Do you believe that The Word is God or that Grace is God?

Do you believe that The Word is God or that Grace is God?
Many believers will say, "What's the difference? We believe in both." I will tell them, In the past, we were not clear about the difference, and hence, there was no need for us to ask such a funny question. But today, it is not funny anymore. It is clear to us:

• that those who believe that The Word is God would naturally focus more on the words, teaching, and commandments of God, 
• whilst those who believe that Grace is their God would focus radically on grace and treat it as their solution to every problem, including their sin problem, poverty problem, morality problem, psychological problem, and stress problem. Hence, grace or mercy could be preached until it became their God or until it became Jesus Christ. Many preachers have begun to preach along this idea that grace is not a doctrine or principle;  but grace is Jesus Christ or God. Hence, I am not surprised that many will worship Grace; but not God or Jesus Christ. 

Theoretically grace can be a god if we are so obsessed with it that it became an answer to all our problems. But biblically can it be god? Certainly not.

We worship God; not the gifts of God !

Grace can be a 'person', but it cannot be God
Yes, we may personalize 'wisdom' or 'grace'. We can use the metaphor to illustrate how 'wisdom' will teach us or speak like our teachers. But the Bible would never tell us that we should worship 'wisdom' as God. Certainly 'wisdom' can never replace God or become a God. Wisdom is just one of the attributes of God or the the gift of God. Hence, like any gift of God, wisdom can never rise to the position of God.  Yes, wisdom is a person; but wisdom is not God:

• Pro 1:20-21 KJV  Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:  (21)  She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
• Pro 7:4 KJV  Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

Similarly, grace can be a person too; but it cannot be God. Grace and truth came from Jesus Christ (John 1:17); but grace and truth are not Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. But we don't preach or worship the way, the truth, or the life as Jesus. We cannot reverse it and tell people to worship the way or the life; otherwise the gifts of God would become our idols.
So, I don't see any reason why we should preach grace as God or as something to replace God or His commandments. Radical grace or hyper grace preachers may preach wonderfully about grace and look gracious to everyone, but they could have unknowingly used radical grace preaching to replace all the words and commandments of God. This type of radical grace teaching may look acceptable to most of the people in the world, including the ignorant believers, but the Lord had already prophesied and warned against their plan and strategy. The Lord knew that they could never do the will of the Father:

• 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:
• 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.)

Please think, if the false prophets can preach something to replace God or His words, what is next? They will tell the people to believe whatever they say without God's laws. Ultimately, their words would become 'God's words' to those who are deceived.


The typology of grace can be used to show grace as a person; not as God
Many will argue, "But you are ignorant of the Old Testament typology. Do you know why the mercy seat is on top of the ark of covenant? It shows us that mercy seat which is a type of Christ is above the law or commandments. Grace is always above the command or the law which demands.. "
I will tell them, If you want to bring in the typology, we will talk about the typology from both the Old Testament and Old Testament. But, firstly, you said that grace is above the commandments of God, and therefore grace is of a higher position? No, come on! This is ridiculous. How can you compare grace and commandments of God on a virtual scale and tell us what to chose? If you think that grace is God, do you think that God would allow you to compare Him on a scale virtually? No, even if you can convince the people that grace is more important than the commandments of God, you still cannot prove that grace is at the same position of God. Grace, like wisdom, is from God. To be more precise, it is a gift or attribute of God; it is not God:

• Joh 1:17 KJV  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Hence, both the  law, grace, and truth are the gifts of God. They came from God. We don't worship law or grace. They came from God, but they are not God. The only thing that can be considered God is The Word. Jesus is known as The Word (the manna, the commandments, or the rod) that came in the flesh. John would never tell us to preach that Jesus is The Grace that came in the flesh. Why?


The typology of Christ in the New Testament can be used to show The Word as God
I will ask them, Do you know why Jesus is the The Word? The Bible is about Jesus Christ, but the Bible is also about God's words, God's will, and God's command to us too. How can we put asunder or divide what God is in the Bible? John said, The Word is God. The Word has come in the flesh. And the Word will teach because the Word is the principle and teaching of Christ for us to know how to live; not just to prosper, but to love and to do good to others too :

• Joh 1:1-14 KJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with 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.
• Heb 5:12 KJV  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. ... 6:1-3 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  (2)  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  (3)  And this will we do, if God permit.
• 2Ti 3:16-17 KJV  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.
• 1Jn 4:2-3 KJV  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  (3)  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
• 2Jn 1:6-11 KJV  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.  (7)  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.  (8)  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.  (9)  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.  (10)  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:  (11)  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

The typology of the ark of the covenant in the Old Testament can be used to show The Word as God too
Many of us think that eating the Son of man in Joh 6:53-58 is to eat the holy communion and mentally consume Jesus. Many think that the bread and wine in the holy communion are powerful elements which will bring prosperity and healing. However, eating them is meaningless without understanding the words of Jesus Christ in Joh 6:53-58.

