We need the grace of God; but we need to work too

Many radical grace preachers will say, "How can you say that? We are saved by grace and grace alone. However, if you believe in doing self-effort and teach the law of doing good, even if you do it for the Lord, you are still under the law."
I will tell them, Did I say that we are saved by the law? No. Of course, we need the grace of God; but we need to work too.

a. There is still work after the creation of man in the garden of Eden
At least I know that, from the beginning, Adam was in the garden of Eden by grace; the garden was a gift from God. It is grace from God. Adam did not work for it. But, did God tell Adam that, from that day onwards, everything would be given to him by grace, and therefore, he did not need to work anymore? No, on the contrary, God gave him grace so that he worked even more:

• Gen 2:15 KJV  And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

b. There is still work after the foundation of our salvation in the gospel
When Jesus came, did He change it and gave us grace so that we do not have to work anymore? No, He would never change the will of God with the gospel of grace. Yes, Jesus Christ is the Rock of salvation given to us by grace (Isaiah 9:6):

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

But the 'houses' that are to be built on the rock, on the corner stone, or on Him, is not given by grace. We must still work and build our 'houses'. If we don't work or do anything, we are not building our houses on the Rock; we are building them on the 'sinking sand':

• Mat 7:15-29 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:  (25)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  (26)  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  (27)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.  (28)  And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:  (29)  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

"But now", many argue, "we are under the new covenant. Everything must change. Everything is given by grace now. The gospel that Paul preached has changed the law. We don't work for the kingdom of God anymore. We do not teach people to do good or do anything for God too. We just enjoy Him. When we just think of Him without thinking of doing anything, we have everything and we will prosper.."
I will tell them, What you preach is in total contradiction with what the Lord teach in Mat 7 above. If you think that the gospel that Paul preached could overwrite what Jesus preached or God commanded, something is wrong with the gospel that you preach or Paul preached. Do you think that you or Paul is greater than God or Jesus? Please think, If Jesus, the Lord and Master of Paul, would still keep the words of God the Father, do you think that Paul is greater than his Master and that he can do otherwise? 

• Joh 14:23-25 KJV  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  (24)  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.  (25)  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 
• Joh 12:47-50 KJV  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.  (48)  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.  (49)  For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.  (50)  And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. 

c. There is still work for the Church of God in the end time and in the prophecies. Yes, there is still work or doing the commandments of God in the new covenant. The Lord confirmed it again in the letters of John and the book of Revelation

• 1Jn 2:3-7 KJV  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  (4)  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  (5)  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.  (6)  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.  (7)  Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
• 1Jn 3:18-22 KJV  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.  (19)  And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.  (20)  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.  (21)  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  (22)  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (Contrary to what the radical grace preachers said, keeping God's commandments will never condemn us; it will give us the confidence toward God ..)
• 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. .. Rev 22:13-15 KJV  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  (14)  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  (15)  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

 
We need to work because we know the commandments of God
But many radical grace preaches will argue, "Yes, we know that we need the grace of God, and we need to work too. But do we need to know the commandments of God? NO, this is nonsense. Grace has changed everything. There is no more law in grace or in pure grace. In the Old Testament, we keep the commandments of God, which are do's and don'ts or the Ten Commandments, but in the New Testament, we keep only the commandment of Jesus Christ, which is based on grace and the finished work of the Lord on the cross - it is no more do's and don'ts like the Ten Commandments. It is the commandment of Jesus to be loved by Him and to rest in Him.. If you insist that we must do something, it is just to love Him and to be loved by Him because John said:
1Jn 5:1-3 KJV  Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.  (2)  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 ask them, Did you read the Bible verses above as God's people or as the worldly people? When John said, "When we love God, and keep His commandments" above, obviously he meant two different things. Yes, we must love God and it is a commandment, but we must keep His commandments too. John has said clearly, We don't just love God !
I will ask them, If there is no more commandment of Jesus to do anything, what is the commandment of Jesus? To rest and do nothing in Him? Or just to live like before, eat, drink, and prosper ? No, Jesus would never ask us to rest and do nothing, He wants us to work and do more for others:

• 1Th 4:9-12 KJV  But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.  (10)  And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;  (11)  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;  (12)  That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Many will still argue, "Of course, we know that we have to work, or else none of us should not eat. Of course, we know the words and commandments of the Lord. In fact, none of us are lazy. But we don't have to teach them to work or preach about the commandments of God to do many things. We don't teach or preach the commandments of God with many do's and don't. We just need to teach the people to love."
I will tell them, Please read 1Th 4:9-12 above again. We don't need to be taught of God to love, but we can certainly keep encouraging the believers, beseech them, and command them, that they may do more and more for others:

• 2Th 3:10-13 KJV  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.  (11)  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.  (12)  Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.  (13)  But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

Keeping the commandments of the Lord is to do God's commandments and teach them
I will tell them, If you know the commandments of Jesus Christ, you will know that His commandments  are not just to rest, do nothing, and think of Him only. Keeping His commandments is not just to think of how He has kept all the commandments for us so that we don't have to do any commandment. Keeping His commandments is to do the commandments of God and teach them. It has two parts - doing the commandments of God and teaching them. Obviously, Jesus commanded us to do both when He said: 

• 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.
• 2Ti 4:2-5 KJV  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  (3)  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  (4)  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  (5)  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
•  Heb 6:10-12 KJV  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  (11)  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:  (12)  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
• Rev 2:2-5 KJV  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:  (3)  And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.  (4)  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.  (5)  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

