There is a law which the false propehts will love and have high regard for it

It is 'the law' which protects them from any rebuke or condemnation
It could be any law which protects their rights to do lawlessness (or their copyright to guard whatever they said secretly or publicly), and hence, stops others from exposing them or warning others. However, we know that they have no regard for God's laws. They are lawless and they hate all God's laws which teach moral values and characters, except 'the law' which teaches them how to prosper and promote worldly gains effortlessly. 'The law' which they believe in is no difference from 'the law' which the Jews believed in; it will bring deception, hypocrisy, works of the flesh, and death. It could be taught as God's law at the beginning; but, somewhere along the line, it became so corrupted that it could no longer be taught as God's law. For example, it is like the law of Moses or the law of circumcision which had been manipulated and used by the Pharisees to keep the Gentiles under the bondage of the law:

• Act 15:5-24 KJV But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.  (6)  And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. .. (24) Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

That's why today we are no longer required to keep the law physically, or to keep the external rituals of the law, like the Jews; instead we keep the law of God in our hearts. It is the law of Christ which still teaches us the moral values and characters of God and how we ought to be like Him too.

• Rom 2:26-29 KJV  Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?  (27)  And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?  (28)  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:  (29)  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
• Gal 6:13-14 KJV  For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.  (14)  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Please don't misunderstand me. I love the copyright law, and the law which protects our properties, our lawful possessions, and our privacy too. However, if it has been taken advantaged of by the lawless, the con-artists, the religious, or the false prophets, to promote falsehood and hypocrisy, it cannot be used by God. 


But the true law of God should protect the world and the churches from sinking deeper into more lawlessness 
The difference between the false prophets and the lawless people in the world is: The false prophets preach lawlessness; but those who are lawless in the world practise lawlessness. The worst is: The false prophets would not teach the lawless or the churches to practise lawlessness; instead, they remove the laws of God subtly, internally, and gradually from the churches (who are called the salt of the earth) so that lawlessness will multiply in the end time, physically and spiritually:

• Mat 5:3-14 KJV  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven ..  (12)  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.  (13)  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  (14)  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid ..
• 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 24:11-12 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.

Many argue that the churches do not play any part in it (if the world becomes more and more lawless) because God said that the churches will always shine brighter and brighter; but the world will grow darker and darker. I will ask them, Please think, If we do not play any part in it, how can we still be called the salt of the earth? Are we just some kind of 'decorative vegetables' only to make the food look better in a dish?

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What is eternal life?

Yes, eternal life is a promise of God in the Bible:

• Joh 3:15-16 ISV .. so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. (16) "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his unique Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life.

King James Bible said it is everlasting life. It is a life that has no end and we will live in it forever.
However, have we all received this eternal life and become eternally saved now? Yes and No:

a.) Yes, we have all received eternal life 
It is because of the finished work of Jesus Christ and the power that has been given to Him. We are destined to eternal life:

• Joh 17:1-4 KJV  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:  (2)  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.  (3)  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.  (4)  I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
• Joh 10:25-29 KJV  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.  (26)  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.  (27)  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  (28)  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  (29)  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 
• Act 13:46-48 ISV  Then Paul and Barnabas boldly declared, "We had to speak God's word to you first, but since you reject it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are now going to turn to the gentiles.  (47)  For that is what the Lord ordered us to do: 'I have made you a light to the gentiles to be the means of salvation to the very ends of the earth.'"  (48)  When the gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord. Meanwhile, all who had been destined to eternal life believed .. (Yes, when we are destined to believe, destined to reign, or destined to prosper, or destined to be saved, we did not do anything so that we can believe. But it does not mean that we are destined not to do anything.)

b.) No, we are not all forever saved yet
It is because Jesus would never say, You have eternal life, and therefore, you are forever saved now. On the contrary, He warned us that there are 'sharks' in the ocean and 'wolves' on the land. Imagine that you are swimming in the open ocean and that you will be drown with exhaustion at any time soon. Will you say that you are forever saved now after you have found a rubber swimming tube and climbed onto it? The rubber tube will not save you totally from the sharks; but you are quite saved (if you do not jump back into the water or splash on the water to attract more sharks) until you go to the end of the ocean and reach the land. I know that this is a bad analogy, but this can be the picture of many believers who are thinking that they are saved forever now, without knowing that there are still 'sharks' in the ocean (or wolves in the land Mat 7:15). If this is not so, Paul would not tell us that there are wolves after we have believed too (Act 20:29). Did Jesus say that you have eternal life from Him, and therefore, you are saved forever now? No, we are not there yet because God has not finished (with) us yet. We have not finished what we are supposed to do yet. We are still called to serve, not as the servants of sin, but as the servant of righteousness, to do righteousness. Although we are called to serve with the assurance of eternal life, we must still have a faithful servant's attitude, not an arrogant servant's attitude  (Mat 18:33), or a prodigal son's attitude (Luk 15:13):

