Thank You!

I just want to say that, in the past three weeks, I have received several emails and facebook messages regarding my blog. So, I wish to thank all of my readers for reading, and I hope you will continue to do so. All the feedback is encouraging, including negative feedback.

I am not finished with my blog by any means. I am taking a short respite. I will resume writing shortly. Thanks for your patience. I write to a great audience.

Salvation's Perfect Order

There are three aspects regarding our salvation. These aspects are presented in the New Testament repeatedly, always in the same order. It is very important that we present these three aspects in the order that the Bible places them. To get them in the wrong order is to preach a false, unbiblical salvation.

Grace First
The first aspect, the foundation of our salvation, is the grace of God. Grace is the provision that God made for our salvation. “Grace” is a word that is unknown today to so many of our churches. Noah Webster defines “grace” this way – “Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.” At the root of grace is God’s love, and the chief characteristic of grace is that God loved us when did not merit, earn, or deserve it. This love of God toward mankind is the FIRST aspect of our salvation, being plainly set forth in I John 4:19 – “We love him because he first loved us.” Romans 5:8 reveals this grace – “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God’s grace is manifest to us in his expression of love toward us. He loved us before we loved Him; He loved us in spite of us; He loved us while we were yet sinners. The proof of the grace of God is in the cross of Christ. God proved His love to mankind in the giving of His Son to lay down His life upon the old, rugged cross. This is the foundation, the focal point, the center, and the theme of the entire gospel – God showed grace to mankind by loving us when we were undeserving, filthy, rotten sinners.

I will mention it here, having already expounded on it. The opposite of grace is works. This is best shown in Romans 11:6. Grace and works are opposites. The foundation of our salvation is God’s grace, and when I speak of grace, I am referring to God sending His own Son to die upon the cross of Calvary. Before we could be saved, God made the first move, even when we did not deserve it. He sent His Son to die. Many of us know the definition of grace. But they say that a picture is worth a thousand words. And if you want to see a portrait of grace, it is the picture of Jesus Christ hanging on an old rugged cross, expressing His love to mankind in spite of them and their sin. Grace – no wonder they call it amazing!

Faith Second
Concerning our salvation, it is clear that the Father made the first move by sending His only begotten Son to shed His blood upon the cross of Calvary. This was done prior to any effort was made on man’s part to turn to God. Now that Christ has died, was buried, and rose again from the dead, what do we do to be saved?

The second aspect of our salvation is faith. To obtain salvation, we simply believe, or place our faith, in the Jesus Christ and His finished work on Calvary. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ constitute the picture of God’s grace toward man. Grace is God’s provision for our salvation; faith is God’s prerequisite for our salvation. To be saved, we must, as the apostle Paul who was blameless concerning the law, let go of every feeble effort to save ourselves, counting it all but dung, and rest solely and completely in Jesus Christ. God made provision for our salvation by sending Jesus to die for our sins. Consequently, we trust His provision completely to save and keep us.

Works Third
Grace is God’s provision for our salvation; faith is God’s prerequisite for our salvation; and works are God’s product of salvation. After we are saved, the resurrected Saviour lives in us, producing good works. Good works are a result of salvation, not a requirement of salvation. This is where many slip up. The New Testament absolutely emphasizes the holy, separated life of a Christian. But just as much, the New Testament emphasizes this life to be lived in us, through Jesus Christ. Repeatedly, the New Testament reveals the order I have presented here; grace first, faith second, and works third. To try to have good works so you can be saved or stay saved is to preach another gospel; a gospel that should be recanted and completely dismissed.

Verses That Show This Order
Now, I want to look at some verses that deal with salvation, and show how the scriptures repeatedly bear out that the proper order of our salvation is grace first, faith second, and works third.

Ephesians 2:8-10 – “For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

This passage needs little explanation. First, the apostle says, “By grace are ye saved.” Grace first. Then, the apostle states that our salvation is “through faith.” Faith second. Then, the apostle makes it clear that our salvation is not of works. He makes it plain that we do not work so we can be saved; but after we place faith in the grace of God, the apostle states, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” Here, the apostle shows that our salvation produces good works. He shows how these good works are done – “We are His workmanship.” HE IS THE ONE DOING THE WORKS IN US. Works third.

Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

The first aspect of our salvation presented here is that Christ was crucified – this is the expression of God’s grace to man. Grace first. Paul says, “I am crucified with Christ.” This means that when we place our faith in the finished work of Jesus, we died when He died upon the cross. Paul connects our crucifixion with Christ with our faith being placed in Him. Faith second. As a result of being crucified with Christ, “Christ liveth in me.” When we live by faith, Christ does the living in our hearts, producing a life of holiness and righteousness. Works third.

Titus 2:11, 12 – “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”

The first words of this passage, “For the grace of God.” Grace first. The next words, “that bringeth salvation.” Salvation second. Verse eleven states, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.” Works third, directly resulting from salvation by grace. So many use this verse to show how grace teaches us to live right; and it does! But before grace teaches us to live right, it brings salvation. After it brings salvation, then it teaches us to live right. Living right is shown as a result of salvation; not a requirement of it.

Titus 2:13, 14 – “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Notice how this passage begins – “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us.” This giving of Himself for us is grace. The next words state plainly, “That he might redeem us from all iniquity.” Redemption second. Then he said, “…and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Works third. Again, we see that faith in the finished work of Christ results in good works.

