Can law save?

Can law save?
Many people, especially the radical preachers from the churches, argue that law cannot save. Who are they? and why do they say so? I do not want to conclude if they are the radical grace preachers or false prophets, but I do know that Satan is one lawless party who would raise up both hands and say, "Yes, amen, amen.. law cannot save. In fact, it kills. The letter kills. Hence, the law kills also. All kinds of laws have become obsolete because no man can keep even a law. Hence, men can do better without the law.. Look at Adam and Eve, They could not keep even a law. Do you think that you can do better than them.. No .. " Satan had deceived Eve to depart from God's only command to them not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He will try to deceive the churches again in the end time to keep no more laws or commandments of God.

• 2Co 11:2-4 KJV  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  (3)  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (4)  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

I will tell those who agree with him, the lawless ones, Please think, If law cannot save, why did God give the law to the Israelites ? Yes, we know that the law of Moses given to the Jews would not save now, but it was probably the only thing which saved them from the corrupted pagan religious practices that were prevalent in their surrounding countries.
Yes, the Israelites and the Christians today are no longer saved by the law now, but  we are certainly saved to keep the laws of God. It's because we can find all the Bible verses which tell us to do so or to keep His laws. Jesus had not only repeatedly preached the laws and commandments of God; He also told His disciples and us to keep His commandments too. Please think, Does it make sense for Jesus to tell us to keep only His commandments and ignore God's commandments? No, Jesus would keep God's commandments and God's commandments are His commandments to us too:

• Mat 19:17 KJV  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
• Joh 7:16-20 KJV  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.  (17)  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.  (18)  He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.  (19)  Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?  (20)  The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
• Joh 14:15 KJV  If ye love me, keep my commandments.
• Joh 15:10 KJV  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
• 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:
• 1Jn 2:3-4 KJV  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  (4)  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
• Rev 12:17 KJV  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

 
The law did save the Israelites in one way or another
I will tell the Christians, "Of course, I know that we are saved by grace; not by the law. However, we must be clear why do we keep bringing up this subject? If we think that we are saved by grace, and therefore, we can stop doing and teaching the law of God, we are deceived and deceiving others. Please think, are we saved by the church building? No, a church building may save occasionally as a temporary refuge centre for the victims of earthquake or hurricane in some countries, but it cannot save their souls if they do not believe and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord. However, do we preach against the church building? No, we know the contribution of a church building which can save in other ways.


The law can still save a country today
However, most of the political leaders know that the law can save much better than a church building because the law does not just save people in the earthquakes or hurricanes; it saves the countries from lawlessness, chaos, and radical ideology. It saves the people from the lack of knowledge, education, and economic development. It saves the families and orphans from fatherless childhood, marriage breakdowns, and brokenness. It stops racist thinking, sexist discrimination, and unjust bullies by the rich and the powerful. It protects the young and the innocent. We can never over-emphasize how much the law of the country can save during a crisis and how it can save better than a church building. In fact, the law of the country save throughout its peaceful governing. 
We have always heard radical grace preachers who keep saying that they still believed in preaching about the glory of their church building, growing attendance, tithes and offerings, money, prosperity, material blessings, and reigning like king Solomon. They argued that you must prosper and become a blessing so that you can bless others. They said, "That's why we still preach about prosperity even though we know that we are saved by grace.." 
I will tell them, For the same reason, why can't we preach the law of God which can save must better than your gold and silver? The law of God may not save, but I think that it is more biblical to teach the law of God than the health and wealth gospel. 


Lawlessness will come in where there is no law
Recently I heard of the kidnap of the school girls in Nigeria in The Washington Post. 
It shows us that without good governance and enforcement of law, things can become ugly. Why such an ugly thing can happen there and not in other countries? I believe that ugly things can happen when there is no law or where there is weak enforcement of laws. Lawlessness will come in subtly, secretly, sand slowly when the 'snake' which does not bite immediately would just convince the people, including the government leaders and the preachers, to sleep and snore, "SSSSS .." The situation in Nigeria is not the war between one religion against another. It is a war against lawlessness. The abductors were lawless and godless although they kept shouting in the name of God. They were robbers. They were just using religion as a cover to promote and do whatever radical ideology they believe in. God hates people who use any religion, law, principle, the name of Jesus, or grace, to promote their radical ideology in God's name. The Bible is very clear about God's judgement against such people irregardless of whether they promote lawless beliefs in His name or in other religions.

• 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.
• 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.)

I will ask the radical grace preachers now, Did Jesus save the girls? Yes, you may argue that they would still go to heaven if they died in the kidnap. So, be positive, be thankful, and keep thinking of God's grace? But that is a blind consolation. I don't think that you can tell the mothers that their girls would just need to be saved by grace; not by the law or any laws. You may tell your believers and boast that God is so good and gracious to you that such tragedy or kidnap can never happen to you because of your radical grace philosophies or super abundant grace protection. However, can you place yourselves in the shoes of those mothers who lost their girls in the kidnap? I believe that many of them could be Christians who believe in grace too? Will you blame them for not believing in radical grace or believe like you? 