• Joh 6:53-58 KJV  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.  (54)  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.  (55)  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.  (56)  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.  (57)  As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.  (58)  This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

When the Lord told His disciples to eat His flesh and drink His blood, He was not telling them to eat Him alive; He was telling them to eat His words. In another words, He wants all His disciples to seriously and diligently DO all His words and KEEP His commandments. For He is The Word in the flesh. He was the bread, the commandment, and the authority in the ark of covenant too. However, when He was resurrected and risen from the tomb, He became The manna (bread), the tablets of stones (commandments), and the rod (authority) which will dwell in the hearts of men. Hence, men can now have a better covenant relationship with God. Like what He had done in the Old Covenant, God would still want to commune with men and reveal His will or command to us. However, the 'form' of worship has completely changed because The Word has now come in the flesh and dwelt among us:

• Exo 25:21-22 KJV  And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.  (22)  And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
• Joh 6:63-66 KJV  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  (64)  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.  (65)  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.  (66)  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
• Mat 4:4 KJV  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
• Joh 1:14 KJV  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
• Joh 20:7-12 KJV  And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. .. (11)  But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,  (12)  And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
• 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:

Hence, where is the ark of covenant now ? Under the Old Testament, the ark of covenant was in the temple of God; but under the New Testament, we are the temple and our hearts becomes the ark of covenant:

• 1Co 3:14-18 KJV  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  (15)  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.  (16)  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  (17)  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.  (18)  Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 

The Word is the manna, the tablets, and the rod, which supplies, commands, and judges
Many will argue, "Please don't falsely accuse us. We can never be antiChrist. We preach Jesus. We preach Him as The Word too. He is The Word or the bread which supplies; not The Word which beat us or command us like it is the rod. Under the new covenant, The Word is always like the bread to us. It is like the unlimited supply of grace. Grace is not a doctrine, law, or demand. Grace is supply. Grace is Jesus Christ. That's why we won't preach any law, doctrine, or mixture; we preach pure grace. We preach Jesus Christ. If we have grace in our hearts, we have The Word in us. And the Word that we preach is grace, not any law or command for us to do anything. The Word that we preach is Jesus Christ.. If we believe this alone, we are saved forever, even if we do not do anything, any law, or any commandment .." 
I will tell them, Yes, you did preach 'The Word'; but what kind of Word. I am afraid it is your own words. Please think, What is God's Word? What is The Word (of God) which has no more command? Do we listen only to the word(s) that we like (like the promise of blessing, prosperity, and long life)? No, the word of God  would include God's instruction, correction, warning, commandment, and judgement too. Yes, the Bible did say that we are saved if we believe in Him. But did Jesus tell us how we should believe in Him? Certainly, yes. Jesus said, If we truly believe or love Him, we would keep His words and commandments even if it is a pure command without His promise of what we can get: 

• Joh 14:15 KJV  If ye love me, keep my commandments.
• Joh 14:23-24 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.
• Joh 6:63-66 KJV  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  (64)  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.  (65)  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.  (66)  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 

Peter truly believed in Jesus. He had no faith in getting more fish even if he let down his net and tried again. Nevertheless, he obeyed at the command of Jesus:

• Luk 5:4-6 KJV  Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.  (5)  And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.  (6)  And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

Do we listen only to the word(s) that we like (like the promise of blessing, prosperity, and long life)? No, the word of God  would include God's instruction, correction, warning, commandment, and judgement too.

• 2Ti 3:15-17 KJV  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
• Heb 9:4 KJV  Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

The words of God or the scripture is not just about God's promises, historical records of the kings and kingdoms, or the stories of how people could prosper. Yes, God's words can supply (like the manna), but God's words can also instruct (like the tablets of the covenant), and judge (like the rod) too. Is there any scripture support to show that God's word is the rod too? Please read the scripture references about 'the rod' in my previous post here. However, if you deliberately preach away the rod or the tablets, and keep only the manna, what you have in your heart or in the hearts of your followers is not The Word; it is your words.
In our world of economy, there are always the laws of demand and supply. But can it work if we just want  the law of supply? No, certainly not. Similarly, if you go against the law of God and remove His commandments from the ark of covenant, His words cannot work in you too. Hence, it is ridiculous to preach God or The Word that can only supply without His commandments and judgement. It is ridiculous to keep only the manna, and throw away all His commandments too. Hence, I don't understand why you want to preach only grace that supplies, and reject all God's laws that commands or give instructions. The Word is God because He supplies, instructs, and judges; The Word is not pure grace or radical grace.