Titus 3:4, 5, 8 – “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”

First, the apostle mentions, “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.” Grace first. Then, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” Salvation (apart from works) second. Then, in verse 8, Paul states, “…and I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” Works third. Paul explains, not only that our salvation is a result of salvation and not a requirement, but also that our good works should be done because they are profitable unto men. I do not maintain good works so I can be saved; I maintain good works, for one reason, that lost mankind may see my good works, and glorify my Father which is in heaven, according to Matthew 5:16.

I John 2:2, 3 – “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.”

The first words of the passage are, “And he is the propitiation for our sins.” John is referring specifically to the death of Christ, which the only act of righteousness that appeases the wrath of the Father. Grace first. Then, John states in verse 3, “And hereby we do know that we know him…” Knowing Him is second. Then, the evidence of having met the Lord is given, “…if we keep his commandments.” Works third. Again, we keep His commandments, not so we can meet Him; but rather because we ALREADY know Him. It would be good to state here, that the apostle is so sure that knowing the Lord results in keeping His commandments, that in the next verse, he plainly states, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

The New Testament is so clear on the order of our salvation. God showed grace to mankind by sending Jesus to die for us when we did not deserve it; we place our faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone, obtaining salvation; and as a result, Christ lives a holy life through us. This is the gospel, and anything that contradicts it is a false, perverted, deviation from truth.

If You Are Kept by Works, I Have Questions!

In the previous post (it would benefit the reader to read the previous post, “The Perverted Gospel” before reading this one), I showed extensively how the Galatians were a people bewitched by a perverted gospel. That perverted gospel was not a new gospel presented to them by the Jehovah’s Witnesses; it was not the dogma of Mormonism; nor was it the principles of liberal theology; it was simply the common error that we who are saved by trusting Jesus Christ are kept by keeping works of the law.

Still today, this idea that we are saved solely by grace and kept by trusting in works is still prevalent in churches today. It is possible that one who is reading this post is seething with anger, hating every word I write. It could be that someone reading this post is a staunch advocate of “staying saved” by keeping commandments. If you are that person, I have questions for you, and I would love for you to email me, and answer these questions.

Question 1 – What percentage of your faith is in Jesus Christ and what percentage is in law-keeping?
If 100% of your faith is in Jesus Christ, and you are trusting solely in Him, why do you preach that keeping our salvation requires us to keep laws and commandments? YOU CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. Either all your faith is in Christ, or it is not. If your salvation depends upon keeping commandments, at least some of your faith is in WORKS. I am asking – what percentage is in Christ; and what percentage is in law-keeping?

Now, I have heard preachers get up and preach this way – “If you’re going to ‘stay saved,’ you must…” then they preach a list. Then, if you were to corner these preachers after church, they would make it clear – “Oh, I don’t believe that we are kept by works…I believe we must keep our faith in Christ…I just believe that if we really have our faith in Christ, good works will follow.” WHOA! Wait a minute! That’s an entirely different message than what was preached from the pulpit! If you believe that we are both saved and kept by trusting Christ, then don’t get up and preach that we must keep a list of works in order to “stay saved!” YOU CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. So, answer me. How much of your faith is in Christ and how much of your faith is in keeping laws and commandments? As for me, 100% of my faith is in Jesus Christ, and 0% is in the keeping of laws and commandments. How about you?

Question 2 – If part of your faith is in Christ and part of it is in law-keeping, what does Romans 11:5, 6 mean?
Romans 11:5, 6 reads this way – “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

These verses refer to our election, or the method by which God chooses us. We are chosen by God not by works (our doings), but by grace (God’s doings). Verse 6 makes it clear – if we are chosen by grace, there is no working (on our part) involved. If we are chosen by works, then God has nothing to do with it. This passage makes it plain that you cannot split your faith between Christ and law-keeping. You cannot be saved by grace at the altar, then by works when you get up. It is either all God’s doing, and we put our faith in Him; or it is all our doing, and we put our faith in works. If I am reading these verses wrong, educate me. Answer the question clearly – what does Romans 11:5, 6 mean?

Question 3 – If works can’t get you saved, how can works keep you saved?
When you went to the altar and asked the Lord to save you, you were resting solely upon Jesus Christ and His work on Calvary. You knew that all of your works were powerless and could not save you. But when you got up from the altar – those powerless, dead works of law-keeping suddenly have power! The same works that you would not trust at the altar, you now trust to keep you saved. Those works couldn’t give you life in Christ; but now they can sustain life in Christ. I don’t understand. Help me. Laws that never could give salvation can maintain salvation. How is this possible? If works can’t get you saved, how can works keep you saved?

Question 4 – Why is Jesus Christ and His work on the cross not good enough for you?
If you are preaching that children of God must keep laws in order to “stay saved,” the work of Christ is insufficient for you, and I want to know why.

You should note that the work that Jesus did – His death, burial, and resurrection – is extremely pleasing to the Father.

Isaiah 53:10 – “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”

Matthew 3:17 and Matthew 17:5 – “…This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

When Jesus died on the cross, He cried out, “It is finished.” If it is finished, why do you add to it? Why is your message, “Trust the Lord for salvation, but after you’re saved, keep a list of commandments?”

In the book of Galatians, twice Paul emphasized the fact that Christ GAVE HIMSELF.

Galatians 1:4 – “Who GAVE HIMSELF for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present, evil world.”

Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and GAVE HIMSELF for me.”

