K134. We are under the law of Christ to do righteousness; not to earn righteousness

We cannot earn righteousness, but we can do righteousness and must do righteousness under the law of Christ. The Pharisees thought that they could earn God's righteousness:
1. by just doing the law & rituals of the old covenant or
2. by just thinking of God's righteousness without doing it
The Pharisees thought that they had earned the guarantee of God's righteousness, and therefore, they could never lose it no matter how they victimized others, deceived the people, or sinned again and again in the future.
But, we are under the law of Christ to do righteousness, to love others, to do good, and to sin no more. We can never earn righteousness by doing good or doing righteousness; neither can we earn righteousness as our guarantee for God's approval for all our future sins too. We may not be perfectly righteous, but we repent and do righteousness with our conscious effort to turn away from sin and live godly lives irregardless of how much we are assured of God's righteousness. This could be the main difference between:
1. a sinner who still thinks of repentance after he repented and
2. a Pharisee who thought that they were already righteous and that they had no more need to repent:
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.
Joh 8:11-12 KJV  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (12) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

We do righteousness not to become righteous; but ..
Many will still argue, "If we cannot earn righteousness by doing righteousness, why do you still teach or command the people to do righteousness?" I will tell them, That's a good question. If you cannot do righteousness to earn righteousness, do you still do righteousness? Yes, I will tell you that you MUST still do righteousness ! Why? It is because we will still do righteousness to obey God. We do righteousness in obedience to God's will and commandments. We do righteousness not to become righteous, but we do it to become obedient servants who know and do the will of God the Father:
Mat 7:21-22 KJV  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Many still argue, "But the warning above is not for us or the believers in the churches; it is for the believers of other religions or other gods." I will tell them, Please go back to understand the whole context of Mat 7 starting from Mat 5:1. Isn't it a teaching from The Sermon On The Mount to the disciples who were mostly Jews? How can it suddenly become a teaching, doctrine, or warning for the non-believers, or the believers of other religions or other gods? Something is wrong with your explanation.
If God would care how the poor, the innocent, or the sheep, were victimized, taken advantaged of, or oppressed by the false prophets or Pharisees, please think, will He care how His sheep are treated or taught by us too? If God would care how the false prophets, the Pharisees, or His servants behave, will He care how we behave too? Will He care how we will do good, practice righteousness, do His commandments, or do His will too? Yes, of course. Will He have good opinion of us if we still do and think like the Pharisees, the false prophets, or the hypocrites? The answer is clearly NO.

We must not only do righteousness; we must teach doing it too
Some will still argue, "Ok, ok, yes, we must do righteousness. But why must you tell us to do and teach righteousness? We don't have to do and teach it if we are really righteous in Christ because we will do it automatically by the Spirit of Christ. Heb 8:11 says that we don't have to teach the believers. If we teach too much or always tell them 'do good get good' or do, do, do.. , we are not effective preachers. We would become legalistic like the Pharisees."
Heb 8:11 KJV  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.
I will tell them, Please read Heb 8:11 again. Do you know what you must not teach the believers? You do not teach them to know the Lord; but you can always teach them to know and do God's words and commandments in the scripture:
2Ti 3:13-17 KJV  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (14)  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  (15)  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
You said that if we always teach the people about keeping God's commandments or doing righteousness, we will become legalistic
1. Didn't Jesus teach and tell the people or the woman to sin no more (Joh 5:14, 8::11-12)?
2. Didn't He teach us to turn away from sin with the parable of the prodigal son?
3. Didn't He teach us to do good with the parable of the good Samaritan?
4. Didn't He teach us to keep God's commandments (John 14-15)? Was He legalistic?
Jesus would never teach His disciples to just know God or know His words too. His doctrine is always about doing the words of God. It is one thing just to know the Word or know God (John 1:1); it is another to know His words AND do His words. Knowing the Word will only show that we know God or believe God (the devils believe God too - Jas 2:19); but doing the Word will show that we tasted Him, ate His words, and have His words in our lives. Doing His words is like eating the flesh of the Word.
Joh 1:1-14 KJV  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God .. .. (12)  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  (13)  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  (14)  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

