Some atheists have waged war against the Ten Commandments in recent decades, forcing monuments off public property wherever they find them. One famous case involved Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who placed a monument of the Ten Commandments in the judicial building rotunda in Montgomery, the state capitol. This caused no small controversy. After a lengthy legal battle, the monument was removed from the rotunda and Roy Moore was removed from his judgeship.
In another famous incident, a monument displaying the Ten Commandments at the Arkansas State Capitol was destroyed by a man who deliberately crashed his car into it less than 24 hours after it had been erected. The same individual destroyed another display by the same method a year earlier in Oklahoma, but was this only an act of one crazed man?
As reported by the Associated Press: Some professing Christians are rightfully angered by the assault against this God-given code of law, yet surprisingly, the greatest enemy to the commandments is not atheists. I will show you who that enemy is, and it may surprise you. So stay tuned. ♪ A warm welcome to all of you from all of us here at Tomorrow's World. On today's program I will be revealing who is the greatest enemy of God's Law and it may not be who you think.
I grew up in mainstream Protestantism and was taught the Ten Commandments as a child. Now I was never much good at memorization, but I somehow managed to quote all ten well enough to receive a personal copy of the New Testament. Imagine how surprised I was a few years later when I was told we no longer need to keep these laws. Not by my atheist Uncle George, but by two professing Christians. All that memorization time was wasted.
These were not the exact words they used, but were similar to those found on one website: The author of the site goes on to quote the pet scriptures that make it appear that the law is indeed done away. So what is the truth? Is the law of God still in effect? Or has it been replaced by grace? Which is it? Law or grace?
In the remainder of this program, I'll answer that question with five easy to understand keys that unlock the answer, but before doing so, let us notice a few scriptures that are used by antinomians--that is, those who are against the law and claim we do not need to keep it. Romans 3:28... And in Romans 6:14... And then in the book of Galatians the second chapter, verses 15-16 it says...
When you're seventeen years old and someone cherry-picks scriptures such as these and doesn't explain them, it can be very convincing that there is no longer any need to keep the law of God. To do so sounds like "salvation by works." But let's look a little deeper into the subject.
The first of the five keys to understanding whether or not the Apostle Paul contradicted other apostles, and Christ Himself, is: Key #1: The Apostle Peter warned us that people twist Paul's writings, and even tells us who the culprits are. Here is the warning, as found in 2 Peter 3:15-16. Breaking into a thought, he writes that... But, who are these people who are untaught, unstable, and who twist Paul's writings? Let's continue...
Other versions, such as the Revised Standard, the New English, and the New International, translate wicked as: "Lawless men." Now consider for a moment what lawless means. Whether the translators use the term wicked or lawless, it's evident that those who twist Paul's letters have a problem with law. Think about that.
So our first key to understanding the Apostle Paul's teachings on law and grace is that, according to Peter: Key #1: The subject of law and grace goes further than the Ten Commandments. It is clear from New Testament scriptures that sacrifices, circumcision, and other ritual laws are no longer necessary, but there are statutes in addition to the Ten Commandments that Jesus, the Apostles and the first century church of God observed, such as the biblical festivals and holy days.
Why is it dear friends that professing Christianity claims it is "salvation by works" to observe the days God spelled out in the scriptures, but not salvation by works to observe days originating and steeped in pagan practices? Think about it. And what is being lost by rejecting important biblical holy days? Today we're offering our insightful resource--The Holy
God's Master Plan. This resource will give you insight into God's plan for mankind in a way that you've never seen before, and it can be yours absolutely free of charge. Just pick up the phone and call the number on your screen to order The Holy Days: God's Master Plan. Or you can order from our website at TWTV.ORG/PLAN. And when I come back I'll give you two more keys to understanding this vitally important subject of law and grace. For today's free offer call... Or go to...
This clear and straight-forward resource will help you understand this vital truth-- straight from the pages of the Bible. If you're calling for the first time, you will also receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's World magazine. Ten inspiring issues discussing news, science, and modern culture will help you make sense of your world from a biblical perspective.
Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to Tomorrow's World for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times. Call now! Or go to... Welcome back. On today's Tomorrow's World telecast we're looking at the subject of law and grace. Many people think the Apostle Paul explained away the need to keep the law of God. Is that so?
As we saw in the previous portion of this telecast, the Apostle Peter warned us that: Key #1: We will look in a few minutes at some of those writings that are twisted by lawless men who reject God's laws, but first, let us look at: Key #2: Do you realize that if you do away with law, you do away with the need for God's forgiveness? Here is a point that so many fundamentally do not understand, and yet a child can easily understand it. If there is no law, there can be no transgression of the law.
