“What should we say then? Should we keep on sinning so that God’s grace can increase? NOT AT ALL! (the KJV says, “GOD FORBID”) As far as sin is concerned, we are dead. So how can we keep on sinning?” (Rom. 6:1-2)
Many who profess Christ today practice a wrong view of grace that makes it A FREE PASS to do whatever they please. Sadly, they have convinced themselves that the Christian life can be lived WITHOUT any binding obligation to the moral law of God. Moral laws were based on GOD’S CHARACTER and GOD’S DESIGN for His creation in this world. In this distorted grace view, the need for obedience has been sterilized. The commandments of God are no longer in the driver’s seat of Christian living, but have been relegated to the backseat, if not the trunk—like a spare tire—to be used only in case of an emergency. This is called the spirit of ANTINOMIANISM. This comes from two Greek words, anti, “against“; and nomos, “law” Antinomianism means “AGAINST THE LAW.”
“…when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, coming into being out of a woman, HAVING COME UNDER LAW, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM THOSE UNDER LAW, so that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Gal. 4:4-5) Jesus, as the promised Messiah, came and fulfilled the Law of Moses. He testified. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I DID NOT COME TO DESTROY but TO FULFILL. For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one JOT or one TITTLE shall in any way pass from the Law until ALL IS FULFILLED.” (Matt. 5:17-18) What is a jot and tittle? A jot is the name of the least letter of an alphabet. A tittle refers to a small point in writing. Now the most commonly use is for the dot over the letter ‘i’.
Concerning the importance of the Law, Jesus says, “…if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called GREAT in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matt. 5:19)
-Bill Stockham