• Jud 1:17-21 ISV  But you, dear friends, must remember the statements and predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (18)  They kept telling you, "In the last times mockers will appear, following their own ungodly desires."  (19)  These are the people who cause divisions. They are worldly, devoid of the Spirit.  (20)  But you, dear friends, must continue to build yourselves up on your most holy faith. Pray in the Holy Spirit,  (21)  and remain in God's love as you look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life. (Do you realise that to remain in God's love as you look for the mercy .. is to remain in repentance or to remain in an attitude of repentance also ?)
• 1Ti 6:9-21 ISV  But people who want to get rich keep toppling into temptation and are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires that plunge them into destruction and ruin.  (10)  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, in their eagerness to get rich, have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with much pain. (11)  But you, man of God, must flee from all these things. Instead, you must pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.  (12)  Fight the good fight for the faith. Keep your hold on eternal life, to which you were called and about which you gave a good testimony in front of many witnesses.  (13)  In the sight of God.., I solemnly charge you  (14)  to keep this command stainless and blameless until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (15)  At the right time God will make him known. ..  (17)  Tell those who are rich in the present world not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, let them place their confidence in God, who lavishly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  (18)  They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, and to share.  (19)  By doing this they store up a treasure for themselves that is a good foundation for the future, so that they can take hold of the life that is real.  (20)  Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the pointless discussions and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge.  (21)  Although some claim to have it, they have abandoned the faith. May grace be with all of you!
• Rom 6:15-23 KJV  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.  (16)  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  (17)  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.  (19)  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.  (20)  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  (21)  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  (22)  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  (23)  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
• Mar 10:29-31 KJV  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,  (30)  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.  (31)  But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. (Please think, If everyone will just have eternal life without doing anything, does it make sense for Jesus to say this? Does it make sense for Him to tell us, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant' if we do not serve. No, if we are called 'servants', we must do something to be worthy of the call.)

Do you realise that every Bible passage above has the word 'eternal life'? The word of God is eternal life because it is His commandment too.

• Joh 12:49-50 ISV  For I have not spoken on my own authority. Instead, the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and how to speak.  (50)  And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me."
• Rom 7:10-12 KJV  And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.  (11)  For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.  (12)  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good .. (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  (23)  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  (24)  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  (25)  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.  ... ...  (8:7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Are we totally saved from ignorance or wolves? (according to the parable of the sower)
I have used the analogy of the ocean, the sharks, and the rubber tube to describe how some believers are saved temporarily only if they will still jump back into the sea. They will still perish in the ocean (of sin) or die because of the deadly attacks (from the sharks).
In fact, Jesus have a better analogy when He warned us that there are those who received eternal life; only to lose it in the end because of

1. their sin and stupidity (ignorance). 
2. and the deception from the false prophets (wolves)

In the parable of the sower, Jesus said clearly that there is only one type of seed (His word and commandment); but different types of people, including those who have believed or the believers who have received the seed (of eternal life). Many will still perish in sin and lose their salvation because of the deception (from the fowls of the air). I can visualize how frustrated Jesus must have felt when He knew that there are 'believers' who will still perish after receiving His word or commandment (which is also the seed or eternal life Joh 12:50). They will still lose it in the end because of their stupidity or sin, or because of the deception from the false prophets. In fact, Jesus had described it perfectly with His parable of the sower:

• Luk 8:11-15 KJV  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  (12)  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  (13)  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  (14)  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.  (15)  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

It is amazing to know how Jesus can use such a simple parable to explain the irony of why many believers may receive eternal life and yet they may not be saved eternally, because many can receive the seed which is eternal life and still lose it in the end.
I believe that Jesus is not very concerned whether we can interpret eternal life very accurately. He is more concerned about whether the believers who have received His word will take heed and live:

• Luk 8:18 KJV  Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

However, if we always twist His words, nullify His words, or give false assurance to the believers and those who believe, He will judge our motives and intention with His words and with His right version of the interpretation which will  show us who are the false prophets that He has warned us about. Do you know why the parable of the sower is recorded in all the three gospels in Mat 13:18, Mar 4:14, and Luk 8:5?  It is not just the indication of importance for the believers; it is also the indication that His words cannot be nullified.

• Joh 6:63-68 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.  (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 .. (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.  (67)  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?  (68)  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Many argued that only Judas Iscariot would follow Jesus without believing in His words. However, (v66) above shows that, besides Judas Iscariot, many of His disciples did not believe in His words too after following Him for a while. Today there are still many disciples who walk no more in His words even though they may still follow Him, 'eat' with Him, or 'live' with Him. Like Judas Iscariot, they are only professing Christians or believers. 


