K130. Are we under Moses or under Jesus? (1)

We can say in our modern words that we are no more under the old 'CEO', we are under the new 'CEO' or the new commander-in-chief and His name is Jesus Christ. Many will also say that we are no more under the law because we are now under grace. Of course, it is perfectly alright to say that. However, preaching and confession of being under grace has also become more and more vague, liberal, controversial, radical, lawless, contradicting, confusing, enticing, egoistic, mystic, and paganistic today as more and more lukewarm people (evasive preachers) rise and start to argue on law vs grace (or grace vs law). Hence, today we are in a more urgent time (to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ clearly and specifically) than all other times in the church history. You will find that it is no longer enough just to say that "we are under grace" and full stop. It is because lukewarm people can twist it and argue it in anyway they like without keeping any law of God. Hence, it is now necessary to be more specific when we say "We are under grace." Yes, we can all say that we believe in Jesus Christ (Rom 10:10-11); but it could mean all different beliefs when we say we believe. For example, one may say he
1. believes in Jesus without believing in repentance or turning away from sin; and another may say he
2. believes in Jesus with the belief that he must repent and keep all the words and commandments of the Lord

Hence, I have purposely listed all the possible explanations of the Old and New covenant in the following sentences (something like 'faith statements' of law and grace for comparison) in ascending order of details in order to make my point clearer. You may not agree with each one of them; however, it should give you some idea on the importance of the importance of details when it comes to our faith or understanding of our belief in Jesus Christ:

1. We are not under the law, but we are under grace

2. We are not under Moses, but we are under Jesus Christ

3. We are not under the law of Moses, but we are under the law of Christ

4. We are not under the law of Moses to do the laws of God, but we are under the law of Christ to do the laws of God

5. We are not under the law of the Old Covenant to do the law of the Jews, but we are under the law of Christ to do the law of God

6. We are not under the law of the Old Covenant to do the Jewish law of circumcision, but we are under the law of Jesus Christ to do all that the Lord commanded us to do

7. We are not under the law of the Old Covenant to do the Jewish law or the book of the laws given by Moses, but we are under the law of Christ (1Co 9:2) to do and teach the doctrine of Christ which includes all His doctrine (of repentance), His parables (of doing good), His commandments (to teach and do all His words), God's laws (Heb 8:10, 10:16), and all that He had commanded us to do

I like the last one (No.7) above because it is the clearest description of what we intent to preach without misleading the people of God. The first one (No.1) above is the simplest but it still requires a lot of explanation and preaching if the people are not sure of the doctrine (teaching) of Christ and the right belief in Christ. Of course, we are under grace, but I prefer to say that we are under Jesus Christ. Will that affect any of my blessing or status under grace? No.

Being under grace means being under the law of the New Covenant
Now what is the next point I want to make? You might have heard how the hyper grace people taught convincingly that the Israelites were under the curse of the law because they obeyed the law or because they boasted and said, "All that the Lord commanded us, we will do" too?
I will ask them, Are we under the law of Christ to do no more law and believe only in 'pure' grace? Does it mean that, if we do, teach, or confess every word, law, or command of Christ, we will be under the curse of the law, like the Israelites? No, if there is no more law, there is no more covenant and no more God too. How can we be under the curse of the law if we do the law of God or the law of the New Covenant which includes all the commands of the Lord and the Apostles to do good and to obey the Ten Commandments?
The false impression (that those who do or want to do all God's laws will be under the curse of the law) is not only ridiculous; it is a subtle false accusation that all those who preach and teach according to the words of Jesus Christ are legalistic and under the curse of the law too:
Mat 28:19-20 KJV  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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.
Many hyper grace people argue that they believe in the words of God; but reject the Ten Commandments or God's commandments.Their explanations of the difference between God's words and God's commandments and their reasons of believing only in God's words about blessing and resting are totally bizarre and confusing. Hence, we should not waste our time arguing against their lawless or baseless philosophies. We will just show them the words of Jesus above. No one can deny Him and deny His words that the commandments of God are God's words and His words, and His words are the commandments of God and God's words too. The confirmation that the Ten Commandments are His words is so clear when Jesus said it in the following Bible verses:
Mat 15:6 KJV  And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Mar 7:12-13 KJV  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.
I will ask them, Does it make sense to do and teach no more laws and commandments if we know that many are still preaching like the Pharisees today? Will Jesus keep quiet if He knows that their so-called original codes of godly conduct, honour, favour, or respect for His laws and principles of prosperity are actually similar to the Pharisee's corban law or easy-believism which were deceitfully taught to hide men's sins, lawlessness, ungodliness, hypocrisy, and rebellion? The Pharisees could argue that they had high regard and godly honour for the law of God and righteousness too. But when they lied against the law of God or twist the words of God, they made the commandments of God of none effect (Mat 15:6, Mar 7:11-13).
Today we are no more under the old covenant. But does it mean that we have no more law and commandment or no more need to do and teach any law and commandment?
Heb 8:10-11 KJV  For this is the covenant .. I will put my laws into their mind .. (11) And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Yes, the Bible verses above did tell us not to teach the people to know God. Why? It is because the words or laws of God will teach them. But, how can the people know His words or laws if we just do nothing or teach nothing?
Rom 10:10-21 KJV For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation .. (14) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? .. (16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?  (17)  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (18) But I say, Have they not heard? .. (19) But I say, Did not Israel know? ..  (21)  But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
Did Israel hear ? Yes, but barely. Did they believe, have faith, or obey? No. Most of the Israelites died in the wilderness. Can we conclude and say that "since NONE OF THEM CAN KEEP ANY LAW, we do not need to do or teach any God's laws too" ? NO, that can never be our excuse of doing nothing or teaching nothing.

I will explain the real reason why the Israelites were under the curse or punishment of the law at the end of the post. The reason is certainly not because they received God's laws, they turned to God's laws, they obeyed God's laws, or they preached God's laws. But, before we embrace all the false explanation or lawless teaching of the lukewarm people, have we known what they believe? Many of them claim that they believe in Jesus (Rom 10:10-11), preach in the name of Jesus, and "hear Him only", but in reality they have denied Jesus.