We do not do good get good from men; we do good get good from God
I have heard of many hyper grace preacher's criticism against the 'do good get good' principles as self-effort principles. I will ask them, Do you know that the 'do good get good' principles are the law and the prophets and the doctrine of Jesus Christ?
Mat 7:12 KJV  Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Luk 6:31 KJV  And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Gal 6:7 KJV  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Eph 6:2-3 KJV  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)  (3) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
If the above principles are 'do good get good' principles or self-effort principles, they are good principles and they can be taught by the churches.
Many still argue, "But we should just do good without expectation of getting good. If we do good to get good, we are doing it with self-effort. We should expect God goodness and His free favor without us doing good or doing anything." I will tell them, Please read your Bible again. Did God say that you can expect His goodness and His free favor if you do evil? No, His judgements against sins and lawlessness, His warnings against doing evil, and His principles of what you sow is what you reap are all clear examples of 'do good get good' principles. We can never do good to get good from men, but we can certainly do good to get good from God. The Pharisees knew that the people must do good according to the commandments of God, but they changed the words of God until everybody would just 'confess' it:
Mat 15:5-7 KJV  But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;  (6)  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.  (7)  Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
Jas 4:17 KJV  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Eph 6:2-3 KJV  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)  (3) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Rev 22:12-14 KJV  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  (13)  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  (14) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Under the law of Christ, we do not just have high regard for God's laws
Luk 19:8-27 KJV  And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.  (9)  And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.  (10)  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.  (11)  And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.  (12)  He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.  (13)  And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. .. .. (20)  And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:  (21)  For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.  (22)  And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow .. ..
Many said that the 'Ten Pounds' represents what we can do for God. But, I think that the 'Ten Pounds' is something given by God, much more valuable than what we think, and priceless.
Others will say, "Yes, of course, God's gifts are priceless. But, there is no more giving of God's laws; only giving of God's favours, grace, prosperity, wealth, or riches which we must still multiply; otherwise we will lose our salvation because Jesus talked about it after He mentioned to Zacchaeus about salvation." I will tell them, No. Please think, If you believe in grace, do you think that it is 'grace' for God to judge His people  based on how much (effort) they could do to multiply physical wealth or riches? No, if it is true, it is based on self-effort. Hence, I do not think that the 'Ten Pounds' represents wealth or riches; neither do I think that the 'Ten Pounds' represents grace. It's because you cannot do anything or any effort to multiply or add on to grace if it is really grace or really something which is given by grace. Hence, I prefer to think that the 'Ten Pounds' refers to God's commandments, God's words, God's principles, the doctrine of Christ, and something which we must keep and do.
However, many would just want to wrap the words of God in a 'napkin' to keep it and do nothing. They argue that they really treasure it and have high regard for it. But unknowingly or knowingly they made the words of God of none effect by wrapping it in their 'lawless napkin', covering it with a cloke of maliciousness, or deceitfully hiding it from the people with a lie. I believe that this is a rebellion which may cause many servants or preachers to lose their salvation, even though they may claim that they have repented like Zacchaeus.

Under the law of Christ, we do not just confess and confess ..
1Pe 2:15-16 KJV  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:  (16)  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Mat 15:5-6 KJV  But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;  (6)  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.
Hence, when they did not do or preach what God commanded them to do or preach, they rebelled against the will of God and became wicked servants (Luke 19:22) or false prophets (Mat 7:15):
Mat 7:15-24 KJV  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  (16)  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? .. (20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  (21)  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Under the law of Christ, we do not just confess and confess.. and boast of how much we love God or how much we have high regard for His laws; we do !
Many still argue, "Yes, under grace, we still have the commandment to love, but we have no more commandment to do, do, do.. If we are still doing many things, we are still under self-effort. Hence, the Ten Commandments which told us to do this and that are no longer valid for us. It is because Jesus has given us the new commandment just to love. Haha .., no more do's and don'ts .. what a revolution, what a relief !"
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.
2Jn 1:5-7 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.
I will tell them, Please do not just read your Bible, please think. When Jesus gave you a commandment to love, did He give you the commandment just to love? Did He give you the commandment not to do anything? Please think again. A fish which does not swim is dead, so is a commandment or love which does not do. If you do not do His commandment, how can you walk in His commandment? If you do not walk in His commandment, you have denied the Word who came in the flesh and who gave God's commandments to us.