Can we blame others who make us lose His Word or make us lose our eternal life?
Now, if we go back to the top and look at John 3:16 again, do we still think that Jesus meant that everyone who will just believes in Him would have eternal life? Yes, many will say that they believe in Him and believe in His words; but how many will really believe in Him and believe in His words? But the fruits or the way they teach His words or do His words will tell if they are really His disciples. That's why Jesus knew that many false prophets will preach anything, in His name, including eternal life, but they are no more His disciples. He knew that many will change His words, give false promises to the people, and confuse them that God must forgive them (or give them the eternal life which guarantees eternal salvation) regardless of how much they will sin (without any repentance). But Jesus will ask them, "My word is eternal life. Did I say that everyone who receives my word will be forever saved regardless of how they sin or do iniquity? If you keep my word now; only to change it later for the people, I do not know you .."

• Mat 7:22-23 KJV  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.

I had a dream last night. I dreamed that my wife and I passed by a cake shop. It was still quite dark in wee hours of the morning when the shop was not opened for business yet. There were many empty boxes of different shapes and sizes on the tables outside the shop. Out of curiosity, my wife peeped at one of the boxes which had a small opening, and she said, "I saw something interesting, Dear. Please open it for me to see what's inside?" I obliged and unfastened some of the ropes which tied the box, lo, and behold, a very big and delicious cake appeared before our eyes after I opened it. My wife grabbed one piece of the cake and ate it. She said, "This cake is delicious. You should try it too." Knowing that my wife is a cake lover, I could understand her response. I took a piece of the cake too. However, at that very moment, the cake shop opened and someone was about to come out. My wife immediately shouted, "Quick, Dear, Let's pay them and say, We love your cakes very much and can't resist to try it. Please tell them that we would like to buy the cake with a payment .., quick.. before it is too late .." I dug deep into my pocket and found some money and I was about to run into the shop.. However, I woke up suddenly.   
God did not appear to me and speak to me after the dream that night. But I kept thinking about it while lying on my bed, wondering about what would happen if I paid the shop owner. What happen if the shop owner was ungracious. What if he refused to accept my payment and reported me to the police? Could I argue that it was just a piece of cake and he should never make a big fuss over it? I could have run away without paying him! I started to wonder again, Probably, I should have just run away without paying him because it would save us from all the trouble. Later, I realised the seriousness of the problem. I could lose everything because of a piece of cake. I could lose my integrity, my reputation, my job, my freedom, and .. etc if the shop owner decided to press more charges against me. I realised that, if that happened :

• I could blame my wife for his love of cakes
• I could blame the shop owner for his ungraciousness
• I could blame any law which can charge me in court for a small crime like this
• I could blame any one or any thing (including anyone who teaches my wife to love the cakes ..)

Yes, we can blame anyone or anything too (including the false prophets or the serpent) when something goes wrong. Yes, we may lose His word or lose our eternal life when we are instigated by by the false prophets too. However, do we always blame others, except ourselves?
Many of us, like my wife and me, could only see the 'cake' (or the gift of grace in our life); but we have forgotten that there are still laws in our world (or God's laws in our life too). I thought I was different from others; but it turned out that I was like most of the people too.


God has warned us about it not only in my dream; but in His words too
I did say to myself (in my dream before I woke up), "No, I am not like others; I am always a man of integrity and principle. Why should I run away? I should not feel guilty just because of a piece of cake which I do not love? It is ridiculous to let anyone condemn me because of a piece of cake. It is so unfair.". But now I think that I should have stopped my wife from peeping into the box and doing the unthinkable. I should be the one to be blamed. I thought I was a man of integrity and principle; but it turned out that I had no principle and integrity to stop my wife from eating the cake. Hence, I should be the first one to repent (in my dream). After some more pondering during the day, I realised that the same thing had happened when we were in the garden of Eden (as Adam) and that it will happen again when we are the churches of God (as the bride of Christ). Adam did not do His job well when he allowed his wife to take the fruit without saying anything; but Jesus Christ would make sure that His bride (the Church) will know and do the will of the Father:

• Gen 3:4-9 KJV  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  (5)  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.  (6)  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.  (7)  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.  (8)  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.  (9)  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (Many claim that all the believers can never be deceived and that they would be saved forever after they believed. However, Paul warned the church that the same serpent may come again, not to the world again, but to the churches. Please read the next Bible verses below)
• 2Co 11:1-4 KJV  Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.  (2)  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  (3)  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (4)  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him .. (13) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  (14)  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  (15)  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.  (16)  I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.  (17)  That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.  (18)  Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.  (19)  For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.  (20)  For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. (The false prophets may promise us freedom from the law of God; but in reality, it is bondage under sin and lawlessness again.)