Lawlessness will come in when men would 'sleep'
It is sad to know that this thing happened in Nigeria which is one of the most evangelized countries. They were one of the first countries who could freely listen and follow the broadcast of many prosperity preachers and radical grace preachers. However, without good foundation in the doctrine of Christ, many of the converted believers could have believed everything that the radical grace preachers taught. This could be the reason why the enforcement of law is still weak even though many of them are 'grace', 'favor', or 'lucky' Christians in the government bodies.
Many of us may just look at the whole episode of kidnap with thanksgiving to God that it did not and could not happen in our countries because we did not switch to the radical grace doctrine immediately. But, please don't be too happy yet. Many western countries who believe in the old, traditional, and strong teaching of Jesus Christ on the laws and commandments of God are now beginning to get tired of the good laws they have enjoyed in their countries. Instead, they love lawlessness, lawless philosophies, lawless argument, lawless based gospel, lawless favor, lawless talks and seminars .. etc  ..
Yes, it may look like fun to go for the revolution or the hype of our time; however, many of our mothers in the next generation may one day wake up with the cries for their daughters and sons, like the Nigerian mothers, when their children become the victims of lawlessness in the future. Please think, Is it possible for the Nigeria government to start to do and teach good laws to the children, churches, and countries now? It could be too late to do anything if we have been 'sleeping' all the time.    

• Mat 13:36-43 KJV  Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.  (37)  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;  (38)  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;  (39)  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.  (40)  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.

Many preachers prophesied and said that they are seeing the 'transfer of wealth' taking place spiritually as they see more and more developed countries experiencing financial crisis and become poorer than the Asian countries. However, I would think that we do not need the prophets or anointed preachers to tell us the current economic events. Some old traditional 'down to earth' preachers could have looked into the future. That's why they would keep the laws and commandments of God without compromise.

• Rev 12:15-17 KJV  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.  (16)  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.  (17)  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Rev 14:11-13 KJV  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.  (12)  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.

The old traditional preachers had probably warned us about the coming of lawlessness which could create shocking impact on our spiritual lives as well as our daily physical lives in the future. However, we did not take heed as most of us who did well in our affluent society would just brush it off as some kind of low-esteem repentance teaching, law-based teaching, or condemnation teaching. Most of us would just want to enjoy economic success, effortless prosperity, and freedom from any law. As a result, we became off-guard against the subtle spirit of lawlessness which was beginning to creep in.  


Lawlessness will come in the end time
Many of us think that the tares are the lawless and godless robbers or murderers, like the Nigerian kidnappers. However, have you asked yourselves, "How is the tares associated with the kidnappers or murderers? Haven't there been many kidnappers, murderers, and wicked people before we preached the gospel? Are we responsible for the behaviors and the crimes of the wicked people too? Why would Jesus explain the parable of the tares to His disciples?"
I would think that this parable is not just about the spiritual impact on the churches of God when God's preachers preach the words of God to the believers; it has a physical impact on the people of the world too. Why? It's because the words of God which is based on the law and command of the Lord would bring either obedience and rebellion; or light and darkness to the world spiritually as well as physically.

• 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.
• Joh 3:19-21 KJV  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  (20)  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  (21)  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

A God preachers who preach the word of God will bring good seed which produce good fruit. But a false prophet who corrupt the word or the law of God will bring tares which produce iniquity and lawlessness. 

• Mat 13:41-43 LITV  The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all the offenses, and those who practice lawlessness.  (42)  And they will throw them into the furnace of fire; there will be weeping and gnashing of the teeth.  (43)  Then the righteous will shine out like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one having ears to hear, let him hear.
• Mat 7:22-23 LITV  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many works of power?  (23)  And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; "depart from Me, those working lawlessness!"  
• Mat 23:28 LITV  So you also indeed outwardly appear righteous to men, but within are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
• Mat 24:12 LITV  And because lawlessness shall have been multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold.

If the Lord has warned about lawlessness and the PREACHING of lawlessness four times, I don't think we can take it lightly or dismiss it as something which can never happen. I will speak to the radical grace preachers who claimed that most of the warnings, teachings, and commandments of Jesus Christ are law-based and obsolete. I will tell them, Yes, the teaching of Christ is 'law-based' because Jesus would never teach without God's law or lawlessness, but it is certainly not obsolete. Why? It's because Jesus was talking about the end time. How can His words become obsolete when the end has not come yet !!! 


People will perish without the knowledge and teaching of God
Many will still argue, "Please don't falsely accuse us. Yes, we did not preach the law of God. Yes, we may have encouraged the people to depart from the law of God to grace. Yes, we told them to change their minds from thinking of God's laws to thinking of God's grace. But what's wrong? Did we do lawlessness or commit any lawless deed? No. Did we give people the license to sin? No. Anyway, God has promised that he would forgive all our lawlessness, lawless deeds, and sins committed in the past, present, and future.  He said that Heb 10:17 KJV  thatl "all our sins and lawlessness He will remember no more". So, even if we have sinned or committed any lawless deeds in the future, we have been totally forgiven. No one can accuse us, including God... we are saved by grace; not by any law .."
I will tell them, Yes, you are saved by grace, but that would not give you the justification to tell people to depart from God's laws. Do you know that the very Bible verse which you quoted, Heb 10:17, does not suggest that you can ignore the teaching of His laws and commandments? Please read it with Heb 10:16 again.