When Christ GAVE HIMSELF, He gave His ALL. How can you have a silly opinion that Christ’s all is not enough to save us, or keep us saved? How can you tell anyone that what Christ did is enough to get us saved, but if we’re going to “stay saved,” we must keep commandments?

Christ’s giving of His all is so pleasing to the Father. I do not understand how you can be so displeased with Christ that you require law-keeping to “stay saved.” I look forward to your answer to this question.

Question 5 – If you were in the Philippian jail, and the jailer asked, “What must I do to be saved?” what would your response be?
You say, “Oh, I would say, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.’” Of course you say that, because it’s the right answer. But, why don’t you say that when you tell someone how to be saved? Why do you tell people, that, in order to “stay saved,” it is going to take law-keeping? If you believe in keeping laws to “stay saved,” you disagree with Paul’s message of salvation to the Philippian jailer – “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Question 6 – Why are you so eager to put us under the law of Moses?
I have elaborated on this in the previous post, so I will not expound much on it. However, it does demand an answer. Galatians 3:10; Galatians 5:3; and James 2:10 all teach plainly that if you are under ANY of the law of Moses, you are under ALL of it. Understanding this, why would you want to subject yourself to such bondage? The entire nation of Israel was under the law for 1,500 years, and not a single individual could ever keep it. And then, we have preachers, who want to strap that law to everyone with whom they come in contact. Everyone in Israel who tried to carry the law of Moses died under its weight. So, why are you so bound and determined to put us under the law of Moses?

Question 7 – If you believe that Christians are kept saved by keeping laws and commandments, how do you explain Galatians 2:16; Galatians 2:19; Galatians 2:21; Galatians 3:11; Acts 13:39; Romans 3:20; Romans 3:28; Ephesians 2:8, 9; and Titus 3:5?
All of these verses contradict the very thought of justification (salvation) being a result of law-keeping or works of any kind. You cannot ignore these verses. If you are kept by keeping laws, then I want to know what each of these verses mean. You owe an explanation here!

Question 8 – Why do you sing songs that emphasize faith in Christ alone if you do not believe them?
If you believe that we are kept by keeping commandments, there are a host of gospel songs you should never sing again. I will mention only a few.

Amazing Grace – The third verse states, “Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come! ‘Tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace shall lead me home.” If you believe that works will lead you home, then sing it that way! Quit singing a song you do not believe!

Nothing but the Blood – The third verse reads this way – “Nothing can for sin atone, Nothing but the blood of Jesus! Naught of good that I have done, Nothing but the blood of Jesus!” If you believe that good works keep you saved, then you do have faith in “good that you have done.” You do not believe this song, so leave it alone!

The Solid Rock – The first verse reads, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but WHOLLY lean on Jesus’ name.” Either lean wholly on Christ or quit singing the song.

Jesus Paid it All – The title is self-explanatory. If you do not believe that the work of Christ pays for your sins in full, throw this song out.

Christ is All I Need – You do not believe it if you need works to maintain your salvation.

‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus – The second verse says, “O, how sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to trust His cleansing blood, Just in simple faith to plunge me ‘Neath the healing, cleansing flood.” The writer forgot to add that we are trusting in commandments as well. If you sing this song and do not believe that it’s all in Jesus, you are singing a lie.

If you believe that works keep you saved, and you sing these songs, I want to know why you sing lies. I look forward to your answer.

Conclusion
If the reader believes that keeping commandments is keeping you saved, I sincerely encourage you to email me, answering these questions. These questions are serious, not sarcastic. I genuinely want to know how you deal with these questions if all your faith is not in Christ. I look forward to hearing from the one who believes that we are kept by works.

The Perverted Gospel

Galatians 1:6-9 – “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

This is a continuing thought of my previous blog post, “The Worst Kind of Backsliding.” It would benefit the reader to read “The Worst Kind of Backsliding” before reading this post. In this post, I am going to “zero in” on some points I made in the previous post.

The Perverted Gospel
Paul writes to the Galatians in a very frank, clear, and candid manner concerning teachers who had come to them preaching another gospel. Paul states, that in reality, there is no other gospel than the gospel of Christ, presented and received by grace. This new gospel that the Galatians were witnessing was simply a perversion of the true gospel.

The perverted gospel contains elements of the true gospel within it; but it is not the true gospel. The perverted gospel even has Christ in it somewhere; but Christ is not the center of the perverted gospel.

What is this perverted gospel? The perverted gospel, against which Paul warns, is the teaching that salvation is by grace at the altar, and works when you get up. Let me say it another way. The false teachers who had come to Galatia were saying things like, “Now, if you want to be saved, Christ will save you by trusting in Him. But, if you’re going to ‘stay saved,’ you have to…be circumcised…keep the law of Moses…do this…do that…hold your mouth a certain way…do everything I do…” and on, and on, and on. Paul spends, not a verse; not a chapter; but an entire epistle correcting this false doctrine.

Sad to say, this is a teaching of salvation by works that is still prevalent today; and it is just as wrong. Paul the apostle would correct it today as he did then. If you believe that salvation is a gift from God, but that it must be kept by the recipient obeying commandments, keeping standards, dressing a certain way, or any other work of any kind, Paul wrote the epistle of Galatians to you; and this blog post is written to you as well.

