Subject: Are we still under the Ten Commandments? |
Bible Note: Thanks, dasev. I think one of the biggest problems facing American evangelicalism today is its lack of understanding of the law of God and the absolute disdain of it seen in certain circles. The fact is that we will only be salt and light and be a distinctive and transforming presence as long as we take seriously following the commandments of our God. We have been bitten by the "easy-believism" bug which gives an incomplete picture of true Christianity. We hear a great deal of the "personal relationship with Jesus Christ" (which is an aspect of what Christianity is, to be sure) but very little about Christianity being a life of discipleship: 'And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me."' --Luke 9:23 "and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." --1 Peter 2:24 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." --John 14:15 Now none of the above can be done with out the grace of God and the empowering work of the Holy Spirit, but they are indeed marks of the true Christian. For anyone else interested in exploring the relationship between law and gospel, here are a couple of good links: http://www.founders.org/FJ28/contents.html http://www.presenttruthmag.com/archive/VII/index.htm http://www.markers.com/ink/tblawgospel.htm Hope this turns out to be a useful study, especially for those who find themselves asking, "I have faith in Jesus Christ, but now what?" --Joe! |