• Heb 10:16-17 KJV  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  (17)  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 

Did God say that He will forgive our lawlessness before He put His laws into our hearts? No, He will forgive us after He put His laws into our hearts. And when that happen (when the laws are put into our hearts and minds), our sins and lawlessness will not be there any more. It will not be remembered any more.
So, how can we tell people that all our sins are forgiven without having His laws in our hearts or minds? Please think with our minds, How will He put His laws into our hearts? Is the knowledge of God's laws and principles passed to us through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, laying of hands, or direct osmosis? No, you may claim that your children are taught by the Lord supernaturally without anyone teaching them; however, you can't deny that we must still  teach the principles of the doctrine of Christ based on the four written Gospels, the Bible, God's commandments, and the law of God:

• 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.
• Psa 1:1-4 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.  (4)  The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. (Today, many believers have rejected the law of God; but delighted in the counsel of their favourite pastors. However, we know that their counsel is not from God even though they can preach it lawlessly under the new covenant with the new flavour of grace or favour.) 
• Hos 4:4-11 KJV  Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.  (5)  Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.  (6)  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.  (7)  As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.  (8)  They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.  (9)  And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.  (10)  For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.  (11)  Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

As you can see from Hos 4, When God judged His people, He would include the priest and the prophet too. The priest and the prophet might not commit any sin or lawless deeds, but God held them responsible. Hence, if we argue like the false prophets who keep saying that they have prophesied and done many things, we know that we are deceiving ourselves. The Bible has said it very clearly. Jesus will say, "I never knew you ..

• Mat 7:23 LITV  And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; "depart from Me, those working lawlessness!"

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Should we hate religions to love God?

Should we hate religions to love God?
I find it ironical to say this: "We are haters of religions; but we love God." Atheist would think that it is a self-deceiving oxymoron because they know that the most religious people are those who say this.  Common sense would also tells us that most radical religious believers would love God so much that they hate other religions or any religion, including their own religion. So, do we, the Christians, hate religions to love God also?


No, I don't hate religions. Why should I ?
To make it clear, I would say this now, I don't hate religions or any particular religion. Why? It depends on how we define 'religion'. If religion is a way of life, belief, thinking, philosophy, education, or teaching, of doing good to God and others, why should I hate it. However, if it is a crooked belief, greedy philosophy, perversion of human value system, lies, or preaching of greed and covetousness, we may hate or condemn it. Hence, I treat the teaching of religion like it is 'commodity' or something neutral if it is not Christianity. It is like money which is not spiritual but it has great value if it is used lawfully and creatively. But if money is in the hand of the greedy or the wicked, it would do great harm to others. Similarly, religion can give great power to mankind. But, if it is in the hands of the hypocrites and the carnal believers, it can take control of others and make them look like fools.
Hence, we would hate it if our children or our loved ones would try to speak lots of religious jargon to show us that they are more spiritual than the parents, teachers, principals, lawyers, pastors, and us. Please be honest, How would you feel if you told your children to study more or to pursue higher education, but they would argue with you that "Jesus could teach them everything"? Yes, they may argue or think that they are more spiritual than us because their lips could speak and boast the name of Jesus more than others, but I would think that they are just trying to be 'religious' with their lips - they are simply talking, thinking, arguing, and debating with us in a different 'wavelength'. But it is still a carnal, radical, religious, and ridiculous 'wavelength' which is against their honest thinking and our good system of law and education, no matter how spiritual or awesome they thought it is.


Do we teach good works, rest (Sabbath), or grace, based on the doctrine of the Lord, or based on our own doctrine?
The radical grace or hyper grace preachers who think that they are more spiritual than us would argue, "But, don't you know that God hate the religion that is not true or any religion which misrepresented Him? It would lead many to hell and condemnation.." I will ask them, Do you hate money? Money is not God; but many have preached money as God, misrepresented it as God, and misled many people to hell and condemnation too. Do you hate money just because of this? No. If you do not hate money which can be evil, why should I hate any thing which can be noble?   
Many may still argue that I am not as spiritual as them because I do not trust, think, or confess Jesus as often as they do. They said, "Why do you always ask your children to study hard and pursue higher education? Why can't you trust Jesus to teach your children? If you don't trust Jesus to teach your children, you trust your education or self-effort. You trust 'do good get good' or 'do bad get beat'."
I will tell them, Let me warn you. If you are a preacher who told the people in your church to 'let Jesus teach your children' but secretly you keep advising your children to pursue high education, and as a result, most of your children have pursued higher education, graduated, and becomes masters, lawyers, or doctors, you could be a hypocrite. Many parents could have believed your words and suffered. They were trapped. But you would escape the trap because you knew it. You would never do what you preached.
I will tell them, If we teach our children to study hard and do more for God in their study, in their church ministry, or in good works, it does not mean that I do not trust God or that I think of Jesus less than you. Yes, I do believe that Jesus will teach us everything, but I believe that we cannot throw away all His laws and commandments. When you told your children that Jesus would teach them everything, would you tell them that God will teach them everything, and therefore, they can just throw away their Bible also. No, if you cannot do this, neither can you criticize me or those who will still do and teach the laws and commandments of God according to the scripture. You cannot preach everything (including repentance and doing good) as self-effort just because you have received the grace of God. The Pharisees had taught so. They thought that, just because they had received the law of God and the justification by the law through Moses or Abraham, they had no more obligation to do good to live or to help others. They thought that doing good on the Sabbath would crash with the law of God. Hence, John the Baptist and Jesus rebuked them:

• Mat 3:8-10 KJV  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.