So, how can there be condemnation and bondage if we keep and teach the commandments of God? When we have the laws and commandments of God, we have the confidence that we are forgiven too:

• Rom 8:1-4 KJV  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  (2)  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  (3)  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  (4)  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
• 1Jn 3:21-24 KJV  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  (22)  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.  (23)  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.  (24)  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
• Jer 31:33-34 KJV  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.  (34) ..  for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
• Heb 8:10-12 KJV  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: .. (12)  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
• Heb 10:16-17 KJV  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  (17)  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

So, how can there be confidence of God if we do not have the laws of God in our thinking, minds, and hearts, or if we do not think of doing and keeping His laws or commandments? No wonder, most radical grace followers are living in constant fear, condemnation, doubts, and confusion, and they need to keep listening to their own favourite antinomian preachers and become addicted to it. They cannot live without it when they do not have the law of God in their minds and hearts! They may profess that they are the believers who know the Lord, but the Lord will profess that He does not know them. It's because the Lord know that they would never do His words or the will of His Father. They are the lukewarm believers. They are only believers; not His followers:

• Mat 7:20-23 KJV  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:
• Rev 3:15-17 KJV  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  (17)  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

So, if anyone says that he has no condemnation and that God cannot judge him because he has no more law or no more commandment of Christ to do or keep any commandments, he is deluding not only himself; but others. Yes, he may boast that he has more grace, more prosperity, more success, more favour, more fame, more righteousness, and more victory over sins; but he is lying with his own doctrine. Yes, he may be a believer. However, he is just a lukewarm believer; not a true follower of Jesus Christ. When he is not a follower or a doer of The Word, he could be the antichrist too. He may oppose all the words of Jesus and remove them from the hearts of other believers:

• 1Jn 2:21-29 KJV  I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.  (22)  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.  (23)  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.  (24)  Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.  (25)  And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.  (26)  These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.  (27)  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.  (28)  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.  (29)  If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

What do the antinomian preachers preach in the end time?
Many will say, "Of course, antinomian preachers will preach lawlessness, terrorism, and hatred."
I will tell them, No. Can you find any preacher who preaches lawlessness or ungodliness openly in the internet or in your country? No, you won't find anyone 'preaching' lawlessness or lawless crimes convincingly and openly and drawing the majority of the people, including the Christian believers. Some may argue that there are already many 'antinomian preachers' in the websites and they are training people on how to do lawlessness. I will tell them, No, they are not the preachers. They could be the insane, the radical, the foolish, or the uncivilised; but they are not preachers. Antinomian preachers will not preach lawlessness, like them. But antinomian preachers know how to preach, seduce, and draw many people away without preaching lawlessness openly. They do not preach lawlessness like it is lawlessness; however, they would preach and seduce like the antiChrist:

• 1Jn 2:21-26 KJV  I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.  (22)  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.  (23)  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.  (24)  Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.  (25)  And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.  (26)  These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

Please pause for a moment. Does it make sense for John to write to the believers or Christians who know the Lord to be careful of the radical preachers, the insane, or anyone who preaches lawlessness or practises lawlessness? No. Instead, John warned about those who will seduce us. It means that the antiChrist, the lawless one, or the real antinomian preacher, is not someone who preaches lawlessness or practises ungodliness openly; or else he can never draw any believer to himself. He can draw many people, including the believers, to himself because he preaches like Christ and he replaces many things taught by Christ with more humanly appealing doctrine or wisdom. Hence, he may preach many things of God eg. love, godliness, righteousness, prosperity, blessings, and grace of God. However, he can preach them in such a way that he will oppose all the laws of God; but everyone, including the pastors and the believers, would agree with him totally and blindly. The sad thing is that many blind religious followers of God have unknowingly become the followers of the antinomian preachers even though they may keep denying it.

• 2Pe 1:5-10 ISV  For this very reason, you must make every effort to supplement your faith with moral character, your moral character with knowledge,  (6)  your knowledge with self-control, your self-control with endurance, your endurance with godliness,  (7)  your godliness with brotherly kindness, and your brotherly kindness with love.  (8)  For if you possess these qualities, and if they continue to increase among you, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in attaining a full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (9)  For the person who lacks these qualities is blind and shortsighted, and has forgotten the cleansing that he has received from his past sins.  (10)  So then, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election certain, for if you keep on doing this you will never fail.

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

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

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

• Rom 8:7-8 KJV  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
• 1Th 4:1-5 KJV  Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.  (2)  For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.  (3)  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:  (4)  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;  (5)  Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
• 1Sa 15:22-24 KJV  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  (23)  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.  (24)  And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

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When we say that we work hard, obey God's law, or do much in the Lord , are we boasting?