We are warned that the temptation of the serpent to the churches will come. The serpent will not tempt the sinners of the world again because they are already fallen. It will tempt the churches. Today many of us, like Eve, think that we can eat from any 'tree' or any 'cake' because of grace. We have taken it for granted until we thought we can do anything or 'eat' anything in the name of radical grace. We may continue to listen to the temptation of the serpent and do foolish things until it is too late when we realise that we have no more time to repent ..
 

Many think that the serpent will tempt only Adam and Eve (not the churches). They proclaim that the churches can never fall and conclude that the words, parables, and the warnings of Jesus about our sins (ignorance) and the deception of the false prophets (wolves) are no more applicable to us. They preach that we should therefore hear only the gospel that Paul preached, not the gospel that Jesus preached, because the gospel that Jesus preached (with all His warnings for them to keep His words and to depart from sin) cannot give them enough guarantee for true eternal life. So, they tell everyone to turn to the gospel that Paul preached, thinking that the gospel of grace preached by Paul is the true gospel of grace. However, Paul did not give such promise. He was still afraid that the churches could fall into the temptation of the serpent in 2Co 11:1-4. Otherwise, why would he give such a serious warning to everyone (night and day with tears), especially to those who were purchased by His own blood:

• Act 20:25-32 KJV  And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.  (26)  Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.  (27)  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.  (28)  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  (29)  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  (30)  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  (31)  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.  (32)  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

How should we look at eternal life in the Lord's perspective?
We know that there are many definitions of eternal life according to our own perspectives. I have also explored quite thoroughly with the words of God on eternal life too. But what is the Lord's perspective of eternal life? We know that eternal life is given by grace. Eternal life is considered as the grace of God:

• Joh 5:24 KJV  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
• Joh 6:63 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.
• Joh 6:68 KJV  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
• Joh 12:50 KJV  And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
• Mat 19:17 KJV  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
• 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.

God's words, eternal life, or the bread of life, is like the bread that we take daily too. But do we know how God give His bread to us? Did God say that He will promise us His 'monthly bread', 'yearly bread', or 'forever bread'?

• Mat 6:8-13 KJV  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.  (9)  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  (10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  (11)  Give us this day our daily bread.  (12)  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  (13)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

No, Jesus told us to pray for daily bread. Similarly, the bread (life or grace) of God is given like the manna too. It is given like the bread on a daily basis because He wants us to depend on Him everyday. If we continue to walk with Him daily, He will give us enough of His bread, enough of His words, enough of His life, and enough of His grace on a daily basis too.We should not worry if we have received all things for the future. We should just keep walking with Him with the 'daily grace' which is enough for us:

• Mat 6:25 KJV  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
• 2Co 12:7-9 KJV  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  (8)  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  (9)  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Hence, if we know eternal life in God's perspective, do we still feel threatened just because someone tells us 'what is eternal life' in their own perspective? No, we should have enough grace or assurance of God to continue to walk with Him and depend on Him, no matter how eternal life is defined in our own words or their words! Please do not think that God is unfair or unjust because He didn't promise us or give us total deliverance from all our pains, from all the 'thorns', or from the danger of all the 'wolves', from evil, or from temptation. He is just and faithful to deliver us, even if we sin. But we must still seek to walk with Him and depend on Him. We must be humble enough to always repent and confess our weaknesses or sins to Him according to His words too (1 John 1:9).
Jesus did not only tell us to pray for daily bread; He told us to pray for daily deliverance from temptation and evil too. Why? It's because there are still 'sharks' in the ocean and 'wolves' in the land! If this is not so, He would not warn us repeatedly of them, from the beginning to the end of His preaching, even before He was about to be taken up. His warning can never be obsolete; otherwise, the Apostles would not need to warn us about the 'wolves' or the false prophets in their letters again and again, we would not find any false prophets in the book of Revelation too. Yes, we may still find many inhumane dictators, mad kings, lawless tyrants, terrorists, con-artists, and all kinds of lawlessness rising from the world in the end time; but we know that false prophets (who take away the soul, life, or salvation of the believers) can only rise from the churches. Only the antiChrist may be able to destroy the spirit of the believers who are ignorant and drawn to them:

• 1Jn 2:16-22 KJV  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.  (20)  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.  (21)  I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.  (22)  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (Obviously John is talking about the Christian believers who went out from us. The antiChrist can never come from outside. They come from within; so, they will know how to take away the 'seed' (or the life) from the believers. Today we may be on red alert against the crimes and the lawless people who may destroy our bodies from outside; but are we equally alert against those who will rise from within and destroy the churches and the real temples of God?)    
• 1Jn 4:1 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.
• Rev 16:13 KJV  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.
• 2Pe 2:1 KJV  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
• Mat 7:15 KJV  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
• 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.
• Mat 24:11-15 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.  (13)  But the one who endures to the end, that one will be kept safe.  (14)  And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the earth for a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.  (15)  Then when you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (the one reading, let him understand) .. (Obviously this prophecy was not only for the Jewish believers; it is for us, for the Gentile believers today and in the future too (when this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the earth for a testimony to all the nations v14). Obviously it talks about the believers who will be kept safe if they endures to the end. The sinners are not saved in the first place and therefore, it does not make sense to say that they will be kept safe if they endures to the end too. Please recall, We could find only a few evil prophets or Baal prophets in the Old Testament; but in the end time, in the New Testament, it is written, we will find many false prophets rising after Jesus Christ has risen .. Hence, the argument that this prophecy has become obsolete could be a lie from the false prophets who want to protect themselves. The tribulation, persecution, pollution, pestilence, terrorism, wars, inflation, economic disasters, drastic climatic changes, tsunamis, earthquakes, storms, famine, and etc, are all signs of the end time. We should be afraid enough to start doing something to prevent it or face it. However, are we afraid enough to discern the deception of the false prophets to reject it, or to expose it before it spread quietly to destroy us or the 'temples' of God? I believe there is a reason why, when Jesus mentioned all the signs of the end time eg. tribulation, persecution, .. etc, He specifically mentioned about the deception of false prophets, not just once or twice, but thrice in Mat 24! It could be His strongest warning to the churches; it should be more serious than any signs of the end time for us, the believers.)  

 

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Are we totally saved from ignorance or wolves? (according to the parable of the sower)We have discussed about this question quite thoroughly with the words of the Lord in the post above. Now, we will explore more on another related question:
 
Are we servants or sons? (according to the parable of the prodigal son)
I know that there is this 'hot' debate on whether we are servants or sons. This is always brought up because most radical grace preachers think and argue that they should have enough radical grace not to keep any commandment or do any work in the house of God. They argue that they are the sons; not the servants. Yes, they may have the basis to argue with many quotations from the Bible; but it is applied out of context to tell the believers not to do anything after the believers have believed in the finished work of Jesus Christ. They argue, "When you work, God rests; but when you rest, God works .." I do not want to go into all those vain typologies which they have quoted mostly from the Old Testament about God's rest (or God's command for us to do nothing). I will study the words and the parable of Jesus more instead:

• Luk 15:11-32 KJV  And he said, A certain man had two sons:  (12)  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.  (13)  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.  ..  (17)  And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  (18)  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee .. (25) Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. .. (28)  And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.  (29)  And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:  (30)  But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.  (31)  And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.  (32)  It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

We learn from the parable that the sinners are like the prodigal son. But do you agree that there are believers who are like the prodigal son too? They may be the children of God; but they still think that they should live like the sons of the world; not the servants of God any more. So (after listening to all kinds of false teaching and wallowing in it), they told God the Father one day, "Ok, that's enough; I am sick of staying in this house of slavery and bondage with lots of law keeping and working like a servant or an 'ox'. I quit and leave !" So, they go to the 'God' of the false prophets or the 'God' of this world, who promises a different kind of rest and effortless prosperity to them, and 'live like the son of the world'. They think that they should be the son; and not a servant to do anything. But they have forgotten that they are still servants to God to do the righteousness of God.

• Rom 6:20-23 KJV  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  (21)  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  (22)  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (We were all 'swimming' and struggling in the ocean of sin and would die in it one day. But the gift of God has set us free so that we can do better, not continue to 'swim' or 'wallow' in it; but to obey and serve Him better, in life.)

However, there are also other believers who think that they should be the servant; and not a son too. So, they become very jealous when they see their brothers coming back to the house and receiving the blessing of a son again. But, God the Father will tell them, "You are also a son. You will inherit what I have. But your brothers who come back were dead and are alive again; and were lost, and are found." Please think, When God the Father said that their brothers are alive again, does it mean that their brothers have received better privilege, better favour, and better freedom or grace now, with no more responsibility, no more law keeping, or no more working? No, in fact, they have repented and come back to the very same house that they had hated as the house of slavery. But they have now changed their mind to keep the command and the law of God willingly. They will do the very first work that they had hated to do too. In another words, they have changed their mind; but the house and the law of God will never change.  

• Rev 2:2-5 KJV  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.
• Joh 14:11-15 KJV  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.  (12)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father .. (15)  If ye love me, keep my commandments. (So, how do we believe? Do we just believe that Jesus has no more work for us, or do we believe that He has greater work for us because we keep His commandments?) 