Being under grace does not mean we can deny Christ and be saved
Many argue, "Why do you always quote and teach from Mat 7:15-24? NO ONE DENIES JESUS CHRIST TODAY. Obviously you have quoted a redundant and obsolete Bible passage which was for those who were under the law; but it can never be applicable to us or the churches today. Yes, it can also be judgement for the religious priests, monks, or false prophets who preach other gods and other religions too. Yes, in the last days, the religious monks and false prophets will all become afraid, kneel down, confess Jesus as Lord, and ask Him, 'Didn't we do this and that for you because we thought that all the idols that we worshipped were You?' That's why the religious monks will call Him 'Lord, Lord ..' in that day. And that's why Jesus said that He never knew them. However, if we believe in Jesus (Rom 10:10-11) and if we sin the worst sin, He would never say that He never knew us. He knew us because we believe in Him. And if He knew us, He would never say harsh words to us .."
1. His warning is still applicable to those whom He knew - I will tell them, Of course I hope that what you say is true. I do not enjoy hearing warning and judgement too. However, I will keep quoting those Bible warnings if people keep hearing the false interpretation by those who keep denying the words of the Lord, especially if the false prophets are the ones who keep arguing, "Have we not prophesied, preached, or done this and that ... and we can never be condemned !"
I will ask them, Do you know that Jesus knows all the sinners, including you and me? Hence, when He said, He never knew you, it does not mean He never knew who you are; it means He rejected you. Similarly, when your girl friend or boy friend said, "I never knew you", it does not mean they did not know you; it means they rejected you too.
2. His warning is still applicable to us today - I will tell them, Of course, we know that Jesus would never say those harsh words to His disciples. But, it does not mean that His warning to us is obsolete and redundant. Do you know why Jesus said 'in that day' .. ? It is in the future when He will judge ALL His servants. I will ask them again, Do you know why the Lord would warn about the false prophets as the 'wolves in sheep skin' in Mat 7:15-24? It is because they could be the 'believers' or 'preachers' in our churches carrying our cross and preaching in the name of Jesus (even in the blood of Jesus Heb 10:26-29 - by sinning wilfully against the blood covenant given by grace) too. Do you know why the Lord said 'beware' in Mat 7:15-24? 'Beware' means 'Be aware'. 'Beware' means serious warning or a commandment to be alert. Hence, does it make sense to tell all the believers or the 'sheep' to relax and sleep instead? Please think, If the sheep or we can never be 'eaten', destroyed, or deceived by the false prophets, would Jesus say, 'Beware of false prophets'? No. And, of course, when Jesus said that the false prophets are like wolves in sheep skin, He did not mean that they can literally eat us up or kill us physically; He meant that they could draw us away from God. They could even influence us to become one of them.
Act 20:29-31 KJV  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.
Hence, I can understand why many lukewarm preachers (especially the false prophets) would keep complaining that we are preaching condemnation whenever we would warn the people or preach from Mat 7:15-24. They are afraid to warn others because they are afraid that they are the one they should warn others about.

THE OLD COVENANT VS THE NEW COVENANT
I know that there are many questions about the relevance of comparing Moses with Jesus by using illustration of them as CEOs. Many argue, "How can you compare Moses with Jesus who is a God?" I will tell them, Yes, Of course, I agree that Moses was of a much lower rank because he was a mere man. But, Jesus is both a man and a God.

1. The first Bible comparison between the Old and the New covenant
There is a reason why the Bible used the comparison between Moses and Jesus:
Joh 1:17 KJV  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
It is because one represents the man who brought down the law of the Old Covenant, but the other man brought down the law of the New Covenant. They represents the laws and covenants they brought with them too. The two men who can represent God's covenants are, of course, Moses and Jesus Christ; not Paul, Joseph, or any other men. Strictly speaking law and grace came from God because Moses and Jesus Christ came from God too. They were given by God.

2. The second comparison between the Old and the New covenant
The next comparison can be found in the following Bible verses:
Heb 8:8-10 KJV  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:  (9)  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.  (10)  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:
However, we should read them to answer the question: are there laws under the New Covenant too? Absolutely yes.

3. The third comparison between the Old and the New covenant
The next comparison can be found in the following Bible verses:
Heb 10:16-30 KJV  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  (17)  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more .. .. (26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth .. .. (28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy.. (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.
Again there is not only law, there is also God's judgement of His people under the New Covenant. When the Bible warned of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye .., wasn't it a comparison of punishment between those under the Old Covenant and those under the New Covenant? Hence, sinning wilfully could be sinning against or taking advantage of the blood covenant. It is an evil conscience and abomination which can never be committed by the people of the world. The people of the world were never in the picture when the Hebrew writer did the comparison between the two blood covenants.
Heb 10:2 KJV  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins .. (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water ..  .. (26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins .. ..  (29)  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye ..

4. The fourth comparison between the Old and the New covenant
I will now give the fourth comparison to explain why Moses and Jesus are both compared in the deliverance of God's people. If the people under Moses must keep the law of Moses to be considered as God's people, how much more should we keep the law of Jesus Christ too? This has already been shown in Heb 8:8-10 and Heb 10:16-30 above. However, the Bible shows us that Jesus is still our commander-in-chief. Many think that Jesus has been taken away in a cloud and, hence, their new 'CEO' or commander-in-chief on earth is Paul, Grace, or the anointed preachers now. But no matter how anointed they are or how convincingly they can preach or argue, I can only accept Jesus Christ as the only One who can really guide and save us. The reasons are:

a. We are still under Jesus Christ; not Paul, Moses, or Joseph, because He is still alive; but Paul, Moses, and Joseph have died

b. We are still under Jesus Christ; not 'Pure Grace' (or any super grace as a person or God), because Jesus Christ is still the only God who can hold the supreme command and He is still giving us His commands and laws today; but 'grace' ('radical grace', 'hyper grace', or whoever call himself as grace) can never call himself as The Word or the commander-in-chief who will command or judge in the end time (Rev 19:13). Please think, When the Bible explicitly says that grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17), what does it mean? It means that grace and truth are under Jesus Christ, they are not Jesus Christ, and they are subject to Jesus Christ.