Let us read that straight from the writings of the Apostle Paul... Yes, the law does bring about wrath--the death penalty. But if you do away with the law, you of necessity do away with the penalty. And if there is no penalty, there is no need for grace. Think about it. This brings us to the crucial question, "What is sin?" When was the last time you heard the Bible definition of sin? Here it is in 1 John 3, and verse 4... That is from the King James Version.
So let us sum up Key #2 with this simple equation: So let us move onto our next key to understanding the subject of law and grace. Key #3: This principle is found in the Scriptures, but I will put it in a modern parable to make the point. A certain man went into a bar one evening. And after spending too much time at the bottle, he got into his car heading for home. Along the way he missed a stop light, crashed into another car, and severely injured its occupant.
Six months later he appeared before the judge who asked him, "How do you plead?" Feeling very remorseful, he pleaded, "Guilty as charged, your honor." The judge then sentenced him to a $1,000,000 in fine or one year in prison. The man thought to himself, "I don't have a million dollars and if I go to jail, who will take care of my wife and children?" So he pleaded with the judge, expressing his deep regrets about what he did and proposed, "Your honor, I promise to never drink and drive again.
I'll obey all traffic laws, pay every penny I owe in taxes, and keep all laws as perfectly as I am able from this day forward." The judge replied, "That's what we expect of all people, but you broke the law and severely injured a man. Your keeping the law from this day forward will not undo what you did six months ago. The man bargained further, "I'll also do 10 hours of public service each week for the rest of my life." The judge replied, "That will not heal the injured man.
Choose, 1 year in prison, or $1,000,000." Now there was a man in the back of the courtroom who reasoned, "This man is truly sorry for what he did. I believe he will follow through with obedience to the law from this day forward. I'll pay the fine for him." Do you realize this is what Jesus did for you and for me if we repent of our sins and accept His payment for us? Now here are a couple questions to ponder.
Do you really think the kind gentleman who paid the fine would do so if he thought the man would disregard the law that caused him to be brought before the judge in the first place? And did the fact that the penalty was satisfied somehow do away with the law? Yet, that is exactly what the "do away with the law" crowd teach--that Jesus did it all for us. Therefore they reason that the law, rather than our sins, was nailed to the cross and we no longer need to keep it.
And this brings us to key number 4. I'll give you that central key that ties all of this together in a moment, but I want to remind you of today's free offer The Holy Days: God's Master Plan. You cannot reject these days and understand God's plan for mankind as it's through these special days that we learn of His plan. Don't believe me just because I say it. Order your free copy of The
God's Master Plan. This resource will show you exciting truths you never knew before. It truly is free for the asking, so pick up the phone or go to our website TWTV.ORG/PLAN and order your copy. And when I come back in 15 seconds, I'll give you the 4th key to understanding the Biblical teaching on law and grace. This clear and straight-forward resource will help you understand this vital truth-- straight from the pages of the Bible. Call now! Or go to...
On today's Tomorrow's World program I'm covering a crucial subject about which many professing Christians are confused. The subject is law or grace--which one? The truth as we are seeing is that we are under grace, but grace does not abrogate the law of God. So far, I have given you three keys: Key #1: Key #2: And key #3: Now for crucial: Key #4: The word justify is grossly misunderstood. Yet, many of us use the word all the time in word processing.
We have a command in the menu bar that determines whether a letter or manuscript is left, right, or fully justified. Left justification means the left side of a column is lined up. Right justification means the right side is lined up. And full justification means both sides are lined up.
Similarly, in the Biblical sense, when we are out of line or out of step with God due to sin, we need to be back in line, and Paul points to the only way to get in a right relationship with God once we're out of line. No amount of law-keeping will wipe away past sins. That's where the man at the back of the courtroom in the parable I gave earlier is necessary. That is where faith in the sacrifice of Christ comes in. He is that Man who pays the penalty for us.
Now let us notice how this understanding makes clear what Paul wrote. Paul rightfully declared in Romans 3:28... [In other words, "Has his sins forgiven."] All our past, present or future law-keeping will do nothing to justify our sins, but what those against the law often fail to do is read the context. Notice this clear statement four verses later where Paul asks a crucial question and answers it... Yet, that is exactly what some misguided people think--that the law is voided by faith!