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Grace is not forever; it could be taken away

All sinners, even if they are the worst sinners of the world, can be forgiven because of God's grace

I have mentioned in my previous posts that Jesus told us that grace could expire when it was given to all the sinners to repent (Luk 13:2-9). However, do you agree that it can be taken away from the believers, especially those who are so radical in their confidence of God's grace that they become ignorant, boastful, rude, proud, or ungracious too?  ...
Yes, the gospel is grace to all the sinners because it is not dependent on their righteousness or on whether they have sinned or not. All sinners are 'qualified' for the forgiveness of God because they are given second chance, third chance, or more .. while they are still yet sinners.However, if a sinner thinks that he can keep on getting the chances until seven times seven times, just because Jesus had asked the disciples to forgive others seven times in a day, he needs to check his Bible and his heart again:

• Luk 17:3-4 KJV  Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.  (4)  And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. (see Mat 18:21-35 later)

Have you read the Bible verses above? Many preachers said that we must believe the gospel that Paul preached (and not the gospel that Jesus preached?) because Paul could preach more grace. However, the Bible verses above show that Jesus preached grace more than what we know too. Isn't there grace or mercy if we are forgiven seven times or more for 365 days? However, is it radical grace or unlimited grace which we can boast and keep on receiving, without repentance? No, don't be fooled by the false prophets; we must repent. Do we just change our minds? Of course not. Please be honest, If someone did something wrong (with very serious physical harm) to your loved ones, will you forgive him just because he changed his mind or he said that he has repented? No, even if you want to pretend to be very forgiving, you would still want to see how he has repented or changed his mind. Similarly, God will forgive only if we repent and know what is repentance according to His words too.


The believers are forgiven forever only if they have repented or ..
.. if they still remain in repentance. However, many preachers pretend that they are very forgiving and that they have a very forgiving God; but they don't really know what the Bible says about repentance and God. Many can only keep saying that this Bible verse is not for me.. or that Bible verse is only for the Jews under the law. However, ironically they quote from the Old Testament most of the time and they twist it so well (with their typology or vain theory) that they can use it to diffuse or blur all the warning of Jesus Christ and His teaching on repentance in the New Testament. I can remember how they had dismissed repentance and one of the very serious warnings in the New Testament as inapplicable to us:

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

The Bible verses above show that repentance is foundational; but of utmost important. The Bible verses explain it clearly that without repentance some would perish even if they have been enlightened, have tasted the goodness of God, and have the gift of the Holy Spirit. But I don't understand how some preachers can explain these Bible verses as God's warning only to the non-believers or others outside the churches. No, this is obviously a serious warning to the believers who have repented or else Paul would not have said, '.. to renew them again unto repentance' in (v5).

• 2Pe 1:5-10 KJV  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  (6)  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  (7)  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  (8)  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (9)  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  (10)  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 

Grace is not forever; it can be taken back
If we cannot ignore the serious warning from the book of Hebrews to the believers, we cannot look to the gospel and think that it is a guarantee of our salvation without any warning too. Let us go back to the words of Jesus on how many times we should forgive and should be forgiven. It has been recorded in the following Bible verses:

• Mat 18:21-35 KJV  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?  (22)  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.  (23)  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.

I can't understand why most radical grace preachers try to avoid preaching the Bible verses above. Isn't this grace, favour, or mercy, for all the sinners, believers, and preachers? Is it grace when we ought to forgive and be forgiven seventy times seven times? Undoubtedly there is abundance of grace, favour, and mercy too. But is it so radical or abundant that it is given regardless of how we behave, think, or live? Certainly not. We don't go around and boast about it or preach about it foolishly as 'grace revolution' or 'irreversible favour'. Yes, grace is given freely; but it can be taken back. Yes, the servant in the parable above was forgiven unconditionally and totally; but wasn't he asked to pay back everything due unto his lord in the end: (Mat 18:34-35) 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.  


Grace revolution is true revolution of God if there is preaching of repentance
Grace revolution is revolutionary only if there is change of mind to turn away from sin and it is a visible change with the fruits that meet for repentance.
Many say that they preach grace revolution because they want people to receive grace. They say that we have misunderstood them because they are grace preachers who preach like Paul. They say that they must preach grace until everyone misunderstood them; or else they are not preaching grace.