c. We are still under Jesus Christ because we will still keep the commandments of God in the name of Jesus Christ:
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.
Rev 14:12 KJV  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
If the people under Moses must keep the law of Moses, so must we keep the law of Jesus Christ too? If the people under Moses could perish without doing the law of Moses, of how much sorer punishment would we receive if we do not keep the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ too.
Joh 14:15 KJV  If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 15:10 KJV  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
1Jn 2:3 KJV  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
I will ask the preachers, especially the hyper grace people, Yes, you may say that you believe in Jesus, but are you really under Jesus Christ? If you do not know, obey, or do any of His commandments, you are not under Him. You said that "Grace is greater than your sins" or "Grace is greater than all laws", but do you know what you said? How can grace be greater than your sins if your intention is to tell the people not to confess their sins or turn away from their sins? How can grace be greater than God's command if your motive is to deceive the people that there is no more law or commandment for them?

d. We are still under Jesus Christ to do the law of God
Many still argue, "Yes, we are under Jesus Christ; but we are not required to do any law because Jesus Christ is the law in us. Hence, we have no more need to do or teach any God's laws because Jesus Christ is the law who will teach us and we will hear Him only.."
I will tell them, I do not argue if Jesus Christ is the law or Jesus Christ is grace. It doesn't matter which description is more correct as long as we do not depart from the law of God. Yes, the Bible did say clearly that Jesus came to fulfil the laws; He did not come to destroy the law. However, if you say that Jesus has fulfilled the laws and became the laws, and therefore, there is no more law for us to do, let me ask you, Do you agree that Jesus is love? Is there still a need for us to love after Jesus has fulfilled love? Of course, Yes. Jesus is grace or forgiveness too, is there still a need for us to forgive and show grace too? Yes, of course. Similarly there is still a need for us to do the law of God too - in fact, all the more we should do it if we are the children of God! Many lukewarm preachers say that they do not do and teach the law of God but they would 'advise' their believers to live a life that is glorifying to Jesus Christ. I will ask them, How do you advise your believers? Is it based on your own spiritual words, your popular human cultures, your traditional moral values, your liberal social rules, your mind control philosophies, your romantic love experience with your wife, or your positive motivational psychologies? Of course, no. How can you teach them to live a life that is glorifying to God if you do not teach based on the teaching and commandments of Jesus Christ. If you must teach based on His doctrine and commandments, how can you say that there is no more laws and commandments of God.
You said that you are under Jesus because you obey God and hear Him only. But do you know that there are two types of hearing when Jesus told us about hearing Him:
1. Hearing and hearing only
2. Hearing and doing
Luk 8:21 KJV  And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
Mat 13:18-19 KJV  Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.  (19)  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away..
Do we understand or hear what He said? If we understand what He said, we will know that it is a command from Him to hear and do what He said. Hence, being under Jesus is not all about right believing only or believing in grace only; it is to know what we hear and do what we hear too. I don't think anyone can dispute this.

e. We are still under Jesus Christ while we are STILL GOING through our 'wilderness' on earth. Why ? If we have entered into the rest or the promised land, we would not be told to labour (to work out or do something) to enter into it:
Heb 4:11 KJV  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Php 2:12 KJV  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Hence, we have not reached our 'promised land' yet. If we have not reached the end of our race yet, we are still required to do and keep all the laws, commandments, and doctrine of Jesus Christ, lest we perish like the Israelites too:
1Co 9:21-27 KJV To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law .. (24) Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain .. (26) I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I .. (27) But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Heb 12:1-29 KJV  ..  let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, .. .. (10) .. 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 .. (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 .. (28) Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:  (29)  For our God is a consuming fire.
I will tell those (hyper grace people) who think that there is no more law, no more doctrine, no more chastening, no more effort, and no more teaching of doing good or doing righteousness; they think that they have entered into the rest and therefore they should just rest. I will ask them, Did you read the highlighted words, verbs, or doings above? Are you told to yield the 'peaceable fruits of righteousness (Heb 12:11)' effortlessly or enter the rest effortlessly? Are you told to think of doing nothing or to teach that there is no more law, no more chastening, or no more effort to do anything under grace revolution? No. Please read the highlighted words again. If you still cannot see any effort to do good or live godly lives under grace, you may be blind or you do not read your Bible or you have 'rest' too much.
Some may argue, "But Heb 12:28 above wraps up everything: it says that, therefore, 'let us have grace'. It concludes that we should just have grace (rest) and forget everything else. Don't you agree?"
I will tell them, No, please do not just read; please think. Yes, the Hebrew writer concludes with Heb 12:28. But it tell us to have grace BY DOING all the above; not by doing nothing, that we may serve God acceptably. Don't you agree?

f. We are still under Jesus Christ because, like the Jews who were under the blood covenant through Moses to do the commandments of God, we are under the blood covenant through Jesus to do the commandments of God too. I have explained in great details (in K058, K073, K076, K081, K082, K086, K123) why the transfiguration of Jesus Christ was a similar 'picture' about the giving of God's covenants too. Jesus is The Word who came in the flesh (1-5)'. Both the new and old covenants showed the picture of giving of God's commandments to men: through the Old Testament (the Ten Commandments) and New Testament (the One command to the people to 'hear His Son'). Both covenants showed the picture and confirmation of bright light, cloud, and glory from God (Exo 24:15-18, Mat 17:5). Both covenants showed that God Himself spoke and gave His commandments directly to men, through Moses and Jesus Christ .. There were many similarities in the picture about the giving of both covenants and I do not wish to repeat what I have said in my previous posts. However, I want to highlight something which I did not mentioned when I wrote about the similarities in both covenants
- the shedding of blood for the covenants.
We know that Jesus shed His blood and died on the cross not long after He was transfigured. But do we know that Moses sprinkled blood on the people too after the book of covenant was read to them?
Exo 24:3-8 KJV  And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do .. ..  (7)  And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.  (8)  And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.
I will tell the hyper grace people,
1. Those words from the Israelites above do not indicate that they were boastful, they loved laws naturally, they always liked to obey God, and hence, God gave them the laws.
2. But those words do indicate to us that God gave His laws and commands to His people: He gave His command to Adam and Eve, He gave His commandments to the Israelites under Moses, and hence, He would give His commandments to those who are under Jesus Christ too.
Many still argue, "No, no, no. We do not see any giving of God's commandments under the New Covenant; we see only the giving of God's grace!" I will tell them, Please read the following Bible verses again:
Joh 17:14-22 KJV I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world .. .. (22) And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Do you know what had been given when He said that it was also the glory that God gave Him? Of course, it is His commandment which God has given Him. Do you remember what He said to His disciples before He prayed to God?
Joh 15:10-20 KJV If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (11) These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (12) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you .. (20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

g. We are still under Jesus Christ because we are under the blood covenant. If we are under the blood covenant, the whole chapter of Heb 10 is for us because it is an obvious comparison between two blood covenants for God's people only; it is not for the non-believers. Hence, the serious warning about the sorer punishment under the New Covenant in Heb 10:25-29, in comparison with the Old Covenant, is clearly applicable only to the believers. Hence, we can never deny the requirement of obedience to the blood covenant under Jesus Christ.