In the end time, many antiChrists will start to reveal themselves when they start to reject Jesus as The Word who came in the flesh 
Hence, in the end time, Satan will leave the non-believers alone, but he will try very hard to remove the ark of covenant or the commandments of God from the 'temple' or the believers. When we see this is happening, we know that all God's prophecies have been fulfilled and the end is near:

• Mat 24:14-16 KJV  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.  (15)  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)  (16)  Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
• Mar 13:12-14 KJV  Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.  (13)  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  (14)  But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
• Dan 11:31-32 KJV  And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.  (32)  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
• Dan 12:8-13 KJV  And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?  (9)  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.  (10)  Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.  (11)  And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.  (12)  Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.  (13)  But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
• Rev 14:12-13 KJV  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.  (13)  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 

Many of us think that the abomination of desolation will come only during the third world wars. However, what I see is the abomination which will make our hearts desolate. In the end time, it could be a spiritual war or a fierce battle between different words, doctrines, or laws. It will create tremendous desolation in the life of a believer or someone who wish to be made 'desolate', with no more God's words, God's laws, God's commandments, or God's glory.


The antiChrists are not necessarily the evil or wicked people; they are simply those who cannot keep the words of Christ
Many will argue, "We are not the antiChrists. We preach Jesus. We love grace. Hence, we love Jesus Christ and we always preach His name..."
I will tell them, It sounds marvelous to tell people that you are the lovers of Jesus and you would always love Jesus, think of Jesus, preach Jesus, and sing about Him. But it is an insult to Him if you confess His name only to change or remove all His commandments gradually and unknowingly. That's why Jesus would know very clearly those who are truly His disciples and those who are not:

• Mat 7:15-23 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. .. (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.
• 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.)
• Joh 14:15-25 KJV  If ye love me, keep my commandments. ,, (21) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.  (22)  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?  (23)  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 15:10 KJV  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
• 1Jn 5:2-3 KJV  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.  (3)  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
• Exo 20:6 KJV  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
• 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.

I will tell them, It is difficult to convince us that you love Jesus when you preach something else to replace the commandments or the will of the Father. If you love Him, you will keep His words. Otherwise, you love the ones who asked you to keep 'pure grace' or 'pure doctrine' that has no more laws from God. You have loved the lawless ones. Please think again, If Jesus is just 'pure grace' or 'radical grace', can He still be The Word or the law of God in your hearts? No, 'another Jesus' has probably taken over His place in your hearts. 


How do we eat the words ?
Many will say, "We eat the words too. We chew like the ox. We meditate on the words according to Psalm 1. But we believe that we chew the laws of God because they are the words of God, not because they are the do's and don'ts for us to do, like the Ten Commandments.. Right believing will lead to right living. Hence, we don't need any commandments to tell us what to do. We just believe and chew the words.. "

• Psa 1:1-3 KJV  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  (2)  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  (3)  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

I will tell them, Can you please read Psa 1:1-3 again? I don't know how you can blind yourselves from seeing any do's and don'ts in the Bible verses above? If you tell people to chew the words without thinking of any do's and don'ts, they are not chewing the words of God; they are chewing your own words. If they keep chewing the words without the knowledge or intention to do it, they are just doing it like chewing the  bubble gums.
I don't know how you can psycho them to chew the words radically and prosper successfully without doing God's commandments. But, if you can psycho them to chew the words without telling them to do them, you are not preaching the words of God, you are preaching your own psychology or mind changing philosophies. You are not telling them to eat The Word and keep the words of God; you are telling them to depart from The Word. Yes, many of them might prosper, but they might have departed from the glory of The Word too:

• Gen 3:1-7 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? ..  (7) And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
• Mat 7:21 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.
• Joh 14:15 KJV  If ye love me, keep my commandments.
• Rev 22:13-14 KJV  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  (14)  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
• Mat 22:11-14 KJV  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  (12)  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.  (13)  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  (14)  For many are called, but few are chosen.

We don't split hairs; we allow God's words to 'split' us in the end time
Many will say, "What's the difference if we believe that the Word is God or Grace is God? You are splitting hairs only to win arguments and gain popularity.."
I will tell them, If you were a preacher who truly believe in right believing and used to preach that right believing will lead to right living, you would not say that it is splitting hairs. If you used to preach revolution to show that all others have got it wrong,  you would understand why people would accuse you for splitting hairs too.
I have already mentioned at the beginning that, in the past, we were never bothered if The word is God or grace is God. But today, we cannot ignore it anymore, partly because the prophecy of the Lord has come true. Today there are too many preachers who claim that they are preaching right believing radically and they would argue that other preachers are splitting hairs. So, if we want to know who is preaching right believing and who is splitting hairs, we have no choice but to go deeper in the study of the Bible and God's words. Naturally we would question those who preach that Grace is God or Grace is their revolution. We will ask them, "On what basis you challenge all those who preach The Word or God's commandments as the law preachers or Pharisees in your revolution or arguments?"
I don't think we are splitting hairs when we split arguments and find out who is their God and who is the true and living God in the Bible ! We should always quote the Bible in its context. And this will reveal the hearts and intents of many who would use the words of God to preach their 'god' or the true and living God. The split may be painful for the churches but it is the prophecy which must come true in the end time:

• Heb 4:12-13 KJV  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  (13)  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
• Mat 25:31-33 KJV  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:  (32)  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:  (33)  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
• Mat 13:40-43 KJV  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.  (41)  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;  (42)  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  (43)  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
• Rev 14:14-19 KJV  And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.  (15)  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.  (16)  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.  (17)  And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.  (18)  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.  (19)  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
• Mat 7:15-23 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?  (17)  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  (18)  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  (19)  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  (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.