When we say that we work hard, obey God's law, or do much in the Lord , are we boasting?
Many radical grace preachers say that the Israelites boasted about their obedience to the laws of God and, therefore, God gave them the laws of frustration - see "It is a wicked lie to show that God gave His commandments out of frustration" in my another post here. 
When the Israelites said that they would do all that the Lord had commanded them and be obedient (Exo 24:7), did they boast? And, if we say that we will obey God, do something, or do more things in the name of the Lord, are we boasting too? Is it wrong to boast? When we say we obey God and pray, are we boasting in self-effort?  If this is true, then all the Apostles had boasted in self-effort too; this is ridiculous:

• Act 6:1-7 KJV  And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.  (2)  Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.  (3)  Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.  (4)  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.  (5)  And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:  (6)  Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.  (7)  And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Of course, we don't simply accuse everyone of boasting just because they obey God or the Holy Spirit, to do something, to pray, to do church ministration, to do good to the widows and orphans, or to do and teach God's principles and doctrine. I would say that, yes, it requires much effort from ourselves to do good and to set a good example for our children, but it is one kind of 'self-effort' which can never be condemned as wrong; it is a great effort and good effort which we can still do and teach in our churches and families. If it is wrong to do so, we must throw away half of the Bible because there are too many Bible verses, Old Testament books, and New Testament letters which still teach God's principles, Godly values, sound doctrine, repentance's efforts to recompense, doing good, living godly lives, and walking after God's commandments.


A true believer or a great believer would not just pray and repent (change his mind); he would do and teach
I will tell them, Before you criticize any preachers and complain that they are preaching self-efforts or 'do good get good' principles, please pause and reflect for a while. You could have preach self-effort without knowing it too. When you preach and tell your followers to confess righteousness, confess long life (to live up to 120 years old), or follow your daily rituals of taking the holy communion to get more blessings, do you know that these are a type of self-effort too? Yes, you may boast that you can do all these 'beautifully and effortlessly' without doing it with your hands, physical effort, or hardwork (but with only your lips, your mouths, and your tongues); however, it is still consider as self-effort by God. He knows that you do all these confessions only out of deliberation to 'make' Him answer your desires. This is obviously one type of  self effort which is worst than the 'do good get good' principles. Why? It's because, in 'do good get good' principles, though we know that we will get 'good', but we still think of doing good to others based on the commandments and principles of the Lord. However, in your repetitive, radical, and ritualistic confession of your righteousness and long life in God, you will never think of doing any good to others. Obviously, when you boast or think that your confession is more 'effortless' than the 'do good get good' principles from the Bible, you do not have any thought or intention to do good to others. Hence, your self-effort is still as hypocritical as the Pharisees' effort which justify themselves before God.

• Luk 18:9-12 KJV  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  (10)  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  (11)  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  (12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

In fact, Jesus would teach us to pray and confess His words with our minds to do good. Unlike the Pharisees who would just pray and confess the words of God hypocritically, a true believers of Jesus would pray and confess the words of God with his mind to do more good than others'. Unlike the Pharisees who twisted God's words and thought of getting more God's blessings 'effortlessly', a true believer of Jesus Christ would be taught by the Lord to pray, repent, and do works (and effort) meet for repentance:

• Luk 11:1-4 KJV  And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.  (2)  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. 
• Mat 5:14-20 KJV  Ye are the light of the world. ..(16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  (17)  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. .. (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.  (20)  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
• Mat 3:7-9 KJV  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:  (9)  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
• Luk 5:32 KJV  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
• 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. (We do not know what kind of tradition or commandments the Pharisee would teach; however, we know that it was very likely the tradition or commandments which tell people to do nothing and expect more from God effortlessly ..)        

** When a farmer, a soldier, and a Bible scholar say that they work hard, endure hard, and study hard, are they boasting too?
I will tell them, If doing a lot of works or always thinking of works without thinking of Jesus (or grace) would cause us to fall from grace, a lot of Christians would have fallen from grace too. For example, if Christian pilots are always focusing on flying the plane, will they fall from grace at the split second when their minds are not on the Lord? What if they suddenly realised that they had totally forgotten to pray while they were in the cockpits? How about the programmers or software engineers who became so focused in their works that they did not eat their lunch, not to mention praying or thinking of Jesus? .. 
I will ask the radical grace preachers, If you keep accusing everyone for falling from grace just because they think too much about their works or focusing too much on their jobs, you are no different from those whom you complained about - the legalistic repentance preachers who kept telling you to confess your sins every minute and second. If you think that it is ridiculous to confess sins all the time, do you think that it is reasonable for you to ask the believers to think of grace all the time? No, of course, there are times when we must tell the people to do something; not just to sit around and do the thinking only: 

• 2Ti 2:3-26 KJV  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  (4)  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.  (5)  And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.  (6)  The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.  (7)  Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. .. (12)  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: .. (15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  (16)  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.  (17)  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;  .. (19) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.  .. (22)  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart ...

Of course, when we do something with a lot of efforts, including the preaching and teaching of God's words, principles, doctrine, do's and don'ts, and commandments to shun ungodliness or lawlessness, it does not mean that all our 'self-efforts' are under the law of Old Testament.