Were the Israelites under the curse of the law because they boasted or they obeyed all that the Lord commanded them?
We are now ready to explain the REAL reason why the Israelites were under the curse of the law, the curse of death, or the severe punishment under the blood covenant. The reason why they were under the curse of the law was because of their disobedience or sinning against God's covenants; not ordinary sinning because of weakness in the flesh. They were judged severely not because they committed adulteries or murdered other people; but because they tampered with God's covenants, corrupted God's covenants, or took advantage of God's covenants for ungodly gains:
1. Heb 10 has explained it so clearly. If those who were under the Old Covenant could be judged severely, of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall those be thought worthy, who disobey under the New Covenant? If we disobey under the blood covenant of Jesus Christ, we would be under the curse of the law too.
2. Heb 12 has explained it too. If those who were under the New Covenant would labour, strive, and run the race to enter into that rest with grace (Heb 12:28), how much more shall we (or those who are truly under Jesus Christ) follow and obey under grace too (Heb 12:15)? Hence, if we shall follow and obey under the blood covenant of Jesus Christ, we can never be under the curse of the law.

Will God judge under the New Testament?
It is ridiculous to tell the sinners that God cannot judge them if they will just confess, believe, or repent in the way or revolution that some preachers preached (without any preaching about the fruits of repentance or turning away from sin). They will never repent. They may think that God cannot judge them because they are under the New Testament. However, is it true? No, they have been deceived.
Many argue, "No, God will never judge the believers. God is grace. Under the Old Covenant, God is angry with us; but under the New Covenant, God is happy with us. He is no more an angry unapproachable God who would zap anyone near the foothill of Mount Sinai. We are all now in Mount Zion without any wrath of God .."
I will tell them, Only the obedient will stay in Mount Zion. If you have the same attitude like that of the Israelites, Pharisees, or the false prophets (Mat 7:15-23), and argue in the name of the Lord or in the blood covenant of the Lord, you can still be judged severely.
Heb 10:26-30 KJV  For if we sin wilfully .. (28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy .. (29) Of how much sorer punishment .. (30) .. The Lord shall judge his people.
The Lord is not just grace; the Lord is still a judge in both covenants. If God judged Israel under the Old Covenant, God will judge the churches under the New Covenant too. If God judged Solomon and broke his kingdom in two, God will judge the churches and separate the sheep and the goats too. If God judged Ananias and Sapphira in the early church, God will judge the end time churches too. If God judged Miriam and Gehazi with leprosy (Num 12:9-10, 2Ki 5:27), God will judge with pestilence too. If God judged Israel while Daniel, Jeremiah, and His prophets were still in the nation, God will judge any nation, even if there are Christians in that nation too. No amount of positive meditation or confession can guarantee total deliverance from national or worldwide judgement when God has decided to judge. A true believer of Jesus Christ will not confess any Bible verses blindly just to think of escaping any judgement of sins in the world; instead, a true believer will just go back to repentance and focus his eyes unto God for the redemption that is drawing nigh as the days of God's vengeance is drawing near too. If any prophets, christs, preachers, pastors, anointed 'donkeys', or 'frogs'  say that they can give us the fantastic immunity or protection from God's judgement by just laying their hands on us, blessing us with anointed words, praying for us, putting our names in the list of their anointed websites, by receiving donations from us, or by teaching us a better confession, very likely they are the lying prophets.
Act 26:20 KJV  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
The Bible has shown us that the only way is to turn to God - i.e. to repent and turn away from our sins when God's judgement starts to pour out to the world in the last days, like the days of Noah:
Mat 24:37-46 KJV  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (38)  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  (39)  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (40)  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (41)  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  (42)  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  (43)  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up  ..
Luk 17:26-32 KJV  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  (27)  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.  (28)  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  (29)  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  (30)  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.  (31)  In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.  (32)  Remember Lot's wife.
We remember that the Israelites were under the Old Covenant too. But the Israelites remembered only Egypt:
Num 11:4-6 KJV  And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?  (5)  We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: ..
Similarly, in the end time, many believers under the New Covenant will remember, look back, and desired the things, and doing the things, of the world too.

