But Grace Sets Us Free
Published on December 17, 2008 By KFC Kickin For Christ In Religion

From the beginning of Christianity there's always been this desire to make sure one is totally right with God.  Unfortunately there's always been this striving from one's own works to make this happen.  Therefore, we have all sorts of dos and don'ts when it comes to man's religions.  With that comes the guilt.  No wonder so many have walked away from the faith of their families.  It's just too much work to be right with God. 

Do we keep the 10 commandments?  Do we eat fish on Friday?  Do we tithe?  Do we kneel when instructed to do so?  Do you pray a certain way?  Do we abstain from certain foods as dictated by the Old Testament scriptures?  Do we not work on Sunday?  Or Saturdays?  On and on it goes.  Who is right?  How do we know for sure?

This is an argument of law and grace.  Do we keep the law or are we completely under grace?  Many sincere Christians cannot help but wonder about the relationship between the two.  There is much NT scripture that plainly teaches we are free from the law but how far does this freedom go?  Are we supposed to keep the law?

So we come to Matthew 5:19 which says:

"Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Just before Christ issued these words we see in v17 that He pointed out the law's preeminence because it was authored by God, and affirmed by the prophets. In v18 He pointed out the permanence, that is, lasting without the smallest change until heaven and earth pass away.  Here in v19 He points out to how important the law is.  The Jews were still under the full requirements of the OT law.  They were not loosed from this law. 

We read here in this context that Jesus declared that he came to fulfill but not diminish the law and those after Him were not to do so either.  There are consequences of obeying and disobeying the law.  Of course the consequences depend on our response to it.  We can either achieve a positive result or a negative result as we respond to the law.

Notice Jesus mentions the negative first.  "Whoever annuls one of the least of these commandment and teaches others will be called least in the Kingdom."  The word annuls is "luo" and means to break, set loose, release, dissolve or even melt.  The idea being that annuling God's law by making it void by loosing ourselves from its requirements and standards isn't a good thing.  Jesus asserted that He had not come to "abolish the Law or Prophets." 

In Jesus day the Jews had divided the OT laws into two categories.  248 were positive commands and 365 were negative.  They debated long and hard, heated at times, about which laws were the most important and not so important.   We know that all of God's commands are not of equal importance.  We know that Christ gave the two greatest commandments when asked.  That is, to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves.   So the rest of the commandments must fall lower than these two.

Now Jesus' negative warning isn't just for teachers.  Everyone teaches to some degree by example.  We show if we are obedient or disobedient by our actions.  We also teach by what we say.  Do we speak in a postive or negative way about God  and His Word or do we totally show contempt and disrespect for Him and His Word? 

The consequence of disrespecting any part of God's word or teaching against it is to be called "least in the Kingdom" which shows there is some sort of ranking system going on.  There is no loss of salvation mentioned here and is clear that is not an issue.  To disdain even the smallest part of God's Word is to disdain all of it because it's inseperable as James says in His book (2:10). 

Now for the positive results of keeping God's law is that "whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called Great in the kingdom of heaven.   Notice keeping and teaching. 

God's law is a reflection of His very character and as we know, he's changeless and eternal.  Paul both kept and taught the full Word of God and I'm sure he's one that will be listed in the "greatest in heaven" category.  This promise  spoken by Jesus is to all believers.  Our life and teaching should reflect God's moral character and His law is an important aspect of this.

Now for the paradox in regard to keeping the law.  For seasoned Christians it's not easy.  On one hand, we are told the law is fulfilled and done away with and on the other, as here, that we are supposed to keep it.  Maybe reading Paul will help things a bit.

In Eph 2:14-15 Paul says that Chist is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace.  When the church was instituted the "dividing wall" of civil, judicial law was crumbled and then disappeared.

At the cross Israel was temporarily set aside as a Nation as a result of her rejection of the one that was sent.  In 70 A.D. Israel ceased to be a literal Nation when Titus came in and destroyed Jerusalem including the Temple.  Her restoration nationally will be tied to her restoration spiritually (Romans 9-11) in a future time. 

While Jesus was still on the Cross the veil of the Temple was torn from top to bottom.  Now the Temple worship and the sacrifices were no longer valid.  That part of the law was finished, accomplished and done away with by God himself. 

Paul speaks of our not being under the law but under grace (Rom 6:14).  He immediately asks "What then?  Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? May it never be."  I've known Christians who totally disregard God's moral law and believe since we are under Grace we can do whatever we wish.  That is frustrating the spirit of God.  Not only that but is a terrible witness and serves only to glorify oneself. 