Under the law of Christ, there is still law or commandment
The hyper grace people have not only confused themselves with their 'pure' grace doctrine, they have confused others too. If you ask them, "Is there still law or commandment under the New Covenant or under grace?", very likely you will get all kinds of answers from them. Some say 'Yes'. Some say 'No'. Some say 'Yes and No'. Some said 'Yes'; then they say 'No'. Some say 'No' now, but they will say 'Yes' later. Some will keep saying, 'Yes, .. No, .. Yes, .. No, .. Yes, .. No ..' until all the churches are totally confused. You can never find out what they really want to say, but they will always tell you that they have a better revolution to replace all the keeping of the laws and commandments of God. They will boast that they have a better preaching to replace all the teaching of the churches on God's laws and commandments.
I will tell them, I don't care if you have a better revolution or better preaching; but if you are under Christ, you must keep the laws and commandments of God. Of course, you do not keep God's laws to be saved, but you must keep the law of Christ to be in Christ. You do not keep God's laws to be born again, but you must keep God's laws if you are God's people.
Heb 8:10 KJV  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
You do not do good to be righteous, but you must do good if you are righteous. You do not do good to be saved, but you must do good if you are saved. You do not live godly lives to be a believer of Christ, but you must live godly lives if you are a believer. If you do not live godly lives, you are not a believer. It is the same law which is applied to the fish too. A fish does not swim to become a fish; it swims if it is a fish. If it does not swim, it is not a fish. For more stories about the fish, see: https://plus.google.com/103386467367636094616/posts/FUg75zhD4ye

Under the law of Christ, we will still confess our sins because we are the sons of God
Many think that confessing their sins will make them unrighteous or make them lose their righteousness. I will tell them, No, if you cannot earn your righteousness by confessing righteousness or doing righteousness, neither can you lose your righteousness by confessing your sins or confessing anything too. If the fish must swim because they know that they are the fish, the sons must obey because they know that they are the sons too. The sons, whether they are the good sons or prodigal sons, they will always confess their sins if they know that they are still the sons after sinning against their fathers. Hence, if a person could not repent or confess his sins to God even after he knew that he had sinned against God, he is not a son at all. The prayer of a true believer will always show if he is a child of God, not just because he will always call God the Father, but because he will always confess his sins to the Father whenever he knows that he has sinned or disobeyed God:
Luk 11:2-4 KJV  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.  (3)  Give us day by day our daily bread.  (4)  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
Heb 12:5-9 KJV  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:  (6)  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  (7)  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  (8)  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  (9)  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Many argue that they can never sin or do wrong in the sight of God because they have 'earned' the righteousness of God through the blood of Jesus Christ, and therefore they will never lose their righteousness, never need to confess any sin, and never teach themselves and others to claim 1 John 1:9. I will tell them, In the parable, if the prodigal son did not think of going back to the father and confess his sins to him, the father might lose his son forever. If our children disobeyed and refused to confess their sins, we may not be able to get them back too. Hence, it is normal for all the sons to confess their sins to their fathers. Even a prodigal son or a wicked son is still a son. However, if the son finds it hard to confess his sins to his father, something is wrong. This can happen because of three possibilities:
1. The son thinks that he can be the father
2. The son thinks that he is better than the father, or
3. The son thinks that he has no more father
It means that the son can no longer be the son.
Similarly, if the believers have no more God or no more law, the believers do not have to confess their sins to God the Father too. But, it means that the believers are no longer the children of God. If they were believers, they are now lukewarm believers. If they were fish, they are the dead fish. If they were branches, they are the dead branches (Joh 15:5-10). If they were servants, the are the ungrateful servants (Mat 18:32). They were bought by the blood of the Lord, but they are now the false prophets:
2Pe 2:1-2 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.  (2)  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
Mat 18:32-33 KJV  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  (33)  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
The Bible verses above are the great warning to those who have been bought by the blood of Jesus Christ and think that all their future sins are forgiven and that they can never lose their salvation even if they speak evil against the way of truth and sin anyway they like against others.