** How did Esau fail of the grace of God?
They will argue, "But Esau and Martha were both performance oriented people. Esau was a hunter and hence he was rejected by the Lord. Martha was also very busy with serving. Hence, the Lord rebuked Martha for being performance conscious. They fell from grace because they are law-conscious or performance conscious. That's why Esau failed of the grace of God:"

• Gen 25:27 KJV  And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
• Heb 12:15-17 KJV  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;  (16)  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.  (17)  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
• Luk 10:39-41 KJV  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.  (40)  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.  (41)  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

I will tell them, Martha was not rebuked by Jesus because she was performance oriented or busy with works. She was reproved by the Lord not because she worked hard; it's because she worked at the wrong time when the Lord was teaching and speaking to all of them. She did not treasure the teaching of the Lord. Please imagine what will your teacher or lecturer say if you would just want to do your own multitasking in his class (playing computer games, watching videos, and doing facebook chat)? 
Esau did not come to a place of no repentance just because he was a hunter who worked harder than his brother too. No. He lost his birthright and found that he could not change it because he did not treasure his birthright. Although I do not agree with the radical grace preachers who insisted that all the Jews and the people of the world (including the sinners) were living under grace before the covenant of grace was given, I do agree that some people had received the grace of God, and Esau was one of them. He received the birthright which he didn't work for it. However, he failed of the grace of God by despising his birthright and treated it cheaply by doing something that was stupid - ie. by selling it away with a bowl of soup to Jacob. This was recorded under the Old Testament. However, it is also recorded in the New Testament that believers who are under grace and have received grace today can still fail of the grace of God by despising it and treat it cheaply by doing something that is foolish too - ie. by sinning wilfully or by doing something which brings them to a place of no repentance and no turning (Heb 10:26). 
But many will argue, "No, we are under grace. We can never sin. That Bible verse (Heb 10:26) is not for us. We can never be judged no matter how we sin too. A believer can sin only if he is not grace-conscious or he has unbelief. Hence, the bitterness of Esau arose because of his lack of grace or failing to look diligently for grace (Heb 12:15); not because of his rebellion, sin, or lawlessness against the will of God."
I will ask them, Did you read Heb chapter 10 to 12 ? Please do not just quote Heb 12:15. Do you know that Heb 8 and 9 is about the new covenant, Heb 10 is about the laws and judgement of God for the people of God, Heb 11 about faith, Heb 12 about chastisement and holiness? So, if there is a word about the grace of God in Heb 12:15, it means that with the laws of God, faith of God, chastisement of God, peace of God, holiness of God, and the grace of God, the people of God would not feel bitter against anyone who live in the covenant or the will of God. We should not follow the footsteps of Esau. Neither should we say that law is greater or grace is greater, God forbid, because both are the gifts of God. Joh 1:16-17 KJV  And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.  (17)  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. However, I have no problem if anyone says that

1. grace is greater than the man-made laws from the Pharisees, or
2. law is better than the new perverted grace from the false prophets. (Heb 12:15 KJV 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; )   

Paul did boast about his work, his ministry, his effort, and his infirmities
Sometimes, we need to boast a bit because the false prophets has boasted too much when they boasted radically with exaggeration, lawlessness, and lies; whilst we will boast with the truth and the experience of our hardship, sufferings, persecutions, infirmities, true efforts, honest good works, genuine concerns, warnings, and ministries for the people. Hence, there is nothing wrong to boast if we must do it to clarify and contend against the deceptions, false accusations, and lawlessness of the false preachers.  

• 2Co 11:9-31 KJV  And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.  (10)  As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.  (11)  Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.  (12)  But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.  (13)  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  (14)  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. .. (16) I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.  (17)  That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.  (18)  Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also... (30) If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.  (31)  The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

The false prophets were rejected by the Lord not because of their obedience to do God's will and commandments; but because of their doctrine or works of lawlessness
However, many will still argue, "No, we don't boast of doing good, doing many things, obeying God, and keeping God's commandments. If we do that, we would fall from grace and make Christ of none effect, believe in the works of the law, and boast like the false prophets in Mat 7. Jesus rejected them because they believed in doing many things for Him, relied on their self-efforts, and fell from grace."

• Mat 7:15-23 KJV  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. .. (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.
• Mat 7:23 LITV  And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; "depart from Me, those working lawlessness!"

I will tell them, Yes, the false prophets above did boast about the efforts of their preaching, ministry, prophecy, casting of devils, and many wonderful works; however,  those efforts were their own efforts outside of the will or commandments of God. Obviously, if their efforts were good efforts within the will of God the Father, Jesus would never say, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (or work lawlessness)". Of course, any effort to obey God's laws and commandments would never be considered by the Lord as the curse of 'the law', the works of 'the Old Covenant law', or the working of lawlessness. 

** Why did Paul say that the law or the works of the law is now a curse?

• Gal 3:10-12 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.  (11)  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.  (12)  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them ... (23) But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. (24) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  (25)  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  (26)  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

There are two different major perspectives or views on the law:

• one is the static view of the law which concludes that all the laws are curses since the beginning or from the day they were given (this could have been preached as a radical lawless 'truth' by most radical grace preachers who cannot follow or keep any law or commandment of God); 
• the other is the dynamic view of the law which shows us that the law (of the flesh, circumcision, or the old covenant) was good; but when another law, the law of faith and the law of the Spirit came, the old law became a curse. 

When what is obsolete became a curse, it does not mean that any form of the law is  a curse   
I believe that Paul showed us the dynamic view of the law in Gal 3. The law was a good schoolmaster who became obsolete only after the new covenant came through Jesus Christ. The old law or covenant was not evil. It was not a curse. In fact, it was a blessing to the Jews who were under the law. It was a divine covenant or a special distinction under which the Jews became a peculiar people of God. So, all the laws including the commandments of God, the ark of covenant, the tabernacle, the ceremonies, the rituals, the festivals, the utensils, the sacrifices, and the circumcision were good works of the law.
But how could all these good things become a curse now? Does it mean that any form of the laws, commandments, ark, temple, festivals, sacrifice, or circumcision is a curse now? No, the Spirit of the law of God is not a curse. The commandments to obey God, to worship God, to love God .. are not a curse too. The Words of God, like the ark of covenant, the bread, the tablets, and the rod, are not a curse too. When we are now the temple of God (1Co 3:16), we are not a curse too. Is Pentecostal festival a curse too? No, of course not. How about the sacrifice of our sins or circumcision? Of course, the spiritual form of it can never be a curse to the believers. Hence, the Ten Commandments which was in the covenant of stones under the law of Moses has become obsolete, but the Ten Commandments which has now become the law in our hearts can never be obsolete. 