Many believers will argue that they can never be condemned and quote His words out of context
Many will say to us, "No one can condemn us. Why? It's because we confess the name of Jesus, and hence, we are the just. If anyone condemn us who are the just, they will be condemned. They are the abomination which desolates .."

• Pro 17:15 KJV  He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
• Pro 29:27 KJV  An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

I will tell them, Obviously, you have shut your ears again and again from hearing the warning of the Lord in Mat 7:15-23 by quoting from the Old Testament to deceive yourselves and others. You would just want to believe that you can never be condemned even if you rebel and refuse to do the will of the Father. But do you understand that Jesus said, in Mat 7:15-23, that no one who rebel and refuse to do the will of the Father can be justified? not even if they keep confessing His name and arguing vehemently that they have done many things in His name?

• 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.

Have you read what John said above too? Why was he so confident that he could never be condemned (v21)? He knew it because because he knew that he was of the truth (v19). How did he knew that he was of the truth? He knew it because he would not just love in word or in tongue; but in deed and in truth (v18). So, John would never tell us to just confess the name of Jesus and to expect that we can never be condemned. On the contrary, he would still command us to keep His commandments and love in deed and in truth according to the will of the Father.



Many preachers have only high regard for hyper grace or radical grace; instead of the words of God
They have high regard only for grace. Hence, they will interpret all the words of God with a 'bend' in their perspective of life, thinking that grace is given so that they do not have to keep any law of God, so that they can be saved irregardless of whether they walk after God's commandments or the law of their flesh, so that they can never fall even if they sin like the devils, they can never be reproved by the Holy Spirit when they sin, so that they have no more law or no more need to yield to the righteousness of God .., so that .. etc.
They think that they have total freedom from the law of God; but actually, they are going back to another law which, Paul said, would not and cannot subject to the law of God:

• Rom 6:12-13 KJV  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  (13)  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. ..(15) What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.  (16)  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Are we under grace so that we have no more law or no more need to obey any law to do or yield to righteousness? No, on the contrary, we are under grace to do and yield more to righteousness.)
• Rom 6:17-18 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.
• Rom 7:21-25 KJV  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  (22)  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  (23)  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  (24)  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  (25)  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. ..   (Rom 8:1) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  (7)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

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Many of us have forgotten, We need grace because we are sinners

Many of us have forgotten, We need grace because we are sinners?
Many of us know that we need grace because we are sinners. How can we forget about it ? However, it is sad to know that many preachers have forgotten about it. Many would just want to preach grace radically for favor, peace of mind, good opinion from God, prosperity, success, gold, wealth, power, health, and materialistic desires. They do not want to hear about sin or confess about sin. I will ask them, If you do not mention sin or preach against sin, you do not know the grace of God; you just want favor.
However, if we know that we are sinners or confess that we are sinners, the grace of God would come. Hence, I don't understand, How can we receive grace if we do not tell people that we are sinners? We don't have to pretend to be sinners; "we are sinners", and Paul confessed it not with the past tense; but with the present tense:

• Mat 9:13 KJV  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
• Luk 13:2-6 KJV  And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?  (3)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (4)  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?  (5)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (6)  He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
• 1Ti 1:15 KJV  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

The knowledge that we are sinners is not just a past knowledge
Are we more righteous than Paul ? Certainly not. Yet he considered himself as the chief of all sinners. We are in no way better than him. Has it occured to us that when Paul said, "I am the chief of all sinners", he confessed his sins again even though he knew that he was righteous in Christ?  If you think that this is not clear enough, how about his confession in the following Bible verses:

• Rom 7:18-21 KJV  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  (19)  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  (20)  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.  (21)  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Did Paul say that it was no longer a problem for him after he believed in Christ? NO. Did he use the past tense for his problem? I am not a Bible scholar but I believe that he confessed his sins again using the present tense. So, what's the problem if we, the believers, would still confess sins? What's the big deal? Will it bring curses to us because we confess our sins? No. If it is a big problem, Jesus would never teach His disciples to confess sins everyday. He would just ask them to say grace or give thanks for the daily bread. He would have commanded Paul or all His disciples to stop praying His prayer:

• 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.

But I have never heard from any of His disciples or the Apostles telling us to stop praying the Lord's prayers, except from certain radical grace preachers. Of course, I don't suggest that, therefore, we should whisper or confess our sins mindlessly, meaninglessly, and repetitively like the 'crazy birds'. We must confess sins with true repentance or change in the heart. Otherwise, I suggest that we don't confess it at all. What's the point if we would just want to confess publicly like the Pharisees in Mat 3:7-10?