Under the law of Christ, we are the doers of God's laws
Under the law of Moses, the Jews and the Pharisees would just want to think (like a 'fish'); but under grace, we must do. Many argued that believing and thinking of God laws would make us legalistic. I will tell them, No, thinking and believing like the Pharisees will make us legalistic; but doing God's commandment will make us God's people. The Pharisees were hypocritical and legalistic because they would only do the law ritualistically (without really doing it with the love for God and others). If we conclude and say that all God laws will make men think and behave like the Pharisees, we are lying. It is like saying that "all men are legalistic, adulterous, wicked, and hypocritical, but women are gracious, pure, and innocent. Hence, the women are always the victims of men". It is a sweeping statement. Do you know that there were men who became the victims too?
Hence, the revolution of Jesus Christ today will still offend many people who think like the Pharisees. They still live and think with a form of godliness which is dead in the eyes of God:
2Ti 3:2-7 KJV  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  (6)  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,  (7)  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Jas 2:18-20 KJV  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  (19)  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  (20)  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? ..  (4:6-17) But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble .. (15) For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.  (16)  But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.  (17)  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Under the law of Christ, we are commanded to love and do righteousness
Under the law of Christ, we are commanded not just to love and think (and boast) about righteousness; we are commanded to love and do righteousness:
Mat 5:6 KJV  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Rom 6:17-23 KJV  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  (18)  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.  (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.
Rom 8:4-5 KJV  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  (5)  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
1Ti 6:10-15 KJV  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  (11)  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  (12)  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.  (13)  I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;  (14)  That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:  (15)  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
2Pe 2:19-22 KJV  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.  (20)  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  (21)  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  (22)  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Under the law of Christ, we are subject to the law of God to do the law and the will of God
Hence, it is clear enough to all of us that the law of Christ or the holy commandment of Jesus Christ is not exactly same as the Ten Commandments in letters or words; but it is certainly a commandment to do all and fulfill all the righteousness of God's laws or commandments (including the Ten Commandments). It is also a commandment which proves that the Ten Commandments are still a commandment of Christ in the hearts and minds of all the believers whether they will do it knowingly or unknowingly; consciously or unconsciously; and mentally, spiritually, politically, .. etc. However, it won't be practised legalistically, abusively, blindly, radically, hypocritically, or carnally by the believers who are truly subject to the law of Christ:
Rom 8:2-7 KJV  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  .. (4)  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. .. .. (7)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Hence, under the law of Christ, we do righteousness not to earn righteousness; but to do the will of God because we love God. However, if believers would deliberately refuse to keep, do, or practice righteousness, does it mean that they will lose the righteousness of Christ? No, no one can lose the righteousness of Christ by doing it or not doing it, because it can never be earned by anyone. However, a believer who always argued against doing righteousness under the law of Christ would clearly show us that he had not been subject to the law of God or Christ. If he had never been subject to or under the law of Christ, he was not in Christ and would not have received the righteousness of Christ in the first place. Hence, he did not lose God's righteousness when he rebelled under the law of Christ; he was not in Christ. It simply showed that he had not received any righteousness of Christ too:
1. even though he might confess earnestly or argue vehemently that he was "the righteousness of God in Christ" five hundred times or five thousand times .. under grace or with the number of grace ..
2. or even if he confessed it by taking the holy communion everyday, sat at the feet of the most anointed glamorous preacher in the world, and meditated on all the positive Bible verses on the righteousness of Christ
The ironical thing is: many believers can go through all the hassles to do the above and spend much (radical) effort to confess, preach, believe, argue, learn, and meditate on the righteousness of God; but they cannot simply do it because they think that doing it is self-effort or legalistic effort.