When the Windows Xp has become obsolete, it does not mean that all the programmingand codes for the operating system is obsolete too   
I have shown you why we cannot conclude that any form of the laws, commandments, or works is a curse. But many still argue, "If the law has become a curse, any form of the law is a curse.  We just don't care if it is a better law or better commandment. If it is a law like the 'do's and don't' laws, written codes of laws, legalistic instructions, or any rules and regulations which tell us to do good and live with godliness, it is the law of curse or self-effort."  I will ask them, Did you use Windows Xp, Ms Dos, or Dos command prompt many year ago ? Was it a curse to use it? No, it was a blessing when it was the only operating system for the PCs at that time. But after the Windows 7 or Windows 8 has come, Windows Xp or the old operating system could be a 'curse' (or a risk) now because of computer virus, file corruptions, security issues, and lack of user interface. But we don't go around and tell people that all the operating systems are obsolete and hazardous. 

• Yes, the old version of the operating system, Windows Xp, is a hazardous risk now; but the operating system in general is still required. The operating system is still required for all the PCs and laptops today. Hence, we don't tell people that there is no more programming codes or instructions for the operating system in Windows 8 just because the codes are too difficult for us to learn. It is ridiculous to do away with all the codes and commands which must still be compiled into Windows 7/8. Don't be a confused IT professional. 
• Similarly, when we talk about the law or covenant of God, we don't go around and tell people that all kinds of law and covenant are obsolete and useless too. Yes, the law of the Old Covenant and the law of Moses are a curse or a ministration of death now; but the commandments and the laws of God are not. The laws of God are still kept by the believers in their hearts under the New Testament (NT). Hence, I find it ridiculous when some preachers complained that all the laws and commandments of God are hard sayings for the believers. It is ridiculous to reject God's commands which must still be kept under the New Covenant. Don't be a confused NT preacher.

God's laws and commandments are given not because of men's boasting; but because of God's favour  
Did the Israelites boasted? Did God give His commandments to them out of frustration because they boasted? No. I have explained why it is a wicked lie which is created to show a wicked Father. Please see "It is a wicked lie to show that the Israelites died because of the giving of God's commandments" in my previous post here".
 

The commandments of Jesus are given only to His disciples; not to everyone who just wants to follow Him for the bread, the gifts, the healing, or the miracles
Many will still argue, "No, God would never give commandments; God gives only gifts. Only the devil will give you long list of do's and don't or instructions to make you work like the ox or donkey. He is the accuser of the brethren. He will give you a lot of commandments and then judge you for not keeping all the laws. So, if anyone comes to you with God's laws and commandments, he is not from God. He is the accuser. He is the devil. He wants to bring the curse. Those who listen to him would love to do a lot of laws and boast, All that the Lord command, we will do .. 
Please think, If someone gives you a gift, do you pretend and say that he should give it to someone else who is poorer or someone who really need it? Or do you think that you should say something to show people that you are more humble and that you are not that worthy to receive it.. No, that's the problem of most Asians who love to pretend in their culture. They always say, "No, lah, we feel 'pai-say lah'. This is too good to be true." No, God wants us to cut the crap. Just say, Thank you and receive the gift ! Or else, we insult God who wants to give only good things to us. He would feel respected if we 'use' Him and use His gifts .."
I will tell them, Who said that God is only a gifts-giver? Obviously, this can never be true because the Bible has said that God is also a lawgiver too:

• Jas 4:12 KJV  There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

In fact, God is a great lawgiver; Satan, "the Lawless One".

• 2Th 2:3-10 LITV  Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, because that Day will not come unless first comes the falling away, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,  (4)  the one opposing and exalting himself over everything being called God, or object of worship, so as for him "to sit in the temple of God" as God, setting forth himself, that he is God. Dan. 11:36; Eze. 28:2  (5)  Do you not remember that I told you these things, I yet being with you?  (6)  And now you know the thing holding back, for him to be revealed in his time.  (7)  For the mystery of lawlessness already is working, only he is holding back now, until it comes out of the midst.  (8)  And then "the Lawless One" will be revealed, "whom" "the Lord" "will consume" "by the spirit of His mouth," and will bring to nought by the brightness of His presence. Isa. 11:4  (9)  His coming is according to the working of Satan in all power and miraculous signs and lying wonders,  (10)  and in all deceit of unrighteousness in those being lost, because they did not receive the love of the truth in order for them to be saved.

I will tell them, You said that God can only give you gifts, not any laws or commandments. So, does it mean that you will accept anyone who will give you gifts? Do you know that Satan will always want to show you that he can give more gifts and better gifts than God? Will you follow Satan just because he can give you more gifts or better gifts? Will you reject anyone who would give you the commandments of God? I feel sorry for you - very likely, you have not only rejected God, the lawgiver; you have missed the Saviour who would also give us more words, more commandments, more principles, more sermons, and more doctrine than more miracles, more healing, more bread, and more prosperity:

• Mat 4:3-4 KJV  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.  (4)  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
  Joh 14:15 KJV  If ye love me, keep my commandments.
• Joh 15:10-11 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.