The attitude of repentance as a sinner can never be obsolete in the hearts of believers
The attitude of repentance as a sinner can never be understood by the Pharisees too. When we confess our sins in true repentance, we acknowledge that we are the believers who will still need God's grace daily. Hence, this type of repentance or  'metanoia', which must also involve the dying of the 'old man' daily by taking up our cross, could never be understood by most of the Pharisees at that time:

• Joh 3:3-16 KJV  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  (4)  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  (5)  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God... (9)  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  (10)  Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?  (11)  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.  (12)  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?  (13)  And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.  (14)  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  (15)  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  (16)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
• Luk 9:22-24 KJV  Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.  (23)  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.  (24)  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Many of us are very familiar with John 3:16. We believe that we are saved by believing in Him. Have we asked, How do we believe? Do you think that the Pharisees had truly believed when they came to John the Baptist or Jesus Christ and said that they believed too? No, Jesus would tell them that it was meaningless for them to believe in Him if they could not accept what he taught or said. We are not surprised that many preachers today have believed in Christ and yet they have rejected Him because they could not accept what he taught or said. The Lord had prophesied that many would argue like the false prophets in Mat 7:15-23.
Many will argue that they are called the sons of God too, and therefore, they are totally righteous. They can never be condemned. They can never fall. They can never confess sin or repent. But I will tell them, Yes, we are called the sons of God, but does that mean that we can never sin, we are too righteous to repent, or we are there already. No, we still have 'a long way to go' if we are humble enough; otherwise, it's 'the shortest way to shame and condemnation' if we are arrogant:

• 1Jn 3:1-4 KJV  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  (2)  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  (3)  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.  (4)  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
• 1Jn 3:2 LITV  Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it was not yet revealed what we shall be. But we know that if He is revealed, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.
• 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.
   

True repentance can come only when we die to our self
However, Nicodemus, one of the Pharisees, came to Jesus in the night. Probably he was convicted. He knew that he was a sinner; but he could not confess it before others. He chose to come quietly in the night. I don't think that was repentance. The repentance that Jesus preached is bold, sincere, and certain with the open confession of sins, declaration of change in his lives in the public with water baptism, followed by the inner change in the spirit through the Holy Spirit:

• Joh 3:1-12 KJV  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  (2)  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  (3)  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  (4)  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  (5)  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  (6)  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  (7)  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  (8)  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.  (9)  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  (10)  Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?  (11)  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.  (12)  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
• Luk 13:2-6 KJV  And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?  (3)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (4)  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?  (5)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (6)  He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none ...
• Joh 12:24-26 KJV  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.  (25)  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.  (26)  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
• Joh 6:53-58 KJV  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.  (54)  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.  (55)  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.  (56)  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.  (57)  As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.  (58)  This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
   

Repentance, baptism of death, and rebirth is necessary for The Word to dwell in us
Many of us think that eating the Son of man in Joh 6:53-58 is to eat the holy communion and mentally consume Jesus. Many think that the bread and wine in the holy communion are powerful elements which will bring prosperity and healing. However, eating them is meaningless without understanding the words of Christ in Joh 6:53-58.
When the Lord told His disciples to eat His flesh and drink His blood, He was not telling them to eat Him alive; He was telling them to eat His words. In another words, He wants all His disciples to seriously and diligently DO all His words and KEEP His commandments. For He is The Word in the flesh. He was the bread, the commandment, and the authority in the ark of covenant too. However, when He was resurrected and risen from the tomb, He became The manna (bread), the tablets of stones (commandments), and the rod (authority) which will dwell in the hearts of men. Hence, men can now have a better covenant relationship with God. Like the Old Covenant, God would still want to commune with us and reveal His will or command to us. However, the 'form' of worship has completely changed because The Word has now come in the flesh and dwelt among us:

• Joh 6:63-66 KJV  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  (64)  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.  (65)  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.  (66)  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
• Mat 4:4 KJV  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
• Joh 1:14 KJV  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
• Joh 20:7-12 KJV  And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. .. (11)  But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,  (12)  And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
• 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:

Hence, where is the ark of covenant now ? Under the Old Testament, the ark of covenant was in the temple of God; but under the New Testament, we are the temple and our hearts becomes the ark of covenant:

• 1Co 3:14-18 KJV  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  (15)  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.  (16)  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  (17)  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.  (18)  Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 

In the end time, many antiChrists will start to reveal themselves when they start to reject Jesus as The Word who came in the flesh 
Hence, in the end time, Satan will leave the non-believers alone, but he will try very hard to remove the ark of covenant or the commandments of God from the 'temple' (which is our heart). When we see this is happening, we know that all God's prophecies have been fulfilled and the end is near:

• Mat 24:14-16 KJV  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.  (15)  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)  (16)  Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
• Mar 13:12-14 KJV  Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.  (13)  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.  (14)  But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
• Dan 11:31-32 KJV  And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.  (32)  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
• Dan 12:8-13 KJV  And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?  (9)  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.  (10)  Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.  (11)  And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.  (12)  Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.  (13)  But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
• Rev 14:12-13 KJV  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.  (13)  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 

Many of us think that the abomination of desolation will come only during the third world wars. However, what I see is the abomination which will make our hearts desolate. In the end time, it could be a spiritual war or a fierce battle between different words, doctrines, or laws. It will create tremendous desolation in the life of a believer or someone who wish to be made 'desolate', with no more God's words, God's laws, God's commandments, or God's glory.