We are covenanted to do all that the Lord commanded us to do
I have come to the end of my post. But many will still ask, "Do you remember that you said at the top of your post that you will explain the real reason why the Israelites were under the curse or punishment of the law at the end of the post. But we do not see any reason why it should be a curse to us if we do not do all that the Lord commanded under the New Covenant. Like what we have said, the Israelites were under the curse of the law because they boasted and said, All that the Lord commanded we will obey. However, we have never boasted like them. Instead, we are more humble under grace not to do any law or anything. We know that we can never obey or do any law. So, we do not think of doing it or obeying it. We just acknowledge that we can never keep any law under any law. So, how can we be ever under the curse of the law if we are not under any law?"
I will ask them, Suppose you were the Israelites, do you remember that Moses sprinkled the blood on the people after reading the book of the law or covenant in Exo 24?  But, do you think that your silence or argument of showing no consensus to the covenant would be valid when you faced God's judgement later in Exo 32:25-28? No, if you had already been covenanted by the blood to obey the law of God, you must keep the law of the covenant whether you liked it or not. Similarly, when the blood of Jesus has been shed for us, can we still use the same excuse for not doing all that He had commanded us to do? No, certainly not. Do you know why The Word will still appear with His blood in the end time or judgement? It is not because God loves the shedding of people's blood:
Rev 19:11-13 KJV  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and .. he doth judge and make war .. .. (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
It is because the blood shows that God will remember our sins no more, that God will remember His blood covenant with His people, and that we must remember our blood covenant with God too in such time as this. The question we should ask ourselves is not "how much abundance, riches, 'meat', or 'quails' can we 'eat'?", but "how much can we stand up for God in such time as this?"
Rev 12:11-17 KJV  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death .. .. (17) And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Many will realise in that day that those who keep saying 'amen' to God, preaching powerful sermons, singing beautiful praises, and writing positive comments or posts on our websites are not really Christians. They pretend to know the grace or covenant of God but they are in reality lawless people, non-believers, or immoral lovers who would take advantage of any religious movement, hyper grace doctrine, or lawless revolution to destroy or weaken the laws of God so that they can vote for a more liberal society where they can gratify their selfish ungodly desires and, as a result, bring in more abortions, more lawless conducts, more immoral behaviours, and more persecution of the godly people. Many may think that it is a great revival to have so many supporters of a Christian revolution or a 'lawless-based' revolution flocking into our churches, but ironically it could be the beginning of a lawless strategy or lawless society to gradually destroy or weaken God's laws in our nation, generation, or churches purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ:
Act 20:28-31 KJV  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.
If Paul was not afraid to warn everyone who was purchased under the blood covenant and pray for them day and night, something is wrong if we say that it is not right to give any warning to the believers.

We can never be under the curse of the law if we do the law and doctrine of Christ
Many will still argue, "You said that we will be under the curse of the law if we do not do the law of Jesus Christ. But contrary to what you said, the Bible tells us that we would be under the curse of the law if we do ANY law:
Gal 3:10-13 KJV  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. .. (13)  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law ..
They will continue, "Hence, it means that if we do any law (including the law of Jesus), it is considered as the works of the law, and if it is the works of the law, it is a curse of law. But I must say that we have high regard for the holy law, but unfortunately, it is a holy curse."
I will tell them, What? What kind of holy .. is that? You do not have high regard for the law of God; and yet you want to say that His law is a holy curse? Please read your Bible properly, The works of the law (of Moses) is a curse (to us who are under the law of Jesus Christ); but the law is not a curse !
Do you think that God would say to the Israelites that they were under the curse if they would do everything according to the law of Moses? No, it could never be a curse for the Israelites (at that time) because they were under the law of Moses to do ONLY the law of Moses. Similarly, we can never be under the curse too if we are under the law of Jesus to do the law of Jesus. We will be under the curse ONLY IF we still do the law of Moses, the law of the flesh, the law of the world, or other laws after we are under Jesus. Obviously the law and doctrine of Jesus is totally different from the law of the flesh and the world. But the law of Jesus is 'delicately' or wondrously different from the law of Moses. We can say that the two laws are different because one is physical but the other is spiritual; or one is a reflection but the other is the real glory:
1Co 13:12 KJV  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
2Co 3:18 KJV  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
What does the illustration of the reflection from a glass or mirror mean? It simply means that if we need to do and keep what is only a reflection of the real one or the real glory, how much more we should keep the real one? If the law of Moses is a reflection of the law of God and the law of Christ, it means that the law of God can never be obsolete. God's laws would become stronger, better, and more glorious through the law of Christ. The law of Moses or the 'mirror' was good for the Israelites during their time (it was not a curse). But the 'mirror' would become a curse if we still keep it and look at it today when the light or the true glory has come. It is because the 'mirror' will block our vision on the true light. Hence, we will no longer do the law of Moses which relates to the physical religious rituals about sacrifices, circumcision, and rites. But we must still do and keep the law of Moses which relates to the spiritual teaching, the Spirit of the law, and the Ten Commandments. Why? It is because they are the very reflection which is from the real glory or the Spirit of the law of God. Please think of the illustration of the mirror and its reflection again: We may throw away the mirror, but can we 'throw' away the reflection of how we look in the mirror? No, we may throw away the mirror, but our look will always remain the same regardless of how many mirrors we throw away. Similarly, God's laws do not change. Hence, we are still under the law of Christ to do all the laws of God.
Many hyper grace people may argue that they would still conduct marriage seminars, youth conferences, and children Sunday school to teach their people to love their spouses, flee youthful lust, and honour their parents. However, they may not know that they are under the law of Jesus Christ to teach the law of God and give honour to His words and commandments. They may appear to have taught God's commandments; but they have mixed God's commandments with a lot of their words, wisdom, rules, argument, justification, dilution, and confusion to make the commandments of God of none effect. At the end of the day, they would convince all their believers that they have never taught any commandments, but their wisdom based on their understanding of 'grace'.
I will tell them, Do you know that marriage itself is a commandment of God and honouring your parents is one of the Ten Commandments. Hence, it is quite a marvel if you say that you teach marriage seminars, youth conference, and children Sunday school without teaching any God's commandments. You may prove that you can teach the people based on your own understanding of grace, behavioural science, or your own moral conscience and experience, but you may exalt yourselves against God if your motive is to secretly teach the people with God's words or commandments but craftily withhold the credit that is rightly due to Him or His words.
It shows that you do not have God's laws in your heart. You may argue vehemently that you have high regard for God's laws but your 'regard' is to change His law in every possible manner so that it is no longer a God's law (which demands) but something else (which will draw more people to you). So, you may teach many seminars and conferences, but you do not really have regard for any of His laws in your heart.