Jesus might give gifts to many people, including the sinners, but He did say clearly that He gave His commandments to His disciples. In fact, He knew that only His disciples can keep His commandments. Hence, if you just want to receive gifts, you are not His disciples yet:

• Joh 12:48-50 KJV  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.  (49)  For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.  (50)  And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
• Joh 14:23-26 KJV  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  (24)  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.  (25)  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.  (26)  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
• Luk 6:46-48 KJV  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?  (47)  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:  (48)  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
• Joh 6:26-66 KJV  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. (27)  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. .. (60) Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?  (61)  When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?  (62)  What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?  (63)  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  (64)  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.  (65)  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.  (66)  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

** Is it wrong to feel unworthy?
I will tell them, You say that you are not like those who feel unworthy. But do you know who are those who feel unworthy? They are those who truly receive the forgiveness of God and favour of God. Are there biblical examples of those who felt unworthy and, as a result, received more favour? Yes, it is not just one; but many examples in the Bible:

1. The sinner who confessed his sin before God: Luk 18:11-14 KJV  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  (12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  (13)  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  (14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
2. The woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears because she did not feel worthy to look up at Jesus and others: Luk 7:44-47 KJV And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.  (45)  Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.  (46)  My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.  (47)  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. Please think, Did she do it with the same feeling like the feeling of someone who strikes lottery and thinks that it is God's favour? Did she feel so favoured, so worthy, or so excited that she kept kissing the feet of Jesus? No, her feeling was totally different from those who think that they are worthy; she felt unworthy instead. That's why she did the most lowly task of washing, kissing, and wiping the feet of Jesus which the Pharisees or those who think that they are too worthy or too favoured to do it.
3. The prodigal son who repented and thought that he was not worthy to be a son: Luk 15:17-19 KJV  And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  (18)  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,  (19)  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
4. The thief who admitted his sins, his due punishment, and his unworthiness before the Lord - Luk 23:40-43 KJV  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  (41)  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  (42)  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  (43)  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
5. Peter who fell down at Jesus' knees and felt unworthy - Luk 5:6-11 KJV  And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.  (7)  And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.  (8)  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.  (9)  For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:  (10)  And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.  (11)  And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.  

I believe that all the people above had felt unworthy before God. Why did they feel unworthy? It's because they knew that they were sinners, they knew that they had sinned, or they had sin conscience in them. It's because, if they felt that they were very favoured or righteous like the Pharisees, they would never feel unworthy. Hence, I don't think that there is any wrong to feel unworthy before God or Jesus Christ. It is not wrong to have sin conscience to repent when we have sins or know that we have sinned too; it is wrong only if we have sin conscience to keep on offering the blood sacrifice like the Jews or the Pharisees who would never repent (or never have the sin conscience to repent).
I will ask the radical grace preachers, Are there people who would never feel unworthy (or sin conscious) to repent but would just keep thinking of God's favour or God's righteousness and believe only (and they think that to repent is to believe only)? Yes, only the Pharisees. If sinners would never feel unworthy or feel that they are sinful before God or others, they are not the sinners; they are the Pharisees and they are too righteous for Christ to save them:

• Luk 5:30-32 KJV  But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?  (31)  And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.  (32)  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
• Mat 3:5-9 KJV  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,  (6)  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.  (7)  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:  (9)  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
• Mat 5:20 KJV  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (What did Jesus mean? If the Pharisees, who thought that they were too righteous to confess their sins or to repent, would be condemned before God, no one is righteous enough before God. It means that no one is too righteous to confess their sins or to repent. That's why Jesus would preach the gospel of repentance to everyone in the world, to ask them to repent, and not just to believe only. The Pharisees and the religious Jews (including the lawless ones, hypocrites, and the devils) might think that they could believe only, but John the Baptist and Jesus knew that they could never repent.)

Repentance is a kind of 'effort' which we must preach and no one can say that we are wrong
They will still argue, "But if we must repent with a lot of sin conscience, feeling of unworthiness, or thinking of sins, we will do our repentance with a lot of self-effort. Sin conscience always leads to self-effort. If we still want to do a lot of self-effort, we have not truly repented; we have fallen from grace.."
I will tell them, By the way, do you know why John the Baptist told the Pharisees to repent with fruits meet for repentance Mat 3:8. It means there must be 'effort' or 'works' in true repentance. Hence, Paul would never tell the believe to repent by changing their minds only. He would still preach the same repentance that the Lord and John the Baptist preached. It is a kind of self-effort which must be preached to everyone in the world in the name of the Lord:

• Luk 24:45-48 KJV  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  (47)  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  (48)  And ye are witnesses of these things.
• Act 26:19-21 KJV  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:  (20)  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.  (21)  For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

I will ask them, Do you know why the Jews wanted to kill Paul? Was it because Paul told them to repent, 'metanoia', and change their mind to be more godly or to give more tithes to the churches? No, Paul told them to repent and do works (effort) which showed that they had truly repented and they couldn't.  