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Righteousness came by grace, by faith, by Jesus Christ, or by the New Covenant?

Righteousness came by grace, by faith, by Jesus Christ, or by the New Covenant?
Of course, we can tell people that righteousness came by all of the above.

• Rom 5:21 KJV  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
• Rom 5:17 KJV  For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
• Rom 3:22-23 KJV  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:  (23)  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
• Rom 4:4-6 KJV  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  (5)  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.  (6)  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
• 2Co 3:6-10 KJV  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  (7)  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:  (8)  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?  (9)  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.  (10)  For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
• Heb 8:9-13 KJV  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.  (10)  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:  (11)  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.  (12)  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.  (13)  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
• Heb 10:15-29 KJV  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,  (16)  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.  (18)  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. ..  (26)  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  (27)  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  (28)  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  (29)  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (30) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
  (But can we twist it and argue that this warning is not for God's people? No, it says very clearly that God will judge His people; not other people. When He used the comparison of a sorer punishment, He confirmed again that He was comparing and warning two of His people - one who despised Moses' law under the Old Covenant, and another who will dishonour the Spirit of grace under the New Covenant. Please think, who were able to despised Moses' law? Of course, nobody except the Jews or God's people who were given the law? Similarly, who can dishonour the Spirit of grace? Of course, no one, except God's people who have been given the grace of God too?)

Righteousness comes by doing the words and the will of the Father too
From the Bible verses above (Heb 10:15-29), we know that righteousness comes by the new covenant. The Hebrew writer said that we are righteous, not because we are physically made righteous (see 1Jn 3:2 John said, We are not there yet), but because God is merciful to our unrighteousness. However, he did not say that it came by the new covenant and full stop. But he continued and said that we ought to live by the new covenant too. If we (both the Jews and Gentile believers) sin willfully by the new covenant, there is no more sacrifice for sins (Heb 10:26):

• Paul did say that there is no more offering for sin for the Jews because we (both the Jews and Gentile believers) are now under the new covenant (Heb 10:18). 
• But Paul also stressed that there is no more sacrifice for sin for the believers too if we (both the Jews and Gentile believers) sin willfully by despising the commandments of God in the new covenant, treating the blood sacrifice of God as our license to sin, and corrupting the grace of God (Heb 10:26). 

I will tell the radical grace preachers, Yes, we must preach the gospel that Paul preached, but we must also know that the gospel that Paul preached is the gospel that Jesus preached. That's why Paul would warn, emphasize, and teach (both the Jews and Gentiles believers) to will and to do the will of God:

• 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?  (17)  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  (18)  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  (19)  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  (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:
• 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.)
• Rom 7:18-25 KJV  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.   ...  (21)  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  (22)  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  (23)  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  (24)  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  (25)  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Did Paul say that he could never sin because he was under grace? No, if he could never sin, he would never said "O wretched man that I am! (v24)", confess that he was still brought under the captivity of sin (v23), and admit ".. the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do (v19)". Hence, if Paul still sinned or confessed publicly about his existing weakness or sins in his wretched man, why can't a believer or a sinner confess his sins and admit that he has sinned too? If Paul did not think that he could insult the righteousness of God by admitting or confessing it, how can we think that we will insult God's righteousness by confessing our sins? If Paul was not ashamed to confess about his sinful deeds or wretchedness, why should we be afraid to confess our sins ???)
• Php 3:13-19 KJV  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  (14)  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  (15)  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  (16)  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.  (17)  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.  (18)  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  (19)  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
• 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.

The righteousness of God does not come by lying, but by preaching the doing the will of God
Many will still argue, "But the righteousness of God does not come by works or by doing right. It is by grace. If we must do right, how can Abraham be righteous? He was a liar and yet God thinks that he is righteous. But the Bible said, As Abraham is righteous, so are we. This shows that the teaching of Christ to do right to be righteous is obsolete. It was the law teaching under the Old Testament..."
I will tell them, Yes, Abraham lie; but no one died. However, if you lie, millions will perish with your lies. Please think again before you lie.

