Keeping Christ's Commandments

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From my point of view, the greatest error in the history of world thinking is the concept that Divine grace is a substitute for righteous behaviour. Because of this error the Christian salvation has become one of excusing the conduct of people so they may enjoy fellowship with God, even though they have not become a new righteous creation.

This single misconception—that grace is an alternative to moral change—has resulted in the moral chaos which characterizes the United States of America, and consequently the people of the world for whom we are to be the light that leads them to God.

I have written much on this subject. But if I exhausted all the writing materials in existence I could never completely portray the moral—and yes, physical—destruction produced by the perversion of God’s intention that well-meaning but deceived scholars have presented to God’s people. It is past time for a reformation of Christian thinking and preaching.

(8/21/2005) We have been studying the Sermon on the Mount. These are the eternal laws of the Kingdom of God The Sermon says we are blessed and are to rejoice when people falsely say all kinds of evil against us because of Christ. The Sermon says we are blessed when we are merciful and pure of heart. The Sermon says we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. The Sermon says we must forgive our debtors if we want God to forgive us.

We can approach these commandments of Christ in several ways. We can claim no one is perfect, and thus excuse ourselves.

We can say no one else is doing them so we don’t have to.

We can protest that as long as we are in the world we have to sin.

We can imagine that Christ spoke these knowing that we cannot do them so we will understand we have to go to Heaven by His forgiveness. He does not expect us to obey His commandments or those of His Apostles.

The modern understanding is that we are saved by grace and God receives us and has fellowship with us even though we are not observing His commandments.

Thus we have despised the commandments of Christ and His Apostles.

What an awesome error!

Does the Great Commission command us to teach the nations to keep Christ’s commandments? Or does it command us to "get people saved" and build churches?

Are we not terribly confused.

Of course we are to obey the commandments issued by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount. They are the eternal laws of the Kingdom of God. We cannot disobey them and have fellowship with the Apostles, with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ. What unscriptural nonsense is taught today!

How, then, are we to keep these commandments. By our will power? No! By means of our sinful nature? No! We keep them by three means.

First, by the forgiving, delivering authority and power of the blood of the Lamb. There is Virtue in Christ’s blood that will enable us to overcome every temptation to disobey Christ’s commands.

Second, by the word of our testimony. This means that no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, we choose to believe God and give glory to Him. He has promised that all things work together for good for those who love Him. Therefore in the darkest of nights, in the most impossible circumstances, we cry out: "My Father, I do not understand you but I trust you!" We speak faith in God. Thus we overcome Satan by the word of our testimony that God is faithful.

Third, we must live on the cross and in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must love not our life to the death, trusting always in Him who raises the dead.

As we persevere in faith, praying always to the Father in Jesus’ name, we can overcome evil with good. We can maintain a pure heart. We can show mercy. We can forgive those who have wounded us. We can do what Christ has commanded.

The Veil has been torn asunder. We can keep on entering the Most Holy Place, obtaining Divine Virtue and grace, not so our conduct can be excused but so we can be created in God’s image.

Never, never, never give up. You can overcome through Jesus Christ. You can be more than a conqueror. If you do not live the victorious life in Christ, it is because you have chosen not to; not because He does not possess all the wisdom and power you need to overcome every obstacle.

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