While we are now in Christ and not under the law we cannot be tried under the law.  He paid the penalty. We are no longer under the ultimate penalty of breaking His law but we are far from free of its requirement of righteousness. 

Paul wrote "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."  (Rom 10:4).  He also wrote to the Galatians that they are led by the Spirit even as they are no longer under the law, (5:18).  This also is harmonized well with Christ who said that the law and the Prophets were until John.  We all know that John the Baptist was a forerunner to Christ.  He was the last ditch effort to get the Jew's attention as if he stepped across the pages of the OT and into the new.  The Jews accepted Him as they did the one that came after him.  Not well.

So how do we harmonize the two?  How do we harmonize keeping his commands but also be under Grace as well?  I would answer as Paul did.  He brought the two together when he described himself as being "without the law of God but under the law of Christ."  (1 Cor 9:21). 

Christ's law is very different from the Jewish judicial and ceremonal law but is not one iota less holy and righteous as the OT law taught. 

From a Christian POV the OT law is a moral guide helping us in revealing our sin.  By looking at this law we can see our weakness and our sinful attitudes.  It also shows us how far apart from Christ we are on our own.  The OT law should drive us to Him.  It should bring us to our knees at the foot of His cross time and time again.  We need to be reminded that it took a Saviour to take the OT law's penalty from us.  He took our condemnation upon Himself.  This is why Paul carefully explains to us that the Law is holy and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 

Jesus said this: 

"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  But go and learn what this means.  I desire mercy, not sacrifice.  For  I have not come to call the righteous but sinners."  Matt 9:13


Comments (Page 1)
2 Pages1 2 
on Dec 17, 2008

From the beginning of Christianity there's always been this desire to make sure one is totally right with God. Unfortunately there's always been this striving from one's own works to make this happen.

Be totally right with God?....yes, of course. Why say unfortunately?  "Be ye perfect" ...and although we can never reach this goal or be "totally right" on this side of Heaven, we should try to do and to be the best we can ....2Tim. 3:17, "That the man of God may be perfect, furnished to every good work."

Therefore, we have all sorts of dos and don'ts when it comes to man's religions. With that comes the guilt. No wonder so many have walked away from the faith of their families. It's just too much work to be right with God.

Do we keep the 10 commandments?

God has furnished plenty of do's and don'ts in His religion. And yes, we are guilty before God when we knowingly and willingly do or don't do what He commands.

It's not too much work to be right with God, as Our Lord said His yoke is sweet and His burden light.

Yes, we keep the 10 Commandments...We become as close to being totally right with God by regulating our life by its precepts.

 

 

 

on Dec 18, 2008

Dear KFC, 

Another very fine piece. You get to the core while framing the dilemma very well. I have always taught that the mitzvot are like the cup we use to drink the wine.  No cup; no wine. These commandments are a pathway, like a discipline.  Few of us today like this notion of a disciplined spiritual practice, and the consequence in this world is that few of us really come close to the Infinite.  We may "feel" we do, but feelings are illusion, mere chimera passing quickly with the change of a channel. Practice keeps us grounded.

Be well.  

on Dec 18, 2008

These commandments are a pathway, like a discipline. Few of us today like this notion of a disciplined spiritual practice, and the consequence in this world is that few of us really come close to the Infinite. We may "feel" we do, but feelings are illusion, mere chimera passing quickly with the change of a channel. Practice keeps us grounded.

I like that Sodaiho.  Very good. 

Be totally right with God?....yes, of course. Why say unfortunately?

because our being totally right before God is in our resting in Him. That's why Jesus did say his burden is light and his yolk easy.  He did the work of salvation for us.   Our salvation is in Christ not in our merit.  Our works, while pleasing to God do not make us right with God.  What pleases God, the Father is the work of His son on the cross. 

and although we can never reach this goal or be "totally right" on this side of Heaven, we should try to do and to be the best we can ....2Tim. 3:17, "That the man of God may be perfect, furnished to every good work

Yes we should always strive towards pleasing and obeying God.

Yes, we keep the 10 Commandments...We become as close to being totally right with God by regulating our life by its precepts.

nobody can keep the 10 commandments Lula, that's the point.  Jesus went so far as to say our even just thinking something can result in breaking a commandment.  If we think evil against our brother we have committed murder in our mind, or if a man just looks at a woman he commits adultery in his mind and thereby breaks a command.  James said the commandments are so connected that if we break one, we break all. 