Today, many preachers are still thinking that doing good or repentance is self-effort, and hence, doing and teaching it in the covenant of grace would crash with the grace of God. But I believe that Jesus would still rebuke them:

• Mat 12:11-12 KJV  And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?  (12)  How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
• Mar 3:4-6 KJV  And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.  (5)  And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.  (6)  And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
• Mar 6:2 KJV  And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? (The mighty works that He did would show that doing good and teaching of it on the Sabbath could never crash with the law of God. Please think, If His teaching and doing of good works on the Sabbath could never crash with the law of God, how can it crash with the grace of God in the New Covenant?)
• Luk 4:31-32 KJV  And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.  (32)  And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
• Joh 7:16-24 KJV  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.  (17)  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.  (18)  He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.  (19)  Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?  (20)  The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?  (21)  Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.  (22)  Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.  (23)  If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?  (24)  Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (it is sad to know that many preachers have judged like the Pharisees when it comes to good works, sabbath, rest, and grace. They think that doing good will crash with the grace of God whilst Jesus showed us that it is the doctrine of God.)
• Luk 10:30-37 KJV  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.  (31)  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  (32)  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.  (33)  But a certain Samaritan, ..  (36)  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?  (37)  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Who is more religious ? The preacher of laws or the preacher of grace?
Yes, we do not deny that we could be quite religious in the eyes of the atheist because of our belief in God and in His laws. However, does it mean that the radical grace people can accuse us for being more religious than them just because of our belief in the law of God? No, those who believe in the grace of God could be as religious as those who believe in the law too. It depends on how they would believe  in the grace or the law of God. I have known some radical grace believers who would give thanks for everything they received in lives, including a $5 dollar bill they picked on the floor. They would repeatedly give thanks and boast about God's favor because of that $5 dollar bill. If they happened to buy a car and the number plate of that car was '555', they would go around and tell everyone that it was the grace of God. If they were sick, admitted to hospital, and put on the bed with the number of '55' at ward '5', they would think that God was with them because it is the grace of God. Please think, Who is more religions? The atheist would think that this is not just religious; this is crazy ! Many think that the law-conscious people are religious. However, if we are taught (or brainwashed) to think of grace so radically, we could be more 'religious' than the religious.
Please think, If the believers would think of 'something that they picked in life' and boast that it is the 'supernatural favor' of God, everyday is a 'miracle'. No wonder most radical grace preachers could boast that they have received more miracles, favors, effortless success, and testimonies from the believers. However, are they really miracles, or just some kind of self-deceiving bragging and religious blindness?
I have already said that the Bible is not against those who are grace-conscious, law-conscious, or sin-conscious. Of course, there is nothing wrong because thinking of grace, law, or sin could be thinking of God, God's goodness, God's provision, or God's words too. It will not lead to more sins or more death, unless our hearts have become hardened like the heart of the Pharisee who could no longer be sin-conscious or law-conscious (God's command-conscious); but only favor-conscious. As the Pharisee was not sin-conscious, he could no longer repent or confess his sins. Neither could he obey the law of God when he had no more thinking of God's laws or intention to obey God's commandments:

• Luk 18:10-14 KJV  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  (11)  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  (12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  (13)  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  (14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Many argued that the Pharisee above was a hypocrite because he was law-conscious. I will say, Yes, the Pharisee could be 'the law-conscious'. He was conscious about the law which could prosper him and help him to suck more money from the people, but he was not conscious of God's law which commanded him to stop stealing from the people.
Many argued that the Bible is against any thinking or conscience of sins. I will tell them to read the Bible again. The Bible told us that we have no more conscience of sins to offer the old sacrifice:

• Heb 10:2 KJV  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

The Bible did not say that we can never sin or we should not have any conscience of sins if we sin. Of course, we (the believers or sinners) must still come to God with the conscience of sins if we have sinned. Otherwise, we could have come to God and pray like the Pharisee. God would never accept us no matter how well we could praise Him, worship Him, give thanks to Him, or sacrifice for Him:

• 1Sa 15:22-26 KJV  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  (23)  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. .. (26)  And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

Many 'radical grace Christians' professed that they were 'haters of religions' or 'haters of any obedience to religions, rules, and regulations'
Are they really haters of religion because they wanted to condemn the hypocrites and carnal minded believers? I am afraid that many of them are the carnal minded believers themselves. They could not follow any teaching or doctrine of Christ in the early churches. They felt bitter and depressed reading the words of God, teaching of Christ, or commandments about godly living and higher standard of Christian conduct through repentance. They simply could not repent because they found that God's commandments were too grievous for them to obey even though John assured us that God commandments are important but not grievous.

• 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.
• Php 3:1-2 KJV  Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.  (2)  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
• Heb 12:7-12 KJV  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  (8)  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  (9)  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?  (10)  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.  (11)  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  (12)  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

However, many would still leave the churches. Some of them were probably rebuked and told to leave because of sins or improper conducts. Please think, Wouldn't they become the 'haters of religions' too? They would certainly become the haters of some denominations who closely keep the doctrine and commandments of God too.


Many of them are now actually 'haters of the churches'  
In the past, believers who were exposed as the adulterers, fornicators, thieves, liars, mockers, dirty jokers, boasters, 'playboys', or 'gigolos' would be rebuked and asked to repent. They would be expelled if they argued and boasted that 'grace' would still make them righteous without the need to admit and confess any sin. Hence, many would just go back to the world and disappear from the Christian circle.
However, things have changed today. Many of them have come back and gathered in many modern churches who believe in 'radical grace', with no more law, no more commandments, and no more turning away from sins. If we asked them, "Have you repented?" they would say, "Certainly yes ! We have now changed our mind from thinking of a judgmental God to the thinking of a loving God or a 'too good to be true' God. We have changed our minds from thinking of unbelief to belief". They will now turn back and accuse the churches for not been loving and gracious. They will now claim that they are the 'haters of the religions, or any religion, including the teaching, law, commandments, doctrine of the churches'. Please think, If they preached the gospel with such bitterness and radical view on the teaching of the churches because of their past records, Should we be 'haters of religions' like them too. No, certainly not. Why should we join them as 'haters of religions' when they are actually 'haters of the churches and God's commandments'?