Why do not they believe what Paul wrote? Now let us ask the question, how does faith establish the law? Well simply put, the fact that we need faith in Christ's sacrifice means there is a broken law, the penalty of which needs to be satisfied. Let's notice another passage used by antinomians, that is those people against the law in Romans 6:14... Aww--"not under law, but under grace." Now, taken out of context this may appear to say we don't have to keep the law, but is that what Paul is saying?
Why don't people read the very next verse... Now, how can I fail to mention one more scripture that the "law is done away with" crowd loves--Galatians 3:13... The man who seeks justification, seeks to have his past sins forgiven through law keeping will fail. The law is meant to define sin, not justify past sins. Only faith in the sacrifice of Christ can do that. Now notice that the previous passage does not say the law is a curse. Paul even tells us in Romans 7:12...
The curse, as shown in the passage from which Paul quotes Galatians 3:13 is the death penalty. Read it for yourself in Deuteronomy 21:22-23. The law is not the curse, but disobedience to it brings a curse, which is death. And that is why we need a savior to pay the penalty for us.
There is a 5th key to understanding what the Bible teaches about law and grace and I'll give it to you in a moment, but I want to give you one more opportunity to order our free resource The Holy Days: God's Master Plan. I cannot express to you how much I deeply desire for you to prayerfully read this wonderful resource. It will open your understanding to Biblical truths that have been in front of you all your life.
It will answer questions regarding the fairness of God and what happens to your loved ones who never received Christ during their lifetime. It explains what happens when an infant or child dies. So order your free copy of The God's Master Plan. And when I come back, I will give you a final key to understanding this subject of law and grace. For today's free offer call... Or go to...
This clear and straight-forward resource will help you understand this vital truth-- straight from the pages of the Bible. If you're calling for the first time, you will also receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's World magazine. Ten inspiring issues discussing news, science, and modern culture will help you make sense of your world from a biblical perspective.
Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to Tomorrow's World for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times. Call now! Or go to... The subject of law and grace has been grossly misunderstood. Some try to justify their past sins by works. Others cast aside the law of God, claiming it is no longer in force. We are seeing today that the law of God is still in effect, but we need something else to justify our past sins.
It is time now for, Key #5: Mankind from the beginning has had a hostile attitude to the law of God. Adam and Eve chose to determine for themselves right and wrong rather than listen to their Creator. And Paul speaks of this hostility in Romans 8:7... But does that mean that we are to remain hostile to the law? Certainly not. Paul continues... That is Romans 8:8-9. So what does the Spirit of God do for you?
God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel on what the New Testament refers to as the day of Pentecost. Nearly fifteen centuries later, God poured out the Holy Spirit on His fledgling Church. Is there any connection between those two Pentescosts? We read right after the restatement of the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy 5 and verse 29... Do you realize dear friends, that hostility to the law is the problem that the New Covenant is to rectify? A change of heart is what the New Covenant is about.
Read that in Hebrews 8, and verse 10... The law was given on Pentecost when Israel came out of Egypt, but they didn't have the heart to keep it, so God gave the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost after the resurrection to effect a new attitude of heart and mind. Under the New Covenant, not only does the law still exist, but it's even more difficult to keep, because we are to keep the spirit or the intent of the law as well as the letter. And this is shown in Jesus' sermon on the mount...
That is Mathew 5:27-28. Perhaps you have been told that the law of God is burdensome, but is that what the Bible says? Listen to the Apostle John in 1 John 5, and verse 3... And notice this... Now, here is the dirty little secret. Most rational people are not against all of the commandments--just the ones they disagree with, and the one they disagree with the most is, the fourth one: "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy."
They're fine with nine but conclude that God made a mistake with one of them and sent Christ to correct the error. In effect, they claim all ten are voided but nine are resurrected in what they call the "law of Christ." Of course, they also want to get around the Biblical Holy Days so they can substitute holidays that are steeped through and through with pagan customs.
Apparently, keeping Sunday and pagan holidays, according to them is not burdensome, and not trying to save yourself by your works, but resting on the day that God chose at Creation--that is the seventh day--and keeping His holy days is burdensome, according to them, and trying to save yourself by your works. Is that what you think, my friends? I hope for much better from you, our Tomorrow's World followers.
Be sure to come back next week when Richard Ames, Wallace Smith, Rod McNair, and I will continue to share with you the revelation of Jesus Christ, the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning. So be sure to join us right here next week at this same time. For today's free offer call... Or go to... Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to Tomorrow's World for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times.
♪ The preceding program is produced by the Living Church of God.