Yes, 'effortless doctrine' can sell, but it cannot last
Many will finally say, "You can keep quoting many Bible verses which oppose God's grace and our effortless teaching; but how many souls have you saved? How many churches have you built? How many people have believed God because of your preaching? If you have done anything for anyone, I suggest that you keep quiet and mind your own business. If you are a pastor and you have only a few miserable members who listen to your preaching, you are not living in the will of God .."
I will ask them, Do you really say all these to your believers? Do you really think so? If you do, you have no respect for the preaching of God's words. Yes, you may boast about the millions of followers who listen to you because of your effortless teaching, you may boast that you are the bestsellers of your 'effortless doctrine', you may receive tons of testimonies and good reports from the internet, you may have brought many miracles to others, you may have done this and that, you may have done many wonderful works, ..  But what does it mean? It means that you have still boasted against the words of God and the doctrine of Christ with your own achievement, glory, deception, and self-effort . At the end of the day, you have still failed to do the will of God:

• Mat 7:20-27 KJV  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:  (25)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  (26)  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  (27)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

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Why must we do good?

Why must we do good?
Of course, normal people, including the non-believers, would think that we must do good. We become 'abnormal' if we think otherwise. However, many preachers have influenced the believers to think otherwise, to think abnormally, or to think lawlessly. They would preach and say, "We don't do good get good anymore. Under grace or the new covenant, we don't do and yet we get the good. It means radical grace! Doing good is no longer a must or a command for us; but an option which we will do because of grace and the finished work of Jesus. Hence, teaching people to do good or teaching it as a command of the Lord would be self-effort or law teaching. It is an hindrance which can prevent people from receiving the true grace of God. We should just preach Jesus, confess His beautiful name, think of Him, praise Him, worship Him, and have good opinion of Him. And He would teach us to do everything automatically and supernaturally through dreams, visions, and prompting of the Holy Spirit. In fact, He has done everything for us, including repentance, doing good, and keeping all the laws of God. He has done everything so that He has nothing left for us to do.. Under the new covenant, there is only grace;  no more law, no more commandment, and no more doctrine. Grace is not a doctrine. Grace is Jesus Christ. Grace is the gospel which can meet the needs of the people today because Law demands, but grace supplies .."
 But I will ask them, Did Jesus eat or go to the toilet for you? Obviously, lazy people would push every responsibility to Jesus. But when they fail and sin, they would just say, "It is His problem, not mine". Jesus has never told us that He would do everything for us. On the contrary, He told us to do more than what the Pharisees, priests, or Levites would do:

• Luk 10:29-37 KJV  But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?  (30)  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.  (31)  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  (32)  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.  (33)  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,  (34)  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  (35)  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.  (36)  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?  (37)  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Please think again, Will Jesus change His mind and tell us that we don't have to do good because we have believed in Him and we are under grace? Certainly not. If we have truly believed in Him, we would all the more do what He said or commanded. However, those who wish to justify themselves would think or behave like the priest, the Levite, or the Pharisees. They would argue that their belief, their mind changing philosophy, their right thinking, their praises, their confession of the blood, their faithful taking of the holy communion, their generous giving to the churches, their faith in the transfer of wealth, their testimony of miraculous healing,  and their good opinion of God would exempt them from doing good to others. They can believe well, so can the Pharisee:

• Luk 18:10-14 KJV  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  (11)  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  (12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  (13)  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  (14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Many of us think that the Lord rejected the Pharisees because they were not humbled. I will say, Yes, this could be part of the reasons. However, the Pharisees were never the doers of God's commandments too. They could believe well, but they could never do well.)
• Jas 2:19-20 KJV  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?
• Mat 7:21-23 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?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
• Luk 6:46-48 KJV  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?  (47)  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:  (48)  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood (false doctrine) arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. (Hence, Jesus said clearly that He would not just want us to have right believing, right faith, right miracles, right preaching, or right confession only; he wants us to have right doing with His words too, because right doing would prove that we are His true disciples on the rock of salvation.)

The serpent will influence us to depart from God's command to do good too
I will show more teaching of the Lord about His commandments to do good later. However, we should think a little deeper now, Have we been influenced by anyone to think that the Lord's commandment to do good is no longer a command for the believers. If you are alert, you would remember that the serpent had influenced Adam and Eve to think that God's command to them was no longer a command for them. The serpent was so good in his ways of speech that he could turn something that is clearly given and perceived as a command from God into something else:

• Gen 2:16-17 KJV  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  (17)  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die... Gen 3:1-5 KJV  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? ... (4) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  (5)  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Hence, I am not surprised that the serpent will tempt us again. Of course, he will only tempt  those who have the words and commandments of the Lord. He will ask again, "Hisss.., Hisss.., Yea, hath the Lord said, Ye cannot do this and that? Did He really really tell you to keep all the laws or commandments of God to do good? No, you have misunderstood Him .. He meant this... this.. you can never fall .. , isn't this too good to be true? , .. I tell you, For God doth know that in the day ye  open your eyes, ye are above His laws and commandments. You can never die. You can never be condemned by His words even if you fall or disobey because .." 
Of course, this is just a summary of what he will say. He can certainly preach more convincingly to deceive us like he deceived Adam and Eve. We should tell him, How can we be above the law of God even if we are under grace: Rom 8:7 KJV  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Hence, I am now convinced why Jesus would warn us that the devil will come again and try to corrupt His words, and why we must keep His commandments:

• Mat 13:24-30 KJV  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:  (25)  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.  (26)  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.  (27)  So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?  (28)  He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?  (29)  But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.  (30)  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
• 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.
   

