Let's clarify CRUCIAL and VERY important points about the law of God. Let's try and eliminate confusion once and for all.
Well hello my beautiful family! Today's topic is a short, yet, EXTREMELY important topic. Understanding what we're about to study is of CRUCIAL importance because not doing so is leading many to believe one of Satan's most modern, successful and dangerous lie. I would ask you to venture out and tell me what is this lie that we're talking about. Do you know? Regardless, if you think you know, I'd ask you to please comment at the bottom of this post what you think that lie is... I'd be thrilled to know what others think. Anyhow, let me help you. One of Satan's most successful and dangerous lie is this: "God is so loving and wants you so much that no matter what you do on this planet, He will save you.".
It might not be the case that you've heard of this lie in that form, it comes in many forms and shapes and the most commonly heard looks like this: "Jesus abolished the law when He died on the cross. We no longer live by the law, but by His grace.". You see, the most successful lies were not complete lies, but were lies mixed with actual truth. If you carefully study the lie that Satan told Eve in the garden of Eden, you'll quickly notice that Satan didn't fully lie, you'll notice that he mixed what God actually said, and sprinkled it lies. Satan also used this type of lie when he tried to tempt Jesus (see Matthew 4:1-11). The reason Satan likes this type of lie, and the reason it is so dangerous and often times successful, is because lie with truth sounds like truth. Is because this type of lie is extremely misleading and confusing. Perhaps in some other post we'll dive more into Satan deception methods, but for now, let's focus on our topic.
About 2 days ago (today, for me, is June 19, 2021) I was scrolling through Bible posts in Facebook and came across this post in which a person asked whether a particular practice was a sin. Then I scrolled through the comments just to see how other people think and the types of arguments that other people do and got amazed at the amount of confusion that exists within the christian community. I wished I could respond each message individually but, I couldn't. As I scrolled some more, I came across this particular 'argument' that I just could not NOT answer. I felt in my soul that I needed to respond. Let me share a snippet of the conversation/comment here:
The conversation did extend quite a bit back and forth but the snippet summarizes the essence of it. Essentially, this person was convinced that when Jesus died the entirety of the law was nailed to the cross and that, ever since, the law exists no more but that everything we do, no matter what it is, is covered entirely by grace. Now, two questions for you:
Have you ever heard arguments like this or very similar?
Do you think that belief is biblical teaching?
One of the things I dislike the most when it comes to christianity, is when people claim they believe in the Bible ("christians") and then they go on believing spiritual things that have no Biblical evidence whatsoever. Christians can't be 'half christians'. If the Bible is our guide, if we believe the Bible is the word of God, and if we believe that God is Almighty, then ALL of our beliefs should be sustained SOLELY on Bible scripture. Everything that can't be sustained with the Bible, should not be part of our spiritual beliefs, makes sense? With this, everything that we're about to study is not my personal belief or opinion, but what the Bible clearly states.
With 100% certainty I can say that God's law are still valid today as they've been since the creation of the world. I can say that the law was NOT nailed to the cross when Jesus died. I can say that the grace of Jesus DOES cover us when we sin and confess our sins... but all of these are just me saying. I don't want to just say, I want to show why I believe what I believe with the Bible. So let's do just that. Let's use and study the Bible to prove that even after Jesus' death the Laws of God are still very much valid as they have been for thousands of years. Deal?
Point #1: Without law, there's no sin. Without sin... why do we need grace?
I guess the title says it all, no? Let's read from the Bible:
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." - 1 John 3:4
It becomes more than evident now, and we can state with 100% certainty, that without law there is no sin. Without law it is impossible for us to sin because there's no standard. Think about it in human law terms. Why are lawyers quite often trying to find "loopholes" in the state laws? Is because when they find one, when they make an argument for which there's no defined law... then the judge has no choice but to dismiss the case. Without pre-defined rules, you can't be held accountable to nothing. Same deal with the law of God. Without His law, without a His standard or reference point, there is no guilt nor sin found in us.
Now, what about grace? What is grace doing for us?
"But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 5:20-21
From this verse we clearly see that grace is needed where sin is; the more sin, the more grace. But what if there's no law? Without law there's no sin, and without sin there's absolutely no need for grace. See, the grace of Jesus functions when we sin, repent and confess that sin, then and only then Jesus' grace covers you so that you don't have to pay the ultimate punishment for sinning:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23
What's the conclusion then? The law of God is still in effect today.
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Point #2: Jesus Himself stated His position with respect to the law
Very straightforward verse:
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." - Matthew 5:17-18
Two very interesting points we can take from this verse:
Jesus did NOT come to abolish the law.
Jesus states that the law will remain in effect for quite some time (till heaven and earth pass away..). Last time I checked, we still live in the same heaven and earth under which He pronounced these words.
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Point #3: Paul preached about the law of God
Simple Bible history and the chronology of events described in it tells us that Paul began his ministry after Jesus had died, resurrected, and left this planet. Do you agree? Well, if the laws of God truly were "abolished" on the cross, why is He preaching about the law during his ministry?
"Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." - Romans 3:31
Then Paul goes a whole chapter to speak about law and grace on Romans 6. If the law was truly abolished on the cross, there was no reason for Paul to be preaching about the law.
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Point #4: The Bible often times measures our love to God with our commitment to His law
There are several verses across the Bible that clearly state that 'if we love God, we should obey His law'.
“Not everyone who says to Me,‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." - Matthew 7:21
“If you love Me, keep My commandments." - John 14:15
"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love." - John 15:10
"Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law."- Romans 13:8
Need I go on? Obeying His law is our way of honoring God and showing we're truly committed to Him. At the end of the day, the law is all about loving God and loving others.
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Point #5: The final 'judgement'
Silly question, why some people go through a trial and then await for the jury to come back with a resolution so the judge can judge accordingly...? Because they broke the law, right? Only people that break the law are the ones who go through a trial and then wait for a judgement. Well, the Bible is FULL of references of a "final judgement" that's to take place when Jesus comes for the second time to give each one according to his/her doings.
"...Let both grow together until the harvest [final judgement], and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.' ” - Matthew 13:30
"...and behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work." - Revelations 22:12
"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left." - Matthew 25:31-33
"But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." - 2 Peter 3:7
... and many more. Now the question that follows is sort of obvious, ¿no? If there's no law, what judgement will take place? What is there to judge? What will be the standard by which the people of God and those of the devil will be separated? If God's return involves a judgement, implicitly that clearly says that the law, His law, is very much still in effect.
Closing
I'm sure more Bible-based arguments can be made to prove that the Law of God is still as valid today as it was centuries and decades ago... but I think we have proven our point. Friend, we're still being measured to the standard of the law, we still sin, we still fall... but the grace of God will never EVER fail to cover you when yo come to Jesus, confess your sins and repent.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9
Don't be deceived by Satan's master schemes. Don't be deceived into believing that the law no longer exists nor applies because of the grace of Jesus. Remember, truths mixed with lies make the most dangerous lies ever.
God bless you friend and until next one!
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