*News-Flash* - God’s law still stands today. It has not been repealed, nor did Jesus do away with it, or ‘abolish it’, depending on the Bible translation you read. (Matt. 5:17). It is in fact the same law He handed down some 430 years after He established a covenant with Abraham (Gal. 3:17,19). And before you are tempted to ‘jump ship’ here, we are not talking about dietary restrictions and blood sacrifices which have been discontinued.

Did you know Paul made a point to inform us that it is ‘not the hearers of the law who are just in the sight of God but the doers of the law who will be justified’? (Rom. 2:13) He also wrote that while circumcision was no longer ‘a thing’ to be concerned with, ‘keeping the commandments of God is what matters most’ (1 Cor. 7:19). He even said he still views the law to be ‘holy and the commandment holy and just and good’ (Rom. 7:12).  "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." (Ps. 19:7)

We know that Jesus said it would be easy to tell who His followers were...because they were ‘keeping that new commandment’ He handed down to us- (John 13:34-35; 14:14; 15:10-12). John also mentions this is how we know that we are ‘in Him’....’if we keep His commandments’ (1 John 2:3-6). There really is no way of getting around this idea that God’s children are ‘obedient children’...and ‘keep the commandments of God. (1 Pet. 1:14-16)

I also realize after being around in the church world for over four decades, that if you have been taught to believe it is ‘just faith’, and ‘trust in grace’...then all these other passages that pertain to the ‘law’ can be easily set aside and dismissed, as if they don’t ‘apply to us’. I mean, did not Paul write that we are ‘not under the law, but under grace’ in Rom. 6:14? But let’s not forget that Paul also clarified that it is those who are ‘led by the Spirit’ who are ‘not under the law’ - in Gal. 5:18.

In case you did not have time to look up one of the references I left you with yesterday, let’s take a moment and examine what Paul wrote to Timothy in his first letter to him. “We know the law is good...if one uses it lawfully.” (1:8)

Let’s be clear here, as Paul made clear...no one will be declared ‘righteous’ because they ‘kept some law’ (Rom. 3:20). But...those who are led by the Spirit of God...will meet all the requirements of the law because they will be doing what is righteous in the eyes of God, which is to keep the law’. (Rom. 8:4; 1 John 2:29; 3:7). I know...sounds like bit of a paradox, but give it time and the Holy Spirit will make it even more clear and confirm this to you. Back to Timothy’s letter now....

Paul said the law is good...but also...’knowing this, the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murders of parents, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine...(1 Tim. 1:9-10). (And who are the ‘righteous’ ones? - 1 John 2:29; 3:7)

I’ve said this before and will say it again...using the natural illustration of man’s laws, be it civil, criminal, and yes...even traffic laws. Obeying or adhering to man-made laws won’t make a person ‘righteous’ or even make them a good citizen; but good citizens will obey the laws. We are not ‘rewarded’ because we stop at red lights and avoid speeding. But what happens when we ‘break those traffic laws’? And are we exempt from being ticketed when we break those laws because our father might be the local judge? Of course not.

So when Paul says ‘the law brings wrath’ (Rom. 4:15) and it brings a ‘curse’ (Gal. 3:10), he is basically echoing what Jesus said when He commands us to ‘go and sin no more or something worse might happen to you’ (John 5:14). And did you know what ‘sin’ is? It’s breaking the commandments of God. (1 John 3:4).

Now here is why you might be struggling to wrap your head around all this: Many, if not most in the church world today are utterly convinced (maybe brainwashed) into believing they will always remain sinners on this side of heaven. To suggest otherwise...might make you guilty of teaching some doctrine pertaining to ‘sinless perfection’...whatever that means. And if this ‘stronghold of a lie’ is firmly embedded in your belief system, then of course you will reject all those other verses that teach just the opposite about us being free of sin and able to go and ‘sin no more’. (John 8:34-36; 1 Pet. 4:1-2; Rom. 6:18,22; 1 John 2:6; 3:6,9; 5:18; Heb. 10:26-28).

This is why I continue to sound the alarm and try to wake us up from our slumber of deception that is widespread throughout the church world. I know....sounds so dramatic, does it not? I did not ask nor seek for this ‘assignment’....but here we are and I have no intentions of quieting down...until I feel directed to do so otherwise. All I can do is point you to the word of God and make it known to you. The rest is between you and God. (Acts 17:11)

Let’s finish up with this reminder today. There were various times as recorded in the gospels when people came to Jesus inquiring what they ‘must do’ in order to inherit eternal life. Guess what He pointed them to? The Law. (Matt. 19:16-19; Luke 10:25-28). Why do that if the law is about to become extinct or irrelevant? Friends...God’s law was not some bad idea of His to ‘hold us over’ until Jesus showed up, sort of like patching a bad tire. God’s law was and is good and holy (Ps. 19:7-9). What Jesus came to do...was to empower us by His Spirit of grace so that we could fulfill the law...through Him. And this does not happen simply by saying you ‘believe’ that Jesus is the Son of God. You have to surrender your heart to Him and then begin to follow His leading. (Rom. 8:4 &14; Ps. 23:3)

Do you know what happens in the process of all this? You are conformed to His image and likeness, and you become a partaker of His nature....which is the ONLY way you could ever love others as He has loved us. (Titus 2:11-14; 2 Pet. 1:2-4) And by now...you should know that ‘love is the fulfillment of the law’. This is...the ‘good news’ of the gospel and should give us all hope. More on that tomorrow, Lord willing.