Can we be legalistic by doing and teaching too many God's commandments?
Of course, it is possible for any churches to be legalistic even if they do not do or teach any God's commandments; that includes the hyper grace churches, lawless churches, liberal churches, or gay churches too. Why? Contrary to what most of the liberals teach, a legalistic church or people is not always the people who do and teach a lot of God's laws and commandments. We becomes legalistic only when we start to bring in more rules or extend more rules from the teaching of God's commandments. For example, God commanded us to worship Him; but we command the people to dress up and queue up before the worship. We tell them to stand up while singing, and then kneel down while praying. And then we ask them to pay up. That's why the Pharisees were legalistic people; they added many rules to God's commandments too. Church leaders can even profess that they do and keep God's commandments too, but they add many rules and regulation just to benefit themselves and gratify their own lawless desires.
Of course, I am not saying that we must break all the rules (there are still many good rules and they are common sense); I am just saying that any hyper grace or liberal churches could still be very legalistic even if they do not do or teach any God's commandments. Hence, we should never falsely accuse any brethren, any families, or any churches of being legalistic just because they keep the laws and commandments of God. Pasting or not pasting the Ten Commandments on the wall of the schools will not make any schools becoming or not becoming a legalistic school; it is how they will run the schools that will determine if they are legalistic. In fact, some traditional churches or schools could be more loving and caring, and even more gracious, than many so-called liberal churches or modern schools. Many traditional schools and institutions practise the law of God genuinely and teach the children diligently to follow good values. However, it is sad to know that many modern schools today can no longer function like the old schools anymore because they can only teach their children to acquire skill and knowledge for future career development; but no more moral, social, behavioural, or spiritual development. Many may think, "Why is there such a big drastic change in our school system when it is compared with the older or traditional school system?" I can only say, There are too many changes in the way men think and look at things today, and one of the most possible changes is how many churches and Christians have departed from the laws of God, stopped becoming the light of the world, and focused mainly on the pursue of prosperity and recognition in this world. Many churches have evolved, like the modern schools, into liberal churches with motivational philosophy for more prosperity, more power, and more popularity; not doctrine for the spiritual development of a humble, holy, and godly believer. This could have a great negative and undesirable impact on the preservation of a good moral ethic for the general human civilisation on earth too:
Mat 5:13-19 KJV  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  (14)  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  .. (17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  (18)  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  (19)  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Hence, when the churches start to depart from the law of God, they stop becoming the light or the salt too, and the world will start to deteriorate. Many may protest and say, "No, our churches can never deteriorate. They will shine brighter and brighter. So your warning is false and negative .." I will tell them, Yes, the Bible did say that we will shine brighter, but do you know when we will shine brighter?
Mat 13:38-43 KJV The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one .. (41) The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;  (42)  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (43) Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

God does not give many commandments to men
Only the Pharisees gave and enforced many religious rules or rituals when the people came to worship in their temples or synagogues.
1. God gave Adam only one command in the garden of Eden.
2. God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments at mount Sinai.
3. God gave the disciples a command to hear Jesus during His transfiguration.
I have explained why there was cloud, glory, and light. It means God's covering and protection for the men. But now let us look at what God has really commanded men. Do we still obey many commandments? Will obeying one commandment, or ten commandments, make us legalistic? No. I know that there are people who think that obeying only one commandment is ok (ie to love God and Jesus only); but when they are asked to obey other God's commandments, they think that it is legalistic. Do we remember the lawyer who asked Jesus, "What is the great (or the greatest) command:
Mat 22:35-36 KJV  Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,  (36)  Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Luk 10:25 KJV  And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Obviously when the lawyer asked which one was a great commandment (or the greatest of all the Ten Commandments), he was thinking of doing only one that he liked the most or the one that could cover all his sins (ie. by just having good opinion about God and doing nothing else).

1. Obviously Jesus knew the thinking of the lawyer but He gave him the answer that he could not deny:
Jesus said it in a way that answer his question i.e. Which is the (one) great commandment; but it also includes all the commandments which commanded him to love his neighbour too. I believe that he was totally speechless. What does this incident teach us? It shows that there are people who would like to go for shortcut when it comes to obeying God's commandments. Many will still argue, "Yes, we are under Jesus to love, but there is no more Ten Commandments under grace. Do you know Joh 13:34 and 1Jn 2:8? It means that Jesus has given us a new commandment to replace all the commandments which still tell us to do and obey. The new commandment is different and it is the opposite to the Ten Commandments. Now we will just love."
I will tell them, Please read your Bible again. Jesus did not give us a new commandment to replace God's commandments. Jesus said it in a new way which includes all God's laws and commandments, not in the legalistic way that the Pharisees would teach; but in the Spirit to do and keep the law of God.
1Jn 2:7-8 KJV  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.  (8)  Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
2Jn 1:5-10 KJV  And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.  (6)  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.  (7)  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.  (8)  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.  (9)  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.  (10)  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed..
1Jn 3:23 KJV  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
Joh 13:34-35 KJV  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  (35)  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Now let us think, What is this new commandment that Jesus has given us? Is it to love? Yes. Is it just one commandment? Yes. Will it replace, remove, or destroy all the Ten Commandments? No. But it certainly fulfilled all the Ten Commandments. Yes, we may say that love is the commandment, but love does not take away the Ten Commandments. It is not the opposite of the Ten Commandments. When we love, we do and fulfil the Ten Commandments.

2. Obviously God know the thinking of the lawless men in the end time too, but He will give them the answer that they cannot deny:
God will say it in a way that answer all their question i.e. What is the new commandment; it will still include all His commandments which commanded them to love their brethren and their neighbour too. Many will be speechless when they are asked, "Where is the love, the glory, the commandment, or the garment that I have given you or commanded you?"
Mat 22:11-12 KJV  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  (12)  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