Why do we still honor, maintain, and keep the law of God in our hearts, in our churches, families, and countries today?
If we do not have any legal law or God's law, very likely we will still be controlled by bad laws or inferior laws introduced by the wrong people in the end. It is because that 'vacuum for law' can be filled up easily by anything which is from men if it is not occupied by God's laws or good laws. A lawless nation or kingdom may enjoy temporary freedom or idealistic environment where everyone seems to live happily with one another without law. However, sooner or later the people will realize that no law is a bad law. Do we know what will happen if there is no law in a country? The president would get any salary he wants without the law. Similarly, the pastor would get any salary too. I say this not because I do not trust our president or pastor, but because I know myself and my own weaknesses. It's because I know that, if I were the president of the richest country in the world or the pastor of the biggest church in that country, I can still stumble and fall because of my own human weaknesses. If I were given the opportunity to get any exorbitant incredible salary amount, very likely I myself and many others would just gladly go for the maximum without thinking of any constraint or law of God. There is a tendency for us to just justify all our greed and the lust to get more by thinking of only grace, unmerited favor, or unlimited abundance, as God's approval for our service to Him. Although I can argue that I always have the Spirit of God, the wisdom and the understanding of God, or self-constraint to curb my greed and warn me of the danger of going into the uncontrollable lust to get exorbitant wealth, I would still prefer to have the law of God in my hearts, in my conscience, in my churches, my companies, my countries, or my external environments to put a check on me too (in case my sober mind is not sober enough to help me to think well or my self-constraint is not strong enough to stop me from doing the wrong things).
Of course, we do not have the law to tell the people how much a pastor or a president should be paid, but we do have the law of God to tell us (pictorially) how much is too much, or how much is covetousness, or how much is wicked in the sight of God?
Luk 16:19-31 KJV There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:  (20)  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,  (21)  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  (22)  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;  (23)  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom .. ..  (30) And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.  (31)  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Luk 12:15-21 KJV  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.  (16)  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  (17)  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? (18) And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  (19)  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. (20) But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (21) So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Can a preacher become wicked for prospering or getting too much?
Hence, if you ask me, "Between a monk and a pastor who both get the salary of $1,000,000,000.., who is more spiritual or more anointed?" I will say, They are both the same greedy wicked men who need to repent. With that kind of salary and the way they are boasting about it, getting it, and keeping it (without giving it away or restraining themselves from increasing it and receiving it), they show to God and men that they are greedy and covetous without the constraint and law of God. However, I have heard radical ignorant followers and widows (who have been brain-washed by their preachers) saying that they were willing to give anything to their idolized heroes until their heroes became their kings or princes because they believed that their heroes were God's anointed monks, pastors, priests, princes, prophets, apostles, leaders, or teachers who should live and be blessed like king David, king Solomon, or the multi-million dollar 'cook' who can 'feed' them spiritually. These poor followers who believed and supported their rich heroes with their finance and money were not poor materially or intellectually. They were poor followers because they did not know that they had been brain-washed to follow the religious boasters, deceivers, devils, or false prophets. They thought that everyone was jealous of them or jealous of their rich princes, anointed kings, or good looking pastors, when actually they had become too 'spiritual' (or too blinded) to think rationally:
Rev 3:17-18 KJV  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.

