If you are of the mindset that God’s ‘law’ was done away with, or is ‘irrelevant’ to us ‘Christian believers’ today, then I assume you would also believe that ‘sin’ has been done away with (or is nonexistent) as well, or no? I only suggest that because ‘sin’ is...the breaking or transgressing of God’s law. Sin is lawlessness. (1 John 3:4)

And why would any student of the Bible believe the law has no bearing on them or relevancy to their walk of faith, when Paul makes it clear...that while ‘circumcision or uncircumcision is nothing...keeping the commandments of God is what matters.” (1 Cor. 7:19). John did so as well- 1 John 2:3-6.

Oh...but you are a child of God now...and God does not expect you to ‘obey laws’ because to suggest one needs to be ‘obedient’ borders on ‘legalism’ you say?

Or that obedience has nothing to do with our ‘salvation’? Then what is your take when you read Hebrews 5:9 that says Christ ‘became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him’? You know, like that new commandment He added in John 13:34-35? Or why would Jesus say that “not everyone who says to Him, ‘Lord, Lord’ will not enter the kingdom of heaven, but those who do the will of My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21)

Suppose your neighbor is the local municipal judge in town, and he shares with you one evening how his 16-year old son just got his driver’s license, ‘warning’ you with a grin to ‘be careful’ when you are out on the road. You laugh...and ask ‘why’ , and are told that his son is not required to obey any of the traffic laws because he (the dad) is the judge.

“You’re kidding, right?”....you respond in disbelief. The dad chuckles, wanting to reassure you not to worry...that his son will try to be a good driver; but...if he is stopped and ticketed for any infractions...at least he won’t have to pay the ticket since he will just dismiss them.

In what world does that even sound 'just', or make sense? And yet...that is how many sincere ‘Christians’ have been led to believe when it comes to God’s laws and ‘punishment’ or ‘consequences’ when we do sin. “Jesus took all our punishment for all past, present, and future sins”, we’ve been taught. No wonder Paul writes: “Let no one deceive you with empty words...for because of these things...the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 5:5-6)

Which now leads to a critical lesson that I would submit has not been fully grasped by many in the church world today; and it has to do with this idea of ‘wrath’.

We read in John’s gospel that everyone who does not believe in the Son (Jesus)...the wrath of God abides, or remains on him.” (John 3:36). Have you ever noticed that verse before and wondered what that even means? God’s wrath is on any and all who don’t ‘believe’ in the Son? Do you know why that is, without fully explaining just what this ‘wrath’ is?

Again, all I know to do is point out other Bible verses to you for you to examine. Paul wrote that God set His law in place some 430 years after He established a covenant with Abraham, and the reason for the law was because of ‘transgressions’. (Gal. 3:17,19). This took place when God led His people out of Egypt and into the wilderness to Mt. Sinai where He gave them the ten commandments. (Exodus 19-20)

Now you might be told that the law was ‘given to them back then’ and does not apply to you today. I would submit to you that ignoring God’s laws, thinking they don’t apply to you today would be nearly as silly as ignoring the laws of gravity, for example, if not worse. Let me explain:

Suppose you are willing to concede that God’s law still stands today, but not necessarily relevant to you, or ...’has nothing to do with your salvation’. We can come back to that point later.

We are told that this law...’brings about wrath’ (Rom. 4:15), and those who are still under the law...it ‘brings a curse’ (Gal. 3:10). That makes this being ‘under grace’ vs. ‘under the law’ a whole lot more interesting now, does it not?

Now the reason we are told that God’s wrath ‘remains’ on those who don’t believe in the Son, is because we are also told that ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Rom. 3:23) There is ‘none righteous, no, not one’ (Rom. 3:10-12). (Please, take your time with this, as it is so critically important that you ‘get this’ with the help of the Holy Spirit).

Sin...brings the wrath of God on us which is why Jesus told that man to “Go, and sin no more...” or what will happen? (John 5:14). Are you familiar with what Paul told Timothy in 1 Tim. 1:8-10?

Friends...for all the talking we do about ‘getting saved’ or being ‘saved’...do you know what it is that we are ‘saved’ from? Jesus came to ‘save us from the wrath of God’ (Rom. 5:9). But in order for this to actually happen, it not only asks, or requires us...but it demands... that we ‘repent’, or ‘turn from’(our sins) and follow Jesus, as in ‘abide in Him’. IF we don’t repent, what did Jesus say would happen to us in Luke 13:3,5?

Oh...and those who truly are abiding in Jesus? Guess what they don’t do anymore? They don’t sin, because anyone who has been ‘born of God, and ‘abides in Him’, will begin to walk as He walked and no longer sin. (1 John 2:6; 3:6-9; 5:18). And it’s not because they were motivated to ‘try harder to do better’. Trust me, when I say that!

So where does this ‘grace’ thing figure in? Easy – when we come to the end of ourselves, and humble ourselves before Him with our whole heart...He lifts us up and empowers us with His grace so that we can ‘do the will of God’ and live a godly and righteous life because as He leads us to ‘put to death our old man’...and we learn it is ‘no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me’ (Gal. 2:20; Rom. 8:13). That...is how we can ‘go and sin no more’ and escape the wrath of God. When God makes this clear...you realize...it’s not ‘theological rocket science’...so I have come to learn. :- )