Paul’s Candid Question
Galatians 3:2, 3 – “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

Paul’s question is to them who had started the race by the hearing of faith, but they were attempting to finish the race by works of the law. If the reader has started his Christian experience trusting Jesus by faith, but is trying to finish his Christian experience by keeping works of the law, this reader is demanded by Paul the apostle to answer this question. “ARE YE SO FOOLISH? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Paul is asking you, in my words, “Are you so stupid, that you began in the Spirit, by the hearing of faith, and now, you’re made perfect by the flesh, by works of the law?” Paul is asking, “You mean to tell me that keeping the law of Moses wasn’t good enough to get you saved, but it’s good enough to keep you saved?” Paul is demanding an answer from you. He is asking, “Are you telling me that Jesus Christ is all you needed to get saved, but He is not all you need to stay saved?” By now, Paul is red in the face. He is beside himself in dealing with these Galatians.

We are not saved by keeping the law, and certainly, we cannot be kept that way. Assuming that the reader is still trying to maintain his salvation by keeping laws and commandments, let us look at some perfectly clear and extremely strong statements made by Paul regarding this subject.

If You’re under the Law, You’re Under it All!
Galatians 3:10 – “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in ALL things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”

Galatians 5:3 – “For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the WHOLE LAW.”

Here are the Galatians, who received salvation by simply trusting Jesus, now attempting to maintain their salvation by keeping “parts” of the law of Moses. This teaching is still prevalent today, and it is not Biblical. Paul is reminding the Galatians that if you are going to place yourself under ANY of the law of Moses, you place yourself under ALL OF IT! I will not elaborate here, because I have elaborated on this point extensively in my posts, “I Am Not Under the Law!” and “Why I Don’t Need the Law.”

I will say that James 2:10 bears out the same thought – “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of ALL.”

If you are putting yourself under any the law of Moses, Paul is reminding you that you are UNDER ALL OF IT. If you trust Jesus who fulfilled the law, you are trusting Him for the completion of ALL OF IT. With the law, it is all or nothing! Paul’s points get stronger. Let’s look at some more.

By the Works of the Law Shall No Flesh Be Justified
This truth is hammered in the book of Galatians. Paul is obstinate in his view that we are not justified (saved) as a result of any work of any kind. Paul’s passion on this subject is made so obvious by his extremely strong statements regarding this subject. Let us look at these statements.

I AM DEAD TO THE LAW!
Galatians 2:19 – “For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.”

Paul stated here, that he is dead to the law. How did that happen? Paul had been executed. Who executed him? THE LAW DID! Paul states clearly that he is not under the law, and CANNOT be under the law. It is impossible for Paul to be under the law, because the law has already killed him! Where did this execution take place? It took place at Calvary. Jesus died with Paul’s sins upon Him. Paul died with Him. That’s why the next verse, Galatians 2:20, says, “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me!” Through the law, Paul died to the law, that he might live unto God! Friend, when we get saved, we are dead to the law through the cross of Christ. It is our execution that the law promised. The law killed us at the cross, and the resurrected Saviour gives us life! He lives in us! Law-keeping never saves anyone to start with; it only legislates, accuses, arrests, and executes; it is Jesus Christ that gives life!

CHRIST IS DEAD IN VAIN!
Galatians 2:21 – “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

Wow! This verse needs no explanation (unless, of course, you believe righteousness is come by keeping laws). Paul says clearly that if righteousness is come by the law, Jesus Christ bore the crown of thorns; suffered under deathly blows; carried a heavy, wooden cross; was tried as criminal; was nailed to a tree; and hung between two thieves – ALL FOR NOTHING. Dear reader, if you are saved or kept by doing things, don’t you ever take communion again – Jesus’ body was broken and His blood was poured out – FOR NOTHING. He poured His blood; but you are not trusting in it. He suffered His body to be broken, but you are being kept some other way.

Think about it. If being saved or staying saved is a result of keeping laws, what need was there for Christ to die? Why didn’t the Father just send us His Spirit, giving us a Holy Ghost baptism, and tell us, “I’ve given you my Spirit so you can fulfil the law?” It sure seems like the Father required too much out of Jesus, if keeping laws is what saves or keeps us. I’ll tell you why the Father didn’t just give us His Spirit to help us fulfil the laws and be saved – RIGHTEOUSNESS DOES NOT COME BY THE LAW. I didn’t say it; it was Paul who said plainly and strongly, “If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain!”

CHRIST SHALL PROFIT YOU NOTHING
Galatians 5:2 – “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.”

If you believe that you are kept saved by keeping laws, do not sing, “Christ is All I Need,” because you do not believe it. If you saved or kept by keeping laws, Christ is of no profit or benefit to you. You would be just as saved if there were no Christ. Let me say that again. If you are KEPT SAVED by doing things, you would be just as saved if there were no such man as Jesus Christ. Your salvation has NOTHING TO DO with Jesus Christ. It has to do with how well you keep commandments. No wonder Paul hated this false doctrine of justification by works. This stupid doctrine really is a perverted gospel.

CHRIST IS BECOME OF NO EFFECT TO YOU
Galatians 5:4a – “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law.”

No effect! The phrase “of no effect” literally means “entirely useless!” If you are justified by keeping laws of any kind, Christ is useless to you! It is a statement similar to the above – Christ shall profit you nothing.

YE ARE FALLEN FROM GRACE!
Galatians 5:4 – “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

The ironic thing about this phrase, fallen from grace, is that it does not refer to people forsaking Christ and falling into EVIL WORKS. It refers, rather, to people forsaking Christ, returning to the law, and trusting in GOOD WORKS. Paul plainly said, “If you are justified by the law, you are fallen from grace!” When a preacher gets up and preaches, “If you don’t do this…do that…keep this law…keep that law…you’re going to fall from grace,” it is really he who has fallen from grace. He has left the true gospel is now preaching the perverted gospel.