• Act 8:20-25 KJV  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.  (21)  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.  (22)  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.  (23)  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.  (24)  Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.  (25)  And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
• Rev 22:13-17 KJV  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  (14)  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  (15)  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.  (16)  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.  (17)  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
• Jud 1:16-19 KJV  These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.  (17)  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;  (18)  How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  (19)  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
• 1Jn 2:17-20 KJV  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.  (18)  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.  (19)  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.  (20)  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
• 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.

When the Lord said, "Many ..", He meant many, not a few, in the churches. Many are still THINKING that they are doing well when they are actually disobedient, rebellious, and sinning against the will of the Father. They are still ARGUING vehemently that they are righteousness of God when they have departed from the laws of God and lived in 'lawlessness'; not only in deeds; but in THOUGHTS. 


Many of them are now confused if they should be haters of God's laws or lovers of God's laws
Many of them argued that if they hate the hypocrites, they can hate the Pharisees. If they hate the Pharisees, they can hate the religious, and the laws of God too.
However, this argument shows that many people are confused by the preaching of radical grace doctrine and teaching. Please think, If we would not like to be associated as gangsters or lawless people just because we have some tattoo on our bodies, would we pass rash conclusion on everyone who keeps the law of God? Yes, most of the Pharisee were good in the laws. However, it is ridiculous to conclude that if you are good in the laws, you are a hypocrite or you would become one of the Pharisees because you love to study laws, meditate on the laws of God, and keep His commandments. In fact, law has higher purpose than money. If we do not stereotype everyone who think of money as covetous people, how can we think of those who keep the laws as hypocrites? If we read the Bible, we know that Jesus did not define those who keep the laws of God as hypocrites. On the contrary, it was those who did not keep the laws of God:

• Mat 6:2 KJV  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
• Mat 15:5-9 KJV  But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;  (6)  And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.  (7)  Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,  (8)  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  (9)  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
• Mat 23:10-13 KJV  Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.  (11)  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.  (12)  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.  (13)  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. (They were hypocrites because they would just teach others not to keep the laws of God, knowing that they themselves could never keep them).
• Mat 23:15 KJV  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. (They were hypocrites because they preached something that was not true, and made the people fall into the traps and become worst than them.)
• Mat 23:23-30 KJV  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.  (24)  Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.  (25)  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.  (26)  Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.  (27)  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.  (28)  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.  (29)  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,  (30)  And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.  

Hence, how can we get confused by those who are the hypocrites when Jesus has defined them so clearly with those words. Hypocrites are not those who keep God's laws and commandments; hypocrites are those who attacks God's laws and commandments. The hypocrites are the ones who attacks the prophets of God and the righteous.The hypocrites are the ones who pay attention to how much you tithe and omit the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy, and faith. They do not do them; nor do they teach them. 


It is sad to know that many radical 'believers' would just want to condemn everything that is of God ignorantly when their flesh could not keep His laws
I will ask them, Do you think well after hearing so much about radical grace teaching against all the laws of God? Do you know that Jesus and Paul would never think that the law or the Old Covenant is something that will make people become the 'hypocrites'? Common sense, please. If they would preach that the law is so bad that it would turn everyone into a hypocrite, how about Moses, David, and Samuel? How about Zacharias who keep the laws of God too? How about Joseph and Mary?

• Luk 1:5-6 KJV  There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.  (6)  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
• 2Pe 2:9-10 KJV  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:  (10)  But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
• Jud 1:8 KJV  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

The opposite of the law of God is not grace; but another law
Of course, those who preached hatred against the law of God would love the preaching of grace. At least, they would think that the opposite of the law is grace. They would insist that they can never be hypocrites because they preached grace or received grace.
However, I doubt if the opposite of the law of God is grace. The Bible shows us that the opposite of the law of God is the law of sin and the flesh, not grace.

• 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 8:2-8 KJV  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  (3)  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  (4)  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  (5)  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  (6)  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.

Hence, Paul could never be clearer than the above when he explained what will opposed with another - The law of God opposes the law of sin and flesh and vice versa. He said that the law of God will oppose with the law of the flesh and sin. The law of God is the law of the Spirit which goes after the things of the Spirit; it opposes the law of the flesh which goes after the things of the flesh. The law of God opposes the carnal mind because the carnal mind is not subject to the law of God and it cannot please God.