The Pharisee were the religious charlatans under the Old Covenant
The Lord was speaking about the 'poor' followers under the New Covenant in the church of the Laodiceans above. However, do we know that the Lord had spoken about the 'poor' followers and miserable widows who were deceived by the scribes to give ignorantly and blindly under the Old Covenant too? I believe that Jesus and His disciples stopped giving to the temple when they knew that the scribes and the Pharisees were hypocrites. This could be one of the main reasons why the scribes and the Pharisees hated the doctrine or teaching of Christ and His disciples. The doctrine of Jesus was a revolution against the scribes, the Pharisees, or the religious charlatans under the Old Covenant. What is a religious charlatan: see https://plus.google.com/103386467367636094616/posts/JwDrfiUAXUW
Mar 12:38-42 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. ..  (42)  And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing .. (13:1-6)  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.  (3)  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,  (4)  Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?  (5)  And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:  (6)  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

The false prophets are the religious charlatans in the end time
Jesus said it very clearly, There will be false prophets or religious charlatans under the New Covenant. They will keep testifying how their words can prosper you, liberate you, and give you all kinds of promises or assurance in the name of the Lord. However, they are actually the religious charlatans in the end time. They will come in the name of the Lord to preach Christ or to preach like Christ under the New Covenant. They will deceive many, even the elect (Mar 13:22). Hence, I believe that they will not declare it clearly, but subtly, gradually, progressively, convincingly, and then DECEITFULLY, to show that they are the Christ, like Christ, or another 'Christ' who has the lying power and words to deliver men or prosper men:
1. They may come and say, "As Christ is so am I (in everything). I am the Righteousness (of God) who can teach you a more excellent way. Listening to ME is like listening to Christ .. or vice versa. Haha .. "
2. They may say, "I come in His name to give you a better life and a better 'Christ' who has no more warning, judgement (or 'do good get good' principles), reproof, conviction, repentance, discipline, moral values, doctrine, demand, law, or commandment (of Christ) for you to do or keep; but only blessings, rest, finished work, unlimited supplies, ('MY') guarantee of forgiveness for all your future sin and lawlessness, effortless riches, unmerited favors, and abundance of grace for you to enjoy.. Haha, no wonder my God is too good to be true to me and many people are jealous of us .. "
3. They may preach subtly and say, "I am the Anointed (the Christ) who has the 'Rhema' words of God or the 'Now' words. Listen to ME; not the churches, not the law and the prophets (in Rev 11:10) , not the written words in your Bible. The old Christ and the churches still tell you to keep God's commandments or the Ten Commandments. But I am the revolution from the 'new Christ' and the new age. My name is: R e v o l u t i o n. I replace the Ten Commandments or the 'Decalogue'. We do not rule by the (seven) doctrine of Christ in Heb 6:1-3; we rule by lawlessness or by the desires of all sinners. We are truly of men, by men, and for men. Hence, we have the heart, the desire, and the name of men (which is the number of men 6 6 6) .."
Rev 13:1-18 KJV  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy .. (17) And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.  (18) Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

The false prophets and the beast will give the people more laws
The beast may help the people to live or behave more 'godly' without the commandments of God, but we know that he is a liar. It is because we know that the people are still given more laws for buying, selling, or doing many things under his teaching, deception, or law again. The people may have to confess, eat, pray, or think according to his new set of mental rules or anointed instructions eg. they can only confess righteousness and not any other thing which will make themselves humble before God (eg. sins), hence they must confess or think of righteousness for a certain number of times in a day, they must eat holy communion to receive healing or blessing, they must have good opinion of God if they would like to prosper, they must give to the beast, his inner circle, his 'company', or his church, to prosper, they must esteem highly of his teaching or revelations, and buy only his books, CDs, DVDs, sermons, or talks, they must not judge, disagree, or think negatively against anyone, especially the anointed ones like himself (in another words, they cannot think outside the framework of his 'revolution'), they must not do this .. and that .. Please think, Under which law would there be more freedom? His 'anointed laws' or the laws of God? I would follow the laws of God, not because I can find more freedom in God's laws, but because I know that the freedom from men, of men, and for men (666) is just a deception in lawlessness.

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