The Bible has taught us that it is a command from God for us to do good
The Lord and the Apostles would say that it is a must for us to do good. They would never say that it is an option or a hindrance:

• Mat 5:44-48 KJV  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  (45)  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  (46)  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  (47)  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?  (48)  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
• Luk 6:9 KJV  Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
• Luk 6:35-36 KJV  But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.  (36)  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
• 1Ti 6:17-18 KJV  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;  (18)  That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
• Jas 4:17 KJV  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
• 1Pe 3:10-12 KJV  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:  (11)  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.  (12)  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

In fact, God's will and command for men to do good has never changed. We can see this since the time God gave the Jews His Old Testament and the Ten Commandments.


Grace and good works do not crash
Many preachers think that it would crash with grace if we do good and teach people to do God's commandments, God's will, or good works. However, I would think otherwise. I would think that grace and doing good must be preached together:

• 2Co 9:7-8 KJV  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.  (8)  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

In fact, the Lord has shown us that we receive grace to do good to others, not to do evil:

• Mat 18:32-35 KJV  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  (33)  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?  (34)  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.  (35)  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
• Mat 25:40 KJV  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

There are many reason why we must do good because of grace
1. We do not do good because we want to earn grace. We do good because it is a command from the Lord.

• 1Ti 6:17-18 KJV  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;  (18)  That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

2. We do not do good because we are compelled by an unknown force; we do good because we want to obey and please the Lord

• Heb 13:16 KJV  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 
• 1Pe 3:10-12 KJV  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:  (11)  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.  (12)  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

3. We do not do good because it is an option for us; we do good because we obey and it is His will for us.

• Php 2:12-13 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.  (13)  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

4. We do not do good because we want to get good; we do good because we know that God is merciful and forgiving:

• Luk 6:35-36 KJV  But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.  (36)  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

5. We do not do good because we are good; we do good because we know that God is good and we want to be good too: 

• Mat 5:44-48 KJV  .. (48)  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. 
• 1Pe 1:13-16 KJV  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  (14)  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  (15)  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  (16)  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
• Jas 4:17 KJV  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.    

Please think, If we must do good and tell people to do good, how can the teaching of doing good be self-effort? It can be self-effort only if it is preached as the law of the Pharisees. However, we know that the Pharisees would never do good. Hence, I would think that the law of the Pharisees which did not really teach the people to do good would be their self-effort to become righteous before God. Hence, any law or grace which tries to justify the people without doing good today is still 'self-effort' or 'self-righteousness' in the eyes of the Lord. It is like the works of the law of the Pharisees.


There are many reasons why we must do good because of the finished work of Jesus Christ
Many radical grace preachers could preach the finished work of Jesus very well. But it is so well that it become the finished work of the believers. Of course, I don't think that Jesus would tell us that His finished work is our finished work. His finished work is done once and for all. But our work is not finished yet if we are not finished or God has not finished with us.
We cannot add any law, work, or effort on to what Jesus has finished on the cross for us. But we can certain do good or add good works in our lives, not to save ourselves, but to fulfill the joy, the will, and the pleasure of the Lord in our lives.

• 2Th 1:8-12 KJV  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  (9)  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;  (10)  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.  (11)  Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:  (12)  That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
• Jas 2:8 KJV  If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

The will to do good is still a 'law' of God in every man's heart
If you remember what I said earlier, you would know that I have already stressed why we must do good. I said at the top of  this post, "Normal people,  including the non-believers, would think that we must do good". The concept that 'we must do good' is the law of God in every man, and this law will never changed even though men have departed from the law of God. Non-believers may not have the law of God which speaks to them directly or clearly as His command or voice, but consciously or unconsciously they know that there is always an 'anonymous' inner voice which may strongly disagree with them or strongly condemn their sinful behaviors. We called it - the conscience:

• Rom 2:14-24 KJV  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:  (15)  Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)  (16)  In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.  (17)  Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,  (18)  And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;  (19)  And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,  (20)  An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.  (21)  Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?  (22)  Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?  (23)  Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?  (24)  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
• Act 2:37-38 KJV  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?  (38)  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Man's normal thinking will be corrupted to think deceitfully or lawlessly
But things would get worst when the normal people, including the believers, will lose that conscience or the law of God to do good.. I have said that it is a mystery of lawlessness which will first corrupt the normal thinking of the people and make them believe that sin can come from any law, especially the law of God. When this happens, many normal people think that:

• sin comes from the law 
• doing good is a law from the devil (Mat 24:11-12 LITV  And many false prophets will be raised and will cause many to err.  (12)  And because lawlessness shall have been multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold).

This will happen in the last days, when man's conscience will be corrupted easily and they will love to hear anything or any interpretation from the serpent. Have we marveled at the foolishness of Adam and Eve? How could they listen to the interpretation of Satan to depart from God's command and dishonor it when God's command was so clear and so direct to them? I don't think Adam and Eve were foolish; but they were deceived by Satan who was too cunning for them. Today Satan would still try to twist our normal and direct thinking on God's commandments again. Hence, we are not surprised that many people, including the believers, have begun to think like the devil and argue that sin does not come from lawlessness, but sin comes from the law of God (click here to watch this video) and that they will be saved even if they believe the devil, sin, and dishonor God's commandments.


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