1. Question: Isn’t clear in the New Testament that we are not under the law, we are now under the grace of God as what stated in Eph 2:8 and 9?
Answer: Absolutely! We are not under the law!
But it refers to the Law such as the Ceremonial Law, Sabbath Law and the Law given to Moises the Ten Commandments which is the Law Jesus said “heard of long ago" wherein it is written in the two tablets of stone. We are now under the law and it refers to the Law that Jesus said, "But now I tell you" that must be written in the heart and mind. The Law "heard of long ago" is external while the Law "But now I tell you" is internal.
Example: The 6th Commandment said, "Thou shalt not kill". A person attempting to kill another person will needed to use some deadly weapons such as knives, guns, hand grenades and other things that can kill. Unlike in the old times you don’t need today any deadly weapon to kill another, the Bible says, "You have heard that people were told in the past, 'Do not commit murder; anyone who does will be brought to trial. But now I tell you: if you are angry with your brother you will be brought to trial, if you call your brother 'You good-for-nothing!' you will be brought before the Council, and if you call your brother a worthless fool you will be in danger of going to the fire of hell. (Mat 5:21-22) Clearly this scriptures is saying that the killing and anger or hatred were both has the implications of judgments. In the justice system here on earth, murder is a crime subject to punishment by the law. But in the bar justice of God, no murderer can enter heaven (Rev 21:8). Apostle John tells us plainly, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him”. (1Jn 3:15)
The law or the commandment that say, "Thou shalt not kill" actually means "Do not be angry." Therefore, we are under the Law that says, "Do not be angry”. In the New Testament where we are now under the grace of God, we are now under Christ teaching of the law, which is the law “but now I tell you”.
2. Question: Is the 10 Commandments can save a person?
Answer: Yes and No!
Never and not ever a person can save by the Law! A saved person is saved not because of the works of the law but because of the faith alone and that is God's grace as stated in Ep 2:8 and 9.
Yes the law can! The law “but now I tell you” (GNB) can save not the unsaved but the saved person from the danger of the fire of hell. Look carefully on Jesus teaching about the Law and note the words, “heard of long ago” and the words, “but now I tell you” in Mat 5:21-48. Jesus explained the full meaning of the law and he give warning that if your right eye or your right hand cause you to sin it is better to lose those parts than having your whole body be cast into hell. Mat 5:29-30.
Teaching of Jesus about the Law “but now I tell you” is not only for the unsaved but much so on the saved because the unsaved are already in the danger of the fire of hell while the saved can be still in danger of the fire of hell.
The Law “but now I tell you” such as the 7th Commandment that tells, "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery. But now I tell you: anyone who looks at a woman and wants to possess her is guilty of committing adultery with her in his heart. (Mat 5:27-28), is simply teaching us that if I look with a lust and that lust will become habitual and willful to me, for sure I will be in danger of the fire of hell. But If I keep and practice the Law “Now” until I overcome the struggles of looking with lust I shall be truly saved and always saved. In the same way, I will continue to “work out” the Law Now until I overcome my quick temper and avoiding any hatred, revenge, bitterness to remain and rooted inside of me. Jesus equate anger as the same as murder. So then, I will put off anger at once and will never let the sun go down with my anger.
A truly saved and always saved is a person who became a “saved-practice thereby-ten commandments (the law but now I tell you)-surpassed-renewed mind”. It means the “law now” becomes a part of my whole being embedded in my soul, heart and mind. The power of sin living and dwelling in my members loses its grip because of the strength I gained in surpassing the law.
3. Question: Regarding the Law that Jesus said, “Now I tell you” such as “Do not look with a lust”, “Do not be angry and others, it affirms that salvation can be attain by anyone in keeping and obeying them?
Answer: Understand that unless a person be born-again he cannot keep and obey the “Law Now”. Man can do nothing to obey them without Christ and practicing them needs power from above which is called “divine enablement”. When a person is in Christ the Spirit of God indwells so God can “work in” and gives him (the saved) the will and the power to do them. The only thing needs to do by a saved person is to “work out” the Law Now by surpassing them. Through that way, it can be said that a person who claimed he is saved is truly saved and always saved.