Believers of law or grace can fall if they have become over-confident
When radical grace preachers argued that they are better than those who preach the law of God, they showed us that they did not know what is law and grace. Firstly, they did not know that law and grace do not oppose one another, as Paul had explained clearly above that the thing which opposes the law of God is not grace; but the carnal mind and the flesh. Secondly, Jesus had shown us another parable that those who preached grace or received grace could be equally hypocritical too:

• Mat 18:32-34 KJV  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  (33)  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?  (34)  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

Obviously the servant was wicked in the eyes of the Lord, not because he preached too much law or believed in the laws; but because he 'believed' in too much grace. He could have probably believed in so much 'favor' that he thought he could never face any punishment from the Lord. He thought that, once he was forgiven, he would be forgiven forever, no matter how he behaved or bullied others. I don't think we can over-emphasized, How appropriate is this parable and warning against those who have the same thought and behavior in our modern churches? Once saved always saved and nothing can change that even if we behave like the wicked? This has been prophesied by the words of the Lord. Hence, I don't see any logic to preach that all the parables and teaching of Jesus Christ has become obsolete because many people find that His words, commands, and warning are 'hard sayings':

• Joh 6:60-68 KJV  Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?  (61)  When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?  (62)  What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?  (63)  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  (64)  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.  (65)  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.  (66)  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.  (67)  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?  (68)  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

I am not surprised that many of the disciples have departed from the commands of the Lord and walked no more with Him. However, they are still in the churches. May God have mercy and grant them grace to repent.   


Preachers of law or grace can be hypocrites only if they use the law or grace to promote for selfish gains
There were many Jews who were under the law in the Old Testament.

1. Do we conclude that they were the hypocrites just because they believed in the law? Were Moses, David, Samuel, Jeremiah, Malachi, Zacharias, Joseph, Mary, and many others hypocrites because they believed in the law? No, they were hypocrites only if they used the law or perverted the law to argue with the Lord, gain popularity, and prosper like the Pharisees:

• Mal 2:7-17 KJV For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.  (8)  But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts... (16) For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.  (17)  Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? 
• Mal 3:13-15 KJV  Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?  (14)  Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?  (15)  And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
• Mar 7:9-13 KJV  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.  (10)  For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:  (11)  But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.  (12)  And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;  (13)  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. 

2. Similarly, we don't conclude that everyone who believes in grace as hypocrites too. They are hypocrites only if they use grace or pervert grace to argue with the Lord, gain popularity, and prosper like the wicked servants or false prophets:

• Jud 1:3-4 KJV  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  (4)  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 1Ti 6:3-5 KJV  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;  (4)  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,  (5)  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
• Jud 1:10-11 KJV  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.  (11)  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
• 2Pe 2:1-4 KJV  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  (2)  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  (3)  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.  (4)  For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

If people do not believe in grace, it does not mean that they are hypocrites 
Hence, I won't conclude that the culprit which makes people turning into hypocrites is the law or grace. Neither do we accuse those who preach the law or grace as hypocrites. If we have become hypocrites, we don't blame our belief in the law or grace; we just blame ourselves. We don't just blame God's laws or preachers of His laws; we blame our sins. Hence, if we would just humbly admit sins and repent, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. But, if we always argue with others and accuse everyone, except ourselves, as hypocrites, I don't think we are humble enough to know what is grace:

• 1Jn 1:4-10 KJV  And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.  (5)  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  (6)  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  (7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  (8)  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
  Have we thought why John said, If we confess our sins .. and Paul said, If we sin wilfully..? Does it mean that John always confessed sins or Paul always sinned wilfully? No. We can say that they hardly sinned. But does it mean that they are saying it to the agnostic believers and therefore their warnings are not applicable to us? No. They are saying it to us and their warnings are for us. Please think, When a father warned his kid and said, "Son, if we take drugs, we will get addicted and we will regret one day..", does it mean that the father had taken drugs? No. We can say that the father had never taken drugs or hardly took any drugs. But does it mean that the father could only say it to other kids and therefore his warning was not applicable to his kid? No. It is ridiculous to twist the warning of the father and convince the son that his father's warning was not for him. Similarly, it is equally ridiculous to twist the words of God in Heb 10:26 and 1 John 1:9 and convince God's children that God's warnings are no more applicable to them.

Hopefully, we will be sober enough not to blame everyone who does not believe like us. We don't accuse them as hypocrites even if they refuse to believe grace, pure grace, radical grace, or God.
I don't think we have good justification to accuse everybody as hypocrites even if they believe only in money and refuse to believe like us too.


We cannot judge anyone who believe wrongly but God can judge anyone who believe in lawlessness   
Yes, it is not for us to accuse or judge those who are not hypocrites, even if they believe wrongly. But God is faithful and just to judge those who believe in lawlessness. What is lawlessness?
Many argue that lawlessness is doing lawless deeds, lawless activities, or serious crimes. But to God, lawlessness is anything which departs from His laws or rebels against the keeping of His laws. It includes lawless thoughts, lawless teaching, lawless philosophies, and lawless seduction too:

• Gen 2:16-17 KJV  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  (17)  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
• Gen 3:1-7 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?  (2)  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:  (3)  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.  (4)  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die ...   (7) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.  (7)  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

When Eve believed the serpent or believed it wrongly, she departed from God's law and command. She was immediately considered as 'lawless' (naked) even though she did not kill, steal, or do any lawless deeds.