I will ask them, If you preach grace until the sinners will also misunderstand you, how can they be saved? If you say that you have preached repentance to them, why do you preach that grace will lead to repentance ? Obviously, you say it with the intention not to preach repentance because you think that grace will lead to it. However, if Jesus has shown us strongly and repeatedly in all His preaching, parables, and gospel that grace is given for the sinners to repent Luk 17:3-4 (and not to prosper, boast, or behave like the servant in Mat 18:21-35), how much more we need to preach it clearly in our revolution that people must repent? We should stop any preaching of oxymoron or 'ding dong bell' doctrine that will confuse the people ..  Oh, yes, I admit that I would never understand any 'ding dong bell' preachers. Neither would Jesus:

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

In fact, Jesus has preached repentance more than what we understand today; He preached it so much that all His disciples understood that there is no joy in heaven unless there is repentance:

• Luk 15:7-32 KJV  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.  (8)  Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?  (9)  And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.  (10)  Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.  (11)  And he said, A certain man had two sons:  (12)  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living .. (32) It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

So, all the apostles and the true disciples of Jesus Christ would know that there would be no joy in heaven unless they obeyed the Lord and preached repentance. They knew that it was futile to get the sinners to receive grace or favours only to become more boastful, like the servant in Mat 18:21-35.

• Luk 24:44-49 KJV  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  (45)  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  (47)  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  (48)  And ye are witnesses of these things.  (49)  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Jesus would open the eyes of all His disciples to preach repentance. Yes, He did open our eyes about the law about Himself; but He also opened our eyes about His laws and commandment to preach repentance too. I have mentioned that there are two main types of laws in my previous post:

1. the law about Christ (which has be to be fulfilled by Christ)
2. and the law of Christ (which we must keep)

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What is repentance?

Amidst all the chaos, the confusion, and the perversion, we need to know repentance again, not because we want to repent over and over again like the ignorant believing babes, but because we want to become the mature believers who can build on the strong foundation of repentance and leave for higher doctrine of Christ:

• 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) 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 ..  (10) For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  (11)  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:  (12)  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises..

Yes, Heb 6:1 above did tell us to leave the first principles or fundamental principles of the doctrine of Christ; however, it certainly does not mean casting away all the basic principles of Christ. It is because the second portion of Heb 6:1 - 'let us go on .., not laying again ..' shows us that we must still keep them; but we must not lay again and again on the foundation of repentance and the foundation of faith toward God. Well, Paul said again (in Heb 6:3) "..this will we do, if God permit.."
But, sadly many are still babes. Although they have been enlightened and they may have tasted the word of God; however, should they fall, they cannot come back to repentance again. Hence, we should be more diligent in our work and labour .. which could also be the fruits, assurance, and hope unto the end, to show that we ought to leave for higher doctrine of Christ ..     


We have all received the foundation of repentance to build our house
However, we do not build the foundation; we build the house. The foundation is the rock of salvation given by grace:

• Mat 21:42 KJV  Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
• Eph 2:19-22 KJV  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;  (20)  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  (21)  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:  (22)  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
• 1Pe 2:3-6 KJV  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  (4)  To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,  (5)  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  (6)  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

But the house that is on the rock, on the corner stone, or on Him is not given by grace. The house is something we must build as every believer is commanded to build his own 'house'. However, what kind of house we build will depend on how much care or effort we will put into the building, doing, and teaching, of His words. His words would include His sayings, His principles, His doctrine, and His commandments, and the law of Christ, which are all are in our hearts and minds now:

• Mat 7:22-26 KJV  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  (24)  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  (25)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  (26)  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
• 2Pe 1:5-10 ISV  For this very reason, you must make every effort to supplement your faith with moral character, your moral character with knowledge,  (6)  your knowledge with self-control, your self-control with endurance, your endurance with godliness,  (7)  your godliness with brotherly kindness, and your brotherly kindness with love.  (8)  For if you possess these qualities, and if they continue to increase among you, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in attaining a full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (9)  For the person who lacks these qualities is blind and shortsighted, and has forgotten the cleansing that he has received from his past sins.  (10)  So then, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election certain, for if you keep on doing this you will never fail.
• Rev 3:15-19 ISV  'I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.  (16)  Since you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth.  (17)  You say, "I am rich. I have become wealthy. I don't need anything." Yet you don't realize that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.  (18)  Therefore, I advise you to buy from me gold purified in fire so that you may be rich, white clothes to wear so that you may keep the shame of your nakedness from showing, and ointment to put on your eyes so that you may see.  (19)  I correct and discipline those whom I love, so be serious and repent!