Now, these are some very strong statements regarding the false doctrine of justification by law-keeping of any kind. Paul makes it very clear, that if you are kept by works, you cannot be attached to the promise of being dead to the law and alive to God; Christ is dead in vain; Christ profits you nothing; Christ is of no effect, or useless to you; and you are fallen from grace! If you understand these clear, strong statements, there is no way that you can believe that anyone’s salvation is maintained by works of any kind. The above-mentioned verses are not the only ones in Galatians that prove that we are not justified by works of the law. Note:

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.”

Galatians 3:10, 11 – “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”

The True Gospel
I have shown clearly that the perverted gospel is the teaching that “Christ can save; but if you’re going to ‘stay saved,’ you must…do this…do that…and so forth.” The true gospel, on the other hand, is summed up well Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus is both author and finisher of our faith. The law of Moses is not the finisher of my faith. So-called “holiness standards” are not the finisher of my faith. Faith in Christ started me on this journey; and faith in Christ will take me the rest of the way!

Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come!
‘Tis grace that brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home!*

If you don’t believe it, quit singing it!

*John Newton

Can a Person Be Moral without Being a Christian?

Under no circumstance can an unsaved individual (an individual who is not a Christian) be a moral individual. Now, I may be criticized, but it is as Biblical a teaching as anything. If you are without Jesus Christ, you are wicked and immoral as you can be. This statement is not a matter of any opinion, philosophy, or ideal of mine; it is rather an indisputable fact of absolute truth, and I will prove it with the Bible, the final test of authenticity of all ideals.

The Unsaved Man Has Broken Every One of the Ten Commandments
To begin, a discussion of the most popular standard of morality will be used – the Ten Commandments. Let us look at each commandment, and see exactly where we all are outside of Jesus Christ.

The first commandment reads this way:

Exodus 20:3 – “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

This is the chief commandment, on which the others hang. It is the commandment forbidding idolatry. Every person who is not a Christian is guilty of idolatry, because God Almighty is not his god. And, if God is not your god, you will serve Buddha. Or, if not Buddha, perhaps Allah. Or, if not Allah, perhaps Baal. Or, if not Baal, perhaps Confucius. And, if you will serve no god, claiming that there is none, you always, in every circumstance, worship the god of SELF. As a matter of fact, most atheists boldly announce that MAN is god. God Almighty has commanded all men everywhere to repent and turn to His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. And to refuse this, you are doing what YOU choose to do, rejecting what GOD said to do. To do so is to be an idol worshipper, and everyone is not a Christian is guilty of breaking the first commandment.

The second commandment reads:

Exodus 20:4-6 – “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”

The second commandment forbids the making of images. This commandment is related to the first. The first forbids worship of any god other than God Almighty (the God of the Bible), and the second forbids any image depicting these so-called “gods.” If you make no literal image depicting a god, it is certain you contain images of the mind. You bow to your own images (II Corinthians 10:5); you serve your own philosophies, rather than the word of God. If you are not saved, you not only have gods in your life other than Jesus Christ, making you an idolator; you also bow down to them and serve them. Everyone who is not a Christian has broken the first two commandments, simply because Jesus Christ is not your God.

Then, we come to the third commandment:

Exodus 20:7 – “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

Every person who is not a Christian, who has said a prayer to God or sung a song containing God’s name, has used His name in vain. Unless you are praying a prayer of faith, believing in Jesus Christ for your salvation, Proverbs 28:9 states that even your prayer is an abomination.

Here is the fourth commandment:

Exodus 20:8-11 – “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week. Unless you have worshipped the Lord and abstained from work every Saturday, you have broken the fourth commandment. The command to work six days is just as sacred as the command to rest on the seventh. If you have not worked six days every week, and rested on every seventh, you have broken this commandment. And, giving you the benefit of the doubt, let me say this. Even if you have worshipped in a church every Saturday and worked six days every week, the unsaved has still broken this commandment. Regarding the Sabbath day, we are commanded to “keep it holy.” The man who is unsaved is incapable of keeping anything holy, for Titus 1:15 says, “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” So, everyone who is an unbeliever has not kept the Sabbath day holy; nor is he even capable of doing so.

Now, for the fifth commandment:

Exodus 20:12 – “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”

If you are unsaved, you dishonor your natural parents, bringing them shame. Not to mention, you dishonor the heavenly Father, who is ready to save you right now, making you part of His family.

How about the sixth commandment:

Exodus 20:13 – “Thou shalt not kill.”

Now, you may say, “I’ve never killed anyone.” Oh, but you have. I John 3:15 says that if you hate your brother (meaning, your fellow man), you are a murderer. And, just in case you feel that you have never hated anyone, you killed the Son of God Himself. Jesus died, not for any wrongs of His own, for He had none. He died for your sins and mine. You killed Jesus Christ the Son of God. If Jesus is not your God, you are a murderer of the worst kind.

The seventh commandment:

Exodus 20:14 – “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Anyone who has been unfaithful to his/her spouse is guilty of adultery. If you clear yourself in this accusation, let me point out that Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:28 that if you look upon a woman to lust after her, you have committed adultery with her IN YOUR HEART. And, even if you are not guilty of looking with lust, the scriptures declare that if you are an idolator, you are guilty of spiritual adultery (Ezekiel 23:37). I have already shown that every unbeliever is guilty of idolatry because God is not his god, and is therefore guilty of adultery.