• 1Jn 3:3-4 LITV  And everyone having this hope on Him purifies himself even as that One is pure.  (4)  Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

Many preachers today may have taught lawlessness without knowing it
Hence, God can judge any preachers who promote and teach lawless belief or lawless thinking. Lawlessness is sin in the eyes of God. The serpent might argue that it had never taught license to sin, but in the eyes of God, the serpent had certainly taught license to sin when it taught Eve to depart from His law and commandment, because sin is lawlessness or transgression of His law.   
Today many preachers argue that they have never taught license to sin too. But I will ask them, Have you taught people to depart from God's law or commandment? You may argue that you have never taught people to kill or steal; but if you have not taught people to keep any law, but only to think of your 'law' or confession, you could have taught people to depart from God's law. You  have taught like the serpent, and that is the license to sin. You may argue that you have only preached the gospel until everyone misunderstood you or misunderstood the gospel as license to sin. You may argue that you have only told people to go for better life without the law of God without telling them to kill, steal, lie, or sin. So can the serpent say it too. The serpent had only told Eve to aim for better life without giving any suggestion to sin. But God knew that the serpent had given the 'license to sin' subtly and deceitfully to Eve:

• Gen 3:4-6 KJV  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  (5)  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.  (6)  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Many preachers may argue that Paul had also preached the gospel until everyone misunderstood him and falsely accused him for preaching the license to sin. But I will tell them, No, Paul did not preach the gospel until everyone misunderstood him. At least the believers would never misunderstand him. Why? Paul made sure that all the believers would still keep the laws and commandments of God:

• Rom 6:1-13 KJV  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  (2)  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  (3)  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?.. (12) 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. (Did Paul tell the believers to just think of how grace would abound and do nothing? No, he commanded them NOT TO SIN by YIELDING to righteousness and DOING righteousness.)
• Eph 6:1-3 KJV  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  (2)  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)  (3)  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
• Rom 13:9 KJV  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
• Rom 7:24-25 KJV  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  (25)  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. .. (8:7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
• Tit 2:1-15 KJV  But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: ... (7) In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, ... (10) Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.  (11)  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  (12)  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; .. (15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. (Paul said it very clearly: If we just want to preach better life and speak like the serpent, we would never preach like the servant who knows sound doctrine which must speak, exhort, and rebuke according to His teaching.)

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Was Peter a hypocrite?

Was Peter a hypocrite?
Radical grace preachers would say, "Yes, all those who believe in the law were hypocrite including the Christian believers who do and teach God's laws and commandments. That's why we still need to preach grace to all the churches. We need to save them from the laws with our Gospel Revolution. Many believers are still under the law. Like Peter, they become corrupted and corrupt others who believe in grace. That's why we must preach radically even though all of them misunderstood us; otherwise we are not preaching the gospel that Paul. We don't preach the gospel that Peter preached; we preach only the gospel that Paul preached or John preached .."

• Gal 2:9-14 ERV  James, Peter, and John seemed to be the leaders. And they saw that God had given me this special gift of ministry, so they accepted Barnabas and me. They said to us, "We agree that you should go to those who are not Jews, and we will go to the Jews."  (10)  They asked us to do only one thing--to remember to help those who are poor. And this was something that I really wanted to do.  (11)  When Peter came to Antioch, he did something that was not right. I stood against him, because he was wrong.  (12)  This is what happened: When Peter first came to Antioch, he ate and associated with the non-Jewish people. But when some Jewish men came from James, Peter separated himself from the non-Jews. He stopped eating with them, because he was afraid of the Jews who believe that all non-Jewish people must be circumcised.  (13)  So Peter was a hypocrite. The other Jewish believers joined with him, so they were hypocrites too. Even Barnabas was influenced by what these Jewish believers did.  (14)  They were not following the truth of the Good News. When I saw this, I spoke to Peter in front of everyone. I said, "Peter, you are a Jew, but you don't live like one. You live like someone who is not a Jew. So why are you trying to force those who are not Jewish to live like Jews?"

Today we don't listen to Peter any more; we listen more to Paul instead. Peter was under the law and, hence, his letters were still full of the law and self-effort. Imagine how Peter fumbled when he could only think of the tabernacle or the law when he saw the glory of God. Peter could never be a true grace preacher:

• Mat 17:4-5 KJV  Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.  (5)  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

  

Was Paul a greater hypocrite?
I will tell them, If Peter was a hypocrite, would Paul be a greater hypocrite because he accused Peter and then later did something that pleased all the Jews too?

• Act 16:1-4 ERV  Paul went to the city of Derbe and then to Lystra, where a follower of Jesus named Timothy lived. Timothy's mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek.  (2)  The believers in the cities of Lystra and Iconium had only good things to say about him.  (3)  Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him, but all the Jews living in that area knew that his father was a Greek. So Paul circumcised Timothy to please the Jews.  (4)  Then Paul and those with him traveled through other cities. They gave the believers the rules and decisions from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. They told them to obey these rules.

If Peter or Paul were hypocrites, everyone in the churches are hypocrites too. No, God forbid. We should not just quote from the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) or the Bible version that we like to promote our own radical view on the preaching of grace only or law only. My advice is to read more Bible versions, including the King James Version (KJV), to have a more balanced view on the gospel or man's sin problem.
Based on what I know from the Bible, no one is perfect. And hence, it is ridiculous to use the failure of one Apostle to conclude that all his letters or teaching of God's words, God's commandments, and God's grace will turn us into hypocrites. Of course, none of the writers of the Bible were perfect but the words and commandments that they wrote were spiritually inspired for correction, instructions, warnings, and reproofs for the believers:

• 2Ti 3:13-17 KJV  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  (14)  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  (15)  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Hence, it is ridiculous for us to boycott any writer of the Bible (like Moses, Jeremiah, Peter, or James) just because we think that they were angry prophets or 'doom and gloom' preachers, and preach only the letters of Paul because only his words are from the gospel of grace. It is ridiculous to be named after Paul only just because we think that only Paul can preach the gospel and no one else can preach it better. If we have such thinking, I am not surprised that many believers have stopped listening to Paul too. It's because many believers could have been deceived by the false prophets who teach them not to confess any sins. The believers could have been subtly led to think that the false prophets are more righteous, more gracious, more anointed, and more positive than Paul who still confessed his weaknesses or sins:

• 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.  (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.  (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?) 