And yes, we are guilty before God when we knowingly and willingly do or don't do what He commands.

and that is what is so delightful about the cross.  We are pardoned, never to be retried once we come to the cross for a complete cleansing. 

 

on Dec 18, 2008

What pleases God, the Father is the work of His son on the cross.

AMEN.

on Dec 18, 2008

Lula posts:

Yes, we keep the 10 Commandments...We become as close to being totally right with God by regulating our life by its precepts.

KFC POSTS:

nobody can keep the 10 commandments Lula, that's the point.

That was Luther's point...tormented by constant reflection of his own sinfulness, he found relief in the thought that man cannot ever overcome his intrinsically evil disposition and that committing sin is necessary. He formulated Protestant theology around his idea that man is thoroughly corrupted and our righteousness doesn't intrinsically belong to our soul but is something exterior...wrong, wrong, wrong .....and here, you are preaching Luther's gospel, not Christ's. 

We are under the New Covenant of Grace...keep that in mind.

God gave us the Ten Commandments out of love and for our good, temporal welfare and our salvation. The Ten C's are first an expression of the natural law inscribed in every man's heart by God teaching us to distinguish between good and evil, vice from virtue, justice from injustice. This is why the Ten C's apply to all mankind and all times. The fact that God wrote them on stone signifies they are durable and to last for all ages.

Being aware of the abrogation of the Mosaic Law, you imagine that the precepts of the Ten C's are no longer obligatory....but what you are forgetting or don't know is that when God gave the Law to Moses, He didn't so much establish a new code, rather as by writing them in stone, He rendered more Divine light which the depraved man had at the time almost obscured. So, we are all still bound to obey the Ten C's becasue they are implanted in the hearts of all.

We know by Gal. 3:24 the Ten C's and other laws of the OT were a preparation for Christ. The Jews under the Old Mosaic Covenant couldn't perfectly observe them becasue the power of keeping them wasn't given. Knowing their sinfulness and needing Divine help to be just in the eyes of God, they longed for the promised Savior. That's the old news; the Good News is that Christ's Sacrifice on the Cross redeemed all. The New Covenant of Grace was sealed with the blood of God made Man and through Christ's merits abundant grace is freely given to us so we can keep all of God's Commandments.   

So believe it, with God's free gift of grace, we can indeed keep the Ten Commandments. 

on Dec 18, 2008

nobody can keep the 10 commandments Lula, that's the point. Jesus went so far as to say our even just thinking something can result in breaking a commandment. If we think evil against our brother we have committed murder in our mind, or if a man just looks at a woman he commits adultery in his mind and thereby breaks a command. James said the commandments are so connected that if we break one, we break all.

And yes, we are guilty before God when we knowingly and willingly do or don't do what He commands.

and that is what is so delightful about the cross. We are pardoned, never to be retried once we come to the cross for a complete cleansing.

Just so.  So, its a sort of Zen paradox. Do what is impossible to do or suffer in delusion.  We must be "pure" of mind, body and heart, yet live in a world as a fully human being.  Zen resolves this koan by pointing out that it is false to begin with. In the beginning there is only Oneness. It is our mind that creates the duality. If we are Holy, Awake, One, as we were in the beginning, there are no commandments, no way to break the commandments. We call this "thusness."

This "pardon" you refer to is that very awakening, the transcendence of duality.  Awakening can be another word for "cleansing".

Be well.

on Dec 18, 2008

Jesus went so far as to say our even just thinking something can result in breaking a commandment. If we think evil against our brother we have committed murder in our mind, or if a man just looks at a woman he commits adultery in his mind and thereby breaks a command. James said the commandments are so connected that if we break one, we break all.

I know. It's true becasue our Lord said it and no one of us can pooh pooh our Lord's admonishments aside and get away with it.  

 I can tell you from my own sinful life that once I had recognized a sinful pattern, I repented, prayed on my knees to be delivered from it's bondage, and I was given God's grace on the spot....since then, I have no inclination to that particular sin I was committing. Shortly afterwards, I made my Confession and did my penance.  

on Dec 18, 2008

Lula posts:

And yes, we are guilty before God when we knowingly and willingly do or don't do what He commands.

KFC POSTS:
and that is what is so delightful about the cross. We are pardoned, never to be retried once we come to the cross for a complete cleansing.