The commandments of God are not grievous
Many hyper grace people are giving the false impression to their believers that the teaching of God's commandments in other churches have made the church people legalistic. Unknowingly, they have departed from the law of God themselves, like the 'prodigal son', thinking that all the commandments of God the Father will make them legalistic or make them behave like the 'elder son'. Many argue that they know God's commandments, but in reality they are ignorant.
I will tell them, God's commandments are not grievous or demanding. How can the teaching of God's commandments make us legalistic? The thing that is demanding or makes people legalistic is not God's commandment; it is men's interpretation or men's addition to the law, for example, God tells us to read the Bible. But preachers may interpret or demand that the people should read the whole Bible in two years' or three years' time. Of course, they may say it out of good intention. What they say may make them appear legalistic. It may mislead some believers to do it like a ritual. It may even backfire and discourage some from reading the Bible at all. However, I would not argue if what they say is right or wrong here. I would say that it is their own command; not God's command, and it should not be confused with the law of God or used as an excuse to give the false impression that the law of God is grievous, demanding, or legalistic. Many think that there is only hate, judgement, or demand in the law of God, but how many know that there is still the ingredient of love in the laws and commandments of God too?
1Jn 5:2-3 KJV  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.  (3)  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
I will tell the hyper grace people, If you must say that God is demanding, please do not say, "His law is demanding" or "His grace is supply but His law is demand". You may say that His chastening is demanding. Why?  God may chasten us; but God would never chasten us with His laws or covenants:
Heb 12:10-12 KJV  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;
Hence, God will never chasten us with His laws; God will chasten us with His love. God will never chasten with His laws; God will judge with His laws.
I will tell them, Even if God's law is demanding, do we have a choice? Can we reject or remove God's law? No, we obey it. Oops, I know what you are thinking. Please don't even think that the blood of Jesus is given to help you to remove His laws. I have said that we are all covenanted by His blood to do and keep His laws (Heb 8:10, 10:16). Jesus did not come to destroy, remove, or replace God's laws. If you are still not satisfied with the example above, I will give you another example: Do you know that it is God commands for us not to be greedy, lustful, or sexually immoral? But how many of us (including Paul) can truly say that we are no longer greedy under grace or that we have no more need to confess sins? No, no one. But please think,
1. Can we say that, since no one can keep God's command or stop sinning, we can just become greedy preacher or false prophet thinking that we have no more law to judge us under grace? No.
2. Can we say that, since no one can keep God's command or God's law, we can just marry anyone we like, including the people of the same sex? No.
If we say No, it means that we must still keep God's laws and commandments and that God's commandments are not grievous.

But many will still argue, "No one is going to get saved if you say that they have to first stop sinning. No one can and no one ever could stop sinning. That's why Jesus came to die to pay for our sins. Imagine, who will clean himself first before he takes his bath? Similarly, no one can be holy before he comes to Jesus too."
I will tell them, No, of course, we do not keep God's commandments by our flesh or by our strength. But we should have the Spirit of God to keep His commandments. Jesus would not want us to wallow in our 'mud pool'. He wants us to come out of our mud pool first and take up our cross. Of course, we don't have to clean ourselves first but we must come out of the pool first. When we turn from the mud pool, it means that we turn away from sin too, we turn like the prodigal son, we turn to God the Father, we repent, we will hate sins and stop sinning, we will have faith to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, we will keep the words and commandments of God .. ..

Even though we are chastened in every way in our constant unending struggling against our human flesh, hidden greeds, natural lusts, or evil lusts (unnatural love for the same sex, for incest relationship, for the babies, or for the animals), we have no right to complain that God's law is too grievous for us. If we are influenced to give up and depart from the law of God, we should just return like the prodigal son who thought that departing would give him better living and the total freedom (relief from his father's 'grievous' commandments or requirements). He realized that he was wrong only after he repented and returned home. But can we say that he had repented if he would just return home but he would still have the same mentality that his father had only 'grievous' commandments for him?
Hence, I am not surprised that many are still having the same mentality even though they may think that they have returned home. They may even think that all other churches who still keep the commandments of God and do not follow them are the 'elder brothers' who do not accept them. However, they may not realise that a lot of those whom they consider as the 'elder brothers' were the 'prodigal sons' who have already returned home, but they themselves are still wandering in the world, with their 'lawless' illusion and thinking that they can live without any God's commandments. They can never understand or believe what Jesus said even though they know it:
Mat 4:4-5 KJV  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.  (5)  Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple ..
The devil knew it too, but he refused to understand it or believed it. He would just keep changing the 'topic' and avoid going deep into the discussion of the truth of God's words.

Many think that 'Right Believing' is just doing like the prodigal son by just turning back to God or feeling the love of God again and fullstop. However, do we know that feeling the love of God is only part of the gospel. Do we know why Jesus preached 'repent AND believe'?
Mar 1:14-15 KJV  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,  (15)  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mat 4:17 KJV  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Many think that repenting or 'metanoia' is just changing their mind from not believing to believing, from believing in doing many God's laws to believing in doing no more laws, or from thinking of doing many things to thinking of doing nothing. They think that 'metanoia' means everything they need to do is in the mind, through the mind, and by the mind alone. They think that Jesus would just tell them to do everything effortlessly and passively in the mind, including repenting and believing in Him too.
However, I think that 'Right believing' involves our efforts and sometimes painful sacrifice to turn away from sin (repent) AND turn back to God's words and commandments too (believe). It is something which we must do actively. It is incomplete to do one without the other.

Did Jesus teach us to think that we can never fall?
I know that the hyper grace people are still not happy with the gospel plan by the blood covenant. They will argue, "Yes, the blood covenant to do the will and commandments of God sounds biblical, but it is scary to most of the sinners who still innocently indulge in sins. Why don't we just show them the covenant of grace instead of the covenant of blood and condemnation. We should just preach the assurance of God's love while we are still yet sinners or sinning. Of course, God's grace should be greater than all our sins no matter how much we sin or how much we want to sin. We should tell the people that we can never fall. When we think that we can never fall, psychologically we will all feel good and feel more comforted to follow Jesus Christ, right? Who can deny it? It is a fact which everyone should know. We don't need any psychologist to teach us, right? In fact, Jesus is the one who taught us that the more we are forgiven, the more we will love God too."
I will tell them, You are very right only in your own thinking and psychology; not in God's eyes. I don't think Jesus has taught us to just expect forgiveness or the love of God at the expense of godly living, turning away from sin, sinning no more, or doing His commandments. Do you remember the woman that Jesus had forgiven? Do you know that Jesus taught us, with His grace given to the woman, to turn away from sin?
Joh 8:11 KJV  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Joh 5:14 KJV  Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
I will tell them, If you are not satisfied that this is the teaching of Jesus Christ to the sinners, do you still remember how He taught His disciples, especially Peter who is one of the strongest, if not the best, of all His disciples? If Jesus had taught the strongest not to think of how capable he was or to boast how he could never fall, we had better sit up and listen. If Jesus taught us to be diligent, to watch, and to beware, it means very clearly that He would never teach us to think that we can never fall too. If we are very used to a careless, earthly, sensual, liberal, lawless, or licentious life, it is time we should change our mind and repent - it means that we should turn away from any lawlessness, any lawless lifestyle, or any lawless thinking, and start to keep His commandments !
Jas 3:14-15 KJV  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.  (15)  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Jud 1:17-20 KJV  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;  (18)  How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  (19)  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.  (20)  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost ..

