But! But! But!
But! But! But!
The above two passages are the tenor of the entire Bible. I could have inserted a number of references, but these may be sufficient for the sincere student.
The Bible has been termed "The Good Book" because it tells us how to live in a good and acceptable manner. This is what people expect of a person who says they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
But we say, "We believe in Christ, but that does not mean we are obligated to obey Him or His Apostles. We are saved by the grace of God. We are in a new dispensation where our attempts to live righteously, to do what the Bible clearly states, are legalism."
The teaching of a "new dispensation," or a "dispensation of grace," is absolutely without support in the New Testament. When Paul uses the phrase "dispensation of the grace of God" he means that the "administration" of the new covenant has been given to him.
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: (Ephesians 3:2---KJV)
Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, (Ephesians 3:2—NIV)
There is no such thing as a "dispensation of grace" in which our sins are overlooked. There is a new covenant, which has to do with the writing of God's eternal moral laws in our mind and heart. The new covenant is extremely more demanding than the covenant of Moses. The new covenant requires that we present our body as a living sacrifice that we may prove the will of God!
I am not enough of a historian to know at what point the concept of "grace" entered Christian thinking. My guess would be it sprang from Paul's teaching of release from the Law of Moses. At that time, the response may have been, "Let us do evil that good may come."
Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—"Let us do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is just! (Romans 3:8)
Peter speaks of some of Paul's teaching as being hard to understand. James scorns those who say they have faith apart from works.
In three major passages of the New Testament we have lists of sins of the flesh. In two instances it is stated that if we follow the urges of sin that reside in our flesh we shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.
For example:
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
Whom is Paul addressing? The unsaved people of Galatia?
Would Paul say to Christians, "You safely can ignore what I have written here because of grace. You are on your way to Heaven. God sees you through Christ. You can practice all of these behaviors, but because you believe in Christ you assuredly shall inherit the Kingdom of God.
This reminds me. Sometimes Christians who are challenged by such verses as the above will say, "A true Christian will never do these things!"
Such a response is enough to make strong men weep---to witness the lengths people will go to, to prove we do not have to obey God.
How many Christian people whom you know who do not practice one or more of the behaviors outlined in Galatians 5:19-20; who do not gossip; who do not worship their children; who have no hatred toward anyone; who are not seeking preeminence; who are not part of a division in the church; who have forgiven everyone; who are absolutely honest, truthful, and morally pure?
If no true Christian does these things, then there are few true Christians in the world.
When a true Christian realizes they are guilty of one or more of these behaviors, they confess them and ask Christ to deliver them. They do not say, "It does not matter because I am saved by grace."
I know the response of some Christian teachers is that this was written to Jews, or to the world, or to some other unnamed group. Such nonsense on the part of scholars! Perhaps they are attempting to please people. But the Bible proclaims wisely that the fear of man brings a snare!
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7,8)
Do you honestly believe that grace prevents our reaping what we sow? Is the Bible the inerrant Word of God or is it not? Can we live in the appetites of our flesh and reap a "better resurrection?" I cannot believe that such is your viewpoint. It certainly is not mine!
When I am referring to God's commands I do not mean the ceremonial laws of Moses, such as circumcision or the Sabbath Day. I mean the commandments of Christ and His Apostles in the New Testament—and especially the commands Christ gives to us personally as we seek to live in His presence.
We always must obey Jesus Christ promptly, completely, and cheerfully.
We must walk in careful obedience to Jesus, looking to Him continually, keeping ourselves aware of His will for the moment.
I must add a word of caution. Every commandment of God, whether found in the New Testament or given to us personally, must always be obeyed as we look to the Lord for wisdom and strength in the keeping of it. Otherwise we find ourselves doing "works" rather than living by faith.
The new covenant operates as we interact with the living Jesus. The result of our continually obeying Him is to have the eternal moral Law of God written for eternity in our mind and heart. Line upon line, commandment upon commandment, the image of God is created in our personality. Such is the true new covenant.
He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (II Corinthians 3:6)
It appears numerous Evangelical believers believe they are saved by "grace"—perhaps even in Heaven—no matter how they behave.
Our "salvation" in this case consists of words only. We are not actually saved from sin. We are not in God's image, except in some schizophrenic sense.
This delusion has gone on long enough. We now are entering the third great day of redemption (Hosea, Six). The heavens themselves shall be shaken. We shall become new creations in truth, having been delivered from worldliness, the sins of the flesh, and disobedience to Christ.
Everything that has not been born of God shall be removed from God's Presence. Antichrist shall be permitted, for a season, to spread his web of lies.
He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)
You and I can stand throughout the days to come, and assist others who have needs. But to do so we will have to keep firmly in mind that God is to be obeyed. We must obey the commands of Christ and His Apostles.
As long as we are endeavoring to keep in the Presence of Christ, He will give us wisdom, strength, and energy (true grace) to obey Him in every detail of our life.
Also, the Father will bless us. He is pleased when His children love and obey Him and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:22)
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. (Revelation 3:11)