Actually, it is not necessary to be a good person and do good works to be saved (from the “sting of death”). No works require in keeping and obeying the Ten Commandments just to have (complete) salvation. It doesn’t need for you to do the law now such as “Do not look with a lust”, “Do not be angry”, “Do not steal” etc.,etc.. In fact you can obey and keep them even when you are just sitting or lying down relaxing yourself in a couch at your own home. You don’t need to move your body or even lifting a finger to do it. Did you know where most of the sin committed by many person? It is in the mind, in there lies the major problem of every kind of sin. Regardless of where I am and what I’m doing if I let my mind entertain lustful thoughts, hatred thoughts, and any other evil thoughts I’ve sinned already. Worse, if those evil thoughts become an action and that action becomes a habit and the habit becomes slavery, no doubt I will be in danger of the fire of hell. Yet majority of church goers today were not really inside of the church. Their body is present but their minds keep wandering.
God is much concern on the inward, it’s all about the inside of our heart and mind does really matter. If our mind is full of good things, good things will manifest from us, if evil then evil will come out from our mouth and in our deeds. A good person and a true Christian has develop his mind into the mind of Christ. Mind of a saved person must be like that of Christ otherwise he shall be like the Scribes and the Pharisees good only on their outward appearances.
Therefore, in just only one sitting or lying down the Law Now can be obey and disobey. By means of our mind we can commit sin as the same way as committed by a murderer, adulterer, a thief and that was the standard of God. We better keep about all of these things in our mind as the bible said, ““Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1Co 10:31). Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Php 4:8)
4. Question: In layman terms, what it really means by “surpassing the law”?
Answer: Simply it means “be different”, he is a saved person able to do beyond and above of what a natural man can do. He can able to do good things pleasing, acceptable and conform to the standard of God. He does it not by might or by power but by the Spirit of God that strengthens him.
How I’m going to be different from the one who committed adultery when anytime my eyes see a woman I look with a lust? Jesus teach that lustful look is the same as adultery. So then, if that what I do I’m not different from those who committed adultery. In the same way, I’m not different from a murderer if I have hatred, bitterness and anger toward others, I’m also a murderer. In the standard of God, anger is the same as murder.
Claiming “truly saved” or “always saved” is fine and if he is truly in Christ he must “work out” something different so he can have a distinction from the unsaved. Being able not to look with a lust, not to forgive, not to lie, not to steal and other such things the unsaved are lack and fall short. A person belong to Christ must see to it that he is able to do what the unsaved is not able to do and that what makes a saved different. Jesus teaching about the law is a very serious matter, be warned, no adulterer, murderer, thief and liar can enter heaven (1 Cor 6:9,10; Rev 21:8) .
5. Question: Does the Ten Commandments can be obey and keep by a Christian?
Answer: Yes and No!
No! Never and not ever the 10 Commandments can be keep at all times by a Christian. The bible said, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1Jn 1:8). So then, a Christian can still commit sin and may break the law.
Yes! Did you know that a saved person and truly belongs to Christ should not sin anymore? It was really said so, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1Jn 3:9). Literally speaking a person who became as son of God cannot sin on the things he knew sin is sin and evil is evil. Meaning he is a saved person that sin not on the sin he already knew in his right mind contrary to what he learns by in himself about the law. It also means that he cannot sin any longer which are intentional and willful.
Yes,a saved empowered by God can obey the 10 Commandments and through the practice of the “Law Now” he became much knowledgeable, skilled and well trained in avoiding and resisting the sin he knew it is sin and evil. No, because he still can sin, but if he sin it is unintentional. In anyway, whatever kind of sin may it be intentional or not always leads to the breaking of the law. Because sin according to the biblical meaning, is the breaking of the law (1Joh 3:4).
The bottom line is that, obeying and keeping the Ten Commandments is not anymore grievous (burdensome) for those who love God and his commandments (1 John 5:2-3). Because of the love of God carrying it out is not anymore difficult unlike before we are not yet in Christ oftentimes we struggle and defeated.
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