A man in the bible said he kept all the commandments. He was told to sell all his stuff and follow the Lord. If the man loved God with all his substance, this would not have been a problem. If the man ultimately did not obey Jesus, his works would be the manifestation of his idolatry with mammon. I could tell the world that I observe the commandments, I could even be in the House of the Lord on the day He blessed, but during that same day (such as Friday night) I could be watching HBO, some rated R movie or even WWE wrestling on TV. Also, after church I could be in Wal-Mart doing my weekly or biweekly shopping. (Of course this is bad, but for someone who makes their boast in keeping the commandments of the Lord, this is exceptionally bad). And
thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and
doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
(Romans 2:3 [KJV])
I could preach to the world to keep the commandments, but when it comes to giving my tithes (at all times and on all gains) and a generous offering, I come up lacking. I could say I love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, but when it comes to praising Him and getting full of His Spirit, I could take no initiative to do so. My pride could be my God. Of course, if I loved God with all my substance, and loved my neighbor, I would want to become full of God’s spirit, and do mighty works like Stephen, Phillip and the Apostles. To truly serve God is not to meet the minimum standards of keeping the commandments (searching for legal loopholes), but letting the Spirit teach and lead us, in addition to living with His moral laws (we MUST follow peace and holiness). But
now we have been
released from the Law, having died to that by
which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not
in oldness of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May
it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except
through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law
had not said, " YOU SHALL NOT COVET." (Romans 7:6-7 [NASB])
Some look to the "letter" [or the lack there of] to release them from bestowing homage to the Lord. They carnally search and say there is no New Testament [Seventh-Day] Sabbath Commandment. The very provocation of seeking to circumvent lifting up the Lord, by those that despise the Law, is of the “oldness of the letter”. Those that do that are operating in the Law: by the letter of a New Testament Law. They do not follow the leading of the Spirit. If I am searching only “by the letter” to see what is right and/or wrong, I am going by the oldness of the letter. I need to mix the Word with faith [in the Spirit of Christ]. "Surely we don't need to start all over
again with the importance of turning away from evil deeds and placing
our faith in God." (From Hebrews 6:1 [NLT])
For example: If I am saying where in the New Testament does it say to tithe or to observe the Sabbath or forbids wearing things pertaining to the opposite gender? Then I am not being led by the Spirit, but rather carnally omitting righteousness. James
4:17 (NLT)
Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
The Lord Jesus came to perform the Law, not condemn it (not to declare the Law unfit for knowledge and good use [See Matthew 5:17, Romans 7:7, Romans 7:12, Romans 7:16 & 1 Timothy 1:8]). Matthew 5:17 (NLT) Don't
misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of
Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them.
Romans 7:16 (NLT) I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. 1 Timothy 1:8-9 (NLT) We know these laws are good when they are used as God intended. But they were not made for people who do what is right. They are for people who are disobedient and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who murder their father or mother or other people. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT) All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. The Lord Jesus did not desecrate His Father’s sacred day. Is healing on the Sabbath sacrilegious? No, that is what the Sabbath is all about. When man is delivered from bondage, the Lord is sanctified / glorified. Man, whom God loves is blessed, the Lord is lifted up, and the Lord & man are at rest. Now that’s Sabbath! There is nothing like a day when compromising and vexing things are moved aside, and everyone can focus on the things of God at the same time, unified. Nothing like a day when both man and the Lord are not grieved, but at rest, in harmony! Nothing like all in one accord giving gestures of recognition to our Lord on the Day He setup / set aside. The Lord satisfied / performed the Law when He laid down His own life. John
15:13 (NLT) And here is how to
measure it--the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives
for their friends.
James 2:26 (NLT) Just as the body is dead
without a spirit, so also faith is dead without good deeds.
The Law is based on love. Matthew 22:40 (NLT) All the other
commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two
commandments."
God is love. The Law is realized with love. Romans 13:10 (NLT) Love does no
wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God's requirements.
The love we must operate in does not come “by the letter” through a sinful-nature dominated mind that is hostile to the Lord and His good commandments. If we are submissive to the Spirit of the Lord that He has given to those that obey Him, we have power to love through the help of the Spirit, keeping the Lord’s good commandments. Romans 8:4 (NLT) He did this so that the
requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer
follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Romans 7:6 (NLT) But now we have been released from the law, for we died with Christ, and we are no longer captive to its power. Now we can really serve God, not in the old way by obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way, by the Spirit. Obeying [the newness of] the Spirit: We must be in agreement with the Spirit of God [Jesus Christ]. Are we saved by faith in the Spirit of Christ alone? Faith does not exist without works (See James 2:26 & James 2:14). James
2:17 Even so
faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Additionally, works are dead without faith (See Romans 3:31, Romans 14:23, Hebrews 4:2 & Romans 9:31-32). Hebrews
4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto
them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with
faith in them that heard it.
Romans 14:23(b) for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. We are not saved by works (See Galatians 2:16). Furthermore, we are not saved by faith apart from works. Some attempt to obtain salvation by quoting a confession of faith, which is good if sincerely spoken, because it would be an act of repentance. However, as our Lord told us in John 3:5, we must be born of water and spirit. The necessity of repentance, baptism in Jesus' name and receiving the Spirit of God are corroborated in:
We are saved by faith, and not by the works of the Law. If you are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, then obey what He spoke in "Matthew 9:13 & John 3:5" and "Luke 24:47 & 49", et al. (Jesus is the Spirit. If you are operating in the newness of the Spirit, obey Jesus [the Spirit of Christ]). Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is
not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus
Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for
by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
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revised: 06/23/06