 'broken record'), I can understand how much you have suffered. My sympathy goes all out to you for your ignorance and stupidity. But, if you lie and preach against 1 John 1:9 just because you do not want to repent and admit that you are a sinner, you have denied Christ. And you have become antinomian. You have deceived others and yourselves. John said it very clearly, If we repent or confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us all our sins (1 Jn 1:9). In another words, God is gracious and there is grace. However, if we refuse to repent or deny that we have sins or we have sinned, we make Him a liar. As God can never lie with His words; we become the liars instead:

• 1Jn 1:6-10 LITV  If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and we walk in darkness, we lie and are not practicing the truth.  (7)  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of His Son Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.  (8)  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous that He may forgive us the sins, and may cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.

Many will argue, "No, we are not antinomian. We have high regard for the law. We know that we are sinners and the law is too high for us to keep. So repentance is for the Pharisees or the self-righteous who think that they can keep the law. Hence, we do not preach repentance because it is for the Jews and those who are under the law."

• Mat 3:5-8 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:
• 1Jn 1:7-10 KJV  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  (8)  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

I will ask them to read the Bible verses above again. Both Bible verses have shown us that confession of sins and repentance is under the New Testament. How can it be preached as something that is for the Old Testament or only for the Jews and the Pharisees?  If it is only for the Jews because it is the law for them to do repentance and water baptism, why do you still baptise your believers with water? Why don't you preach that water baptism is under the law and say that all the churches who do it are under the law? If you justify yourselves for doing the water baptism of repentance and condemn others for doing it, you are no different from a double standard preacher or a lukewarm believer that is neither 'hot nor cold' or neither 'here nor there', and the Lord will spew you out one day. Repent:

• 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 ... (19)  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

An antinomian preacher is not a Word-based preacher
He may boast and say, "Many believers come to our churches because they feel liberated after years of bondage in the law of God. That's because they had been hearing from the law-based preachers. But we are the grace-based preachers. We preach grace-based gospel. We preach the grace revolution and the gospel that Paul preached. When more people are flocking to our churches, it shows that we are preaching a more powerful gospel. It is grace-based. But many churches today are stuck with the words and teaching of Jesus Christ which is law-based. His sermon on the mount which tells people to pluck out their eyes, stop sinning, and do good has become impractical and obsolete in our society. It was hard saying for those who were under the law and for us too. It brings men to the end of themselves so that we know that if we can not keep one law, we cannot keep all the laws, and therefore, we should not keep any law of God. In fact, the teaching of Jesus points us to the teaching of Paul which is grace. If we accept the gospel of grace, we accept Christ and we have eternal life. That's the promise."
I will tell them, What's the use if you have the gospel, but it is without the word or commandment of Christ? It is not life. It is not His promise; it is your promise which is a lie. Please read His words again and don't deceive yourselves and others:

• Joh 6:63-64 KJV  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  (64)  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
• Rev 22:13-14 KJV  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  (14)  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Many antinomians preach that the tree of knowledge of good and evil is a type of the law. I will tell them, No. The Bible shows clearly that the disobedient go the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but the obedient go to the tree of life. One is the tree for the disobedient; the other is the tree for the obedient. Both trees were in the garden of Eden, but men would not know the value of obedience in the tree of life until they have rebelled and known the tragic death in disobedience.)    

Hence, the gospel that Jesus preached is not just grace-based. It is Word-based. Our grace-based thinking is not complete until our thinking is liberated to know and do the will and the word of God:

• 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.
• Joh 1:14 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.
• Rev 6:9 KJV  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
• Rev 19:13 KJV  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
• 1Jn 2:3-7 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.  (5)  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.  (6)  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.  (7)  Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
• 1Jn 2:14-15 KJV  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.  (15)  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
• 1Pe 1:23-25 KJV  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  (24)  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  (25)  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 

However, in the last days, we need to be stronger in the word of God because of the false prophets or antinomians. In another words, we need to be more word-based to discern and to know what is the will and the word of God and what is not:

• Mat 7:15-24 KJV  Beware of false prophets ..(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.  (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:
• 2Co 4:1-2 KJV  Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;  (2)  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
• Eph 6:17 KJV  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
• Heb 4:12 KJV  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
• 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. (6:1-6) 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.

I will tell them, I have no problem with the grace-based message or grace-based preachers. But when you said that everyone must follow you to preach only the grace-based gospel or the gospel that Paul preached, you did not sanctify God or Christ. Like Moses who hit with the rod instead of speaking with the rod, you could have disobeyed God too. Instead of speaking to the churches or the people with grace, you 'hit' them radically with it. You may argue that you have never 'hit' and 'kill' like the law preachers or repentance preachers who preached hard messages to condemn and reprove sins. But do you know that you can 'kill softly with your songs' or graciously with your words too? Do you know that sometimes hard hitting or reproof is better than soft words if it is from God?