The eighth commandment:

Exodus 20:15 – “Thou shalt not steal.”

If you have ever taken something that was not yours, you are a thief. Even if you have never stolen from another person, if you have not given 10% of your income to God Almighty, you have robbed God, according to Malachi 3:8. But, even more so, if Jesus Christ is not your God, and you trust in anything other than in Him, Jesus said in John 10:1 that you are the same as a thief and a robber. If you do not know Jesus, you are, by definition, a thief.

The ninth commandment:

Exodus 20:16 – “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

Perhaps you feel that you have never lied. The scriptures, however, declare otherwise. Romans 3:3, 4 tells us that if you do not believe Jesus Christ, God is true, and you are a liar. The person who refuses to place their faith in Christ, is a liar.

The tenth commandment reads this way:

Exodus 20:17 – “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.”

The tenth commandment forbids covetousness. Covetousness is the root of all sin. Therefore, since you have broken the first nine commandments, you are guilty of covetousness. Furthermore, Colossians 3:5 states that covetousness is idolatry. Since every unbeliever is guilty of idolatry, everyone who is not a Christian is also guilty of covetousness.

What the Bible Concludes
The Bible concludes that every person who is not a Christian is an idol-worshipping, image-making, Sabbath-breaking, parent-dishonoring, cursing, lying, stealing, killing, coveting adulterer. The unsaved man or woman is far from moral. Yes, I am sure there are men and women who are good to their neighbors, faithful to their spouse, and wouldn’t do anything to hurt anyone. But, notice – these people have already hurt Jesus Christ. Although you may be moral regarding your treatment of others; you are immoral in your treatment of Jesus Christ if you are not a Christian.

Galatians 3:22 sums it all up – “But the scripture hath concluded ALL UNDER SIN, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.”

Believing on Jesus Christ is the only thing that will make you a moral person. Outside of this, man is filthy in the sight of Almighty God.

Why I Don't Need the Law

Why the Lost Need the Law
In the previous post, I explained, in detail, that righteousness is neither gained nor maintained by the Old Testament law. If this is the case, Jesus Christ shed His blood in vain. To think that, for a single moment, works of the law get me saved or keep me saved, I insult the precious blood of the Lamb of God.

Not only am I not under the law, but it is equally true that I actually, as a saved man, have no need for the law. The lost person needs the law. This is true for two reasons. First, as I previously explained, the lost person is under the law, and God Almighty will require that they fulfil every part of it. The saved man is not under the law because he is clinging to Jesus Christ, who fulfilled every jot and tittle of the law. Second, when the lost man understands that he cannot fulfil the law, this truth brings him to Jesus Christ, the only One who has ever fulfilled the law. This is why the lost man needs the law; it shows him his sin, and ultimately presents to him Jesus Christ. Note the following:

Romans 7:7 – “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.”

Galatians 3:24-26 – “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.”

The lost need the law to show them their sin, and to bring them to their only hope for their sin – Jesus Christ.

Why I Do Not Need the Law
Having shown why the lost need the law, I can show two reasons immediately why I don’t need the law. The lost need the law to show them their sin. I have already admitted my sin; therefore, no law is needed here. The lost need the law to bring them to Christ. I have already come to Christ; no need for a schoolmaster here.

A third reason why I have no need for the law is because Jesus fulfilled the law, paying the debt in full. I am now in no obligation to pay it; it is completely paid for in Christ Jesus. I covered this in depth in my previous post, so I will not elaborate any more on this point here.

What God Gives Us In Place of the Law
When we are relieved of our obligation to fulfil the law, we are given precious possessions in place of obligations to fulfil the law.

Look with me at the book of Galatians. Paul spent four entire chapters stating repeatedly that WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW. He uses strong language, stating that, if we are justified by the law, Christ is dead in vain. He says that if you are under the law, you are under the curse! He states that if you keep one law, you must keep ALL OF IT! He asks them if, after beginning their walk with God in the Spirit, they are going to finish it in the flesh! All of this is found in the first four chapters of Galatians. In Galatians 5:3, Paul concludes it all by stating – “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law: ye are fallen from grace.”

Then we come to chapter five. Anytime I teach that we are not under the law, I have someone come to me, afraid that I am going liberal. Let me ask you a sincere question – was Paul a theological liberal? Did Paul preach a “live any way you want to” gospel? Paul did preach that righteousness does not come by the law. Paul did preach that salvation is by grace through faith. Notice what Paul says in the fifth chapter of Galatians, after four chapters of hammering the fact that we are not under the law:

Galatians 5:19-21 – “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Someone may argue with Paul that if he preaches that salvation is not by works, then people in his audience will live loose. Does it look like Paul condoned loose living? Paul spent the entire fifth chapter of Galatians showing us who are not under the law, that we do not need the law to live right. That’s right; we do not need the law. We do not need the Ten Commandments. We do not need the sacrifices and offerings. We do not need the blessings and curses. I am telling you that God would not declare in His word, “You are not under the law,” if we needed the law! The reason we are not under the law is because we do not need the law. When we receive Christ, and the law has no more authority over us, we receive three things far better than the law. Paul explains this in Galatians 5.