Please look at all the Bible verses above again. Do you see the Lord's command for our our effort, our work, or our walk in life to please God and to obey Him too? Let us focus on 2Pe 1:5 above which says, "For this very reason, you must make every effort to supplement your faith with moral character .."  
So, can we falsely accuse Peter that he is preaching self-effort based on this Bible verse too? No, there is nothing wrong with our self-effort, our every effort, or our all efforts, to do good and kindness with love in the Lord too. If Peter can teach making every effort to do good, to do kindness, and to supplement our faith with moral character (building), what's wrong if we and the churches of God teach God's laws and commandments to build moral character in a believer's life too (with tangible moral modification, change in our character, or fruits of repentance)? Will this make the churches behaving like the hypocrites or the Pharisees who wanted to just confess their sins and be baptised without any fruits of repentance? No, if we would teach and allow the people to repent like the Pharisees, we would be no difference from them:

• Mat 3:5-10 KJV  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,  (6)  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.  (7)  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:  (9)  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  (10)  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Yes, we cannot keep God's law; but God's grace will empower us to keep His laws. We do not want to earn God's favours with our effort and sacrifice; we just want to please God with our efforts to obey Him and do His will:

• Rom 8:7-8 KJV  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
• 1Th 4:1-5 KJV  Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.  (2)  For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.  (3)  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:  (4)  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;  (5)  Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
• 1Sa 15:22-24 KJV  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.

 
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Men can live better without the law of God - is it a lie or truth?

Men can live better without the law of God - is it a lie or truth?
Many radical grace preachers today, especially the hyper grace preachers who think that grace cannot 'mix' with the laws, will say, "Of course, it is the truth. Without the law, men would know no sin and would not be judged by the law. Abraham lied, but his lie was not judged as sin because there was no law to judge sin. Hence, Abraham was judged as righteous in the eyes of God instead. Similarly, the Israelites who murmured, rebelled, and wandered in the wilderness were not punished or judged by God before the giving of the laws or the Ten Commandments too. God was gracious to them until they boasted and asked for the laws. They boasted and said, "All that God commands, we can do..", and therefore, God gave them the laws. As a result, it brought death which was first mentioned only after the Ten Commandments were given. It showed that the laws and commandments would bring death because it exposed sin and judged sin. Today, the laws and commandments can still bring death. The Israelites who died in the wilderness is a type of us who are legalistic and who boast about God's laws and commandments. May God help us to see the lesson that God had taught the Israelites - Never ask for the laws.."
I will tell them, The law of God is not like what you say. Please read your Bible again. 

• Exo 19:3-8 KJV  And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;  (4)  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.  (5)  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:  (6)  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.  (7)  And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.  (8)  And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

1. The law of God was not given because they boasted for it. It was given because it would show that they were God's people. Today, God will still give His laws to us to show that we are His people too (Heb 8:10, 10:16).
2. If the law of God was given just because His children boasted for it, God could never be a good father. Please think, Will you give your children something which is not good just because they boast, insist, cry, or even throw tantrum to ask for it? No, if you are a good father, you will never give in .. Neither will God.     
3. Do you really think that you can enjoy quail and manna without judgement on your rebellion because there is no law to judge you? Do you remember what the Lord has taught us about the servant who thought that he could bully others and no one could judge him (Mat 18:32-34)? Probably he thought that he had great favour too. But he was judged more severely.
4. Do you really think that you can lie and you would be as righteous as Abraham because you have Christ? Yes, Abraham could lie, but you cannot lie. Why? Abraham could lie, not because there was no law, but because, when he lied, no one perished. But, if you lie as God's preachers, many people will perish because of your lies or lawless doctrine.
5. If everyone who answers and says "All that you command, we will do.." is boasting, many people who obey would be falsely accused as boastful people, including the Israelites who obeyed God in the following Bible verses too: Jos 1:10-16 KJV  Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, ..  (13)  Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you,.. (16)  And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. I think it is ridiculous to make such rash conclusion on all the soldiers who give salutes to their officers and say, "Yes, sir" too.            

Men have no choice but choose to obey or rebel - this is the law of God
Some may still argue, "The law of God is like the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It's because it gives us the ability to discern, do, and select either good or evil. Hence, we should depart from the law and go for grace instead.. Yes, the law is holy and good; but it is still like the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It will bring death, like it had brought death to Adam and Eve .. it is a danger to go near.. We can choose to reject the law.. "
I will ask them, Do you know that money, prosperity, power, and favour can all become good, or evil too? It depends on how you use it. So, if God gives you money or wealth, does it mean that it is the curse of death like the law to you too ? No, it depends on how you will use your money too. Hence, if God gives you the law, it is not a curse. It can be a blessing if you obey; it is a curse only if you rebel. If God has given you the law, He has given you the choice. You must still choose, whether you like it or not, to obey or rebel. You cannot reject the law or the choice given to you and think naively that, if you do not have the law, you do not have the choice, and therefore, you do not have to obey (or rebel) and you would never be judged by the law.
I know that not many of us would explore so deeply on these possibilities of rejecting God's laws with our own justification. However, if we do, we could have been influenced by a form of lawlessness or lawless thinking which is false peace to the lawless or the disobedient. I hope that it is still not too late for us to repent.     
            


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