• Abraham did not preach his lying as God's way of justifying all the sinners and liars; but you preached his lying as God's way of justifying all the sinners and liars
• Abraham did not preach his lying as God's revolution for grace; but you preached his lying as His revolution for grace
• Abraham was righteous in God's eyes because of God's mercy under the Old Testament but it should never be used as our license to lie because of God's grace under the New Covenant today.

If we always use the example of Abraham's lying to justify ourselves and others who lie, we are not preaching the gospel that Paul preached. We have not understood Paul's warning about sinning willfully in Heb 10:15-29. Neither have we preached the true and living God who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:12-13). Certainly, a true preacher would know God's will. But if a preacher always uses the example of Abraham's lying to justify his preaching or lies, he could have preached like the Pharisees who might have used the example of Abraham's lying to justify themselves too. I don't think the Lord can accept us whether we preach lies under the Old Covenant or New Covenant:

• 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.
• Luk 3:8-10 KJV  Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin 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.  (9)  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  (10)  And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

Many Jews asked John the Baptist, What shall we do then? John gave different answers to different people. But to the false prophets, I believe that he would say,

"Stop lying and preach doing God's will !"

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Can we rebuke the lazy people?

Can we rebuke the lazy people?
Please do not try to be religious first when thinking about this question. Just assume that you were a teacher and you were working in the secular world. Will you rebuke the students who refuse to study? If you were a leader of your country, will you rebuke those who refuse to work? If you were the boss of a company, can you rebuke and fire the lazy workers? But if you  will just want to think of grace for the lazy people, you are not a good boss. If you are Mr. Nice to all the lazy people, you show the rest of the people that you are weak and confused in your principles.


God can rebuke the lazy people too
Now, you can think of the question in your religious belief or doctrine. Do you think that God cannot rebuke the lazy people too? If you are preaching a God who can never rebuke them, you show us that your God is weak and confused in His laws and principles too. But true God knows good principles and laws. True God knows what commandments to give to His people:

• 2Th 3:6-15 KJV  Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.  (7)  For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;  (8)  Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:  (9)  Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.  (10)  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.  (14)  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.  (15)  Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

I will ask the radical grace preachers, Did Paul give a command to the non-believers in the Bible verses above? No, he spoke it clearly as a commandment, not as a gracious request. It could be a stern rebuke against all those who are lazy too. Common sense tells us that we can rebuke the lazy people, lazy brethren, lazy students, or lazy workers in our society. But can God rebuke a believer or a church in our world?


Certainly, yes ! God can rebuke anyone, any believer, or any church in the world
How can we say that God can only say gracious words to the believers, that He would never give any commandment to the believers, or that He will never rebuke or reprove any believers or churches?

• Joh 16:8 KJV  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
• 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. 
• Rev 3:14-19 KJV  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;  (15)  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  (17)  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  (18)  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  (19)  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Hence, the Bible is full of God's commandments, not just the Ten Commandments, for us (the believers) to love God and do good to others. It is not just commandments for us to work hard and preach honestly, but also to be godly men and women who can be moral examples for the people of the world too:

• Mat 5:13-19 KJV  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  (14)  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  (15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  (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.  (18)  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  (19)  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Again common sense tells us that, although we can rebuke the lazy people, lazy brethren, lazy students, and lazy workers in our society, we don't tell people to rebuke everyone like a mad man, neither do we condemn all those who need to discipline their students, workers, or children in our society.
Please imagine, If we were the teachers, and the lazy students argued that we were wrong to rebuke them for not doing their home work, something was wrong. If we were the bosses or CEO, and the lazy workers complained that we were wrong to rebuke them for not doing their works, something was very wrong too. 
Similarly, if the sinners or lazy 'brethren' in the churches complained that God is not a good God because He rebuked them, something is terribly wrong in the churches too. Please imagine, What would God think, If the lazy 'brethren' or believers (like the church of Laodiceans in Rev 3:14-19) would argue and tell Jesus, "No, you cannot rebuke us or reprove us because we believe in a 'God' or 'Holy Spirit' who can only have good opinion of us. Hence, you must have good opinion of us because we have good opinion of you too; otherwise, you are not our God .. "  ???


God's words will still judge and rebuke because Jesus is still The Word who came in the flesh and He will come again and judge, as The Word of God (Rev 19:13) 
Many will just want to argue, "But the bible is not a bunch of laws, moral principles, and doctrine. It is not just words after words or commands after commands for us to do many things or to think of right believing. Let me define it correctly, The Bible is all about Jesus Christ only. It is God's will for us to have stronger relationship with Jesus Christ only, to feel righteous, and to prosper more in the world."
I will tell them, If you think that the Bible has no moral principles to teach us, please do not quote from the Bible when you conduct marriage seminar or give advice to the married couples in your church. Otherwise, you would be very hypocritical if you condemn those who teach God's laws and commandments, while secretly conduct marriage seminar to teach moral principles of good marriage and God's commandment against adultery. I will tell them, Yes, the Bible is about Jesus Christ, but the Bible is also about God's words, God's will, and God's command to us too. How can we put asunder or divide what God is in the Bible? John said, The Word is God. The Word has come in the flesh. And the Word will teach because the Word is the principle and teaching of Christ for us to know how to live; not just to prosper, but to love and to do good to others too : 