• Pro 27:5-6 KJV  Open rebuke is better than secret love.  (6)  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
• Pro 3:11-12 KJV  My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:  (12)  For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
• Pro 15:9-12 KJV  The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.  (10)  Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.  (11)  Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?  (12)  A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
• Joh 16:7-13 KJV  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  (8)  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  (9)  Of sin, because they believe not on me  ..  (13)  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (Please think, Why didn't the Lord say, He will sweet-talk the world or speak gently to the world; but, instead, reprove the world? Isn't His word clear enough on what and how we can preach?)
• 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.
• Heb 12:5-16 KJV .. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:  (6)  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  (7)  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  (8)  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  (9)  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?  (10)  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.  (11)  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  (12)  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;  (13)  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.  (14)  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:  (15)  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;  (16)  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
• Rev 3:19 KJV  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

I will tell them, Yes, Paul seemed to preach a better and more complete gospel than Christ because he preached grace under the new covenant. But Paul is a disciple. He preached the gospel based on the word of Christ. Hence, it is absurd to tell people to follow the gospel that is based on Paul's words or commandments, rather than based on the commandments of Jesus Christ. Jesus has also said it clearly that we must hear His words and keep His sayings. I don't think that anyone of us can say boldly that His words are obsolete even if some of us may think that we are his beloved disciples or the disciples whom He loved, or that we can preach better with our 'improvised speech and acting'. Yes, in the eyes of men, Bruce Lee 李小龍 could outshine his kungfu master (Ip Man') because he could think better, look better, and do better in his improvised stunts and acting. But, in the eyes of God, anyone who tries to 'improvised' the salvation message of Christ to draw greater crowd or following has betrayed Him:

• Joh 13:12-21 KJV  So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?  (13)  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.  (14)  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.  (15)  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.  (16)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.  (17)  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.  (18)  I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.  (19)  Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.  (20)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.  (21)  When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
• Mat 10:22-27 KJV  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.  (23)  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.  (24)  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.  (25)  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?  (26)  Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.  (27)  What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
• Mat 23:8-13 KJV  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.  (9)  And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.  (10)  Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.  (11)  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.  (12)  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.  (13)  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
• 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.

A good preacher will always come and preach the full gospel with the 'firstfruits'
If you believe in the Old Testament typology, you may have come across the following Bible passage which shows that the 'flour' is a type of Christ who heals and saves:

• 2Ki 4:38-44 KJV  And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.  (39)  And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.  (40)  So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.  (41)  But he said, Then bring meal (flour). And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.  (42)  And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.  (43)  And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.  (44)  So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.

Similarly, antinomian preachers may preach only half of the gospel by bringing flour or Christ to the people. They say, "The gospel is about Jesus only. If we bring Him to everyone into their every situation, we will bless and prosper everyone effortlessly. Hence, we preach Him as the 'flour' for every situation. As long as there is 'flour', there is Jesus and everything will be ok. That's why we preach Jesus all the time. We preach Jesus to everyone. We always confess His name. We always think of Him. We eat and drink of Him... We won't go wrong as long as we are fanatical in Him. He is fantastic .. He is marvellous.. He is gracious.. He is too good to be true.. He is ..  this and that." 
I will tell them, Yes, I will not argue if your typology of the 'flour' is right or wrong. I have no problem with the Old Testament typology of the 'flour' although I preach more from the Lord's typologies or parables from the New Testament. However, we must not stop and forget to preach and complete it with the explanation and teaching of the Lord in the New Testament. Do you know that there is also the typology of 'fruits' in the New Testament too? Do you agree that the gospel is complete and full only when God's preachers come bringing and preaching the 'bread of the firstfruits' too? If 'flour' is your typology of Christ in the Old Testament, why can't the 'bread of the firstfruits' be the typology of your repentance in the New Testament too? Repentance could be the 'firstfruits' which everyone must bring to enjoy the full and complete life in Christ. It is not just your tithes or your first fruits of your harvest; it is your first effort to change your life and follow Christ: True preachers of Jesus Christ will give every word of God to the people and ensure that they will be nourished with a full and balanced diet. That's why the preachers of God have greater responsibility and they will be judged more severely if they do not do their job well:

• Rev 2:1-5 KJV  Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;  (2)  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:  (3)  And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.  (4)  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.  (5)  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
• 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.  

 

Hence, we don't tell people that God must forgive; but

sinners must repent ! 

If sinners will repent, we do not need to convince or prove to them that God must forgive. Their repentance would be genuine without any dependence on whether God must forgive or not. True believers who repented know God's absolute sovereignty. They know that God retains the absolute sovereignty to forgive or not to forgive. They know that it is grace if they are forgiven and they worship a sovereign God. But, today most people would only want to worship their own 'gods' who must forgive them, no matter what they do:

  Mat 18:23-35 KJV  Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.  (24)  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.  (25)  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  (26)  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  (27)  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.  (28)  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.  (29)  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  (30)  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.  (31)  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.  (32)  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.

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