   

Radical view or intent will cause more confusion and dissension in the churches
I will tell them, If your intent of preaching radical grace is to accuse everyone in the churches as hypocrites and cause arguments and contentions, your radical grace preaching is not from God. How can you be less hypocritical than Peter or Paul if you have prospered more than them by preaching more graciously or more radically than them?

We know that the law or the Jewish Old Covenant which includes the law of circumcision is no more applicable to the Gentiles. But if we use that to bring confusion, flame arguments, and create contentions in the churches, we are no different from the carnal Corinthian believers who boasted in the name of the Lord for following the teaching of Paul or Apollos.
We are not bothered by the name or the credential of those who preached the gospel; whether it is the gospel that was preached by Paul, Peter, Apollos, or the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. But we must know and judge the intent of the radical preachers who would just want to create contentions and accuse God's people who hold more balanced viewpoints on the gospel or God's words:

• 1Co 1:11-15 KJV  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.  (12)  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.  (13)  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?  (14)  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;  (15)  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

No one should boast that he can preach better than others
Who is more important? Is he the one who preaches grace, or the one who preaches doctrine and commandments?

• 1Co 3:1-10 KJV  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  (2)  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  (3)  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  (4)  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?  (5)  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  (6)  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  (7)  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.  (8)  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.  (9)  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.  (10)  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

No one should boast just because he thinks that he has preached more 'grace'
Or can we boast that we are better than all others because we preach only Jesus Christ and we can confess the name of Jesus Christ better than others? No. Those who have such thinking are no better than the carnal Corinthian believers too:

• 1Co 3:20-23 KJV  And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.  (21)  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;  (22)  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;  (23)  And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

I will ask those who argue vehemently that they would never judge others or be judged no matter they do, Do you boast that you can preach better than Peter or Paul? Do you judge all others as the Pharisees or hypocrites in your radical revolution? If you preached that Peter was a hypocrite and that he was still under the law, you have judged him unfairly:

• 1Co 4:2-6 ERV  Those who are trusted with such an important work must show that they are worthy of that trust.  (3)  But I don't consider your judgment on this point to be worth anything. Even an opinion from a court of law would mean nothing. I don't even trust my own judgment.  (4)  I don't know of any wrong I have done, but that does not make me right. The Lord is the one who must decide if I have done well or not.  (5)  So don't judge anyone now. The time for judging will be when the Lord comes. He will shine light on everything that is now hidden in darkness. He will make known the secret purposes of our hearts. Then the praise each person should get will come from God.  (6)  Brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself as examples for you. I did this so that you could learn from us the meaning of the words, "Follow what the Scriptures say." Then you will not brag about one person and criticize another.

Believers can still sin, not by stealing or killing, but by 'speaking'
I will ask the radical grace preachers again, So, do you now believe that there is always suffering and persecution for the true believers? and not everyone will always prosper? However, do you explain the correct scripture to your believers?

• Jud 1:8-20  KJV  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. ..  (10) But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.  (11)  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.  (12)  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; .. (16) These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.  (17)  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;  (18)  How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  (19)  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.  (20)  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
• 2Pe 2:10-22 KJV  But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.  (11)  Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.  (12)  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; .. (17) These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.  (18)  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.  (19)  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.  (20)  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  (21)  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  (22)  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 

Do you realize that sinners or believers do not need to kill or steal to sin? They can just 'speak' to sin. If we are preachers, we can sin even more because, as preachers, we can speak better lies to deceive more people. Hence, how can we lie that the Ten Commandment is no longer applicable to us when we know that it is still God's commandment to the churches?

• Rom 13:9-14 KJV  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ..  (13)  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  (14)  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
• 1Pe 3:10-15 KJV  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:  (11)  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.  (12)  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.  (13)  And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?  (14)  But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;  (15)  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Many end time preachers will turn the grace of God into lasciviousness
Peter has said it right (in 1Pe 3:10-15 above) because he would still keep the commandments of God (even though he was not perfect in keeping every God's commandment).
However, after reading from Jud 1:8-20 and 2Pe 2:10-22, I realize that there were great similarities in Peter and Jude. They would keep the commandments of God and warn the believers of those who will speak evil of dignities. However, Jude would go further by saying that there could be someone who would turn the grace of God into licentiousness or lasciviousness too

• Jud 1:4 KJV  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

I had made a quick check on the meaning of 'lasciviousness'. It means 'feeling morbid sexual desire or a propensity to lewdness' or 'The trait of behaving in an obscene manner'. Of course, it can mean 'license to sin too'. Please think, Who would turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness? Can the believers of other religions turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness? No, it is very unlikely for anyone outside the churches to turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness. Obviously Jude was talking about those who are teaching or preaching in our churches; not the believers outside our churches. No wonder they could never quote scripture comfortably from the letter of Jude and Peter. Instead, they would constantly speak evil of Peter, Jude, and all the churches who would still keep the commandments of God:

• Rev 12:17 KJV  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Rev 14:11-13 KJV  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.  (12)  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.

I feel especially comforted to know that we can rest from our labours from henceforth, according to the grace of God. It reminds me of what Paul said earlier in his letter to the Corinthians:

• 1Co 3:1-10 KJV  ... (5)  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  (6)  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  (7)  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.  (8)  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.  (9)  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.  (10)  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

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