First, instead of the law of Moses, we have Christ living in our hearts. Notice the following:

Galatians 5:2-4 – “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

Notice these phrases – “Christ shall profit you nothing,” and “Christ is become of no effect to you.” The reason for this is simple – if the law could justify us, we do not need Christ. And, the exact opposite is true. If Christ justifies us, there is no more need for the law. When Christ is doing the living in my heart, I need no law.

Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

When you obtain salvation by faith, the just, or justified, LIVE BY faith. Paul states here that when we live by the faith of the Son of God, we are crucified with Christ, and Christ lives in us! If Christ is living in me, explain to me why I need a list of dos and don’ts. Explain to me why I need to be told what to do and what not to do. We argue over whether or not Christ, while in a physical body upon the earth, could have or couldn’t have sinned. Here’s a revelation – HE STILL DOESN’T! When Christ lives in us, He fulfills the law just as He did when He was a man upon the earth (Romans 8:3, 4). When a man is born again, and Christ moves in and begins to live in that individual, the only life Christ will live is one of holiness and righteousness! Then, the need for the law is gone!

A second thing we are given in place of the law is love.

Galatians 5:13, 14 – “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

I heard a preacher give a good illustration once, and I will use it here. I may not have all the details just right, but you’ll get the point. The man said something like this:

“I hate driving through school zones. I hate having to go fifteen miles-per-hour. I just can’t stand to see that speed limit sign. But if you take that speed limit sign down, and put my little grandson out in the road, fifteen miles-per-hour is no problem!”

When that man’s grandson is in the road, he doesn’t need a sign telling him to drive slowly. And when I love my brother like I should, what need is there for a law? Should we just “forget the Ten Commandments?” No, we shouldn’t just “forget them.” We ought to preach them to the lost to show them how lost they are. But as far as the saved are concerned, they won’t be needing the Ten Commandments. With love in our hearts, we do not need to be told, “Thou shalt not steal.” I won’t steal from you if I love you. I won’t lie to you if I love you. When we get saved, the Bible declares that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. With love like that, no law is needed!

The last possession we receive in place of the law is the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Galatians 5:16 – “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

With the Spirit of God leading us and guiding us, it is impossible to fulfil the lust of the flesh. He will not lead me to break the law of God. Paul says in Galatians 5:18 – “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” And, if we be led of the Spirit, we do not even need the law!

I Am Not Under The Law!

Seemingly enough, I continue to be amazed and amused at the doctrines I hear being preached and taught. Salvation is, by far, the single most important doctrine of the entire Bible. In many blog posts, salvation has been the theme. This is not the case because I forget that I have already written about the subject. It is the case, rather, because it is my conviction that the doctrine of salvation is extremely important. As Christians and especially ministers, our understanding of salvation should be clear. We should be able to state CLEARLY how to be saved and how to stay saved.

Unfortunately, however, it is very clear that many ministers actually desire to drag saved people back under the law. When I say, "the law," I am referring to the Old Testament law of Moses. Yes, some preachers pull out a passage in Deuteronomy and preach the "dos and don'ts" of the Old Testament as prerequisites of salvation. So, I write this post to clearly articulate that I am not bound by the works of the law of Moses, the works of the Pharisees, or the works of righteousness of any kind. In this post, you will read a couple points I have already illustrated, but much of the material is new to this blog.

You Are Saved Either by Grace or by Works - NOT BOTH
Upon inquiring of salvation, the seeker must decide first if he is going to be saved by grace or by works. You must make up your mind to settle the following question - "Am I going to do the saving by my works," or "Is the Lord going to do the saving by HIS WORK and by His grace?" YOU ARE NOT SAVED BY BOTH!

Romans 11:6 - "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."

The clear message of this verse is the fact that our election (the act of God choosing us) is either by grace or by works - not both. What I have run into in the past is the message that we are saved by God's miraculous hand at the altar, but we must keep a list of rules in order to "stay saved." Dear reader, I have committed the saving of my soul, as well as the keeping of my soul, to Jesus Christ, the Saviour of my soul! I determined a long time ago that my salvation would have be entirely by grace, and not a single work of mine initiates it, or sustains it! You need to make up your mind, if you have not done so already. Your work or His - which will it be?

If You Choose Works...
Should the reader say, "I choose to be saved (or kept) by the works of the law," then I do have a strong admonition from the scripture. No man in his right mind would ever choose to be saved or kept by keeping the Ten Commandments, by offering the ceremonial offerings of the Old Testament, or by any other list of rules. The man who pulls out verses from the Old Testament law and makes those verses a must-do for salvation does not keep the Old Testament law, for he does not even understand it!

When I was in Bible school, an instructor was teaching us concerning the Old Testament law, and which parts of the law we must fulfil. He had broken down the law into "parts" - ceremonial, civil, dietary, moral, and so forth. This man made the argument that Christians are still under parts of the law. However, the New Testament plainly declares, more than once, that "we are not under the law." Absolutely no differentiation is made between "parts of the law." We are not told, "You are under this part of the law, but not under that one." We are only informed that "we are not under the law."

I believe strongly, and will prove it in this post, that Christians are under no part of the Old Testament law. I will expound on this later.

Allow me, for emphasis, to say it again. When a man says that he believes Christians should keep parts of the Old Testament law, HE DOES NOT KEEP IT HIMSELF. I know this because HE DOES NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND THE LAW, MUCH LESS KEEP IT!

Here is what the Bible says about keeping the law:

Galatians 3:10 - "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."