What do you mean "come to the cross for a complete cleansing"?

 

 

on Dec 18, 2008

Do what is impossible to do or suffer in delusion.

Hello Sodaiho,

I just explained why, how, it's no longer impossible to obey God's holy Commandments. We need God and His grace to do it. With God, all things are possible.   

We must be "pure" of mind, body and heart, yet live in a world as a fully human being.

Yes......to the best of our ability this is what we strive to be----I love the word pure here. No need to put it in quotations!

 Add the word soul to the list... pure of mind, body and heart....for the condition of our eternal soul when we die is what Christ will judge us.  

 

 

on Dec 19, 2008

What do you mean "come to the cross for a complete cleansing"?

When we come to Christ that's when we are born again or cleansed and become a new creature.  But because we live in a sinful world and we are but flesh we are prone to walk in sin.  The best example I can give you is Jesus washing Peter's feet.  When Peter cried out "no you will not wash my feet," Jesus replied:

"A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean.  And you are clean, though not every one of you..  For he knew who was going to betray him and that was why he said not every one was clean." 

While we are clean (saved) we still need to have our feet washed from time to time because we walk in a sinful dirty world.  If we don't do this, it's not that we become unsaved but we lose fellowship with God because our sin separates us from him.  Judas was never bathed (saved)  in the first place.  Peter was saved as were the other disciples by the above comment.  But Christ knew as well that Peter would deny him.  So even though Peter would commit a grave sin in denying Christ he was still saved.  Only his fellowship was damaged.  That's why later Christ restored him threefold (which we've discussed already). 

So in the spiritual life a man who has been cleansed from sin need not think that all is lost when he sins in his walk throu life.  He needs only to confess those sins to be entirely clean again. 

"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

for the condition of our eternal soul when we die is what Christ will judge us.

not if we're his already.  We pass by judgment but will come to the Bema Seat of Christ where only our works will be judged but we ourselves will not be judged.  Many scriptures on this like:

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit."  Romans 8:1

"Verily, verily, I say to you, He that hears my word and believes on him that sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life."  John 5:24

In other words we have been tried and given life already on this side of eternity for those who have come to a saving knowledge of Christ. 

I just explained why, how, it's no longer impossible to obey God's holy Commandments. We need God and His grace to do it. With God, all things are possible.

 

on Dec 19, 2008

It is impossible to obey God's Commandments perfectly.  While he helps us and all we still because of our flesh walk into sin.  That's why Paul said "I do those things I don't want to do and don't do those things I need to do."  It's flesh warring against spirit.   We are both human and have the spirit of God in us.  So it's literally a tug of war. 

While we can't possibly obey God's 100% of the time our faith and trust is in the one who kept the law perfectly.  That's why he came in the first place.  We are going to get to heaven on his merit, not our own. 

on Dec 20, 2008

You know, the more we believe it is impossible to be the law perfectly, that is, be the Dharma, or the Torah, or the Truth, the more we distance ourselves from actually being what we are: perfect.  I know you don't believe we are perfect.  That's OK.  Yet, the extent of this failure to see our true nature keeps you from the perfection.

We must drop away concepts.  Drop away discernments. Notice Oneness.  Your Jesus came to show you that you are perfect.  That you and your father are one. Just as Buddha taught the very same thing 500 years before him.  

Burn away delusion.

Be well.

 

  

on Dec 20, 2008

Your Jesus came to show you that you are perfect.

You've got the wrong verb tense....

It should be.... "that you can be perfect"...by practicing perfect faith, hope and charity in our every thought, word and action.

 

on Dec 21, 2008

Hellu Lula, Good, we are quibbling over nothing. When one has the capacity for perfection, perfection resides within them. From a Zen Buddhist POV  "practicing perfect faith, hope, and charity in our every thought, word, and action" is to practice realization. Perfection in the moment.

Jesus essentially taught Zen.  He taught to the level of his listeners.  He used koans in the form of parables. He modeled oneness with God (the Infinite).  He did a lot of walking meditation.  He taught mindfulness.

 

Be well

on Dec 21, 2008

Jesus taught that we can ONLY be perfect thru Him.  In other words while we can't be perfect, He was so our perfection is wrapped up in our belief in Him. 

I think it only realistic to acknowledge our imperfections and cling all the more to Christ who makes us clean. 

Remember the lady who grabbed the hem of his garment?  She had the right idea. 

2 Pages1 2