• Joh 1:1-14 KJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with 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. 
• Heb 5:12 KJV  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. ... 6:1-3 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  (2)  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  (3)  And this will we do, if God permit. 
• 2Ti 3:16-17 KJV  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. 
• 1Jn 4:2-3 KJV  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  (3)  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 
• 2Jn 1:6-11 KJV  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.  (7)  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.  (8)  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.  (9)  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.  (10)  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:  (11)  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
• Rev 19:13-16 KJV  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  (15)  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  (16)  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Hence, I will tell them, I don't think anyone can deny that Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit can convict sins. If Jesus could convict the Pharisees by writing on the ground with His fingers and cause the Pharisees to leave one by one before Him (Joh 8:8-9), He can convict anyone, including the self-righteous believers, gnostic believers, agnostic believers, carnal believers, false believers, lying believers, or any kind of believers who think and argue that they can never sin or do not have any sin too.

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It's our obedience or Christ's obedience?

It's our obedience or Christ's obedience?
Many radical grace preachers say, "Of course, we are saved because of Christ's obedience. We have never obeyed and can never obey. However, Jesus fulfilled all the commandments of God and obeyed them for us so that we have no more commandments to obey or to keep. Yes, we know that the law preachers would argue and say that there are many Bible verses which still tell us to obey. But the meaning of obedience is to believe now, not to keep and obey any laws, principles, rules, and regulations. Or else, why did Paul tell us just to obey the gospel? He meant that we can just believe the gospel and be saved by the finished of Jesus Christ ... Because of the finished work of Jesus Chris, we have no more works in Christ, no more commandments, and no more do's and don'ts ..

1. 2Th 1:7-11 KJV  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,  (8)  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:
2. 1Pe 4:14-19 KJV  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.  (15)  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.  (16)  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  (17)  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  (18)  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  (19)  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

I will tell them, Yes, I agree that we can never obey unless we have the obedience of Christ. But this would also mean that we can now obey because of Christ's obedience too. It means that we must still obey God or God's will. Obviously you have quoted the two Bible passages out of context when you explained that there is no more need to obey or keep God's commandments. Please read your Bible again. We don't have to go far or go through all the other Bible verses to show you why we must still keep God's commandments. Let us look at the two Bible passages again. Have you thought of reading the Bible verses before or after  the Bible verse which you quoted and explained about what is 'obey the gospel'? What did Paul say when he told us to obey the gospel in 2Th 1:7-11? God wanted all of us to be counted worthy of His calling to fulfill His will. What did Peter say when he told us to obey the gospel in 1Pe 4:14-19? He said, Let none of you suffer as a murderer or a transgressor of His laws. He said that we should suffer according to the will of God in well doing in obedience to the faithful Creator. Isn't it clear enough for us to obey the will of God and the will of God is to obey His commandments?


Before, we could not obey; but now we must obey because of the obedience of Christ
Hence, what can we say based on these Bible passages which should be quoted in context, with not only the teaching of Paul and Peter, but with the teaching of the Lord and the whole Bible? To obey the gospel of Jesus Christ is to do and keep God's commandments. Yes, before we believe, we can never know God's words and commandments. Hence, we can never keep His commandments too. But now we can keep His words and commandments because of Christ's obedience. Before, we could never obey; but now we must obey (by doing the will of the Father); otherwise we are not His sons or the disciples of Jesus Christ:

• Mat 7:13-27 KJV  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  (15)  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?  (17)  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  (18)  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  (19)  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  (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.

The obedience of Christ would mark the beginning of our obedience
They will argue, "Please don't twist the words of God to convince us to keep any commandment or law. You have quoted the words of God out of context. When the Bible tells us to cast down all our boastful imaginations or bring into captivity our thought to the obedience of Christ, it means that thinking of Christ's finished work only, not any law or principle. When we keep thinking of Christ's obedience or finished work, we don't have to think of any law to obey again because Christ has obeyed all the laws on our behalf. As Christ is, so are we !"

• 2Co 10:3-7 KJV  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (4)  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  (5)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  (6)  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.  (7)  Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

I will tell them, I don't know Who twist the words? If you think that you are Christ's, please think this again, that, as you are Christ's, even so are we Christ's. Please think again, Why do we need to bring into captivity all our thoughts to the obedience of Christ? It's because our thoughts are not obedient thoughts. Occasionally our lawless or sinful old man will rise up against the knowledge of God and rebel. It will exalt itself against God. That's why we need to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Obviously Paul was not talking about the non-believers because the non-believers could never bring into captivity their thoughts to the obedience of Christ. Obviously the obedience of Christ does not end the works of obedience. On the contrary, the finished work of Christ would only mark the beginning of a believer's works !



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