GRACE AND THE LAW

GRACE AND THE LAW

In chapter 5 of my book Saints Made Merchandise is a statement which reads, “The main reason for the preacher worship is the assumption that every sermon we hear from the pulpit is directly from God. We must realise that not all sermons are from God. Sermons can come from a number of sources, which we must admit ……. exist. One of the sources is of cause inspiration from God. The other source, which is the source of most sermons, is the human mind, which will be interpreting the written word of God, which is the Bible. There are yet two more sources namely demonic brainwave and the canal human mind seeking to abuse the Bible for selfish gains. Once we accept and identify this, preacher worship will be a thing of the past.” The statement was written having noticed that there are several spiritual and psychological influences which have a bearing on human behaviour and actions.

In Philippians 2:5 the apostle who preached against legalism wrote, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” This statement alone shows that issues of the mind are very critical to the manner we live and interact with both man and God. The way we perceive things can either make or break us. Our religious beliefs and concepts revolve around the way we have been made to perceive or embrace issues.

Of late we have seen a certain perception of grace and non-legalistic teaching which seems to condone sinful living. While it is true that the law does not and will never ever save any one it is equally true that everyone who lives in sin shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:21; 1 Cor. 6:9. To cement this, the beloved apostle once wrote,” we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. {3:9} Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John 3:2-9.

Some of us misconstrue the term “we are no longer under the law” to mean we are free to live against the law yet the apostle who coined the phrase tells us that the law is godly. In Romans 7:7 the apostle Paul writes, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” In Galatians 3:23-26 he goes on to write, But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. This thus means that not being under the law does not entail braking the law.

In Romans 8 the bible says, “Consequently, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.  3 For what was impossible for the law, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the requirement of the law would be fulfilled in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

You see, the law had one challenge in that it was weak and had no capacity to justify. The law could only point out sin but was unable to deliver a sinner from sin. It could let you know that God hates adultery, for instance, but was unable to stop or restrain a lustful person from committing adultery. This is the reason why the bible says, “be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2. A transformation of the mind is key to the way and manner we approach the things of God. This is the very reason why in Philippians 2:5 Paul writes, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” We must have the mindset of Christ in order to behave like Christ.

What influences your mind defines who you are. Proverbs 23:7. You must therefore guard your mind to ensure you get the right inspiration. If you open your mind to demonic influence you will certainly twist biblical principles to justify sinful living. This is the reason, for example, why some believers are slowly embracing homosexuality under the guise of not living under, “the letter which killeth.” As long as a person is under faith, some claim, that person is free to break the law because he is not under the law. That certainly is not the concept of being under the law.

Not being under the law means living a life which cannot be blamed by the law. A person who is not a thief is not under the law which says, “thou shalt not steal,” because the law does not apply to him hence he is not under that law. Similarly, a person who does not break the law is not and cannot be under the law because he already lives above the dictates of the law. This was the reason why the Sanhedrin could not find fault with Christ and had to rely on false witnesses thereby braking Exodus 20:16 because they were under the law whilst Christ was not. The law could not pin Christ because it found no fault with him. In the same vein, those who do not break the law are not under the law and the law cannot find fault in them because they are under grace. Actually, the bible tells us that grace teaches us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and exhorts us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. Titus 2:12. When you live righteously how can the law find fault in you? you are certainly not under the law.

In conclusion, please guard your mind a