Now here is a wondrous thing to contemplate.
Jesus came preaching the Gospel — the good news regarding Salvation being a matter of faith in Him – belief in Him.
Those who opposed Him did so in favor of the law, and many today who claim to believe Him as being the Christ to come, cannot fathom God saving people without the benefit or inclusion of the law. So they conclude the law is a given, and anyone who believes otherwise, they conclude those people are looking for “cheap grace” where this version of the Gospel is merely an attempt to justify a sinful lifestyle due to this “flawed” interpretation of the Gospel.
Such people believe and insist the Gospel and grace are not a license to sin, and they are correct. What they fail to realize however is that they still sin themselves. What the Gospel does is rescue the sinner from the consequences of sin – the consequences having been transferred to Jesus who forgives us our sins simply because He took our sins to Himself.
Why then would someone insist the law still plays a part, when part of that part is condemnation meted out by that law for sin against the ones who actually sin? All have sinned. All have fallen short of the glory of God. That is a given; an intractable truth. Do you want condemnation?
Paul addresses this in regards to sin where sins are the fruit of the flesh and not the Spirit and those led by the Spirit.
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. °For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. °For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. °Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. °So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. °But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. °And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. °But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. °Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. °For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. °For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. — Romans 8:4-14
There is no mention of the works of the law, such as the Sabbath and transgressions of the works of the law as being a sin of concern when it comes to condemnation.
When we examine the claim of those who question salvation through grace being cheap grace, we find that their complaint revolves around the Sabbath commandment, and the Decalogue in general. Now consider this in light of what Paul wrote as stated above regarding the works of the flesh.
Works of the flesh transcend the works of the law and Sabbath. By insisting the sins that will bar you from eternal life are found solely within the confines of the Decalogue and Sabbath, the innumerable sins of the flesh are what are ignored and made irrelevant when it comes to salvation; eternal life. For accusations are often leveled in an attempt to overlook something else; distract you from something important; something relevant. A Christian who believes what Jesus preached regarding the nature of the Gospel lacks the Sabbath according to those who embrace the Sabbath, while they ignore and overlook the issue of the flesh and being led by the flesh, and not the Spirit, where such accusations are in fact works of the flesh; judging and condemning others according to appearance (breaking the Sabbath) which Jesus identifies and equivocates with unrighteous judgment that was specifically addressed by Jesus in relation to working on the Sabbath.
The wondrous thing then is how people cannot imagine God providing salvation; eternal life without the law that threatens them with eternal death for non-compliance. Under this scenario, not one person would ever be saved.
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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )
Acts 17:11
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