What is being under Jesus Christ in our relationship with men?
I have focused a lot on the meaning of being under Jesus Christ in the eyes of God. But now I hope to end this post by talking about the meaning of being under Jesus Christ from our perspective. Being under Jesus is not just about salvation in Christ; it is a revolution.
1. Under the law of Moses, the Jews were required to do the rituals of the law, the works of the law, or the religious duties of the law eg. the law about sacrifices, tithing, circumcision, priesthood, and the temple. However, all these were done outwardly or physically.
2. Under Jesus Christ, we do the law of God in the Spirit. We do it by the Spirit. When we do it by the Spirit, we can certainly do more than what we can do physically. We can do better than what we can do in the flesh and we can help more people with the love of Christ.
Hence, Paul or Martin Luther was not the first man who preached revolution to the churches. Jesus Christ started it first. It was a shocking spiritual revolution to all the Pharisees and Jews of the whole nation who were interested only in doing the law outwardly (by the flesh) without the Spirit of the law. They had in essence departed from the law and the glory of God. Ironically, they thought that the revolution to do the law of God by the Spirit was a revolution against God. So, they crucified Jesus hoping that no one else would speak against their hypocrisy, rebuke them about their lawlessness, or teach the people to turn away from them. The selfish Pharisees would:
1. rather teach religious rules and justification by works of the law so that they and their small group of religious people could continue to control the people and get their tithes and offerings, including the tithes from the widows and the poor
2. than teach them the truth about true obedience to the law of God by loving God and loving the people. Ironically many churches or religious organisations today think that they are helping the poor or loving the poor, but in reality, they are asking the poor to help them to become more famous, more powerful, and more boastful.

Hence, there are many things we must teach in our churches:
1. Being under Jesus means that we do not just teach with our words or God's words, we teach with our life and testimony. We show others that we are men of words and integrity. We are consistent and faithful in keeping our promises:
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.
Have we asked What is the 'testimony of Jesus Christ'? It is certainly not just testimony to teach us how to be richer; it is something which we show after keeping the commandments of God.
2. Being under Jesus means that we do not play with words and create controversies to scheme against other fellow preachers so that, when they come and correct us, we falsely accuse them as jealous preachers or condemnation preachers. That's why it is difficult to correct someone who is inconsistently right or wrong when they have 'schemes'. They may not be genuine believers: Rev 3:15-16 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.
3. Being under Jesus means that we are bold to admit wrong and repent even if we are humbled by our wrong doings. we do not cover our back by twisting around with our words, doctrine, or confession.
4. Being under Jesus means teaching rightly and clearly or speak the truth with the boldness of God. We are wise, discerning, and alert. Sometimes, we have no choice but to warn the people of lawlessness, wrong doctrine, false doctrine, exploitation, and hypocrisy.

Being under Jesus is a revolution itself
The hyper grace people were almost correct when they said that we need the revolution in the end time too, because many churches are still sleeping and are ignorant about the gospel revolution of Jesus Christ. However, we realise that their 'revolution' is nothing more than jumping from one 'hot pan' to another when they tell the people to turn
1. from doing the works of the law
2. to doing no more law of God.
They become worst than the Pharisees when they would still deceive and entice the unsuspecting people to pay them for bringing such 'revolution' to the people. They argue that, when the people give to them by faith, the people give to God, and therefore, it does not matter whether the people know if they gave to the right people or godly people. Does it sound familiar? Do you remember, how the Pharisees had said the same thing about their 'corban' law too, that if the people did according to what they said, the people would be free from doing any God's commandment too (Mat 7:10-13)? Lawless preachers or false prophets today may not say exactly the same thing, but they will do it very craftily. They may not quote the corban law; but they will quote the widow's giving to influence more people to give to them:
Mar 12:38-44 KJV  And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,  (39)  And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:  (40)  Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.  (41)  And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.  (42)  And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.  (43)  And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:  (44)  For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
I will ask them, Yes, the poor widow might or might not know that the Pharisees, scribes, and all those in the whole temple system were hypocrites, and she still gave sacrificially. So do we follow what she did? Is that what Jesus would tell us to do too?
No, I can certainly tell the people that Jesus would not want us to give to the hypocrites or those who have departed from the law of God. If God would not hesitate to destroy the whole temple system including His laws on sacrifices, tithing, circumcision, priesthood, and the buildings, He would not hesitate to destroy any revolution which teaches the people to depart from the law of God too.
If we have read the Bible verses above, we must continue to read the following Bible verses, immediately after what Jesus said about the poor widow:
Mar 13:1-2 KJV  And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!  (2)  And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
If Jesus and His disciples did not follow the old priesthood system to enrich the Pharisees, we do not follow any new revolutionary system to enrich the modern day 'tele-Pharisees' or 'tele-preachers' too.  By the way, Jesus did state the fact about the widow's greater giving than the rest of the people, but He did not commend her to the disciples or said that the widow did the right thing. Instead, He showed the disciples that all those she gave and the rich people gave would all be gone, lost, and destroyed, together with the whole temple system and buildings (Mar 13:1-2). Many may summarize His doctrine in Mat 12 into two main teachings:
1. Beware of the scribes who devoured widows houses (Mar 12:38-40), and
2. the giving of the poor widow (Mar 12:43)
If we read only the giving of the poor widow, we may form only the positive picture of a very noble sacrificial giving widow; however, if we link the giving of the poor widow with what the scribes had done to the widows' houses in Mar 12:38-40, we would think differently. Obviously the widow was not only poor materially, but also poor ignorantly and miserably. I believe that Jesus had wisely mentioned all these to show us that we need to pay more attention to the schemes of the greedy religious people (not to pay them any more money) because, in the future, there will be
1. many more 'religiously greedy people', and
2. many more 'religiously poor people' too
Many believers in the last days are 'poor' believers in the eyes of the Lord (Rev 3: 17), not because they are poor materially; but because they are poor ignorantly and miserably when they still place all their hope, money, and faith radically in a false religious system which is as lawless or hopeless as the hypocritical religious system of the Pharisees.

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