Did you get that? "CURSED is every one that continueth not in ALL things which are written in the book of the law to do them." If you are going to keep the law, you CANNOT KEEP "PARTS OF IT!" If keeping Old Testament commandments is part of your salvation, you must keep EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM, or you are lost! You must keep the dietary, ceremonial, and every other part of the law! You are cursed otherwise!

Galatians 5:3 - "For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law."

Here, the same point is made. You cannot keep "parts of the law." James gives us the same point, reversing the logic:

James 2:10 - "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

It is impossible to keep "parts of the law!" If you are going to keep parts of it, you are under obligation to keep every law, every precept, every ordinance, every sacrifice, every offering, every civil statute, and all the rest. Breaking one is breaking them all! You do not get to pick and choose! You have no privilege to preach which ones you like and agree with and throw the rest of them out! I am telling you that, if you preach Deuteronomy 22:5, you'd better preach Deuteronomy 22:11! If you break Deuteronomy 22:11, you have broken Deuteronomy 22:5! With the law, it is "all or nothing!" A person needs to consider these things before claiming an obligation to keep "parts" of the law!

Jesus Fulfilled the Law!
Matthew 5:17 - "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."

The law is like a bill. The Father wrote out a bill for you and me. The law tells us of His demands. When we try to pay it, however, we never have enough. The scripture says, "For all have sinned, and COME SHORT..." That's exactly where we are. We always come short of paying our bill.

When Jesus came to this world, He did not come to destroy the law! I have heard preachers use the above verse to try to say that we are yet under the law. However, this verse shows that we are not under the law.

Jesus did not come into the world to destroy the law. The law still shows the Father's demands upon mankind. They are still His demands! If you are lost, He still demands them! The law is your bill! Jesus did not come to destroy your bill. He did not come to put the bill in the paper shredder! The bill still stands.

When Jesus went to the cross, however, He paid my bill! On the cross, He declared, "It is finished!" I have read that the Greek word translated, "It is finished" was stamped on bills when final payment was made. That Greek word declared that payment had been made in full! Jesus did not do away with the Father's demands; He fulfilled them! As I have already shown, there's only one way Jesus could have fulfilled the law - He had to fulfil all of it! He kept the entire law - moral, civil, ceremonial - ALL OF IT! He is our Atonement; He is our High Priest; He is the Passover Lamb; He is the shewbread; He is the Candlestick; every figurative element in the law points to Jesus Christ - He fulfilled, not parts of the law, but the entire law!

I have heard preachers say, "Now that we're saved, the Lord helps us keep the law!" No, sir! When I accept Christ who paid my debt, I notice something about the bill - it is gone! It is completely paid for, and nailed to the cross of Christ. Notice:

Colossians 2:13, 14 - "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."

The handwriting of ordinances - ordinances are laws - were nailed to the cross! They are gone. Jesus fulfilled every one of them! He fulfilled my obligation!

Ephesians 2:14-16 - "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby."

The law of commandments - abolished! Gone! All of them! He does not say that some of them were left unfulfilled, waiting on us to fulfil them! No, if Christ not fulfil ALL the laws and commandments - He did not fulfil any of them! Christ paid my debt - ALL OF IT!

When I receive Christ, and I accept His work on the cross as payment for my sin, He does not help me fulfil the law - He already fulfilled it. I do not need help paying a debt that is already paid for! When I receive Christ, how much "law" is left for me to fulfil? The answer is spelled out clearly in

Romans 10:3 - "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

Christ is the END of the law. When you receive Christ, you are at the end of the law! The law has ended there! There's no more law that needs to be fulfilled! He fulfilled it!

I Am Not Under the Law!
Because I trust in Christ's payment for my debt, I am no longer obligated to pay it! It has been paid for. For this reason, I am not under the law. Note the following verses:

Acts 13:39 - "And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."

Romans 3:20, 21 - "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets."

Romans 3:27, 28 - "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

Romans 4:14 - "For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect."

Romans 7:4 - "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."

Romans 7:6 - "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."

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."

Galatians 2:19 - "For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God."

Galatians 2:21 - "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

These are not all the scriptures I have on this subject, but the point is clearly made. Although many of these scriptures are single verses, none of them are taken out of context. The context of each of these verses is justification by faith; salvation by grace. I encourage the reader to study these verses closely.

The Unsaved Are Under the Law
If you have not been born again by the Spirit of God, then the Father will hold you accountable to the law. He still demands that bill be paid. Jesus did not DESTROY the law. It still stands. It must be paid. If you will not accept the payment of our Lord Jesus Christ, then the Father will demand the payment from you. No man has ever kept all of the law! No man has ever kept the Ten Commandments. You can't even keep the first commandment until you are saved. Breaking the law of God results in death. John records a second death in the lake of fire. It would behoove you to receive Jesus Christ today, and cling to His finished work on the cross! If you refuse Him, you are obligated to pay this debt called "the law." Notice the following verses:

Romans 2:12 - "For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law."

Romans 3:19 - "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."

Romans 6:14 - "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

Galatians 5:18 - "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."

These verses show clearly that those who not under the dominion of sin are the ones who are "not under the law." Those who are led of the Spirit are "not under the law." All others will be demanded to make payment. They will be judged by the very law they have broken.

There's only one man who fulfilled the law - Jesus Christ. No one else has ever done it! Trust Jesus Christ and the payment He made on the cross. Ask Him to save you today. He paid your debt - Rest in His payment and be free from the law!